Late Thursday night, Tiki Barber (through an MSNBC spokesperson) denied uttering the "See You Next Tuesday" word during an Olympic Update segment last week. The two parties combined to give Neil Best and Newsday a few interesting "turns of phrase" regarding the issue....

To many ears, it sounded like an offensive word usually aimed at women. But MSNBC said Barber meant to say “You’re a total medal count,’’ meaning Wolfe was on that side of the ongoing debate.

“I would never disrespect a colleague and friend with that kind of language,’’ Barber said from Beijing through an MSNBC spokeswoman, who said Barber had no idea of a budding controversy until she informed him of it.

“It’s disappointing someone would intentionally misrepresent the hard work Jenna and I are doing.’’ Barber and Wolfe co-host “Olympic Wrap-up’’ from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

MSNBC said in a statement, “Tiki and Jenna were discussing total medal count versus gold medal counts and Tiki’s words were unclear.’’

Let me start by saying that NBC and I obviously aren't exactly the best of friends at the moment. I feel the need to tell them and you that I would never bash a network or its personalities without cause, even in the current state of the "relationship" between NBC and myself. With that out of the way....

YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME?! First of all, everyone knows he was trying to say "count". I don't think that was ever in question. Second, there's not a chance in hell that Barber said the word "count". I'm pretty sure there was no intent behind the word, and that it was a slip up, but he said "cunt" plain as day in that clip. I also don't believe that he was directing the word to his co-host at all. If he had been, she should of kicked his ass and he should have been immediately fired.

As for as people "misrepresenting" the "hardwork" that you are doing in Beijing, Tiki. You and Jenna are doing a damn good job of that on your own. This interview was a classic no denial, denial and I hope everyone sees through that. "We don't admit to saying it, and we don't admit to not saying it." It seriously wasn't that big of a deal, but I echo Mike Florio's statement when I say that for Tiki to now try and paint himself as a victim after the fact, comes off pretty ignominious. No one would have even cared if he had said it, and the original point of my story was to show how much of a disgrace that the show itself was to the Olympic Games. Hell, using the word cunt was much more pleasant than the homophobia that the two hosts gave off when joking about the European congratulatory kiss.

It's a shame it had to come to this, but seriously....please show a little more class NBC. That show is, and has been, a disgrace throughout these past two weeks. The word cunt said on the airwaves should be the least of your worries.

Tiki Barber speaks unclearly, causes blogosphere stir (Newsday)
Maybe Tiki Should Stick To Big Words (Pro Football Talk)
MSNBC's "Olympic Update" Continues To Disrespect The Beijing Games (Awful Announcing)

It's amazing how much of a spin networks can put on a simple press release. NBC had been receiving some bad press as of late for not coming close to selling out their advertising spots for the Olympics, but they want you to know they're okay. They're 90% sold! With all the time in the world to finish before the Games start!

NBC Olympics has sold 90 percent of its advertising inventory for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, on pace to shatter records from past Olympics. NBC Universal has set a revenue target north of $1 billion for the 2008 Games. The announcement was made today by Seth Winter, SVP Sales, NBC Sports & Olympics.

"Advertisers across all categories are recognizing the power of premium content and the strength of the Olympic brand, particularly in an increasingly fragmented media landscape," said Winter. "Live sports continues to resonate with viewers, and advertisers know the Olympics are one of the best ways to reach an engaged mass audience."

Among the categories seeing the most movement in recent weeks are corporate imaging, consumer electronics, movies and retail, spurred by back-to-school advertising. Winter cited recent momentum from NBC's primetime coverage of the U.S. Olympics Trials for Swimming, Gymnastics and Track & Field, which saw ratings increases over 2004 and featured buzz worthy performances from marquee athletes such as Michael Phelps, Dara Torres, Tyson Gay and Shawn Johnson.

Well I'm glad that crisis is diverted. What's that? The Olympics start in two weeks??? Oh. I guess that slipped my mind. So they still have $100 million dollars worth of spots to fill in that time frame with all the big advertisers on board? Gotcha.

The largest package that NBC sells is apparently $10 million and the smallest a $500K deal (according to the deals offered Barack Obama), so it's not out of the realm of possibility. It's not likely though.

(Via NBC PR)

Or at least the PR process. Adam took out a full page ad in the Tennessean Newspaper today in which he apologizes to his friends, family, coaches, and fans (see copy below). This goes hand in hand with Pacman's appeal with the league, and couldn't be more obviously timed in my mind.

Like I've always said....everyone deserves a second chance but this move is a little TOO obvious. Especially coming after weeks and weeks of interviews where P-man said he thought he shouldn't be suspended because he "hadn't been convicted of nothing". I'm a little leery of this move as it's just a letter on a blank page of paper, but I guess anything will help at this point.

It's gotta be tough just to drop your friends no matter how harmful they are to your health. I mean what is he going to do if he isn't playing football? He's not on house arrest or anything. You get bored....you go "make it rain".....that's just how it is.

Pacman's Ad Promises He'll Win Back Trust (The Tennessean)
PDF: Pacman Ad (The Tennessean)