Beijing Olympics Thread

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

And alot of fourths!!

The IOC needs to add the Nickel Medal.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Yeah, that was a good closing ceremonies... guess all the doomsday prophecies and horrible pollution, etc. were overstated.

Sounds like the games were run extremely well listening to CBC's commentary.

Enjoyed Ron Maclean's appearance there at the end...

Good showing by CAnada for our third best (I think?) performance ever!

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Good showing by CAnada for our third best (I think?) performance ever!

excluding 1984, it's the second best ever (tie with 1992). pretty dang solid for sure. good stuff.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

How did everyone find these Olympics?

China wanted to put on a great show but to me it lacked alot of atmosphere, mostly because of the empty seats in the arenas.

I found these Olympics pretty average. Maybe a little bit better than Athens but definitely worse than Sydney.

I personally thought these olympics were awesome, the best Summer Olympics I've personally ever watched. But then this was probably the first time I've regularly watched it rather than casually watch it. Plus, I'm Chinese so I'm probably just biased.

[browna]

One hope the CBC eventually gets the Olympics back.

Say what you want about the CBC, its Olympic coverage in unmatched, delviered mostly live, and delivered with many many memorable moments over the past couple decades. The opening and closing theme songs...this Olympics, with the great online coverage and picture quality, really hard to match.

TSN/CTV always trys to put a more glitzy, American type spin on things and I am sure it will be no different the next two Olympics...the CBC was homely, if not just comfortable.

1988 here, 1992 Barcelona and 1994 Lillehammer were the last 3 games CTV did...I'd be hard pressed to remember any memorable moments or memorable calls from that crew, other then the 1994 Canada Sweden shootout for the gold. CBC's had better coverage and better announcers and just presented well over the past 20+ years.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by browna

One hope the CBC eventually gets the Olympics back.

Say what you want about the CBC, its Olympic coverage in unmatched, delviered mostly live, and delivered with many many memorable moments over the past couple decades. The opening and closing theme songs...this Olympics, with the great online coverage and picture quality, really hard to match.

TSN/CTV always trys to put a more glitzy, American type spin on things and I am sure it will be no different the next two Olympics...the CBC was homely, if not just comfortable.

1988 here, 1992 Barcelona and 1994 Lillehammer were the last 3 games CTV did...I'd be hard pressed to remember any memorable moments or memorable calls from that crew, other then the 1994 Canada Sweden shootout for the gold. CBC's had better coverage and better announcers and just presented well over the past 20+ years.

I would agree with you for all of CBC's previous olympics except I thought this year's presentation was terrible. CBC just doesn't have the talent anymore. They needed 2 newspersons (Swain and Hanomansing) to cover the anchor positions. The commentators were pretty poor. MacLean was lost during the opening ceremony. Russell's performance in today's closing ceremonies was a disgrace. He explained nothing.

The internet stuff was nice but all the major networks were doing it.
Rogers/CTV is in a much better position now then they were in 1994. and I expect them to do a much better job then CBC did this year.

[Coach]

gotta say...Jimmy Page at the closing ceremonies made me very very happy

[browna]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I would agree with you for all of CBC's previous olympics except I thought this year's presentation was terrible. CBC just doesn't have the talent anymore. They needed 2 newspersons (Swain and Hanomansing) to cover the anchor positions. The commentators were pretty poor. MacLean was lost during the opening ceremony. Russell's performance in today's closing ceremonies was a disgrace. He explained nothing.

The internet stuff was nice but all the major networks were doing it.
Rogers/CTV is in a much better position now then they were in 1994. and I expect them to do a much better job then CBC did this year.

Disagree. Previous hosts were Brian Williams and McLean. Frankly, glad that there was no Williams this time around. His schtick was getting tiring..a guy looking to try and be controversial and who just liked to sit the pot and moreso, liked to hear himself talk, spout opinions, and repeat his opinion multiple times.

Its not like he was a big sports guy recently ..yes he was previous but he did lilttle othe rhten host the CFL pre-game post game the last few years.
Dianna Swain was there to give a female voice in there, but that was Olympic morning...I can't recall who did that previous and the "C" team. I enjoyed the laid back Hanomansing.

I know TSN was just working out of a studio, but Gino Reda was horrible when it switched to him...provided very sterlie coverage.

Didn't see the opening or closing ceremonies on CBC, caught the closing ceremonies on NBC. They were fairly unclear about what was going on, and skipped around and changed the program a bit (Domingo and the Chinese singer were placed at the end).

Not sure who the hosts on CTV/TSN/SNet will be, but Rod Black being the elder statesman will be in there, again likely along with Brian Williams. Black, for anyone who watches him on the CFL or golf or even figure skating will want to poke thier eyes out after the two weeks if he does do any hosting.

CBC seems to have had great ratings this year, much higher then Athens. CTV/TSN/SNet will have a breeze in 2010, being the home country broadcaster and all the scheudling perks that comes with that, and of course having no time zone issues. In 2012 where it'll be easier to judge the job they do.

Also, CBC is the premier broadcaster of amatuer sports and have been for years and years...most weekends on Saturday afternoon, you're watching swimming, Golden League track, swimming, Equestrian from Spruce Meadows, etc etc on CBC, something that TSN/Snet are well behind year in and year out. CBC has those announcers, TSN will either have to contract them out (Rauter and Anber were donw that for boxing this year), or throw in current talent (Jermaine Franklin/Roger Millions) to cover those events...events that they don't cover 202 out of the 208 weeks between Olympics.

