When I lived in Michigan, many of my American buddies were always happy to live close to the Canadian border so they could watch CBC’s Olympic coverage. The knock they had on whichever USA network’s coverage was that it was always too American. My friends at least, wanted to see more than just the American athletes. We Canadian’s take for granted the coverage the CBC used to provide. I haven’t been overly impressed with CTV’s coverage so far, but hey it’s early.

Meanwhile, Robert Bianco, the TV critic for USA Today reviewed NBC’s coverage so far in today’s edition. He wasn’t overly impressed with the job VANOC has done so far:

“Nor was it NBC’s fault the Games began with an overlong, flatfooted ceremony made memorable only by its climactic technical glitch. Almost anything would have paled next to the stunning beauty of China’s wildly extravagant pageant, but even on more modest terms, Vancouver’s effort was a banal misfire, straining to convey national identity through bland pop tunes and bad poetry.”

Wow! How do you really feel Robert???

I didn’t watch the opening ceremonies live, I have seen them on my pvr though. To be honest, they were equally as “schmaltzy” as they always seem to be.

I have been flipping back and forth between the networks and NBC is doing what all the US networks do when they buy the rights. They focus on the Americans. Personally, I have reallty enjoyed Dan Patrick’s contribution to NBC’s coverage. On the Canadian side, I have been less than impressed with the play by play coverage I have seen so far. Jamie Campbell and his partner on the snowboarding were BRUTAL today. I didn’t see it but several folks told me that Dutchyshen was unwatchable last night. In following twitter over the last couple of days it seems that majority of people could care less. The Olympic spirit is alive and well, at least here in Canada. People from all walks of life appear to be enjoying the games.

More later.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

USA today is here

It’s nice to see Canadian companies at the Olympics, so even if we don’t win medals, maybe someone wearing our gear will. The folks at Karbon Sports made it to the cover of the USA Today- good for them!:

They got great recognition from the New York Times too

Here’s your bikini of the day from GetABikini.com

On Fan 590 Tonight-

- Grapeline with Don Cherry & Brian Williams at 4:45
- Bob McCown’s co-host from 5:00 to 7:00 is Stephen Brunt
4:10 Neil Smith – Owner/Coach Da Chiefs
4:25 Jack Armstrong – FAN 590
5:25 Don Banks – SI
5:45 Michael Hiestand – USA Today
6:06 Bob Nicholson – Hockey Canada
6:30 Ed Olczyk – NBC & Vs
6:45 Steve Bauer – Canadian Cycling Legend

On 640 with Brady and Watters thanks to Mike S.:

- Ron Wilson, head coach of the Leafs
- Dave Naylor from the Globe & Mail on football
- Alan Frew of Glass Tiger
- hockey insider Pierre McGuire at 6:10

Here’s your bikini of the day from bikinibeat.org:

On Fan 590 Tonight-

- Grapeline with Don Cherry & Brian Williams at 4:45
- Bob McCown’s co-host from 5:00 to 7:00 is Stephen Brunt

4:10-4:40 Jim Kelley
5:25 Butch Carter
5:42 Nicholas Routhier, President & CEO of Sensio 3D
6:06 Dan Shulman, ESPN
6:30 Jarrett Bell, USA Today
6:45 Tim Keown, Senior Writer, ESPN The Magazine

On 640 with Brady and Watters thanks to Mike S.:

- Mike Ditka

- Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres

- Rob Higgins, fantasy hockey expert

- hockey insiders Pierre McGuire & Bob MacKenzie at 6:10

Here’s your bikini of the day from bikinibeat.org:

On Fan 590 Tonight-

- Grapeline with Don Cherry & Brian Williams at 4:45
- co-host from 5:00 to 7:00 is Stephen Brunt
4:10 Bob Nicholson, Hockey Canada
4:25 Doug Smith, Toronto Star
5:25 Nik Kypreos
5:42 Aaron Fox, Eric Tillman’s Lawyer
6:06 Eugene Melnyk, Sens Owner
6:30 Michael Hiestand of USA Today or John Walsh of ESPN
6:45 Justin Bracci, Director Of Athlete & Team Relations For Tactics Armoured Hockey Socks

On 640 with Brady and Watters thanks to Mike S.:

