Scott Hamilton realizes the Battle of Wounded Knee, Ice Capades version, begins Wednesday night. And the CBS figure skating analyst is ready, even though he finds “this type of occurence so far out of the norm.”
But “this type of occurence” has brought enormous ratings. For instance, Saturday night’s telecast-with only brief mentions of Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan-had a preliminary national Neilsen rating of 25.8 with a 43 share, up 43 percent from the second Saturday of the 1992 Winter Games. Through the first eight nights, CBS averaged a 25.2 rating with a 39 share, 35 percent higher than the 18.7/29 in ’92.
The ratings for the Wednesday and Friday womens’ figure skating competition could match Super Bowl figures of 40-something ratings and 70-something shares. Hamilton, a gold medalist 10 years ago, sees that as good for his sport.
“The fact there’s going to be so many people watching is a positive,” Hamilton said, “because they’re going to walk away appreciating the sport.”
Hamilton, an admitted pal of Kerrigan’s, is left in an awkward position. “I don’t know Tonya as well because I haven’t spent a lot of time with her,” Hamilton said. “Portland (Harding’s home base) is kind of off the beaten path in figure skating. I’m more familiar with Nancy and her coaches.”
And if Hamilton admits to knowing more about Kerrigan than Harding, what about the judges? Won’t they have some preconceived notions?
“Any judging errors are really going to stand out,” said Hamilton. “They’re just going to have to react to what happens on the ice (because) they have to back up their scores in a judges’ meeting.”
Just as Hamilton has had to defend his broadcasting style-long on description, short on opinion. “I’ve been better this year pointing out weaknesses,” Hamilton said. “But I’m also going to tell what (the skaters’) strengths are.”
Like Kerrigan and Harding, Hamilton’s toughest test may come Wednesday night.
Traveling circus: White Sox broadcaster John Rooney, perhaps in preparation for spring training, is spending these days anchoring CBS Radio’s Lillehammer coverage. For Rooney, his first Winter Olympics have been a revelation-and a lot of hard work.
“I haven’t operated my own equipment in more than 10 years,” Rooney said recently. “That’s a real challenge.”
Rooney also has found the Games “not to be anything like I thought they would be. I went to the Russia-Finland hockey game the other night and it was kind of like my first experience at Rupp Arena or Notre Dame Stadium. It was wild to see.”
When the Games end, Rooney will be trading one media circus for another by heading to the Sox camp in Sarasota, Fla., for his first exhibition broadcast March 4.
“I saw Michael (Jordan) working in the cages,” Rooney said. “If Michael can be a slap hitter with the speed he has, he might have a chance to play. But no one’s going to get better without game action and lots of it.”
Rooney felt the same way about his CBS Olympic assignment. “I sympathize with Michael Jordan a little bit,” said Rooney, who shares CBS host duties with Jim Hunter. “Before I went on the air (for the Games), I simulated several reports. A few of them blew up in my face. But I’ve got a routine I’ve developed and not too many (reports) have blown up since the Olympics started.”
Olympian thoughts: TNT’s cable coverage of the Games, which continues at noon Tuesday, still suffers from the same problems it did two years ago-not enough live stuff (except hockey) and too much day-old stuff (that was embargoed by CBS).
