Thursday, February 14, 2002
News conference beats real sports
By PERRY LEFKO -- Toronto Sun
It was kind of like watching an episode of Jerry Springer. When the international media took International Skating Union president Ottavio Cinquanta to task yesterday, it produced some television drama that bordered on sensationalism -- even more so because it happened live.
For the 40 minutes or so that CBC Newsworld aired the 80-minute news conference, the media attacked the official, seeking answers and accountability for the questionable judging that cost Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier the gold medal in the pairs competition.
Cinquanta did some fancy footwork worthy of a medal.
When Newsworld broke away from the grill session, host Nancy Wilson described it as an "amazing spectacle." Retired Canadian skating star Tracy Wilson, who is doing colour commentary for NBC, told Newsworld: "I've never seen anything like it. There was an incredible tension in the room."
Unfortunately, some people may have missed it if they didn't have access to basic cable. On its primary channel, CBC stayed with the finals of ski-jumping, which ran late, and then the women's hockey game featuring Canada and the Russians. Predictably, Canada won 7-0, outshooting their opponents 60-6, and it had less appeal than the spirited media conference.
Joel Darling, CBC's executive producer for the Olympics, told The Toronto Sun that an hour before the media conference he decided to broadcast the women's hockey game on the primary channel because that's what people wanted to see. In fairness, CBC promoted the press conference on its primary channel and partner channel TSN, which aired curling, for anybody that wanted to switch over to Newsworld. And during intermission breaks, CBC host Ron MacLean provided information from the media conference, although he said, "At the end of the day, I'm not sure we learned a lot."
KING'S INTERVIEW WEAK
While that may be true, the media conference produced more entertainment than the skiing and hockey game.
CNN had Sale and Pelletier on Larry King Live last night in an "exclusive" interview. Then again, the Canadian couple appeared on virtually every media outlet in five hours of interviews the day before.
One of those interviews happened on The Fan, who interviewed King yesterday three hours before he interviewed Sale and Pelletier. Can you say overkill?
King's interview was weak. Among his questions were whether Sale and Pelletier were romantically involved.
"What do you think?" Sale asked somewhat stunned.
King also interviewed 1992 Olympic silver medallist Nancy Kerrigan, but stunned her by asking her if she is best remembered for being clubbed by Tanya Harding.
"I hope not," she said. "I was a victim."
So were viewers who wasted their time watching the show.
2002 Games Figure Skating Coverage