Overall, although not the gltziest, solid coverage from CBC as always and although I am sure the TSN group will provide decent coverage, it won't have that same "comfortable" feeling that the CBC has provided every Olympiad since 1996 and previous.

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by browna

Disagree. Previous hosts were Brian Williams and McLean. Frankly, glad that there was no Williams this time around. His schtick was getting tiring..a guy looking to try and be controversial and who just liked to sit the pot and moreso, liked to hear himself talk, spout opinions, and repeat his opinion multiple times.

Its not like he was a big sports guy recently ..yes he was previous but he did lilttle othe rhten host the CFL pre-game post game the last few years.
Dianna Swain was there to give a female voice in there, but that was Olympic morning...I can't recall who did that previous and the "C" team. I enjoyed the laid back Hanomansing.

I know TSN was just working out of a studio, but Gino Reda was horrible when it switched to him...provided very sterlie coverage.

Didn't see the opening or closing ceremonies on CBC, caught the closing ceremonies on NBC. They were fairly unclear about what was going on, and skipped around and changed the program a bit (Domingo and the Chinese singer were placed at the end).

Not sure who the hosts on CTV/TSN/SNet will be, but Rod Black being the elder statesman will be in there, again likely along with Brian Williams. Black, for anyone who watches him on the CFL or golf or even figure skating will want to poke thier eyes out after the two weeks if he does do any hosting.

CBC seems to have had great ratings this year, much higher then Athens. CTV/TSN/SNet will have a breeze in 2010, being the home country broadcaster and all the scheudling perks that comes with that, and of course having no time zone issues. In 2012 where it'll be easier to judge the job they do.

Also, CBC is the premier broadcaster of amatuer sports and have been for years and years...most weekends on Saturday afternoon, you're watching swimming, Golden League track, swimming, Equestrian from Spruce Meadows, etc etc on CBC, something that TSN/Snet are well behind year in and year out. CBC has those announcers, TSN will either have to contract them out (Rauter and Anber were donw that for boxing this year), or throw in current talent (Jermaine Franklin/Roger Millions) to cover those events...events that they don't cover 202 out of the 208 weeks between Olympics.

Overall, although not the gltziest, solid coverage from CBC as always and although I am sure the TSN group will provide decent coverage, it won't have that same "comfortable" feeling that the CBC has provided every Olympiad since 1996 and previous.

Agreed! I think CBC does a fantastic job. Can't say that I am looking forward to CTV doing the Vancouver games. I hoped I am proved wrong, but I don't think anyone can match CBC for the completeness of their coverage, knowledge of events, overall great job.

Was happy as well to see Ron McLean's message. Glad to hear from him.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

^ Hmm, I'll go with 117-95 for the U.S.

wow! you were almost dead on!

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

It's awesome seeing all the athletes come into the stadium randomly and almost mingling with other countries... good stuff!

I would sooo be hanging out with the Swedish girls and/or the Brazilian girls!

[mmanzz]

CBC, great job with the CBC.CA streaming. No announcers needed. I couldn't give a hoot about TV coverage as I'll be in Vancouver in two years and at my brothers place in London for 2012 games. So lets hope the coverage for 2014 and 2016 is all straightened away.

[Fire]

Good thing that the Canadians ended up pretty well or the whiners would have gotten the government to take even more taxpayer dollars to insure we have people that can compete in trampoline at the Olympic level.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Fire

Good thing that the Canadians ended up pretty well or the whiners would have gotten the government to take even more taxpayer dollars to insure we have people that can compete in trampoline at the Olympic level.

I'm not sure if this is a joke or not - you do know trampoline was where we got a medal, didn't you?

Karen Cockburn -Women's Trampoline - Silver

[V]

That dude got silver in trampoline as well, although he obviously deserved the gold. Stupid hometown officiating...

[flamesaresmokin]

Originally Posted by Fire

Good thing that the Canadians ended up pretty well or the whiners would have gotten the government to take even more taxpayer dollars to insure we have people that can compete in trampoline at the Olympic level.

Ya imagine what upping the whole dollar per tax payer per year we give athletes would do to the 18 medals we got this time.

I'd say your time is better spent complaining about tax dollars being wasted in other areas..... i.e gun registry and such.

[troutman]

Jungle Jim Hunter said last week on the Fan 960 that only 3% of athlete funding comes from the Federal Government.

http://www.junglejim.ca/

[mykalberta]

Great writeup be Friedman on CBC - why did the Score let this guy go

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/sportsblog/...get_about.html

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Great writeup be Friedman on CBC - why did the Score let this guy go

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/sportsblog/...get_about.html

He's a pretty smart guy, but The Score "lets go" talent all the time. Watch TSN or Sportsnet and you'll see a ton of their people over there. I don't think they can afford it if another network wants their guys, and secondly, it's HNIC that Elliott went to here...it's not some joe network that he ran off to (though it's run like it). It's a one in a lifetime opportunity and I'm sure the pay isn't that bad either.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by flamesaresmokin

Ya imagine what upping the whole dollar per tax payer per year we give athletes would do to the 18 medals we got this time.

I'd say your time is better spent complaining about tax dollars being wasted in other areas..... i.e gun registry and such.

Saying there are other sources of tax dollar waste doesn't excuse the waste of tax dollars supporting elite amateur athletes to boost our national ego for a couple of weeks every two years.