Sports News
Kenny Albert and A.J. Mleczko nailed it for the network at the conclusion of Team USA’s win in women’s hockey, and Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski, and Johnny Weir let Alysa Liu’s gold-medal figure skating speak for itself.
During some of the most compelling moments of the Milan Cortina Olympics, NBC Sports’ broadcasters have had the grace to recognize that silence is also golden.
That was especially apparent Thursday, the most satisfying day of the Games so far. When Megan Keller scored the gold-medal-clinching goal 4:07 into overtime to give Team USA a 2-1 victory over Canada, play-by-play voice Kenny Albert nailed the call.
“Nice move,” Albert exclaimed as Keller dangled past a Canadian defender, “Cuts to the net . . . scooooore! Megan Keller! The overtime hero! United States wins gold in Milan!”
Then Albert and color analyst A.J. Mleczko did the proper and disciplined thing. They let the moment breathe. Neither said a word for 15 seconds while the camera captured the emotion of the scene — a euphoric swarm of Team USA players engulfing Keller, the limp and devastated players on the Team Canada bench, and fans of both teams in the stands.
Mleczko broke the silence necessarily, in order to break down a replay of Keller’s goal. The whole live scene could not have been handled better by Albert, Mleczko, and the NBC production crew.
Not much later, figure skating play-by-play voice Terry Gannon and analysts Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir were similarly willing to let a beautiful moment breathe — and they actually did it when the event was unfolding.
Someone — I wish I could remember who — pointed out recently that Lipinski and Weir, known for their witty banter, tend to say less the more they appreciate a performance.
That strikes me as true. And it seemed apparent during their call of Alysa Liu’s exuberant gold-medal-winning performance in the women’s singles free skate.
Weir and Lipinski both spoke early in Liu’s skate, primarily reiterating what to expect from the 20-year-old athlete, who had walked away from the sport at age 16 and returned two years later, vowing to emphasize the joy in performing.
“She said, ‘I don’t need a medal. I just need to be here and show people what I can do,’ ” said Lipinski in the first seconds of Liu’s routine. “What she doesn’t know, if she does that, it probably means a medal.”
And then, following a brief Weir comment, the broadcasters did not say a word for 90 seconds. Lipinski finally spoke 2:20 into Liu’s routine, starting her thoughts by saying, “She is so relaxed.” A few seconds later, Weir added, “Honestly, two more jumps between her and the Olympic podium.”
And again, silence. Not a single word through the end of Liu’s joy-radiating routine. Gannon finally spoke 12 seconds after Liu, beaming and cheered raucously by the crowd, finished her routine. “A script that would have been rejected as far-fetched,” he said.
It was the perfect way to call a moment as it became legendary in real time, and the restraint shown in both of Thursday’s events is admirable. Ego can get in the way, and some broadcasters act like they’re getting paid by the verb. Anyone who ever heard Howard Cosell call anything knows it hasn’t always been this way.
I don’t know if it’s a directive from the higher-ups at NBC Sports to avoid overtalking as a memorable moment is playing out. It would make some sense. I do know that Albert and Mleczko, and then Gannon, Lipinski, and Weir, rose to the occasion in their roles just as the athletes did in front of them.
Providence leads Super Bowl watchers
NBC and Nielsen Media sent around some final viewership data this week from the Patriots’ 29-13 loss to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Providence was the top market nationally in terms of rating (51.2), while Boston was third (47.5) and Seattle fifth (46.2). Share-wise, Seattle was first (95, meaning that 95 percent of the televisions in use in the market were tuned in to the game), while Portland, Ore., was second (87). Providence tied Austin, Texas, for third (86), while Boston was fifth (84). The channel may have changed in a few local households late in the game . . . CBS announced that Nate Burleson will host NCAA Tournament coverage for men’s basketball during the first two weeks of March Madness. Ernie Johnson is taking a step back from the role, but will be back to host the Final Four in Indianapolis . . . Sunday night’s Celtics-Lakers matchup on NBC should have some huge ratings given that the 6:30 p.m. game is the precursor to the 9 p.m. prime-time version of the Closing Ceremony from Milan. The Closing Ceremony airs live earlier in the day at 2:30 p.m. as well, with Gannon, Lipinski, and Weir hosting. Maybe NBC should have them call an NBA game sometime. Hey, Gannon was a sharpshooter for Jim Valvano’s national-champion North Carolina State team in 1983. Not sure if Weir or Lipinski also played college hoops, but I’ll look into that.
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