We have been truly enjoying the NBC coverage of the Athens Olympics, especially the men’s and women’s gymnastics announcers: Al Trautwig, Elfie Schlegel, and Tim Daggett.
Although we must give credit to Tim and Elfie for explicating the intricacies of judging, it is Al we love. Each night, Al’s ardent passion for the sport and its athletes tumbles onto the scene in a series of impromptu, heart-on-his-sleeve commentary. He is exuberant, emphatic, and (unintentionally) hilarious.
The women’s team competition is a fierce battle for the gold medal, despite the appearances of pixie-esque athletes with their be-glittered faces and petite figures. Towering above the traditional forms of women’s gymnastics is Svetlana Khorkina, a reknowned Russian competitor, who looks more suited to the ballet barre than the uneven parallel bars with her ridge-pole thin body and elegant movements.
Al extols the virtues of Svetlana by uttering, “Svetlana always seems like she’s putting on a performance … Because she probably is.”
Well said, Al.
Al’s mates in the announcer’s box, Elfie and Tim, are gymnasts from National and Olympic record books who gently attempt to school Al’s understanding of the sport with the use of subtle innuendo over blatant declaration. However, sometimes underscoring the obvious is the best (and only) way to get through to Al (and us) …
During the women’s team final, American gymnast Mohini Bhardwaj was a last minute substitute for another injured gymnast on the balance beam. Mohini had to come up with an eleventh-hour routine and “stick the landing” in order to save the American team a medal.
As we’re watching Mohini dust the chalk from her hands, Al empathetically says, “What a spot to be in.”
Tim dead-pans with, “Yeah, it’s like worst-case scenario, Al.”
But perhaps unlike Tim and Elfie, we actually enjoy Al’s presence in these Olympic Games.
Here are some highlights of Al’s Best Comments:
Later during the men’s individual all-around, the announcers watch a Chinese gymnast take a spin on the pommel horse …
Tim says, “This is incredible”
Al replies, “It’s like he’s got bird bones!”
Giggles ensue … Bird Bones Comment gets a 9.5 for surprising, non-conformist simile comparing of athlete to bird on prime time television.
Other winners …
Observing a young American athlete work a few push-ups on the sidelines after a particularly trying rotation on the rings, Al shouts at the besieged gymnast a la boot camp, “That was not good enough, get down and give me two!”
About a Korean gymnast’s taped bicep Al comments, “That tape job on his left arm looks like you need an erector set.”
As the Chinese women enter the arena to compete in the team final, Al waxes quixotic with “The cute meter is officially broken, guys.”
Al’s celebratory statement following Paul Hamm’s excellent gold-medal winning routine on the high bar: “The air went out of the balloon and with those mighty lungs from the American Midwest he filled it back up.”
Hmmm … What does he mean?
Love, admiration, and passion for a sport he does not understand. It’s wonderful …
I think Frew Willard had commentators like Al in mind when he created the role of Buck Laughlin in "Best in Show."
Buck: "Now tell me, which one of these dogs would you want to have as your wide receiver on your football team?"
or
"And to think in some countries these dogs are eaten."
yes, al is funny, but i am still a huge fan of bob costas' suave demeanor.
Posted by: Pam at August 20, 2004 11:47 AMHow are you liking Crossing Mr. Morgan?
Posted by: mac at August 22, 2004 10:10 PMI'm loving it, Mac. I've read up to their third meeting with the Langs (the picnic on a hill), and I keep thinking of our first year in Portland. You guys were definitely the Langs for us, and when Larry speaks of the joy of inclusion, of being chosen, I get a little misty.
Posted by: Joel at August 23, 2004 06:41 AMglad you are liking it because i have never seen mac get so excited about a book. every few pages he feels the need to say, 'this book just speaks to me.' and he reads me all of the science analogies with awe and respect. i wish he'd stop talking to me about it and just let me read it!
Posted by: Pam at August 23, 2004 09:47 AMI don't care enough about the commentators to know their names, but we've been laughing at the not-so-witty comments as well. I loved the one during a swimming race, where the commentator was droning on about how "he knows what he has to do, and now he needs to do it." Uh... Hello? Win the race? Yup, I think that would be pretty clear.
It's almost as good as making snarky comments about 90210.
Posted by: Lisa at August 25, 2004 09:53 AM