I really like Bob Costas...

[devilgrrl]

because he's not your average jock jerk-off sports announcer like wingnut Al Michaels but tonight's Olympic commentary is killing me. Team Malta comes out and he starts going off on 'The Maltese Falcon' and Humphrey Bogart... :wtf:

[Ediacara]

1. He's like Adam Corola

to Katie Courek's Dr Drew....

I wanted to kill Corola, and I want to kill Costas....

[kiahzero]

10. Couric was talking about the "prospect" of genocide in Sudan

Costas clued her in that it's not exactly a "prospect" at this point. He also referred to Saudi Arabia as a "nominal ally" of the United States.

[DrWeird]

2. I can't believe the guy's still on TV.

He's worse than listening to Madden for six hours.

[lapfog_1]

3. Some of the most inane blather I've ever heard.

What a tool. Timbuktu? Casablanca? Jeez, someone get this idiot
a UN fact sheet or some facts about individual athletes or something!

[devilgrrl]

5. Too bad Comedy Central didn't do Olympic coverage...

there's so many ways to make the opening ceremonies knee-slapping hilarious.

[Tahoe Mom]

4. Christ...

even Jim McKay's shaky turn during the Nagano games puts Costas to shame.

BRING BACK ABC AND REAL SPORTS TALENT!!!!!!!!!!

[truebrit71]

6. Bob Costas is an annoying little gnome...

I have the good fortune of being able to watch it on NBC-HD with Al Trautwig and Mary Something-or-other and the commentary was sparse and informative when made...they let the pictures do the talking...

That's the problem with modern commentators they think if they're not talking they're not doing their job..I still recall the 1984 games in L.A. on ABC when Peter Jennings basically told Jim McKay to shut up during the opening ceremony because he was yapping over everything...

Then of course there's Costas' inevitable "you can't shake Djabuti" joke....:eyes:

All in all too much yapping on the network..better to watch it on High-Def if you have it...much better commentary and unbelievable pictures and sound...

[buycitgo]

11. I listened for a few seconds of babble and muted it

the ceremony was amazing good!

especially the face that came out of the pool, then turned into a fricking Dali mobile/cum Russian egg/cum 'levitated' Marcel Marceau state in midair

STUNNING!

and how beautiful was Bjork's song, with the dress that covered the entire compliement of athletes, complete with a map of the world on top

hope they have a tape, without the idiots' yamjob

sound off is the way I watch many things: Bush, Condi, Cheney....lots of THEM (Powell is the BEST liar). Even Sibel Edmonds. she's even more compelling without the sound: easy grace, sense of honor combined with outrage. if you have a tape of her, try playing it without sound

[devilgrrl]

7. What's the deal with all the friggin' commercials?

"Here we have the Ukrain... now Uruguay...and Pakistan... let's cut to a commercial."

[truebrit71]

9. No kidding!!!

They cut to a commercial, come back run through the countries they missed and then went to commercial again!!! Very frustrating...

[2Design]

8. I can't stand his inappropriate remarks and judgements

about costumes or what people are wearing, or evolution and the symbolism portrayed by the designers of the opening ceremony's or comments on the costumes of the athletes. He just says such really poor taste comments. He reminds me of the right in his comments


I just sent this note to nbc

I was very sorry to see the return of Bob Costas. He
makes many inappropriate remarks and judgements about
costuming or what the athletes are wearing among other
things.

I truly disliked his commentary on past olympics. If I
had another station to tune into I would.

Please replace him or get him to keep his mouth close
if he does not have something nice to say.

I would prefer they give the facts about the history
or the cermony or the symbolism, even athlete
background but no more.

Eileen

[Sloppyfourths]

12. Yeah, he was lame

Did he really think his juvenile wit ADDED to the opening ceremonies?

Egotistical boor.

[stopbush]

13. He and Couric absolutely suck!

They needed to have a couple of announcers with an artistic bent for the ceremony. Maybe Phil Liggett from OLN or some other Brit announcer with an appreciation for culture. I half expected Costas to make some remark that "those guys look like they came in through the back door." Am I wrong, but isn't Costas a Greek name?

When the Parade of Nations began, it got worse. Costas and Couric made the typical expected remarks about the Iraq team (reference to torture and Uday Hussein having been the head of their OC) and Qatar ("that's where the US command operations are based for Operation Iraqi Freedom"). And, that's all you stupid Americans watching need to know about those countries! I didn't hear any references to countries that start illegal wars, nor did I hear mention of Abu Gahrib Prison when the US team was introduced. If we're going to mention torture when the Iraqis are introduced, why not mention US-approved torture when the USA team is introduced?

I hate Al Michaels and his whiney, nasal voice too. Maybe the lousy announcers are the reason I don't watch sports.

[poliguru]

14. To be fair...

what would YOU say if you were expected to comment on every nation in a parade that lasts for hours?

I think that Costas, although he can sometimes let off some bombs, is generally one of the more thoughtful sports commentators - he's generally up on current events and is not particularly obnoxious. But then again, it's a matter of opinion.

You have to at least admit he's better than the Gumbels.

[jmags]

15. What would I say? Nothing. I'd let the beaty of the ceremonies

speak for themselves. Usually I think Costas is one of the better announcers in the sports world. But tonight, as they are doing the Olympic opening ceremonies, they treated it like their commenting on the Sheboygan Labor Day parade.

[poliguru]

16. Yes, but

I think he's expected to comment. It's in his job description. He's not really allowed to just sit there quietly.

[RummyTheDummy]

18. I tend to agree

No fan of Costas (although this thread makes me like him more, simply because everyone else seems to want him burnt at the stake)but I think he did okay. Certainly better than he's given credit for here.

Lets face it, some people on DU would ONLY be happy if it were Rhandi Rhodes or Mike Malloy doing the commentary while pointing out all the little political idiosyncrasies of each country.

Take a break from the campaign and get over yourselves.

[Skittles]

17. I thought he stunk up the Olympic opening ceremonies

with his stupid, insipid comments.