Pajamas Media

79 Comments

1. rvastar:

It is right and good to recognize that America is great because America has earned it. America is great because the individuals that make America are great. The people who made the American Olympic team are great because they’re free — free to pursue their love, free to develop their talent, and free to achieve. They are proud to be American and Americans are proud of them.

Well said.

Aug 20, 2008 - 8:42 am 2. My Latest Pajama’s Media Post–Dear NBC Anchors: A Little Patriotism Wouldn’t Kill Ya « Blog Entry « Dr. Melissa Clouthier:

[...] guys! I have another article up at Pajama’s Media. Here’s a tidbit: Maybe it’s just the fact that after three days both fish and avuncular TV [...]

Aug 20, 2008 - 8:58 am 3. adam:

Its about time someone said something, and im not surprised i found it here at pajama’s. It seems like every horrible thing the chinese have done in this Olympics gets completely ignored and worse yet, the American news anchors seem to react with the verbatim responses given by the Chinese government, without even questioning the legitimacy of these explanations. China has been trying to act like the victim wondering why everyone has been so critical of them leading up to this event, and why we would even think of questioning their actions. And the NBC news anchors are just placating this mindset.

I think that the broader explanation of why they have been so soft on the chinese is because if they were to say anything remotely controversial, the chinese would pull the plug. Its already clear that they dont care about money, so long as it goes towards building up a facade to show the world. Theyve already spent more money (lost) on the olympics than what the whole country spends on education, health programs, and the earthquake relief.
UGHh .. I could rant all day, but ill leave it at that.

Aug 20, 2008 - 9:15 am 4. WJ:

I find Chris Collingsworth annoying as well. However, with regards to the Kobe Bryant interview, I have a different take. My impression when I first watched it (before it became controversial), was that Collingsworth was “setting up” Kobe to talk about his patriotism. Like this was a topic they agreed on before hand that Kobe wanted to talk about.

Kobe Bryant may be a “preening narcissist”, but he could also be a patriot as well. Or he just said the words to help his image.

Costas is annoying as well. How somebody can make so much money for so little added value is of constant amazement to me.

Aug 20, 2008 - 9:32 am 5. Ciscokid:

Melissa Clothier – Great article that needed to be said. There’s no denying your observation of the anti-American message being provided courtesy of the entire NBC network. I quit watching NBC Football Night in America with Bob Costas soon as they added Olbermann. Enough’s enough. This was no big deal because there are plenty of alterative ways for us sports junkies to find differing opinions on the game. Just as soon as they snuff out the torch, it’s bye, bye for me to NBC.

Aug 20, 2008 - 9:36 am 6. LA AL:

Great article, but for a smart person you have drunk the media Kool Aid about Kobe Bryant. He is the furthest thing from a ball hog. He has grown up quite a bit in the last few years. He is also the best all-around basketball player alive.

Aug 20, 2008 - 9:43 am 7. $9,000,000,000 Write Off:

And how about those Visa commercials? “Go World!” Actually, I’m rooting for the U.S. and, neccessarily, against their competitors

Aug 20, 2008 - 9:49 am 8. JAY:

“I quit watching NBC Football Night in America with Bob Costas soon as they added Olbermann”

Amen to that.

Aug 20, 2008 - 9:54 am 9. Dave II:

Here’s the problem. NBC and it’s anchors feel like they are the “world’s network”, sort of like Obama feels he is a “world citizen”.

They have no loyalty or patriotism for America, or at the least cannot show any, because, my God…OTHER people from OTHER countries might be watching, and, well…let’s not “offend” them with some sort of “America first” or “America’s best” mentality.

It’s the ol’ liberal PC bugaboo crawling up their cowardly spine and making them feel “uncomfortable” about expressing TRUE enthusiasm or appreciation for anything American.

Collinsworth statement is the most telling!

“Is that a “cool” thing to say, in this day and age?
…It seems sort of like a day gone by.”

Gee…better to look “cool” than show patriotism or love of country! Better not show any “foolish notions” like I’m proud to be American…I could get “labeled” back at the hotel bar and made fun of! Better show a cool “detachment” and nobody will accuse me of being, well, you know…gulp..
“Conservative”…

Might lose all my street cred with my buds!

Aug 20, 2008 - 9:59 am 10. Joshua:

Melissa – Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Let me add Jim Lampley to this mess as well. In his interview with Dara Torres, who is a complete ray of sunshine, Jim Lampley sat stone faced as she enthusiastically told her story. It was so wierd, it looked like ‘ol Jim was drinking the Chinese mind control juice. I mean this guy (like Costas and Collingsworth) are supposed to be some of the best communicators in the world so how can he sit there with an absolute blank stare when Dara Torres is grinning from ear to ear with American pride, female and age empowerment the likes of which will inspire a whole generation of new Olympians. It was kind of creepy if you ask me.

