Justify could become the second horse since '15 to take the Triple Crown with a win SaturdayGETTY IMAGES
Justify will attempt to become the second Triple Crown winner in three years on Saturday in the Belmont Stakes, but there "hasn't been as much 'buzz'" about the possibility as when American Pharoah accomplished the feat in '15, according to Dan Caesar of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. But NBC's Mike Tirico "still thinks it's a big deal." Tirico: "If it happens, it's twice in four years, that's one thing. But to say it's happened twice in 40 years, which would be accurate if this happens, that's a big deal. ... I don't think the currency of 2015 should take away from how brilliant it would be to happen in 2018." Meanwhile, NBC Sports Producer Rob Hyland "plans to use an aerial camera over the full backstretch," as was done with the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Hyland said that five more cameras "will be used than in the previous Triple Crown races this year." Hyland: "We'll have a live pointer that tracks Justify during the race that our director will insert, if needed, but the horse will be tracked for the viewers at home watching. It will have a little arrow pointing to where he is at certain points in the race" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/8).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: On Long Island, Andrew Gross noted NBC analyst Ed Olczyk, less than four months after his final chemotherapy treatment, is "happily enjoying the busiest week of his year." Olczyk was "in the booth" Thursday in Las Vegas as the Capitals beat the Golden Knights to clinch the Stanley Cup. On Saturday, Olczyk will be at Belmont Park to "handicap that day's racing for NBC." On Tuesday, Olczyk "traveled to Las Vegas" to cover Game 5. Olczyk was "booked on a red-eye back east and will be on NBC Sports Network's Belmont preview show" later Friday. NBC will have a "full day of coverage on Saturday." Olczyk has "shown his handicapping acumen during NBC's Triple Crown telecasts." He "nailed the Kentucky Derby trifecta for the second time in four years and then, at the Preakness, he went 6-for-6 in either predicting the winner or hitting the exacta" (NEWSDAY, 6/6).
COLLMUS CALLS: USA TODAY's Dan Wolken wrote when Hyland suggested "putting a camera in the announcer's booth" for the '12 Triple Crown coverage, horse racing announcer Larry Collmus questioned the move. But if Justify wins the Triple Crown on Saturday, the "viral Twitter moment from the Belmont Stakes is just as likely to be supplied by Collmus as the horse himself." Hyland said, "[Collmus] puts every single ounce of energy, thought and creativity into his calls. As a curious sports fan, I always wanted to see what it looked like. It's great television." This was "especially true in this year's Preakness, when Collmus had to deal with foggy conditions that essentially made it impossible for him to see the horses once they reached the first turn." When Justify finished first, Collmus' left hand "punched through the air," not just because he might have the opportunity to call a second Triple Crown winner, but because he had "finished off a thoroughly challenging call without incident" (USA TODAY, 6/7).
WHAT ABOUT BOB? On Long Island, Neil Best noted Bob Costas will be hosting NBC's coverage of Justify's "attempt to win" the Triple Crown. Over the past year, Costas has "downshifted his career into a lower gear." His contract "calls for him to work the Kentucky Derby every year and the Belmont when a Triple Crown is at stake." This year, Costas "added the Preakness" because he called a Dodgers-Nationals game in DC the night before on MLB Network. Costas said that to do baseball well, one must "follow it closely, and prepare thoroughly." He also noted that his schedule is "not all that much different" from that of longtime "SNF" announcer Al Michaels. For now, Costas' NBC role outside of horse racing is as a "special contributor akin to what Tom Brokaw does for the news division" (NEWSDAY, 6/6).
