pal@crystal.ARPA (08/03/84)
According to a local paper, Juan Samaranch (IOC biggie) has lodged a FORMAL complaint against US media coverage of the Olympics, citing excessive chauvinism. Looks like I'm not the only one who has to keep a barf-bag handy when watching ABC these days. By the way, are TV commentators exempt from slander/libel laws? The ABC staff have absolutely no qualms about questioning the integrity of judges without any basis other than the judge's nationality. Really makes me puke to see such sore losers (e.g. women's gymnastics -- obviously the US lost only because there was an Eastern bloc judge somewhere, not because none of them could stay on the balance beam.) As an aside: During the winter Olympics, I watched the figure skating scores for evidence (completely unscientific, I admit) of bias (the scores were open, with the judge's nationality attached). In most cases I examined, the US judge's score was the one farthest from the average, and usually in the "right" direction (i.e. above for US competitors, below for others). This clearly shows that not only Eastern bloc judges, but ALL non-US judges are biased (SARCASM). Anil Pal U. of Wisconsin-Madison crystal!pal Disclaimer: above are personal opinions only.