Has anybody noticed how tough and honest and real people like Bella Kiroli are who have lived under oppressive communist governments? He spoke his mind so clearly on the Chinese cheating machine and he never backed of one bit. It was like he was saying, “What are they going to do, kick me out of this re-education camp called China? Ouch! That’s gonna hurt my feelings!” You can look directly at the President of Georgia, Poland and the Ukraine and see the same determination for freedom since Russian is back on the path to oppression and world domination. They just call a spade a spade and a cheater a cheater!

America seriously needed the boost in national pride the Olympics have given us. I’m sick of hearing from liberal socialists how everyone in the world hates America and what a pathetic excuse for a country we are. I don’t see anybody beating down the doors to get into China, Russia, Cuba etc. illegally (or legally) to live their dream life.

Aug 20, 2008 - 10:08 am 11. Mommynator:

Thank you for saying what many of us have been thinking and yelling at the TV.

My husband especially, with the Visa “Go World” thing – yelling, NO! GO USA!!!

These to “anchors” look and act like constipated, badly made up drag queens (and I don’t wish that on any legitimate drag queen).

I was especially annoyed when Usain Bolt won his 100 meter dash the first time, and they kept going on and on about how he was “showboating” and being “inappropriate”.

The man had just broken all records, for pete’s sake! And easily, without any apparent effort! Why shouldn’t he have a little song’n'dance over it? He worked hard and ran hard. Good for him!

I dislike seeing athletes injured during competition – that’s not the happy way to win a medal. Let them all be healthy so we can beat them well if we can.

I’m with the article’s author – train hard, play hard and to win. May the best man or woman win whatever it is.

Oh yeah – GO USA!!!!

Aug 20, 2008 - 10:19 am 12. Roger L Simon:

Say what you will about Kobe. He’s talking the talk AND walking the walk.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olymenbkb21-2008aug21,0,721989.story

Aug 20, 2008 - 10:27 am 13. Dark Helmet:

nbc be pro American? BWAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAAH…… sniff, that IS funny.

Aug 20, 2008 - 10:29 am 14. AJ:

Lampley is a left wing lunatic who writes for the HuffPost and believes Bush stole the 2004 election. Yes, the 2004 election! He has no business on TV. Costas is a noted far left liberal who hates the president and gave a terribly biased interview to him, which Bush graciously accepted and did VERY well with. Viera and Lauer are vapid morons. Who does that leave for patriotism? NBC is run by the far left, as are most networks, but NBC is the worst. Patriotism is the farthest thing from their minds. You’re lucky they dont openly cheer AGAINST America. After all, those with the best lives hate America the most. The PC rubbish in the opening ceremony where they basically whitewashed Saudi Arabia’s and the Muslim world’s treatment of women was blatant hypocrisy.

At least Keith Olbermann is not on too often.

It is worth noting that Collinsworth was likely setting Kobe up. Chris actually donated to the GOP in 2004.

Aug 20, 2008 - 10:30 am 15. Mary B.:

AMEN!!!!

Aug 20, 2008 - 10:47 am 16. CR:

I’ve been watching the Olympics since the beginning without the talking heads and I’m sure happy about that after reading this article and watching the video clip of the Kobe Bryant interview. Those NBC anchors should just stay in China after the games, maybe they’ll find “cooler” things over there.

I’m watching via Vista Media Center and an Xbox 360 so all I get are the games without Kostas and crew, and without commercials. All I’m seeing are pro-American commentators who are former Olympians for the USA. Kostas and crew will eventually fade away, as time passes and more folks look for alternatives to broadcast TV.

Thanks for the article. I would never have known even though I’ve been watching every event.

Aug 20, 2008 - 10:55 am 17. John the Libertarian:

Great article!

Costas and Collingsworth – heck, the whole NBC morning show too – are these spineless jellyfish compared to the heroic young men and women they’re covering. They’re like the losers in high school who always leeched off the motivated kids and tried to make them fail.

Aug 20, 2008 - 11:09 am 18. BackwardsBoy:

Every time they show Bob Costas at the desk, the picture of Mao is right over his shoulder. This tells me everything I need to know about NBC.

Aug 20, 2008 - 11:12 am 19. Jeff Lutz:

My how the pendulum has swung! I remember in 1984, I think, when Kathy Rigby was commenting on the gymnastics and was called an “ugly American,” by some newspaper columnist. Now our commentators can’t even mildly happy that some people love their country.

