NBC and the Olympics

Please, Howard Rosenberg, as our last hope, save us from the worst coverage of a televised sporting event since the beginning of time (“Respect May Be Delayed for a Bit,” Sept. 18). Only your sharp tongue might be able to so embarrass NBC--while there’s still time--so that they’ll change their ways.

Not only do we have to listen to the endless, mindless jabber of their Olympics commentators and hosts, but because NBC doesn’t think we’re smart enough, or sensitive enough, to find the drama in these various events, they have to manufacture it for us.

I don’t want NBC’s “creative” look at the competition. I don’t want them forcing their choices on me as to who are the most charismatic or best-looking athletes, or whose life was more traumatic. And please, spare me the glamour shots! Why do they insist on trying to make scrawny teenage girls look like vamps?

MATTHEW WILSON

Studio City

Thank you for writing what many people are expressing verbally on a regular basis: that the coverage of the Olympics is jingoistic in the extreme. It should be noted, however, that this is true of American TV coverage of most, if not all, international sports events.

As an avid skier and sports enthusiast, I am tired of watching coverage of alpine World Cup events (such as it is) and seeing only the performance of the winner, and the American participants who ended up in 25th, 37th and 54th place.

It is so bad that, during the Winter Olympics in 1994, my wife and I chose to travel to Europe to watch the superb coverage of the events on the Eurosport channel! We intend to do the same thing in 2002.

GUNNAR GREEN

Ventura

*

There are quite a few angry Americans in Orange County as a result of that coverage on opening night.

What did you think of the band? You know, the Olympic Band. The band of over 2,000 student musicians, including about 400 from Orange County. Oh, you missed the band? So did we. NBC didn’t have enough time to show more than a glimpse of the students who worked for two years to prepare and raise money for this one-night stand. The biggest source of my irritation is that we parents (can you tell I’m a parent?) were not allowed to videotape any of the rehearsals, in order to preserve the secret. Well, I think the secret is still safe. My daughter came home, having experienced the trip of a lifetime, and asked to see the tape of herself in Sydney. Oops.

MARC MARTIN

Placentia

*

I usually don’t watch Fred Roggin; however, due to the Olympic coverage, I have been watching the KNBC news at midnight. As Roggin starts to announce Olympic results that have not been shown yet, he tells people to hit the mute button if they do not want to know. KNBC then shows a graphic showing what Roggin is talking about!

MICHAEL JOHNSON

Bellflower

*

Maybe if NBC would curb some of those boring personality profiles and interviews, we may actually get to see some of the Olympic Games. The coverage is awful. The commentary is tedious.

IAN BERNARD

Santa Ynez

*

I hope another network broadcasts (or should I say monopolizes) the broadcasting of the next Summer Olympics without constant interference. Princess Diana’s funeral (which was about six hours in total) was not interfered with. Someone had a little respect that day. The entire world watched and taped that event as well, sad as it was.

Wake up, network television, or we’ll all start watching everything on our computers!

MARIE ROBERTS

Los Angeles