For NBC the final 30 minutes of coverage of Kentucky Derby was a nightmare and a delicate balancing act that came off badly. They stuck to the script, and in so doing, mishandled the story of the year thus far in sports.
You had the impressive victory of Big Brown who was as good as advertised and you had the tragic story of Eight Belles who finished second and then collapsed with two broken ankles and was immediately euthanized moments after the race.
NBC producer Sam Flood knew he had a script to follow but also knew that he had a major news story on his hands.
Tom Hammonds, Garry Stevens and on track reporter Donna Barton Brothers speculated on what had happened to Eight Belles. But soon, Hammonds tossed it to Kenny Rice who was with Dr. Larry Bramlage, the veterinarian on call who delivered the news that Eight Belles had broken both ankles and had to be put down right on the track.
But now NBC had a problem on their hands. Should they follow the script about Big Brown’s win along with the long victory ceremony or follow the story of the on track death of Eight Belles?
The network attempted to do both and it really did not work.
The victory ceremony and Kentucky Derby Trophy presentation for Big Brown went on as planned. Hammonds and Stevens came back from break and then tossed it to Bob Costas.
Costas reset the theme of sadness and elation all in the span of a few short minutes and then turned it over to what was by-and-large an embarrassing display by the Yum! Brands CEO, the president of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky governor, who all touted a wonderful race day and nothing about the tragic death of Eight Belles.
Finally, Mike Iavarone one of the lead owners of Big Brown showed some class and acknowledged the loss of Eight Belles as a great competitor, before recognizing his own horse’s win at the Kentucky Derby.
An NBC spokesman told The Examiner that the network left the air under a time crunch due in large part to getting the local stations to their newscasts. Hammonds and Stevens again did their best to wrap things up before ending the broadcast. Rice was on the NBC Nightly news with a more detailed report but by that time, the viewers were gone.
NBC had to please Churchill Downs, Yum! Brands and the viewers all while watching the clock. It was too much for them to handle and the death of Eight Belles did not get the coverage worthy of such a heartbreaking event.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on www.examiner.com.