Aug 20, 2008 - 11:13 am 20. Glen Harness:

I remarked on my own blog over a week ago about the NBC Commentators. As I’ve refined my thoughts over the last few days, this isn’t about “journalism” any more than the radio broadcast of the Tennessee Titans is by the Tennessee Titans Radio Network. The radio play-by-play announcers during the Titans games here in Nashville are not “journalists”. When their team does something good, they cheer for them, they’re excited.

Seems to me this same philosophy could be used with the Olympics broadcasts. NBC’s purpose should be to show American athletes to the American audience. If they don’t want to be cheerleaders, then fine; don’t cheerlead for anyone.

Aug 20, 2008 - 11:26 am 21. Lee Smith:

Dear Melissa Clouthier,

Since you are clearly a fan of sports, it is a little surprising you seem unaware of Cris Collinsworth’s pedigree. Before NBC, he played pro football – not Beckham’s “football,” but the US variety – with the Bengals; before that CC went to the University of Florida, hardly an Ivy institution churning out international progressive anti-Americans, but famous for its all-Americans, like Collinsworth. The idea that CC hates America is silly. What’s next? By subtly encouraging Americans to drive like he does and use more gas, Jeff Gordon is actually a Wahabi front-man and a jihadi accomplice?

Aug 20, 2008 - 11:51 am 22. Melissa:

Roger,

I used to be a Lakers fan…until Kobe. He has talent, I’ll grant him that. He has gone on a charm offensive, I’ll grant him that, too. But to me, he symbolizes what is wrong with the NBA–selfish play and entitlement. Glad he’s helping the U.S. win, though.

And here I am hijacking my own thread. Ha!

Aug 20, 2008 - 11:52 am 23. lee:

I didn’t detect any anti Americanism from NBC. I actually think they’re doing a top notch job.

You guys probably haven’t seen how other more nationalist nations (notably Asian) choose to broadcast the olympics or world cup. They’re a little above cheerleaders, and they offer a list of plausible excuses when the team loses.

The other commentators (especially on gymnastics) have been a bit more enthusiastic on the American progress. Bob Costas is just one man.

Aug 20, 2008 - 12:36 pm 24. Surellin:

Gee, I don’t recall Cris complaining when I cheered for the Bengals (and him) in Riverfront Stadium all those years ago. If it is OK to cheer for a team representing a neighboring city, I would imagine that it is OK to cheer for a team representing my country.

Aug 20, 2008 - 1:16 pm 25. shawnieriver:

Great article and my sentiments EXACTLY. I wasn’t going to watch the Olympics but I couldn’t resist. I’m so proud of our athletes, how every one of them stands straight and tall with hand on heart during the national anthem. I scream and yell for them and show my kids how cool it is to love America. One event that was great that probably not too many people saw was the equestrian show jumping event, which America won in “overtime” beating Canada in a jump off. I love Bella, what a National Treasure! I’m surprised they haven’t silenced him. I’ve never been a Kobe fan, but I have to say my heart has softened towards him. Anyone who loves America is a friend of mine. Go USA!

Aug 20, 2008 - 1:42 pm 26. AnnieB:

I’m watching the Brit coverage.

Great hot classy smart moderator, and the Brits still have the balls to cheer for their team. (Even to say ’stand up – wherever you are – and yell at your TV’ when their guys are on the edge of victory.)

Aug 20, 2008 - 2:07 pm 27. cedarford:

One problem I have is that while it is nice to cheer for an American athlete, Olympics coverage is sometimes driven to boring, mediocre American athletes that producers hope the audience will not notice have zero personality and no chance of winning. And they over-hype a few Americans of true star and medal winning quality and HAVE to inflict all the mawkish, insipid “special human interest” storylines of diseases, endless “swim-mom” reactions, and endless repetitions of bush league broadcast cliche`s . “It’s really importnant she STICK her landing!! said 30 times in one broadcast by the lazy Tim Dagget? No shit, Tim? It’s important in gymnastics? Who would have ever guessed that who hasn’t heard your broken record spiel in the last 4 Olympics??

The other problem is that NBC being America-centric means the best stars in the sports who radiate charisma and are followed ardently by fans of the sport are overlooked by NBC if their “problem” is not being American. People that follow a sport like soccer are far more interested in a Brazil-Argentina men’s match than the dismal US Team and their special diseases, tribulations, and families. The tennis players the world follows most that radiate charisma, are great-looking, and the ones most exciting to watch play are from Spain, Switzerland, Russia, Serbia, Scotland, France, Chile…and the young Aussies coming up. Except James Blake, who is a compelling American figure. The Williams sisters have a low following. Roddick even less.

