More Name Game

Did anyone notice the switcheroo that NBC pulled in its coverage of the men’s 1500 meter freestyle final in Beijing?

For most of the grueling race, Canadian Ryan Cochrane battled it out with Grant Hackett, the obsessive-compulsive Aussie who refuses to take public transportation or touch handrails in the Chinese capital. In the last 400 meters, Tunisian swimmer Oussama Mellouli pulled out in front, eventually putting 0.7 seconds between himself and silver-medalist Hackett. The gold medal is the first swimming medal that Tunisia has brought home.

But at the beginning of the race, Mellouli was identified as Oussama Mellouli. But after his victory, he was described as “Ous” both in print and by the commentators.

I’m not judging you NBC, I’m just taking note.