Today we start a new feature known as '8-bit News', a lo-fi version of current(ish) events. This low resolution option allows us to focus more on the story and less on the glossy imagery of the modern mass media style. Just as 8-bit Mario let you focus on the gameplay without being distracted by flashy graphics.Our inaugural story is one of the most googled news stories of the Olympics so far. Last week NBC was airing live coverage of the water polo match between Spain and USA. Water polo is a surprisingly rough sport, with opposing players often pulling each other around in order to gain an advantage. In fact pulling at your opponent's costume is not an uncommon practice. It just so happened that an underwater camera caught an incident where a US player pulled a little too hard on a Spanish players swimsuit, causing a brief moment of exposed nipple.
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| 8-Bit News - exposed nipple in a water polo match |
The NBC nipple was not as obvious as the one pictured above, and if you blinked you would have missed it, so what is all the fuss about?
Well, NBC don't want to get fined like CBS did when Janet Jackson had her infamous Superbowl half-time wardrobe malfunction, so they want it to blow over pretty quickly. However, just the mere mention of a nipple slip has a million boys and men googling and youtubing water-polo looking for a quick boob flash.
This incident will fade into obscurity fairly rapidly as will the sport of water polo, at least until the next Olympics. As will my joke about water polo players doing the breast stroke.
I'm sure NBC will be sending you a "Thank You" note for keeping the discussion going. Thanks for doing your part, and making me laugh.
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