The other parts of the poor NBC coverage are more explainable.
1. NBC is licking China’s boots and deliberately avoiding embarassing the host at nearly all costs because they think they have to for future market entry into China for NBC and owner General Electric.
2. Overcoverage of American female athletes while male Americans in the same sport get little airtime is admitted by NBC to be deliberate. Both for cheesecake sport designed to attract a young male demographic (female beach volleyball), and more importantly for empathy with female athletes who are coping with being mothers, having inspirational disease storylines – to boost what NBC believes is the unfilled viewer niche of numbers of females in the working or stay at home motherhood class that controls 65-70% of disposable income spent on ads.

Aug 20, 2008 - 2:25 pm 28. love america:

Where’s Jim Mc Kay when we need him. These guys make me sick. Thank G-d for the DVR and the Mute button. America JUST DO IT!

Aug 20, 2008 - 5:00 pm 29. M.A.:

I too used to be a Lakers fan until Kobe – but he redeemed himself quite a bit with his performance during the Olympics. Maybe it’s just that – a performance. But if Collingsworth was teeing it up for Kobe rather than channeling Costas, then that was an even better performance. And if he was teeing it up, then he should say so; because I’m sure there are many like me who won’t be watching any of his Sunday night football analysis for a good long while.

All those tuning out all NBC news shows after the closing ceremonies raise your hand. It will be interesting to see the ratings dive for NBC next week.

Aug 20, 2008 - 5:00 pm 30. Csm:

I have to stick up for Mr. Collinsworth also. Well, sort of. Mr. Collinsworth is one of those people who seems to be unable to phrase anything in positive terms. I am sure that he has nothing but love for the United States but he broadcasts football games it the same discouraging way. He could watch the most amazing athletic feat and still manage to input some criticism. So please try to be so hard on him, he can’t help it.

Aug 20, 2008 - 5:04 pm 31. Sadly, No! » Shorter Dr. Melissa Clouthier:

[...] Above: Chiropractic doctor, not the real kind Dear NBC Olympics Anchors: A Little Patriotism Wouldn’t Kill You [...]

Aug 20, 2008 - 5:35 pm 32. The Rest of the World:

Dear America,

Please shut up.

Sincerely,

The Rest of the World

Aug 20, 2008 - 5:43 pm 33. Acanthus:

“The Olympic team is made up of Americans who are legal immigrants and they retain their heritage while becoming fully cultured Americans. Proud Americans. They are not multicultural. They are unicultural.”

Which basically means they are (or you want them to delude themselves into thinking they are) “colored whites”.

Aug 20, 2008 - 5:53 pm 34. tbogg:

Seeing as Collinsworth is a contributor to the Republican Party (you can look it up… Bunning…Portman) we have to assume that, by extension, Republicans hate America.

Oh, and you’re a nitwit which is probably what kept you out of “real” medical school.

Aug 20, 2008 - 6:17 pm 35. HumboldtBlue:

Yeah, that Collinsworth is nothing more than a simpering, commie-loving, America-hating coward.

Listen to the good Doctor oh America, jingoism is the way to go, otherwise those dirty Chinese are going to gloat, and then gloat some more!!

I think every Olympics segment should have a recording of the national anthem, or maybe a recording of God Bless America playing the whole time just to remind us how much we love merka!

Then we can waterboard those damned NBC operatives and replace them with the crew from Fox and Friedns for some really insightful and penetrating analysis of how fake journalists should always, and I mean always act professionally and cheer for the athletes from the USA. Christ you people are so stupid you make Bush seem like a MENSA member.

Aug 20, 2008 - 6:48 pm 36. Evan:

Not sure if this has been said because I don’t have the time to read the comments, but…

Woman writer, whoever you are, you’re a moron.

1. Nastia Liukin knows Russian because she’s…Russian.

2. Also, as to your little racist snipe about “legal immigrants,” one of the American medalists in wrestling is the son of illegal immigrants.

You stupid.

Aug 20, 2008 - 6:57 pm 37. EnfantTerrible:

Hey, if you want to wallow in the rocket’s red glare of glorious American victory-rama, rent “Miracle on Ice”, or better yet, the entire “Victory at Sea” series. That has a *killer* sound track. Otherwise, it’s time to come to the realization that the U.S. does not have a monopoly on athletic talent. Or virtue or humility for that matter.

Aug 20, 2008 - 7:30 pm 38. EnfantTerrible:

In counterpoint to my previously tart comment, let me offer this: there is a humungous elephant in the room that NBC’s commmenters barely mention: Tienemmen Square. Blood was spilled there in the name of freedom. That blood still cries out for justice. But we can’t be spoiling the party by bringing up that bit of history, can we?

