The CBC's Elliotte Friedman on Thursday night "got the lanes mixed up" in the men’s 200-meter IM final and called the race "as if Ryan Lochte were finally getting the best" of Michael Phelps, according to Des Bieler of the WASHINGTON POST. Friedman said, "Finally, he's going to do it! Ryan Lochte is going to beat Michael Phelps in this event in the Games! And Phelps might not even make the podium!" Bieler noted after Phelps finished "well ahead of the field" and took off his swim caps, leaving no doubt as to who had actually won, Friedman was left to somberly tell his Canadian audience" his mistake. He said, "I apologize. I got my lanes mixed up. Phelps, with the gold" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/11). Friedman on Twitter also acknowledged his faux pas, writing, "I'm sorry everyone. I blew it. No excuses." Many people on Twitter also defended the mistake, with TSN Radio 690 Montreal's Conor McKenna writing, "Elliotte Friedman is as good a broadcaster as any in the business. These things happen. I guarantee no-one is more disappointed than he is." Macleans' Shannon Proudfoot: "He's a class act and a hell of a reporter. There but for the grace of God..." Sportsnet's Faizal Khamisa: "Friedman is literally the best in the business, professionally and personally. Keep chirping from your keyboards, though." The Seattle Times' Larry Stone: "Grateful for fantastic-- and live! - Olympic coverage on CBC. But, man, did they botch call of Phelps race. Handled it with grace, though" (TWITTER.com, 8/11). CBS’ Gayle King called it a “big ole ooops," but said, "Bravo to him for saying, ‘Look, I made a mistake.’” King: “Don’t you think everybody understands when you own it … and say, ‘I screwed up?’” (“CBS This Morning,” 8/12).
WILBUR IS SOME PIG: In S.F., Greg Rajan notes CBC "issued multiple apologies late Wednesday and Thursday" after analyst Byron MacDonald -- "apparently believing his microphone wasn't live" -- made a comment about a Chinese swimmer on the team that finished fourth in the women's 800-meter freestyle relay. MacDonald on Wednesday said, "The little 14-year-old from China dropped the ball, baby. Too excited, went out like stink, died like a pig. Thanks for that." Later during the broadcast, CBC's Scott Russell "apologized to the audience," and the network issued "multiple apologies via social media." A longer apology appeared Thursday morning on the National Post's website (SFGATE.com, 8/11). The NATIONAL POST's Nick Faris notes MacDonald again apologized on-air Thursday afternoon, "saying he didn't mean for his remark to be construed as a personal attack." MacDonald: "I was referring to a swimmer's performance, and not them as a person. Needless to say, there was no disrespect intended and I'm very sorry" (NATIONAL POST, 8/12).
MORE PRESS MISHAPS: The HUFFINGTON POST's Lee Moran notes the San Jose Mercury News is "catching heat for its offensive coverage" of U.S. swimmer Simone Manuel's historic Gold Medal. The paper's headline and subsequent tweet read, "Michael Phelps shares historic night with African-American." Twitter users "immediately blasted the phrasing for not even mentioning Manuel's name and solely describing her as 'African-American.'" San Jose Mercury News sports columnist Tim Kawakami tweeted, "This is a terrible headline. It's my paper. I might get in trouble for saying it, but it's a terrible headline." The paper later "apologized for the headline and amended it to read, 'Stanford's Simone Manuel and Michael Phelps make history" (HUFFINGTON POST, 8/12).
