Poor Bob Costas. I don't think he enjoyed that manly embrace.

BEAUTIFUL!

That was excellent. I agree, AA. I don't think you can honestly criticize someone for showing that kind of emotion. Personally, I'm not a fan of gymnastics, but you certainly can't knock Bela for the pure joy he gets out of it.

Oh and his wife is a coach for the team. NBC knew he would do that. And they don't have to play his off-air moments. They do it because he's good TV. I'd rather see him than some automaton who doesn't care about the sport. As long as we know where he's coming from, we can choose whether or not to trust his opinion based on his biases and conflicts.

Ya know, for as much as the 3 calling the event were indirectly griping (most of the time - they never really called them out) about the scoring, it's great to see positive emotion and true love for any sport. I agree with AA too, any flak he gets for this is very misplaced.

To all of his detractors: Just think, we could have to listen to/look at Joe Buck call this thing instead.

He's great. He also showed more professionalism than the two calling the events.

Bela is the best. Watching someone with that much passion for gymnastics makes it more fun to watch, because there are few people in the world who care that much about the sport.

Now, can we get some Bela-tones?

"Beautiful!"
"Ahhhgghh!"
"You can do eet!"

What about a t-shirt, Bela with two fists in the air, and "Beautiful!" written above his head?

I must agree the best part was when he physically assualted Bob Coastas. The look on Bob's face was priceless. He looked scared for his life for a moment.

Dick Vitale is glad that Gymnastics are only cared about in America every four years.

Get that man a new pair of underwear. .. I agree that his excitement/patriotism is refreshing, but I sometimes have trouble understanding him and he's not given enough time to truly share his expertise on the athletes and routines (mostly because NBC spends so much time showing replays of him looking at replays).

That was awesome. I can't imagine watching gymnastics with that level of intensity, but now, I sort of wish I could.

Bela is a great character. There is nothing wrong with cheering for your wife's team and a sport you dearly enjoy.

Seriously: was Bela's joy more controversial than "The 'elegant' Lukin with the gold, the 'adorable' Johnson with the silver"?

Bela is the gift that keeps on giving. And he doesn't censor his beliefs either, he thought that the judges sucked and he said so. I loved it. It's too bad that he's done now.

oh my God people, you're STUPID for enjoying that. EVERYONE in the studio knew it was being taped. the girl was doing simple twists and Bela was overacting.
just another example of the 'entertainment factor' trying to get ratings. maybe NBC can use Bela next week to jazz up track and field.

i agree anon 10:57 -- plus who can even understand Bela.
and Bob's attempt to explain their journalistic integrity at the end.......he's always had a weird sense of humor.

I had no problem at all with him.He describes the event thoroughly, although I agree he can be hard to understand. He also refused to claim bias on judges early on when the Liuken got hosed on her vault. I think he has been fantastic.

I thought that was great whether it was true or a setup. I thought NBC missed a golden opportunity by not having a former judge in the studio to explain why certain deductions were made or how two routines could get the same execution score when one appeared to be cleaner. It is this maddening mystery of score that infuriates those of us who like rational games :)

"The Adorable Johnson" should've been my fantasy football name.

Is there anyway to team Bela with the world's greatest announcer, Andres Cantor?

This is the closest we will ever see to something like, "Do you Believe in Miracles?? YES!!!!" We are watching the Olympics on an AMERICAN channel! They should get more excited when the USA wins or does well! It is the one time when all of us crazy sports fans are rooting for the same team. So, we should enjoy it.

NBC needs of channel of Bela watching Olympic Gymnastics. I would watch that all the time. Granted, it would probably get old, but how can you not love watching someone get extremely excited for a sport that he has so much passion for. He puts John Madden to shame.

Did anyone else notice that when one of the Chinese girls did her vault, the profile on the screen said her age was 15. Someone HAS to have a screenshot of that.

patrick, it's ok to be 15 at the time of the competition...the rule states that they must turn 16 at any point during the calendar year of the games.

Someone needs to have Bela meet Dickie V stat!

He's proud of his country. I don't see any problem with that at all. Now if he said something like "the Chinese suck", then there would be a problem. But rooting for and being proud of one's country is nothing to be given a hard time over, at least in my opinion.

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The only way Bela announcing the gymnastics could be any better was if GUS JOHNSON joined him in the studio. Both of their heads might manage to explode simultaneously.

Kudos for his enthusiasm! You know, I can actually understand him when he's like this. When he's talking to Costas normally, I have to lean in and make an effort to catch every word.

i got the bela t shirt.

http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/42086/2987928580059318601S500x500Q85.jpg

I love Bela and his pure, unbridled passion and love of his sport. I'm sure I look equally as stupid playing Wii, but that's not broadcast to millions/billions of others for their ridicule.

It actually brought tears to my eyes to watch his pleas and exclamations of true, selfless, uncontaminated joy for "his" girls.

I wish I loved anything in my life half as much as Bela loves gymnastics.

just got back from Beijing -
the olympic coverage is a million
times better over there

five channels showing nothing but
events - no commercials - no
interviews of michael phelps dog

on four of the stations i cannot
understand a word - all in mandarin - buts that makes it
even better

the english language one runs pretty
cool interviews late night with
random olypians

the one-handed ping pong player from poland or somewhere

random IOC dudes

For those of you who think that was set up.... watch footage of him coaching in any of the older Olympics... he has always been like that and that is why so many people love him.