Why is rascl@@t NBC Ignoring Usain Bolt???????

Check out this article by Chris Chase on Yahoo sports Olympic coverage blog Fourth Medal ......





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Usain Bolt picked a bad night to run the most electrifying 100 meter race in Olympic history. As Michael Phelps' eighth gold medal dominated television coverage, Internet sites and newspaper headlines in the United States on Saturday night, Bolt's scintillating 9.69 was buried as a second story. Normally the premiere race of every Games, the men's 100 final received scant domestic publicity despite it's historic, thrilling result.
Clearly, the 12-hour time difference played a huge role in the under-coverage of Bolt's feat. While Michael Phelps' races garnered live coverage on NBC (because it was competed in the morning in Beijing), Bolt's wasn't shown until nearly 13 hours after its completion. Even then, it felt like an afterthought to Phelps' eighth gold medal swim.
NBC is said to be worried about post-Phelps ratings for these Olympics, yet they squandered the opportunity to turn Bolt into their second-week star by dumping his race in the outer-reaches of primetime and then giving it no notice on yesterday's broadcast. Bolt's speed, charisma, youth and good looks make him a prime candidate to be the breakout star of these Games. The Peacock Network is more concerned with squeezing every last ounce of coverage out of Michael Phelps though. (Not that I blame them.)
Bolt will have the stage to himself on Wednesday when he runs the 200 and is expected to challenge Michael Johnson's 12-year old world record. Hopefully he'll get the coverage he deserves.







There were over 1600 replies to this story, and of course everyone is not going to agree.Here are some comments about NBC's coverage:

"The Olympics is not the American Olympics, it is about the world coming together, despite differences to compete. America is not the only country in the world, so NBC should provide coverage of all other countries competing. I am sorry for all of you who only think of America. The biggest does not mean the best."

"It's fine to want coverage of american athletes, but the point of the olympics is global unity, and when michael phelps has finished his olympic run for these games, move on. just because some athlete is from another country doesn't mean his (huge) achievements shouldn't be recognized and given the attention they deserve. it's attitudes like modern's that make the world such a divided place today."


"I thought he got plenty of coverage, I saw the replay of the race along with his overzealous, chest beating celebration many times over the weekend. The announcers practically even gave him the race in all the preliminary stuff as well. The Jamaican girl who won last night was interviewed by American announcers for NBC, you don't see us interviewing the winning Chinese gymnasts do you?? This blog post is just playing up the whole American propaganda angle to try and spur up controversy and debate, and the whole "racial" spin is even worse. Clearly its working..."


"Bolt ran a spectacular race and left the field seemingly standing still !! As a proud American and a former track athlete, I have to wonder if we are having a problem with truth. That track is no longer dominated by American sprinters. Give all the olympians their time to shine no matter where they are from because no matter where you go in the world you will find that group in America as well."


Yahoo was criticized as well:


"Yahoo is one to talk. This story is playing second fiddle to Michael Phelps eating junk food! Yahoo needs to point the mirror at itself. They are just as guilty of putting so much emphasis on Michael Phelps as NBC is"


Speaking of, he did get many comparisons to Phelps, especially when it come to his attitude. I'm really surprised to see so many people hating on Bolt for his "cockiness" "arrogance" being a "neanderthal", some are upset that he slowed down at the end when he could have run hard all the way through and had an even better time. I think Phelps is just as competitive as Bolt and he did dome fist pumping too ,allbeit after his race, but he's no St Michael.

"hey if i just blew away my competition, i would celebrate just like he did. He blew everyone out of the water. Ha that was classic"

"Usain Bolt rules!!!!!!!! Did you notice how NBC hardly covered the men's and women's 100m race? Bolt smashed the field while the Jamaican women swept the 100m. Maybe that's why Rodney. Pehlps is quiet and humble? Is that why he was screaming like a maniac at his competitors in the relay and in the 100m fly? No wonder there is a Michael Phelps backlash taking place right now."

"I think it was the most stunning individual event of the games so far because he not only smashed the world record but could've gone much faster. Very exciting prospect, he definitely deserved more coverage."

"Who cares about Bolt? He is an egotistical showboat who only cares about himself. He could have run faster but was too busy celebrating to give it his best effort."

"Gee, uh let me take a wild guess--Phelps is white and Bolt is black maybe???? Not taking anything away from Michael Phelps who is incredible, I also watch Bolt win the 100 meter and it was electrifying..."

"Bolt's victory was amazing and all, but there's no way it was going to get more viewing or coverage than that of Michel Phelps, I personally read about his victory and thought it was great that was it, in all honesty it was not as exhilarating and breath taking as Phelps"

They even talk about his mama:

"And then you see his trash mom in the stands and she is literally running people over. Quite literally. I like my heroes with a bit of cockiness, but this ego is world ass... I mean class.. and his mom has no dignity."


"Also watching his mother trying to get through the crowd to be closer to her son was touching. NBC should pay attention to this superstar in the making. "

And here was the funniest line to me LMAO: "Ouick, someone please pass USA track and field athletes some steroids!"

MY TAKE: NBC did show his race and did show a mini doc featuring the rivalry between Bolt and Asafa Powell, and coverage of the impact of the race on Jamaica. I saw the race just cause it was playing on the television where I was. For the average American or word viewer for that matter who is not too familiar with Bolt, yes NBC could definitely have featured him more, waay more......But here is my next question......

Why (4 time Olpmic Medalist) Ato Bolden cannot rep for TNT??????

When Richard Thompson won the silver, I thought he would say something like "My fellow Trinidadian" "doing our island of Trinidad proud"....sports casters are known for being opinionated so knowing thathe has Trini roots I kind of expected that and to not hear it (unless I missed it) kind of deflated him in my eyes. He still look good under that red jacket though!