Paul Oberjuerge: The Peacockers Just Kill Me
We don't listen to NBC commentators, over here, and it's probably a good thing. But NBC flacks flood our "in" baskets with self-congratulatory e-mails every morning.
At least one of them contains what the PR department considers "bons mot" from their talking heads. These two, below, made me laugh.
COSTAS AND JIMMY ROBERTS ON BENJAMIN RAICH:
COSTAS: "This may come as a shock to some Olympic observers, but there are actually skiers of interest who are not named Bode Miller."
ROBERTS: "Safe to say that in the run-up to these Games, no one has gotten more attention than the current World Champion Bode Miller ... but, if someone brought up the name Benny Raich at a cocktail party, most people would likely have no idea who he is. FYI--he's the guy who is running away with this year's World Cup title."
Hey, what the ... WAIT A MINUTE! NBC gabblers have ZERO right to get snotty about Winter Olympians who haven't gotten their due -- BECAUSE NBC ITSELF IS IN CHARGE OF CREATING CULTS OF THE PERSONALITY.
They've done it with a handful of people, and maybe the Peacock Network is getting upset the folks they flogged the most -- Bode, Ohno, Kwan, to name three -- haven't delivered here so far. And may not.
For NBC guys to imply some other outside force -- like, what, American print media? The Bush Administration? FEMA? -- is the driving force for name recognition at a Winter Olympics ... well just take that stuff OUTTA here.
Americans wouldn't know Bode Miller from Dennis Miller if NBC hadn't told them over and again. If American viewers don't know who "Benny" Raich is, it's because NBC didn't get around to telling them until Bode started screwing up. Bob Costas, at least, ought to know better. Americans just do not follow World Cup skiing.
Geez.
Next thing we know, NBC will be complaining about Ohno being overhyped. Wasn't he the guy they were touting for 4-5 golds at Salt Lake, and he delievered one?
NBC can't have it both ways. If you're going to use your airtime and pub machine to build up someone, don't start blaming "them" if viewers don't know who the hell someone else might be.
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