So here's what I'm thinking.
Apparently, volleyball is an incredibly popular sport in the USA. So popular, indeed, that NBC feels that the millions of folks who tune in during prime time Olympic coverage want to see volleyball much more than they want to see the American gymnasts, or even
Michael Phelps.
Here's how I know this must be true. It's twelve hours later in China, right? So everything that NBC is set to air in the evening is already said and done. That means they are free to pick and choose anything to air at any time.
Half a world away all of the tense moments, heartbreaking finishes or dream-come-true medal presentations are now the stuff that dreams are made of. Everyone is sleeping...or just having tomorrow's morning coffee...or protein shake.
Now, all the little boys and girls across America who participate in their local gymnastics teams or swim for local swim teams only have two or three hours, tops, before Mom or Dad send them packing off to bed. Remember, just like Denver, lots of kids are already on school-night schedules. They can't stay up until 10 or 11 p.m. to catch their favorite sport, no matter how much build-up
Bob Costas gives it, or how much the sponsors have paid for the ads that run at 10:45 p.m. right before Phelps' final race of the day.
Sure, those cynical readers out there might think NBC would deliberately withhold our Olympic opium until the latest possible moment, thereby milking every last conceivable dime out of their sponsors while depriving some of those sports' more avid fans-indeed, their future participants-of the thrill of watching the actual events as close to live as the average American will see them.
They might think NBC could hardly care less that millions of American adults are staying up late while rising at the same early times to go begin their days with Olympic sized cases of sleep deprivation.
Frankly, I'm disappointed by such a jaded viewpoint. Clearly, it's not all about the bikinis; volleyball is the new American pastime. I know you thought that was baseball, but the folks at the Olympics, who didn't deem baseball "sport" enough to include it in this year's events, have already set us straight on that one.
What were we thinking?
It's all about volleyball now, so popular that NBC feels compelled to air it early and often, lest they risk their viewers' ire. I for one am happy to know the
National Broadcasting Company is looking out for us.
Frankly...yawn....I don't know where they find the strength!