Aug 20, 2008 - 7:37 pm 39. Fred Jones:

man, i am sick and tired of “patriotism”. do you people even know what patriotism is? probably not, but that is ok. live your deluded, dysfunctional little life, and let those of us that are true america-lovers enjoy the olympics.

Aug 20, 2008 - 7:38 pm 40. Dhalgren:

I think Sadly, No! and tbogg have done their part to dismantle this post.

But to drive the point home, consider what the Doctor is saying. She is asserting that NBC is a left-wing organization that doesn’t cheer the USA enough.

This is a network that spent billions for the right to cover the Olympics, and has raised billions in advertising revenue from such anti-American corporations such as GM, parent company GE, Audi SA, Coca Cola, UPS, and other multi-nationals. They have spent most of the commentary and puff pieces on American athletes. Their commentators have often stood-up to defend our athletes (such as when Nastia Liukin missed gold via a convoluted tie-breaker algorithm, or when Jenn Stuczynski’s coach gave her shit for winning the silver – look NBC.com has a story on that!).

And the Doctor here wasn’t paying attention, because NBC doesn’t put a flag graphic in the corner of the screen and chant USA! USA! USA!

What nonsense. Obviously, someone doesn’t ‘know how the world works’ as our president once put it.

Aug 20, 2008 - 7:44 pm 41. Evan:

Dhalgren, my favorite part in the Sadly, No! post was the “Boop boop boop getting bored now.” That, to me, really captured the essence of Ms. Clouthier’s intellect, as well as the fragrant bouquet of Funyuns wafting around her keyboard.

Aug 20, 2008 - 8:01 pm 42. Dark Helmet:

Dear rest of the world,

Pay your own bills and stop looking to us to save your sorry asses.
PS: Until you can act like a grown up nation and stand on your own 2 feet? STFU.

America

Aug 20, 2008 - 8:40 pm 43. Evan:

Hey, Dark Helmet, I just got a card China sent to the United States. It said the same damn thing.

CRAZEE!

Aug 20, 2008 - 9:05 pm 44. JoshA:

Interesting. My main complaint with NBC’s Olympics coverage is that for awhile it seemed as though they thought the most wonderful thing about the Olympics was that President Bush was there, and what a swell guy he is, etc. Just fawning and adoring coverage of an unpopular politican. I’m watching to see American athletes beat the rest of the world, not watch George Bush check out Misty May’s butt.

Aug 20, 2008 - 9:13 pm 45. Sarah:

Uh, telling the world to pay its own bills? What is the country that owes billions of dollars to good folk like the Chinese? You’ve got to be kidding me.

Aug 20, 2008 - 9:15 pm 46. Rachel Peepers:

Melissa Clouthier is spot on.

But the problem goes even deeper than she suggests. That entire NBC crowd, from Brian Williams to the bottom of the journalistic barrel, Keith blame-America-first Olbermann, the NBC Bush-bashing, Obama-loving gang has been drinking the left wing cool aid for years.

Why don’t they root for America in the Olympics?

Because they have an olympic sized, knee jerk antipathy for the red, white and blue, that’s why.

Somewhere along the way, their world views were skewed so far left that their present day definition of patriotism is John Carlos and Tommie Smith giving the 1968 Black Power salute, dishonoring both themselves and their country.

I once heard Bob Costas reference the old joke about the phrase, “military intelligence” being an oxymoron. Well, I have to chuckle when Bob says he can’t overtly cheer for American Olympic wins because he’s concerned about, “Journalistic integrity.”

Which I submit to you, when applied to NBC, is about as journalistically oxymoronic as you can get.

Aug 20, 2008 - 11:54 pm 47. smuggler:

“The NBC reportage brings to mind the tone of Barack Obama, whose take on ignorant Americans not knowing languages has been debunked this Olympics. Kobe Bryant was doing interviews over in China with other countries’ press corps. Kobe spoke fluently in Italian and Spanish. He is just one American athlete who knows more than one language. There are more. The winner of the women’s gymnastics gold medal knows Russian.”
Wow, a guy raised in Italy knows Italian and a gymnast from Russia knows Russian! That really debunks Obama’s point.
Does stupid hurt?

Aug 21, 2008 - 12:46 am 48. tgb1000:

You praise Bryant and Liukin for knowing other languages, which debunks Obama’s statement that learning other languages is a good idea? Huh? And jingoism does not equal patriotism, but then no one expects Pajama Media to recognize this.

Aug 21, 2008 - 3:46 am 49. Steve:

Jingoism, like being proud of your country. Patriotism, hating your country and telling everyone else in the world how awful it is here but strangely never leaving. But hey you support the troops.

