Sports

02/25/2010

Broadcast TV, Sports

Figure skating just goes better with Bond

007-skate

I was watching late-night figure-skating, and on came a woman who was touted as one of the top short-program skaters. Scott Hamilton went blah blah blah about her form, and so I went into the kitchen to cook myself a burger. And then came her music. I was enthralled.
  Ever since I was very small, I've been a huge James Bond fan. I've seen every movie more times than can be counted on my fingers and toes, and I know every soundtrack like the back of my hand. My favorite Bond movies are Thunderball (1965) and On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969). (I was actually just recently talking about Telly Savalas on the PI Podcast with Marc Berman. Savalas plays Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the latter movie.) Every time I see these flicks, it's like watching anew. And the scores are second to none.
  So, I was happy to hear this woman skating to the theme from Thunderball—but not Tom Jones's amazing intro. She was skating to the deep cuts from the soundtrack album, the lyric-less score. When the skater was done, the audience roared in her favor. It might have been for her skating, but I'd like to think it was, in part, for the John Barry classic chosen for the music.
  Figure-skating community: Keep the Bond coming!

—Posted by Will Levith

01/15/2010

Sports

Yeah, I'll admit it. I still like Tiger Woods.

Tiger

Before the barrage of accusations and floozies exploded all over every media outlet, I was a casual Tiger Woods fan. But I was a fan, no less. When I'd watch golf on TV, it would be to watch Tiger, because he was always the best player on the course—even on his crappiest days. He's expected to win, and I think that's why the blood- and story-thirsty entertainment media have been all over him. He wasn't expected to do all of these things (or maybe he was?). And one by one, as the skeletons have fallen face-first out of his closet, I've been, like, "So what?" I might be the first to say this, but I still like Tiger Woods. People have done a lot worse. Media: Get over it. Elin: You're young and hot. You'll find somebody else. The PGA: When he comes back, he'll still be the best, and your ratings will be sky high. So, stop pouting.

—Posted by Will Levith


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CONTRIBUTORS

  • Katy Bachman
  • Marc Berman
  • Michael Burgi
  • James Cooper (co-editor)
  • Anthony Crupi
  • Alan Frutkin
  • Will Levith
  • Lucia Moses
  • Tim Nudd (co-editor)
  • Craig Russell
  • Mike Shields