Scott Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist in figure skating, had this bit of advice for sports enthusiasts:
"The only way to completely miss an Olympic Games is by attending one," he said. "Because you don't really get to see anything."Most Americans won't have to worry about actually being in Lillehammer, Norway, when the games begin on Saturday. We'll be home watching events on TV - and, according to Hamilton, we'll have the best seats in the house.
CBS and TNT will both be on hand, providing a whopping 164 1/2 hours of coverage, 119 1/2 hours of that on CBS. Most of the live coverage will come in the afternoons - much of that on TNT - while, because of the time difference, CBS's prime-time coverage will be on tape.
(It's the same as it was two years ago in Albertville, France.)
And, once again, CBS is planning to focus much of its attention on the stories behind the Games.
"It's not just (Italian skier) Alberto Tomba getting to the bottom of the hill. It's the fact that he's kind of arrogant. And that makes people either root for him or against him," said Hamilton, who's returning as a CBS figure skating analyst.
"The stories are unending," said Rick Gentile, senior vice president, production for CBS Sports. "The Kerrigan-Harding story, of course, is the dominant one now."
While the Nancy Kerrigan-Tonya Harding drama promises to be a boon to CBS, the network has to tread a fine line between reporting and exploiting it.
"Obviously, we will be on the story," said George Schweitzer, CBS's senior vice president of marketing and communication. "We will not exploit the story. We will be mindful of how we treat it. I don't think it needs a lot of pushing."
But, behind the scenes, the folks at CBS know this is a ratings bonanza in the making. ABC's recent taped coverage of U.S. figure skating championships pulled in about 50 percent more viewers than usual - a figure attributable to the controversy.
"Yeah, there's anticipation, but that doesn't make us ghouls or anything," Gentile said. "We're not saying, `Oh, this is great.' But, sure, there's anticipation that this kind of attention focused on an event will drive the ratings up."
Long before any of this began, CBS planned to concentrate heavily on figure skating, particularly in prime time. Ten of 16 nights will feature skating competition in prime time.
"Figure skating is the cornerstone of our coverage," Gentile said.
(Of the 16 nights of the 1992 Games, the only night CBS didn't win in the ratings also did not feature figure skating.)
CBS isn't worried about concentrating too heavily on either Kerrigan and Harding or on figure skating in general.
"When you get over there and you're doing the Olympic Games, you find very quickly that your focus is on the whole event," said Greg Gumbel, who will host CBS's prime-time broadcasts.
Besides, Gentile said, there are a lot of other stories to cover.
"We have speed skaters who are giving bone-marrow transplants to relatives and who are still going to compete in the Olympics," he said. "We have Dan Jansen continuing the saga of chasing his medal. We have Bonnie Blair returning after winning gold medals in the last two Olympics.
"It seems that the stories get better and better as we move along."
And seemingly everyone at CBS Sports rejects the notion that they spend too much time concentrating on the people who are competing at the Games.
"That's my favorite part of the Olympics, to tell the truth," said Hamilton. "I think it's important, not only to watch them compete, but to get to know them as people. And there are some really emotional stories out there.
"Viktor Petrenko basically saved a young American girl's life in Odessa when she competed there and had a multiple skull fracture. . . . I think it's important to not only focus on the athletic events but to also let people know what these people are like."
"And I don't think there's anything wrong with investing emotion in these things," Gumbel said. "You laugh at things that happen and you come very close to tears at times. I think that's probably one of the terrific things about them is that they can tug a little bit at your heartstrings."
Hamilton, who's an Olympic veteran both as a competitor and an analyst, said, "I love the fact that you're getting to know more than just the clock and the music and the jumps. I think it's an important part of the Olympics.
"If you think the Olympic Games is just another sporting event, you're really sort of missing it."
LOCAL TV: Both KTVX-Ch. 4 and KSL-Ch. 5 will have a presence in Lillehammer as well.
This time, KSL is taking advantage of the fact that its network, CBS, has the rights to the game. Bruce Lindsay, Craig Bolerjack and Shelley Osterloh, along with producers and photographers, have already begun filing reports from Norway.
This week's coverage focuses largely on the lobbying efforts of Salt Lake City's bid committee, and efforts to bring the 2002 Games to Utah. The KSL crew will also report on the facilities in Lillehammer and how Salt Lake's stack up.
In addition to regular reports in KSL's various newscasts, beginning Friday Ch. 5 will devote half of its 6:30 p.m. newscast to Olympic coverage throughout the Games under the banner of "Live from Lillehammer."
KSL's coverage will also focus on local athletes at the Games, and Bolerjack will provide nightly Olympic updates to Ch. 5's sportscasts.
KTVX, the only station to send anyone to the 1992 Games, is sending Rod Jackson back to Europe again.