Aug 21, 2008 - 4:05 am 50. Andrea Fuzzi:

Many commentators would better be quiet,rather than hyping and inflating the new China.
Somebody is forgetting the burden of the cold war,still alive in the soldiers’ families.
It’s amazing how the Olympic effect is helping McCain,because many Americans are getting tired of Obama’s world kidding

Aug 21, 2008 - 4:48 am 51. syn:

“This is a network that spent billions…”

on air-condtioners set up outdoors to keep Matt Lauder and his cohorts cool while spending additional billions lecturing to THE WORLD just how righteously environmentaly-aware is the NBC Green team.

Such illusions of grandeur can seriously affect reality.

Watching NBC gives me a migrane.

Aug 21, 2008 - 5:02 am 52. Nahanni:

Lee Smith,

And your point is?

Dan Rather is from Wharton, TX and went to Sam Houston State University. Both hardly bastions of Moonbattery yet he became one of the craziest foaming at the mouth Moonbats of all time.

Dear The Rest of the World,

Quit your whinging, grow up and start taking responsibility for yourselves.

While you are doing that you can also take your greedy little mitts off our wallet.

Sincerely,

The United States of America

PS-If the big, bad Bear, the fire breathing Dragon or the crazy Mullahs are at your door do not bother calling us. All you will get is the following recording “The United States is not available right now. If this is an emergency please call the UN.”.

Aug 21, 2008 - 5:57 am 53. Sundown:

Steve,

By your slanders you reveal that it is you who hates this country.

Aug 21, 2008 - 6:14 am 54. Bill:

There were some patriotic sportscasters at NBC but Hillary had them all killed. Wake up, America!

Aug 21, 2008 - 6:37 am 55. Sarcastro:

Exactly Steve. Patriotism is recognizing the failures of your nation and working to make the nation a better place while supporting those who suffer due to its failings. Jingoism is like being proud of your country, but not quite. What you are proud of is a fantasy that does not exist anywhere but in the delusional minds of overgrown children like yourself.

Aug 21, 2008 - 6:45 am 56. The Third Policeman:

Studied nonchalance is one of the key features of American culture, so what are you complaining about? It’s the cowboy manner in myth and one of the essential features of the American personality.

Granted, for high school cheerleading, enthusiasm is the key. But people do grow up and become adults. At least some. One of the few places left where people can demonstrate maturity through action rather than assertion is the field of athletic competition. You are criticizing people for acting sportsmanlike. If you want to behave like a child, so be it, but stop dictating that to others. It’s narcissistic and smacks of social engineering – in other words, as liberal as it gets.

Aug 21, 2008 - 6:52 am 57. oasis:

love love country country best best better than better than proud proud patriotism patriotic patriot America America great great best country better than proud proud support

boring

Aug 21, 2008 - 6:52 am 58. Sue:

It is great that I was not the only one to notice the disparaging remarks about our kids throughout the events I watched. However, stay away from Headline News cable channel for CNN. There is a female anchor that actually makes imbecilic remarks about our kids while giggling or outright laughing. Of course, no sane person watches MSNBC because there its insanity and hatred undiluted.

Aug 21, 2008 - 7:19 am 59. Michael:

If Americans who appreciate their county bothers you so much then go to the better country. I expect I will see you here forever though because you won’t find one.

Being a patriotic American doesn’t mean not seeing the failings in our history, it just means also seeing the successes and our ideals.

Have a nice day.

Aug 21, 2008 - 8:02 am 60. pappy:

general electric and nbc are attached at the hip. as far as the ge part is concerned, there are billions to be made from the sale of technology and hardware such as jet engines and goodness knows what all to china and iran and other bastions of democracy. as for nbc, this area of the twosome is going to the dogs.they are so far left they live in lala land. they screwed up night time football worse then it was by putting teeth overbite on to spew his hatred, chris tingle,mat hand signals, marybeth viagra, cave gregory have nbc on a downhill spiral. ask yourself, where’s mat lower, my answer would be who the hell gives a rats a$$.

Aug 21, 2008 - 8:14 am 61. Jay:

I miss Howard Cosell.

Aug 21, 2008 - 8:27 am 62. MichaelF:

I cannot agree more, but you missed one of the worst reporters/analysts from the whole debacle over there. The announcer for the gymnastics, I’m not sure of his name but I’ve told my wife countless times he ought to just keep his unAmerican behind over there in China and not bother coming back. He seemed ashamed of our young athletes and their accomplishments but thrilled with the Chinese failures and lies. I was beside myself some nights listening to the guy. I hope the whole country gets a chance to read your article.

