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Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir Stay Silent During Kamila Valieva’s Skate

“For all the other Olympic athletes competing here, I feel I need to say again that she had a positive test. We should not have seen this skate.”

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Sometimes, broadcasters are just as effective with what they don’t say, rather than what they actually do say. Many announcers have been praised for being quiet and letting the scene speak for itself. For example, crowd noise after a big moment or an important victory.

Tuesday night, NBC’s Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir let their silence convey their disapproval, their dismay over Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva being allowed to compete in the women’s short program at the Beijing Olympics despite testing positive for a banned substance.

When Lipinski, Weir, and Terry Gannon were introducing the figure skating slate for the evening, both analysts said they felt strongly that Valieva should be barred from participating.

“We have to remind ourselves that she is just 15 years old, a minor, and I know more than anyone what it’s like to compete at an Olympic Games at 15 years old,” said Lipinski (via The Washington Post). “But a positive test is a positive test. She cannot skate.”

Weir agreed. “If you can’t play fair, then you can’t play, and it is a shame because she is a tremendous athlete,” he added, echoing the sentiments of the figure skating community.

Amid the controversy surrounding her, Valieva had an excellent performance on Tuesday, compiling an 82.16 score that gave her the lead over fellow Russian Anna Shcherbakova and Japan’s Sakamoto Kaori going into Thursday’s women’s free skate program.

Yet throughout most of Valieva’s skate and after she completed her performance, Lipinski and Weir had little to say. They wouldn’t praise someone who shouldn’t have been allowed to compete, but also wouldn’t pile criticism on a 15-year-old girl whose use of a banned substance may have been decided by others.

For an audience accustomed to effusive praise and strong criticism from NBC’s star figure skating analysts, their silence was notable. And it was certainly effective in telling viewers how they felt about the entire situation.

When the two eventually did speak, their disapproval was clear.

“All I feel I can say is that was the short program of Kamila Valieva at the Olympics,” Weir said.

“For all the other Olympic athletes competing here, I feel I need to say again that she had a positive test,” added Lipinski. “We should not have seen this skate.”

“We are so sorry it’s overshadowing your Olympics,” said Weir.

As Valieva left the ice and waited for her scores, Lipinski said that she viewed Valieva as the best figure skater she’s ever seen. But that only made her feel confused and angry, knowing that the Russian skater utilized an unfair advantage.

Weir added that the entire circumstance make him feel uncomfortable both as a skater and commentator.

For two star personalities known for their bold commentary, flashy fashion, and social media presence, their terse restraint said everything that needed to be said in one of the most scrutinized events in recent Olympic history. It was a remarkable broadcasting moment.

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Final ‘Good Morning Football’ Episode from New York Studio Airs Before Hiatus, Move to LA

After today, ‘Good Morning Football’ will take a brief hiatus, then move to LA. But outside of host Jamie Erdahl, who else will join the show on the West Coast?

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Good Morning Football

Today marks the last Good Morning Football episode to air from its New York studios on NFL Network. After today, the show will take a brief hiatus, then move across the country to Los Angeles. But which of the shows beloved cast members will move along with it?

We already know host Jamie Erdahl will be there once she gives birth to her child. The newest GMFB show member gave an emotional send-off to the show’s New York studios before announcing she was headed for maternity leave and would see everyone in LA.

Host Kyle Brandt delivered this message late last night, saying that viewers should tune in to he and his colleagues and that “he has a lot to say.”

As the show ended today, Brandt said, “I am not saying goodbye to any of you…Candidly, I have a lot of questions myself. Here’s what I know: I personally will be intensely involved in Good Morning Football moving forward. And I want to spend the rest of my career with the NFL. And Good Morning Football is not ending, it is expanding. And it’s exciting because it’s a bigger show and it’s more show…It’s all in and it’s all happening and yes, we will be covering the draft. GMFB is leaving home for college…it’s time to evolve. And we are flattered that you are wondering and maybe worried about what’s coming next with the show…I am very proud of what we have built here…it has been a dream job and I know we are going to make a fantastic show from Los Angeles…I’ll see you this summer.”

Earlier this week host Peter Schrager delivered his own goodbye message — one that may sound like a man who’s not ready to move his family across the country at a moment’s notice:

However, no hosts outside of Erdahl have given confirmation that they’re either staying or going.

The NFL’s move to take the show from New York to Los Angeles has been widely criticized by fans and media members alike. Bill Simmons wondered if the move wouldn’t spell just the end of GMFB but the NFL Network as a whole. It has some wondering if this is the end of football’s best show.

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ESPN Coverage of Men’s NIT Tournament Quarterfinals Up 33% vs. 2023

Viewership of the Men’s NIT Quarterfinals on ESPN were up 33 percent compared to last year and featured two games that averaged over one million viewers.

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Even the NIT is riding the recent hot streak of live sports viewership numbers. According to data provided by ESPN, the 2024 NIT Quarterfinals are up 33 percent compared to last year’s tournament. Perhaps more surprisingly, two NIT quarterfinal games topped one million viewers.

The network’s Georgia/Ohio State matchup averaged 1.03 million viewers, while the Cincinnati/Indiana State contest averaged 1.02 million viewers. These two games were the most-watched NIT games since 2017 — including title games. Both Georgia and Ohio State have rabid fanbases, while many thought Indiana State was unjustly left out of the March Madness tournament, which could be a reason why viewers tuned in.

Much of the focus this season has been on the women’s game, thanks to Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks, led by Dawn Staley. ESPN just had its most-watched women’s college basketball season since 2008-09 because of the increased interest in the women’s game. The men’s game, however, hasn’t been heralded as much this season for whatever reason, mostly because numbers seem to be holding steady compared to previous years. However, if the NIT is posting viewership wins, that should bode well for the NCAA Tournament’s incoming viewership totals.

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Report: NFL to Put Christmas Day Doubleheader Up For Bids

Bidding is expected to start at $50 million among the current NFL media partners but some think the games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

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The NFL will reportedly put its Christmas Day games up for auction, allowing its current media partners to bid for the games. Now, it’s up to CBS, FOX, ESPN, NBC, and Prime Video to pay up for rights to one of these two marquee games.

According to Front Office Sports Michael McCarthy, preference will be given to linear networks, so Prime Video and Peacock may sit this one out. Bidding is expected to start at $50 million but McCarthy and his sources expect that number to rise. John Kosner, the former ESPN executive, thinks the new Christmas Day games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

The NFL announced a Wednesday Christmas Day doubleheader during its annual league meetings. The league originally said it wouldn’t force games on Christmas Day if the holiday fell on an odd day of the week, though as the NFL continues to put games on days outside of Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and sometimes Saturdays, we’re running out of days that don’t feature NFL football.

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