- Peter Deboer, head coach of the Florida Panthers (rescheduled from yesterday)

- Brian Duff of NHL Network on hockey

- Jolly Jonas Siegel from the ACC to preview tonight’s Leafs-Panthers game

- hockey insiders Darren Dreger & Bob McKenzie at 6:10

Here’s your bikini of the day from bikinibeat.org:

On Fan 590 Tonight

4:10 Tom Pedulla, USA Today
4:25 Doug Smith, Toronto Star
5:05 Peter King, Sports Illustrated
5:25 Nick Kypreos, Sportsnet
6:06 Bob Nicholson, Hockey Canada
6:30 Rob Becker
6:45 Cyd Ziegler, Out Sports.com

On 640 with Brady and Watters thanks to Mike S.:

-  Bill Hayes fills in as co-host for Greg Brady
-  Wendel Clark in studio from 4:05 to 5:00
-  Brian Duff of NHL Network on hockey
-  Dennis Beyak  
-  Hockey insiders Darren Dreger & Bob McKenzie at 6:10

Here’s your bikini of the day from bikinibeat.org:

On Fan 590 Tonight-

5:20 Andrew Brandt, former uppity up with the Packers

5:40 Andreas Apostolopoulos, The Toronto buyer of the Pontiac Silverdome

6:00 Eddie olczyk
 
6:30 Michael Hiestand, USA Today

6:45 Quinton Aaron, actor in the movie ‘the blind side’

On 640 with Brady and Watters thanks to Mike S.:

- Brian Duff of NHL Network on hockey  

- Rob Higgins, fantasy hockey expert

- Jolly Jonas Siegel from Tampa to preview tonight’s Leafs-Lightning game

- Hockey insider Scott Morrison at 6:10

Here’s your bikini of the day from bikinibeat.org:

On Fan 590 Tonight-

- open phones with McCown from 4:05 to 4:40
- Grapeline with Don Cherry & Brian Williams at 4:45
- co-host from 5:00 to 7:00 is John Shannon
- Friday roundtable with James Deacon,
Bruce Arthur & Sam Cosentino

On 640 with Brady and Watters thanks to Mike S.:

- the much-anticipated triumphant return of Greg Brady from the disabled list

- Ron Wilson, head coach of the Leafs

- Bob “The Bear” Cowan with his NFL picks for this weekend

- Sean Baligian, fantasy football expert

- hockey insiders Darren Dreger & Scott Morrison at 6:10

9689485915

Here’s your bikini of the day from bikinibeat.org:

On Fan 590 Tonight-

- open phones with McCown from 4:05 to 4:40
- Grapeline with Don Cherry & Brian Williams at 4:45
- co-host from 5:00 to 7:00 is John Shannon
5:20 Dan Shulman, ESPN
5:42 Peter Berg, Director of the ESPN Documentary Kings Ransom
6:05 Jeff Hunt, Ottawa 67’s Owner & trying to get a CFL Team
6:30 Lester Munson, ESPN Legal Analyst
6:45 Eddie Olczyk, NBC & Versus

On 640 with Brady and Watters thanks to Mike S.:

- Cam Fowler of the Windsor Spitfires
- Rob Higgins, fantasy hockey expert
- hockey insider Scott Morrison at 6:10

Here’s your bikini of the day from bikinibeat.org:

On Fan 590 Tonight-

- open phones with McCown from 4:05 to 4:40
- co-host from 5:00 to 7:00 is Stephen Brunt
5:22 Nick Kypreos, Sportsnet
5:44 Michael Hiestand, USA Today
6:05 Paul Beeston, Jays President & CEO
6:30 Dan Shulman, ESPN
6:45 Jeff Blair, Globe And Mail

On 640 with Brady and Watters thanks to Mike S.:

PAUL BEESTON – BLUE JAYS PRESIDENT & CEO
JAMES NEAL – DALLAS STARS FORWARD
NIKLAS HAGMAN – LEAFS FORWARD
PAT GILLICK – PHILLIES SENIOR ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT/GM & FORMER JAYS GM
INSIDE THE NHL W/ DARREN DREGER & BOB MCKENZIE
MANNY MALHOTRA – SHARKS FORWARD