http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2008-07-15-mike_N.htm

NBC rings out its Olympics announcers

 

NBC's Beijing coverage, which will use 2,900 on-site workers, will use 106 broadcasters who'll be formally announced today. They range from famous faces to TV rookies to TV vets expanding their horizons. NBC and its cable TV channels will air about 3,600 total hours, including 2,900 live hours.

•Rookies: Past stars — NBC's roster won 42 Olympic medals — making their Olympic TV debuts include wrestling's Rulon Gardner, volleyball's Kevin Barnett, soccer's Brandi Chastain, sprinter Ato Boldon, distance runner Ed Eyestone and gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi. NBC coordinating producer Molly Solomon says recruiting wasn't exactly scientific: "We stumbled on (Stanford synchronized swimming coach) Heather Olson. When we put her in the booth for an audition, it's like she'd done TV for 10 years."

Ron Vaccaro, an assistant to NBC's head Olympic programmer who moonlights as a radio announcer for Yale football, helped out on play-by-play for analyst auditions. He did so well he'll call modern pentathlon and race walking.

•The gamers: Tim Ryan, lead alpine skiing analyst for the past five Winter Games, works his eighth Olympics — but it's his first on rowing and canoeing play-by-play. Says Solomon: "He's thrown himself into the assignment more than any other announcer. It's like a kid who wants to get it right."

Craig Masback, who left TV to head USA Track & Field and is now a Nike "global" marketer, will be a marathon analyst — perhaps noting key footwear.

Longtime NHL analyst Bill Clement played badminton growing up and called the sport at the 2004 Games where, says Solomon, he "fell in love with table tennis." In Beijing, she says, he'll analyze badminton, table tennis and shooting — "he said, 'I'll do anything you want.' "

For Cris Collinsworth, an NBC NFL analyst, the idea is to do anything. Solomon says. Collinsworth, who covered 1996 Olympic track, will be a reporter with an "unlimited pass to go wherever he wants."

Most of the biggest roles go to returnees — NBC afternoon host Jim Lampley will have a record 14th Olympic assignment. But NBC's Al Michaels, who famously raised belief in miracles for the 1980 U.S. hockey team, won't be in Beijing.

Hello, Papa:

The NFL Network today announces that New York Giants radio announcer Bob Papa will be its new play-by-play announcer with Collinsworth on its eight regular-season NFL games. Papa, who also will call Olympic boxing for NBC, replaces Bryant Gumbel.