Broadcasting of Olympics, Nike Ad

* Regarding the opening ceremonies of the Olympics shown by NBC on Friday: I have never seen such pitiful coverage of the opening ceremonies. NBC should be ashamed of itself, with its horrid commentary, constant commercial interruptions and a terribly rude cutaway from an interview of a local family of a competing Olympic athlete whose legs were almost amputated; it was a complete disaster.

With all of the “proud sponsors” of the Olympics in the U.S., why did we need commercials every seven minutes? I would love to see the “entire dream sequence” with the little actress and the brilliant choreography with no interruptions. Obviously NBC has absolutely no respect for its viewers, who eagerly awaited this evening for months. At least the entrance of North and South Korea as one was not interfered with. That entrance alone was the highlight of the ceremony, along with the lighting of the torch, which finally happened, hours later.

I hope another network broadcasts (or should I say monopolizes the broadcasting of) the next Olympics without constant interference. Wake up, network television, or we’ll all start watching everything on our computers!

MARIE ROBERTS

Los Angeles

*

NBC’s tape-delayed Olympics has all the thrill of a mug of tepid decaf espresso.

JACK I. STONE

LOUISE CLARKE STONE

Sunland

*

Shame on NBC for repeatedly airing a Nike TV ad that depicts a young woman undressing while a masked man looks on with a chain saw in his hand, ready to attack her. She runs out of the house into the woods and escapes him, presumably because she outran him in her feisty Nikes. The ad ultimately (and mistakenly) makes some reference to this assault being “sport.”

When I watch a family sports event, I don’t expect to see a commercial in which a graphic and disturbing act of physical violence toward a young woman is being made light of. I had no warning when the ad came on, and I ultimately stopped watching the Olympics because of it.

From what I understand, the ad has been pulled (Sept. 19). What disturbs me the most is that the ad was even aired in the first place.

BELINDA SWARTZMAN

Westlake Village

*

NBC’s Nike commercial with the slasher chasing the underwear-clad woman scared the daylights out of my 6-year-old daughter and sent her crying from the room. We were making a big deal of the Olympics to inspire her in sports, but this killed it (at least for that night). The commercial was pointless--be an athlete who wears Nike so you won’t get murdered? Or, if you’re not a great runner or won’t pay Nike’s prices, you’re going to be slashed to death next time you get in the bath?

KENNETH J. STIPANOV

San Diego