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Daily Results from Sunday, September 17
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 Highlights and Lowlights
- I think I owe Al Trautwig an apology. Yesterday I called for his head because his saccharin prose marred my enjoyment of the women's triathlon. But after hearing Harry Smith's call of men's triathlon on Sunday, I realize instead it's the writers who should be fired. Or better yet, make them swim the first leg through Sydney Harbor while simultaneously choking down that overbearing, pompous blather they made me listen to. NBC effectively took what could have been the coolest event in the Olympics and turned it into the "Tour de France hosted by John Tesh." And no, John Tesh hosting something is NOT a good thing.
- I'll bet you didn't know there were only two weightlifting competitors in the entire games. Well, that's what NBC would have you believe. "Pocket Hercules" and some other guy. Aren't they cute widdle bodybuilders? Yes they are! Yes they are! Cootchie-cootchie! I hope "Pocket Hercules" finds whoever produced this spot and rips his arms off.
- Hey! We got a 90-second bit of fluff on Nadia Comaneci! Gosh, she was just an Olympian 24 years ago. Thank goodness we didn't waste that time covering current events.
- The swimming coverage is so good it just makes everything else look worse by comparison.
- "GM Presents Olympic Moments, hosted by Jimmy Roberts." GM, this was another 420 seconds I considered buying a Ford. A really fascinating piece on the famed Sydney Opera House which has absolutely nothing to do with the games themselves, other than NBC using it in every promo shot. Jimmy Roberts and GM are both on my "naughty" list at Christmas. Nothing but coal for them.
- The gymnastics coverage is generally pretty good, but the announcers really need to consult a thesaurus and find another word to use besides "devastating."
- Tom Brokaw narrated a story that was longer than all but two event-segments in Sunday's coverage. It was about how John F. Kennedy was helped by Australians in World War II, none of which, by the way has anything to do with the Olympics. C'mon, Tom. Produce a "Greatest Generation" miniseries; we'll watch it. Write a third "Greatest Generation" book; we'll read it. But don't waste my Olympic coverage like that.
- Also, the gymnastics commentators tend to fall into cliches way too often. "(They) really need to stick landings in team competition." As opposed to all the other times, when landings don't matter? If you're not insightful, don't speak.
- Finally, I already hate "Ed." A lawyer in a bowling alley. Great. I'm so enthralled. What especially turns me off is their blatant ripoff of a Molson's ad, and how, unlike the beer commercial, the "Ed" version isn't even slightly funny.
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