As he did two years ago, Jackson will focus on "impact stories" - how the Olympics are impacting Norway and how potential Games would impact Utah.
Jackson's reports will air on all of KTVX's newscasts - 6 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.
*****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Lillehammer lineup
SATURDAY, FEB. 12
7 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Opening ceremonies
Olympic preview
Hockey highlights
Alpine skiing: Men's practice runs
10:36 p.m.-11:36 p.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
SUNDAY, FEB. 13
7 a.m.-10 a.m. (CBS)
Hockey: Sweden vs. Slovakia and Italy vs. Canada reports; USA vs. France preview
Speed skating: Men's 5000m report
Figure skating: Pairs technical preview
Cross-country skiing: Women's 15k freestyle report
12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. (CBS)
Hockey: USA vs. France
Speed skating: Men's 5000m report
Figure skating: Pairs technical program
7 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Alpine skiing: Men's downhill
Figure skating: Pairs technical program
Speed skating: men's 5000m
Luge: Men's singles
Hockey: USA vs. France report
10:36 p.m.-11:36 p.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
MONDAY, FEB. 14
6 a.m.-8 a.m. (CBS)
Alpine skiing: Men's downhill combined
Cross-country skiing: Men's 30k
Speed skating: Men's 500m
Figure skating: Pairs preview
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (TNT)
Hockey: Russia vs. Finland and TBA
Skiing: Men's downhill
Speed Skating: Men's 500m
Luge: Men's single
Cross-country skiing: Men's 30k free; Women's 15k
7 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Speed skating: Men's 500m
Alpine skiing: Men's downhill combined
Luge: Men's singles
Cross-country skiing: Men's 30k report
11:37 p.m.-12:37 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
TUESDAY, FEB. 15
6 a.m.-8 a.m. (CBS)
Skiing: Men's and women's moguls
Figure skating: Pairs free program
Skiing: Women's Alpine Super G report
Hockey: USA vs. Slovakia report
Cross-country skiing: Women's 5k combined classic report
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (TNT)
Hockey: USA vs. Slovakia and TBA
Figure skating: Pairs/Free
Skiing: Women's giant slalom (Super G); Men's and women's moguls (elimination)
Cross-country skiing: Women's 5k (combined/classic technique)
Luge: Women's single
7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. (CBS)
Skiing: Men's and women's moguls
Figure skating: Pairs free program
Skiing: Women's Super G report
Luge: Women's singles
Hockey: USA vs. Slovakia highlights
12:07 a.m.-1:07 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 16
6 a.m.-8 a.m. (CBS)
Luge: Women's singles report
Speed skating: Men's 1500m
Skiing: Men's and women's moguls finals report
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (TNT)
Hockey: Norway vs. Finland and TBA
Speed skating: Men's 1500m
Skiing: Women's and men's moguls (finals)
Luge: Women's singles
7 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Speed skating: Men's 1500m
Skiing: Men's and women's moguls finals
Luge: Women's singles
Figure skating: Men's preview
11:37 p.m.-12:37 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
THURSDAY, FEB. 17
6 a.m.-8 a.m. (CBS)
Figure skating: Men's technical program preview
Hockey: USA vs. Canada report
Cross-country skiing: Men's 10k combined classic report
Skiing: Men's Super G
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (TNT)
Hockey: USA vs. Canada and TBA
Figure skating: Men's technical
Skiing: Men's Super G
Speed skating: Women's 3000m
Cross-country skiing: Men's 10k (classic combined); Women's 10k (free technique combined)
7 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Figure skating: Men's technical program
Skiing: Men's Super G
Speed skating: Women's 3000m report
Hockey: USA vs. Canada highlights
Cross-country skiing: Men's 10k combined
11:37 p.m.-12:37 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
FRIDAY, FEB. 18
6 a.m.-8 a.m. (CBS)
Ski jumping: Nordic combined
Speed skating: Men's 1000m, women's 500m preview
Skiing: Women's downhill preview
Bobsled: Two-man preview
Figure skating: Ice dancing preview
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (TNT)
Hockey: Czech Republic vs. Norway and TBA
Figure skating: Dance compulsory
Speed skating: Men's 1000m
Ski jumping: Nordic combined individual 90k
Luge: Doubles
Biathlon: Women's 15k
7 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Ski jumping: Nordic combined
Figure skating: Ice dancing compulsories
Speed skating: Men's 1000m
Luge: Men's doubles
11:37 p.m.-12:37 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
SATURDAY, FEB. 19
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (CBS)
Hockey: USA vs. Sweden
Bobsled: Two-man
Cross-country skiing: Men's 15k free pursuit report
Figure skating: Men's free program
