Gold Medal-winning U.S. skier Bode Miller will join NBC's broadcast team as an analyst for the PyeongChang Games rather than "bid to make a sixth Olympic team at age 40," according to Nick Zaccardi of NBCSPORTS.com. It is the "end of arguably the greatest Olympic skiing career in U.S. history." Only retired short-track speedskater Apolo Ohno has "more Winter Olympic medals among Americans with eight." Miller also "won world championships in four different disciplines and a pair of World Cup overall titles." He "gained experience as an analyst for NBC Sports the last two World Cup seasons" and he has "no reservations offering critical analysis of his former peers" (NBCSPORTS.com, 10/31). Miller will work alongside NBC's Dan Hicks and it will be the first time since '98 that Miller has "been at an Olympics but hasn't competed." He said that it "will be 'an interesting feeling' calling the action instead of being part of it" (AP, 10/31).
CAPITALS GANG: In DC, Scott Allen notes Capitals radio announcer John Walton at the Games will call women's hockey in his "first Olympic assignment." Walton will "work with an analyst and a sideline reporter." Wizards radio announcer Dave Johnson will "fill in on Capitals radio broadcasts while Walton is away." AHL Hershey Bears announcer Zack Fisch will call Lightning-Capitals on Feb. 20 and longtime AHL announcer Grady Whittenburg will "handle play-by-play duties for road games during Walton’s absence" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/1).
A NEW FACE: The AP's Barry Wilner notes NBC's Mike Tirico "for the first time" will be the net's primetime Olympic host. Tirico has not yet stepped away from NFL and Notre Dame games, so he has had to "mix in research and interviews on luge and bobsled, freestyle skiing and ski jumping." Tirico "won’t be calling any events in PyeongChang." He noted that "everyone at NBC is heavily reliant on the experts the network uses for the various sports" and "recognizes the need for more than a passing knowledge of a stone (curling) or a sit-spin (figure skating)." Tirico: "I won’t be asked for technical aspects of skeleton or luge, but I need to understand the story lines of what we are looking for. And in prime time, that means really knowing the prominent sports" (AP, 11/1). Tirico appeared live from South Korea on today's episode of "Today" and noted there is a 14-hour different between PyeongChang and the eastern U.S. He said to the shows hosts, "Morning is evening here in South Korea, so you all will be working nights. Since I’ll be working mornings in South Korea, can I borrow your alarm clocks when we come over here?” ("Today," NBC, 11/1).
FASHION FORWARD: N.Y.-based WNBC’s Cathy Rainone noted Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski are “heading to South Korea as NBC’s primetime figure skating announcers" for the first time. The duo first paired up during NBCSN's coverage of the '14 Sochi Games and were “joined in the booth by play-by-play announcer Terry Gannon." Viewers "loved their figure skating insight and easy conversational style, mixed with fashion policing," and they were shortly moved into NBC's top position. The "fashion-forward duo is already mulling their sartorial choices.” Expect "a lot of high heels -- for both of them -- sparkles and wardrobe changes." Their coordinating outfits in Sochi "gained them thousands of Instagram followers." For PyeongChang, Weir said that they are "choosing his clothes first and Lipinski’s second so that they can match and create themes” (NBCNEWYORK.com, 10/31).
