# Post the stupidest things you hear Olympic announcers say **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 14, 2006, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429 "2006-02-14T08:42:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/41 "2006-02-15T03:27:31Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > But a 1260 is only 3.5 rotations (or was that your point?) That was my point. It didn’t sound right when he said it, and I’ll admit, it took me 5 minutes to try and work it out in my head. Then I got a calculator. But math was never my strong suit. If I’m calling the tricks for an event, though, I’m going to know that a 1260 is not four complete turns. If Flying Tomatohead goes around four complete times in the air, you can be sure that I’ll know it’s called a (…two, three, four…takes off sock…carry the one…) 1440. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/42 "2006-02-15T03:32:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Way back when, my Spanish teacher made a point that (as best I can remember) in some period, Quixote would have actually BEEN properly pronounced "kiwiksot. Nope, never. It would have been pronounced “Kee-sho-tay”. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/43 "2006-02-15T04:01:01Z")
> [@yBeayf](#): > > Nope, never. It would have been pronounced “Kee-sho-tay”. Hey, thanks! Sorry for the hijack, but thank you for the correct info. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/44 "2006-02-15T06:30:48Z")
I’m watching the nightly recap for the first time all week. Along the lines of **Clothahump** ’s answer, I submit that every word leaving the mouth of Jim Lampley is the stupidest thing I ever heard an Olympic announcer say. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/45 "2006-02-15T06:32:04Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > He told his coach he was already giving a hundred percent. His coach told him to give a hundred and TWENTY percent, and that’s when he realized he was only giving eighty percent. > > #1 was referring to a speed skater, I think > > OK, even ignoring the highly questionable math, what does any of that MEAN? It’s one of the most pointless statements I’ve heard this week, outside of work. Sounds like the announcer was having some fun with the cliche. If you’re giving 20% too little, you’re only giving 80%. > [@Casey1505](#): > > The curling announcer on USA (I forget the network, but I’ve decided I want to be a Curling Hooligan for the next Olympics. Anyway…). “Oh, no, I don’t like that shot, not at all. No, no, no! They’re taking the wrong shot. Oh, my, I can’t watch!” It wasn’t the wrong shot? > [@waits](#): > > During NBC’s coverage when the couple did this, Dick Button yelled out, “I’m so happy for them!” > > This is one reason why I hate the Olympics. I know that journalism and televised Olympics coverage are pretty much mutually exclusive but can we please have some objectivity? Dick, you’re not there to be happy for them. You’re there to announce what happens. You can enthuse about how difficult the move is but can you stop making your rooting preferences so obvious? I fucking hate Dick Button, but I don’t see this as a big deal. They had just dome something no-one had ever done. > [@GorillaMan](#): > > The BBC’s snowboarding coverage is even weirder, because it’s done in the same sedate tones as the curling. They use all the specialist jargon, but in sensible RP tones. Very strange and incongruous with what’s actually on the screen. I would love to hear this. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/46 "2006-02-15T06:44:37Z")
I have heard this phrase way way way too much: “[He][She] did what [he][she] had to do.” Even worse when it is followed or preceded by, “Well, this is the Olympics.” Oh, gee. And here I thought I was watching “Skating with the Stars.” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/47 "2006-02-15T08:23:42Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Along the lines of **Clothahump** ’s answer, I submit that every word leaving the mouth of Jim Lampley is the stupidest thing I ever heard an Olympic announcer say. No one will surpass John Tesh covering gymnastics. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/48 "2006-02-15T08:58:27Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > _He told his coach he was already giving a hundred percent. His coach told him to give a hundred and TWENTY percent, and that’s when he realized he was only giving eighty percent._ > [@](#): > > OK, even ignoring the highly questionable math, what does any of that MEAN? It’s one of the most pointless statements I’ve heard this week, outside of work. Well it does sound like the reactor settings on a nuclear submarine , if you remember watching the hunt for red october , the alfa captain orders that the reactor be brought to 105 percent, or something. So the athletes top performance is actually under rated for some reason , maybe not to burn him/her out, but when its for the marbles , he goes to 120 percent for a one shot deal. Thats what I think anyways Declan ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/49 "2006-02-15T09:10:08Z")
During the downhill skiing, the commentator is talking about how some skier is being so precise through the first section. After the first split time comes this gem: > [@some idiot](#): > > ooh he’s down .10 seconds, maybe he was a bit TOO precise :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/50 "2006-02-15T09:12:18Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > Well it does sound like the reactor settings on a nuclear submarine , if you remember watching the hunt for red october , the alfa captain orders that the reactor be brought to 105 percent, or something. Thats nothing, the climb power setting in the aircraft I fly is 114.2 percent torque, no shit. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/51 "2006-02-15T09:17:05Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > Thats nothing, the climb power setting in the aircraft I fly is 114.2 percent torque, no shit. From figure skating to war emergency power in an aircraft , gotta love some hijacks. Is that firewalled , or can you still go zone five more. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/52 "2006-02-15T14:03:36Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > From figure skating to war emergency power in an aircraft , gotta love some hijacks. > > Is that firewalled , or can you still go zone five more. > > Declan Not even close to firewalled. You can go to 125 percent for up to 20 seconds (not to be used intentionally.) I’m not quite sure what they base 100 percent on. The closest to it is normal take-off power which is 99.5 percent static. Anyway, back to the olympics. ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/53 "2006-02-15T14:16:13Z")
Last night (Tues), when Bode Miller was in the gate for the start of the downhill section of the alpine combined, I think it was the color man who commented that he’d rarely seen Miller “so statuesque.” Heh. I think “stoney-faced” was what you were looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/54 "2006-02-15T15:04:45Z")
Just now on the morning news the reporter said that a downhill skiier likes to listen to Billy Joel’s _Rebel Yell_ before a run. The music on the video was U2’s _In The Name Of Love_. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/55 "2006-02-15T15:18:00Z")
Katie Couric is there. Enough said. Katie is a nitwit, an imbecilic twit. This morning, she admitted to being hungover during the broadcast–that from a prospective CBS news anchor. The cute sktick doesn’t work with a nearly 50-year-old nag. Couric the Olympics broadcaster today: “If you’re like me, you’re sick of downhill skiing and ice skating. What I want to do is sled down a hill.” :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Why not just go home, sweetie? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/56 "2006-02-15T15:50:46Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Just now on the morning news the reporter said that a downhill skiier likes to listen to Billy Joel’s _Rebel Yell_ before a run. Or Billy Idol’s “Piano Man,” whichever. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/57 "2006-02-15T16:33:08Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > Katie Couric is there. Enough said. > > Katie is a nitwit, an imbecilic twit. This morning, she admitted to being hungover during the broadcast–that from a prospective CBS news anchor. The cute sktick doesn’t work with a nearly 50-year-old nag. > > Couric the Olympics broadcaster today: “If you’re like me, you’re sick of downhill skiing and ice skating. What I want to do is sled down a hill.” :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: > > Why not just go home, sweetie? Did she really say that???!! Wow, that’s incredible. ---
**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/58 "2006-02-15T17:02:40Z")
Pretty much anything John Tesh says. Luckily, I don’t think he’s doing the Olympics any more. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/59 "2006-02-15T20:35:05Z")
Anyone else think it’d be highly entertaining to have John Madden doing the commentating for figure skating? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429/60 "2006-02-17T19:56:02Z")
> [@yBeayf](#): > > Nope, never. It would have been pronounced “Kee-sho-tay”. Actually, it’s spelt “Quixotic,” but it’s pronounced “Throat Warbler Mangrove.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-the-stupidest-things-you-hear-olympic-announcers-say/344429.md?page=4)