After stepping down on Thursday as host of NBC's Olympic coverage, Bob Costas will have "more time to indulge his love of baseball at MLB Network, where he calls games, narrates documentaries and hosts round-table shows," according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. Meanwhile, Costas will host NBC's coverage of Super Bowl LII next year while Mike Tirico begins his new role as host of NBC's Olympic coverage with the PyeongChang Games (N.Y. TIMES, 2/10). Costas said that he has "watched tapes of baseball games he did 20 years ago and is frustrated that he isn’t as good now because other obligations keep him out of the flow of the sport" (WSJ.com, 2/9). Costas said, "It’s better to leave before they drop hints. I didn’t want it to get to that point. ... I decided a transition, not a retirement, was in order for me. I feel like I have a whole lot of years left in broadcasting and I want to use them wisely" (L.A. TIMES, 2/10). Tirico said, "Bob has been so gracious about all of this. How lucky am I to get this opportunity of a lifetime and have someone who I think the world of available as a resource?" USA TODAY's Eric Brady notes Tirico will also "take over Costas' host duties on Football Night in America" (USA TODAY, 2/10).
HE'S A LEGEND: USA TODAY's Christine Brennan writes Costas "passed" his role on to Tirico "just as he seamlessly accepted the metaphoric broadcasting torch from the legendary Jim McKay all those years ago." Costas has "always found himself at home at the intersection of sports and society." He has occasionally "used his sports hosting platform to discuss issues ranging from gun violence, steroids and concussions" to the controversial Redskins name. Costas said, "I’ve always felt one can appreciate the history, drama and romance of sports, while at the same time being aware of and addressing the issues involved in sports. To me, there’s no contradiction in that." Brennan: "For most of us, Costas is synonymous with the Olympic Games" (USA TODAY, 2/10). In Cleveland, Bill Livingston writes under the header, "Losing Bob Costas As NBC Olympics Host Is A Loss For Viewers." Costas was like Vin Scully, two legendary broadcasters who are "given to extemporaneous eloquence, to civility, decency, and, in Costas' case, to a frankly expressed social conscience." It is only "conjecture that NBC will live happily ever after without Costas' uncongenial politics on the global Olympic stage to rankle the feelings of the touchy new Trump administration." For his part, Costas "seems content to move into a 'Tom Brokaw' role as an elder statesman." Livingston: "But he leaves a void in insight, eloquence and professionalism" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 2/10).
