We’re into the final day of competition, but first let’s catch up on last night…
- Another video package?? At least this one is about a current athlete—Steve Holcomb’s experimental vision surgery that saved his career.
- Ski announcer Todd Brooker on Ted Ligety’s failed slalom run: “A lot of mistakes at the start...not a really good way to get going.” Thanks for that expert commentary.
- We got an “agony of defeat” moment from one of the Canadian Bobsled teams—they rolled their sled in a turn, then slid mostly upside down for the rest of the course. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt.
Coming around the clubhouse turn...
- We begin with more Hockey—in this case, the gold medal game. After a half hour pre-game, it’s time for more fast forwarding.
- Al Michaels is kicked out of the Fortress on his last day in favor of Dan Patrick. Perhaps he had a plane to catch.
- Prime time begins with—a documentary about the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding debacle. I think it’s extremely cynical for the Peacock to produce this travesty which looks like it was lifted from Inside Edition.
- Ah—Michaels was pulled from afternoon coverage so he could host the Closing Ceremony along with Cris Collinsworth, both comfortable covering sports on Sunday night. Not the people I would pick to describe a mostly artistic presentation. Fortunately, Pozner came along for the ride.
- The Closing Ceremony begins with—aw, not the little girl again!
- Vertical fluorescent bulbs, a boat in the air, and people running wearing tinsel clothing—you figure it out. It is a cool effect, though.
- The US athletes wisely chose to change out of their ugly Chistmas sweaters for their final appearance.
- After the QISE flag handoff, we get the South Korean presentation. Very pretty, if perplexing—human birds, trees of light…
- As the QISE flame goes out, the Russkies close out the ceremony with some big-ass mirrors and giant mascots in the stadium. Is this weird enough for you, folks?
Well, that about does it. See you in Rio!