NEWS » , Lecavalier and the Lightning outlaste

Olympics television is branching out into the fashion world, with NBC hiring two Brazilian supermodels to appear on the networks late-night coverage of Rio 2016.Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima, both of whom are Victorias Secret Angels in their day jobs, will feature primarily on Ryan Seacrests after-hours show, which will be largely human-interest and entertainment based.Adriana and Alessandra are the perfect ambassadors to guide viewers through the celebrations taking place outside of the competition, showcasing the off the field experience for Olympic fans, Jim Bell, NBC Olympics executive producer, said in a press release.Thats all well and good. Olympics coverage has long straddled the line between sports news and entertainment, with the expansion into the celebrity space borne out of the need to appeal to a broader audience beyond traditional sports fans -- not to mention fill 6,755 hours of coverage. (Personally, I wouldnt mind seeing that time filled with more Bob Costas.) Two famous Brazilians teaching us their native language and local cuisine does add some cultural dimension to what can be at times a rather bland broadcast. And with soccer as a way of life in Brazil, perhaps Ambrosio and Lima can offer some commentary on the sports themselves.But the move also reads as slightly cynical against the long-term backdrop of the situation in Rio. Amid the Zika and ISIS fears of the athletes, tourists and traveling press, theres also the constant state of fear in which the locals live -- fear of government, of police, of pollution, of poverty.The body parts that washed ashore near the Olympic beach volleyball courts, the thousands of displaced poor who watched their favelas bulldozed to make way for Olympic Village, the political turmoil of a corrupt congress ousting a very impeachable president, the protesters and police continuing to clash in the streets as calls for an Olympics boycott grow, the billions in cost overruns and public spending amid the countrys worst recession in 80 years, the unpaid officers warning tourists at the airport, Welcome to Hell ... whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe, the sewage flowing in the waters where athletes will compete and through the streets where locals live and play, the diseases far worse than Zika that have plagued Brazilians long before sports fans began to take notice -- its much easier to overlook these and other harsh realities when you have two pretty faces guiding your view.The athletic achievement and heartwarming stories of triumph often serve to distract from the darker side of the Games, but the use of Ambrosio and Lima is problematic in other ways. Its a nod to the tired stereotype of hyper-sexualized Brazilian women, which was invoked to disastrous effect by sponsors of the 2014 World Cup in Rio. The local and Western elite have historically reduced Brazil to beachwear and body waxing, an image sold to tourists that largely boosts the sex -- and sex trafficking -- industry.The perception that Brazilians hold a liberal attitude toward sex and nudity comes at the expense of womens safety. A 2014 survey from Brazils Institute of Applied Economic Research found that 26 percent of respondents believed women who dressed in revealing clothing deserved to be raped, while 58.5 percent believed there would be fewer rapes if women behaved properly.Similarly, choosing supermodels to guide the cultural coverage shows a disregard for women Olympics fans. If its a ploy for viewers, its very clearly a ploy to gain male viewers. You could argue that that just makes strategic sense, because the majority of Olympics ratings are driven by female fans. But beautiful women are deployed throughout sports broadcasts whether or not male viewers are in the minority.Some writers more optimistic than I are holding out for the possibility that Ambrosio and Lima might lend their own perspectives as native Brazilians on whats going on in their country. That very well could be the case, and if so, I look forward to their insight. But neither woman has been particularly outspoken when it comes to politics -- nor should they have to be; thats not their job. And while Im sure they both have opinions on the state of affairs in their home country, I think it might be asking too much to expect a meaningful discussion on the social and economic impact of the Olympics on an entertainment show moderated by Seacrest.Hopefully NBC isnt using these two very beautiful women to mask the ugliness were seeing in Rio. 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The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game.Vincent Lecavalier had a tough few days after his 14-year stint in Tampa Bay ended. His deal with Philadelphia helped soften the blow. Lecavalier and the Flyers officially announced their $22.5 million, five-year contract on Saturday. Lecavalier, a former Lightning captain, had some options as to where he wanted to chase a second Stanley Cup. Only 33, Lecavalier has plenty left to offer a contender — or even a team like the Flyers in the midst of an off-season overhaul after missing the playoffs. "Lets just say, Philly, with the meeting I had with them, thats the place I really wanted to go," he said Saturday. "I started off with, I dont want to say a pretty big list, but a list of about 10 teams, and right after I talked with Philly, even before any offers or anything, they went right to the top of the list. I just liked what they were saying." The Flyers offered one nice incentive — they dangled an opportunity to share a line with team captain Claude Giroux. Giroux signed his own eight-year extension worth over $64 million this week. Lecavalier will likely settle in on the second line, but could team with Giroux to provide a potent offensive push when the Flyers really need one. Had they teamed in their prime, they would have been one of the top 1-2 punches in the league. Lecavalier is willing to move to right wing to team up on the top line with Giroux at centre. "Its not something that I really worry about, especially when youre being told you might play with Claude Giroux," he said. "Im really open to that and Id be really excited about that." Tampa Bay cut ties with Lecavalier to clear space under a smaller salary cap. Lecavalier didnt mesh with Tampa Bays plans, or at least his contract didnt with seven years and $45 million remaining on it. The four-time All-Star, drafted No. 1 overall by the Lightning in 1998, helped the franchise win the Stanley Cup in 2004 and scored a franchise-high 383 goals. By buying him out, it saved Tampa Bay more than $7.7 million cap space for the upcoming season. The move cost them $32 million over 14 years because he is due two-thirds the vvalue of his deal spread over twice the term of the contract.dddddddddddd He scored a league-high 52 times during the 2006-07 season and had 32 points in 39 games during the shortened season. Lecavalier, a 6-foot-4, 208-pound centre, had signed an 11-year deal with Tampa Bay in 2008. He had 10 goals and 32 points in 39 games last season for the Lightning. "He is going to be used in a position as one of our top forwards," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said. "I think he brings a lot of benefits to our offensive group as well as our power play and leadership. We will sort all of this out in training camp. But to bring an elite forward like this in to the mix is a welcome addition." Sure, Lecavalier liked the idea of becoming part of that mix. But he didnt have final say. "Vinny actually came into town with his wife prior to us agreeing on a contract," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "I think his wife gave him the thumbs-up on the area, liked the areas we have to live where the players are at. It just kind of went from there. The Flyers went 23-22-3 and were 10th in the Eastern Conference with 49 points. After jettisoning several goal-scoring veterans, the Flyers struggled with their offence and hope Lecavalier can bring some punch to the lineup. In that Stanley Cup run of nine years ago, Lecavalier and the Lightning outlasted the Flyers in a memorable Eastern Conference final series. Tampa Bay then went on to win their first championship by defeating Calgary in seven games. The Flyers also signed goalie Ray Emery to a one-year deal and 35-year-old defenceman Mark Streit to a $21-million, four-year deal that has pressed them up against the salary cap. The Flyers firmly believe Giroux will bounce back from a bit of a down year and Scott Hartnell will return from injuries. Throw in the expected improvement from Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds and Sean Couturier, and the Flyers could make a quick return to the Eastern Conference playoffs. "We kept what we think is a real good nucleus together," Holmgren said. "We didnt do anything to dismantle anything." ' ' '