Aug 21, 2008 - 8:31 am 63. Sundown:

MichaelF,

If everyone in the country viewed the article on this site, the website would crash.

Do you ever think about what you actually type?

Aug 21, 2008 - 9:03 am 64. Dave:

The time delay of NBC coverage is so ridiculous – as fake as the lip synching in the Opening. This morning it was commentary on “tonight’s Women’s Soccer final (US won in extra time in case you haven’t heard), while I was catching the end of the game on TSN. The other day they were broadcasting the 200M men’s semifinal as “news” after I saw the final on CBC.

I find myself rooting for the US a lot in these games, which is unusual. Underdog cheering and repulsion at Chinese sports machine I guess.

Canuck

Aug 21, 2008 - 10:05 am 65. Susan Katz Keating:

I about choked when I watched the smarmy, ever-smirking Collinsworth suggest to Bryant that it isn’t cool to be a patriot. I had a secondary gag reflax when Bryant answered that he wasn’t ashamed of his patriotism. What I realy wanted to hear was dead silence while Bryant stared in gape-mouthed disbelief at such a mocking question. Nevertheless, I was pleased that the hoop-man stood up for his country.

Aug 21, 2008 - 10:55 am 66. hp:

hm. journalistic oxymoron. someone in a journalistic seat bashing, whoops, writing about expecting other journalists to be non-journalistic, i.e. to show any sense of emotion, make that MEDIA BIAS towards the topic at hand.

Aug 21, 2008 - 11:26 am 67. Hoosier X:

Are all conservatives nitwits, or just the ones who know how to write?

Aug 21, 2008 - 11:38 am 68. Stan:

The critics are reading Collinsworth incorrectly, clearly he’s teeing up Bryant’s answers. Collingsworth is anything but the effete liberal he’s being cast as here. Need proof? Just watch how be can barely control coming over the desk to throttle that idiot Olbermann when they appear together during NFL halftime sessions. I’ve met the man, and I can tell you you have him exactly wrong.

Jim Lampley, OTOH, is a full blown moonbat.

Aug 21, 2008 - 11:43 am 69. Hoosier X:

Is there any other reason for you to call Olberamnn an idiot aside from his uncanny knack for seeing through transparent conservative bullshit?

Aug 21, 2008 - 12:00 pm 70. nitpicker:

“The NBC reportage brings to mind the tone of Barack Obama, whose take on ignorant Americans not knowing languages has been debunked this Olympics. Kobe Bryant was doing interviews over in China with other countries’ press corps.”

I’m guessing by the fact you think this debunks anything, you’re not a doctor of philosophy.

Less than 10 percent of Americans are bilingual, while half of Europeans are. John McCain himself voted on a “sense of the Senate” resolution which A) included that statistic; B) said “foreign language study makes important contributions to a student’s cognitive development, our national economy, and our national security; and C) passed unanimously.

Aug 21, 2008 - 1:14 pm 71. gymnast:

It looks like the US women did win the gymnastics after all, If the rules regarding age requirements for competitors are to be enforced. Rogge, the French head of the IOC has indicated that it is not his problem. This is starting to get interesting as NBC, the “Network of the Olympics” seems to actively ignoring the story and in addition to it’s benign indifference to the human right immorality and active cheating by the host country.

NBC seems to find China to be perfect and everything else flawed in comparison. And the USA especially flawed.

Aug 21, 2008 - 2:51 pm 72. Jim:

What pathetic jingoistic whimpering insufferable dolts you all are. Maybe Costas just didn’t dig being manhandled by Karoli. Would you have rather that Bob joined him in a spectacular wrestling match behind the desk? And I had no problem with the infamous (according to you) VISA spot. It was responding to the *spirit* of the games, even if this spirit is somewhat questionable due to politics. But that’s another rant. If you were jonesing for patriotism, Ford had plenty to spare in its own commercials.

Look, this country has lost much of its moral currency thanks to BushCo, whom you all probably voted for. Twice. This is unfortunate and needs to be corrected quickly. I suppose you all think Big Bad John McSame is just the guy for that job. Yeah, right, and where are those WMDs anyway?

Oh, yeah, you boy Junior Bush did in fact steal himself an election.

Aug 22, 2008 - 7:20 am 73. Granny:

Good grief! Bush Derangement Syndrome again. I hope you folks who think our country is SO bad are just teenagers so you will have some time to grow up! If you’re older, please move to Canada or France or England or Russia or Cuba or Venezuela. I’m sure they will be happy to have more America bashers there.
The rest of us are busy raising families, working, making things, and donating our money to good causes and working as volunteers in our communities.
We’re happy to live in this country whether it’s perfect or not.
You mean and hateful folks need a change of venue soon!