Skiing: Women's downhill
6 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Figure skating: Men's free program (finals)
Skiing: Women's downhill
Speed skating: Women's 500m
Hockey: USA vs. Sweden report
Cross-country skiing: Men's 15k pursuit report
10:36 p.m.-11:36 p.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
SUNDAY, FEB. 20
7 a.m.-10 a.m. (CBS)
Hockey: Russia vs. Czech Republic
Speed skating: Men's 10,000m
1:30 p.m.-4 p.m. (CBS)
Skiing: Women's downhill combined
Hockey: Norway vs. Austria
Figure skating: Ice dancing preview
Biathlon: Men's 20k
7 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Figure skating: Ice dancing original dance
Skiing: Women's downhill combined report
Ski jumping: Large hill
Bobsled: Two-man
11:37 p.m.-12:37 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
MONDAY, FEB. 21
6 a.m.-8 a.m. (CBS)
Freestyle skiing: Men's and women's aerials
Skiing: Women's slalom combined
Hockey: USA vs. Italy preview
Figure skating: Ice dancing finals preview
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (CBS)
Hockey: USA vs. Italy
Cross-country skiing: Women's 4x5k relay
Figure skating: Ice dancing free program
Freestyle skiing: Men's and women's aerials
7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. (CBS)
Figure skating: Ice dancing free program (finals)
USA hockey report
Skiing: Women's slalom combined
Speed skating: Women's 1500m
12:07 p.m.-1:07 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
TUESDAY, FEB. 22
6 a.m.-8 a.m. (CBS)
Cross-country skiing: Men's 4x10k relay
Figure skating: Women's preview
Ski jumping: Team event
Speed skating: Short track report
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (TNT)
Hockey: TBA
Speed skating: Men's and women's short-track
Ski jumping: Team 120k
Cross-country skiing: Men's 4x10k relay
7 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Figure skating: Women's preview
Ski jumping: Team event
Speed skating: Short track - men's 1000m, women's 3000m relay
Cross-country skiing: Men's 4x10k relay
11:37 p.m.-12:37 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 23
6 a.m.-8 a.m. (CBS)
Speed skating: Women's 1000m preview
Skiing: Men's giant slalom
Ski jumping: Team Nordic combined
Figure skating: Women's technical program preview
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (TNT)
Figure skating: Women's technical
Ski jumping: Men's giant; Nordic combined team 90k
Speed skating: Women's 1000m
Biathlon: Men's 10k; Women's 7.5k
7 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Figure skating: Women's technical program
Skiing: Men's giant slalom
Hockey: Quarterfinals report
Speed skating: Women's 1000m
11:37 p.m.-12:37 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
THURSDAY, FEB. 24
6 a.m.-8 a.m. (CBS)
Skiing: Women's giant slalom
Speed skating: Short track report
Figure skating: Women's free program preview
Freestyle skiing: Men's and women's aerials (finals)
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (TNT)
Hockey: TBA
Speed skating: Men's a women's short-track
Skiing: Women's giant slalom
Ski jumping: Men's and women's aerials (finals)
Cross-country skiing: Women's classical technique 30 k; Nordic combined 3x10k
7 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Skiing: Women's giant slalom
Speed skating: Short track - men's 500m, men's 5000m relay, women's 500m
Cross-country skiing: Women's 30k classic report
Figure skating: Women's free program preview
11:37 p.m.-12:37 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
FRIDAY, FEB. 25
6 a.m.-8 a.m. (CBS)
Bobsled: Four-man preview
Ski jumping: Normal hill
Skiing: Men's slalom combined
Figure skating: Women's free program preview
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (TNT)
Hockey: Semifinals TBA
Figure skating: Women's free
Speed skating: Women's 5000m
Skiing: Men's combined slalom
Ski jumping: 90k
Biathlon: 4x7.4 k women's relay
7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. (CBS)
Figure skating: Women's free program (finals)
Hockey: Semifinals highlights
Ski jumping: Normal hill
Skiing: Men's slalom combined
Speed skating: Women's 5000m report
12:07 p.m.-1:07 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
SATURDAY, FEB. 26
11 a.m.-4 p.m. (CBS)
Hockey: Bronze-medal game; gold-medal preview
Biathlon report
Figure skating: Exhibitions
Speed skating: Short track - men's 500m, women's 1000m, men's 5000m relay
6 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Figure skating: Exhibitions
Skiing: Women's slalom
Hockey report
Bobsled: Four man
Midnight-1 a.m. (CBS)
Highlights show
SUNDAY, FEB. 27
7 a.m.-10 a.m. (CBS)
Hockey: Gold-medal game
2 p.m.-4 p.m. (CBS)
Bobsled: Four man
Skiing: Men's slalom
Hockey: Gold-medal game report
Cross-country skiing: Men's 50k classic report
7 p.m.-10 p.m. (CBS)
Closing ceremonies
Olympic wrap-up
10:36 p.m.-11:36 p.m. (CBS)
Highlights show