Aug 23, 2008 - 10:33 am 74. Charles Hansing:

I enjoy watching Bobaloo Costas. It goes back to the days of the NFL in the 80’s, and definitely the NBA on NBC… the greatest sports telecast ever.
I just hope the hair dye hasn’t gone into his brain and ruined all that great information he has and can say at any moment:
“That was a great play. Do you remember in the 1968 World Series Game 3, which was played under a full moon, that Jimmy hit that pop fly 321.349 feet and it was caught by Billie running at an amazing 3.4 m/s, where no one would have dreamed that Billie would have caught it, but due to the way the grass was cut in the ballpark, it was theoretically possible by only a select few running at the optimum speed, which Billie did”.

Aug 23, 2008 - 5:33 pm 75. Clay Whitford:

“I miss Howard Cosell.”

Yeah, it would have been great to hear “looking at that monkey run” when calling Usain Bolt’s races over and over again.

I don’t think so.

Aug 23, 2008 - 5:36 pm 76. Dark Helmet:

Hey evan & sara,

when the rest of the world isn’t getting hand outs and freebies, when the rest of the world is the back bone and the final say in the military that protects the rest of the weaklings, when the rest of the world ARE THE FIRST ONES TO SHOW UP WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, then you can blather your anti American dribble. Other wise like the headlines said, STFU.But it would take about 100 years of showing up FIRST JUST TO BE EVEN.

Take a look at all the white crosses in europe and everywhere else that Americans died. , there aren’t any here for the rest of the world coming to our aid. So why don’t you STFU and learn how to respect this country. nbc sh*t eaters are never going to teach you anything other than the crap you put out here.

Aug 23, 2008 - 7:50 pm 77. DSH:

Well, in Collingsworth’s defense on being surprised on how well Olympic athletes are representing the USA, he is used to interviewing football players, so to him it good citizenship would be surprising.

Aug 24, 2008 - 12:22 am 78. Ditto:

It’s an interesting discussion. All in all… I was stunned by the beauty of the opening ceremony and underwhelmed by the closing ceremony… and I still want to know why such a big deal was made of the mural that the dancers painted in the former. We were told it would play a major role throughout the games and it did not. Left me scratching my head.

I remember listening to Simon Cowell (sp?) on American Idol one season as he, in absolute bewilderment, came to the startling realization that we Americans can actually be happy when someone else does well and wins. He couldn’t relate to it at all. I was glad for every athlete who did his or her best, without cheating, and earned a medal.

That said… the Chinese cheating was horrible. The judges who couldn’t tell a stuck landing from a balance check were shameful. I had nightmares in which the little 13 or 14 year old Chinese child who won her gymnastics medal illegally was so ashamed she went out and committed seppuku (sp?) over her loss of face. Terrible to put a child in an ethical position like that. She’ll grow up thinking it was fine to lie, as long as she won and got away with it.

The IOC would have jumped all over American athletes who had been in any way less than qualified to be in the games. I guess we take another one on the chin. Still… as Ms. Clouthier said, “The Olympics is about dreams.” And Harry Golden said, “The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work.” We’ll just have to beat them when they cheat, too.

I do think it’s fine for the American reporters to applaud the athletic achievements of the talented competitors from other countries. But Bolt was literally being cheered on by American broadcasters, which I thought was way over the top. Aren’t reporters there to… report? [scratching head] The one guy was cheering so loud for Bolt he about lost his voice!

In some matches the commentators seemed to have a genuine interest in U.S. Gold… Volleyball… Swimming… I wondered how they arrived at the conclusion that it was fine to cheer for our team in those sports. I loved Bela’s enthusiasm and loved Phelps’ mom. I loved all the athletes who didn’t let the idiocy of the media get to them and didn’t let the cheating stop them from being proud of their own achievements.

When did we, as a culture, get this idea that it’s wrong to compete to the best of our ability and to win with a glad heart?

Aug 26, 2008 - 12:33 am 79. bill:

I disagree and thought the focus on “we” throughout strained the credibility of the all American commentators – Cris Collinsowrth sitting there holding Momma Phelps’ hand during the final – come on…and the comment in the mens volleyball final after a pivotal point that the American player knew the point should have gone to the other team because he had improperly touched the bsll, but of course he was not going to say anything, end of story…well wasn’t that what James Blake whined about in his match – that a player didn’t self-correct a bad call? And watch out when you go on and on about other countries cheating – not so long go
there was Marion Jones et al

I always hope for a balanced presentation, but always see a bunch of cheerleaders instead…

Aug 28, 2008 - 1:23 pm

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