notes
Eyes keep Costas on NBC shelf
The viral infection in Bob Costas' eyes did not clear up enough for him to return Wednesday to host the Olympic broadcasts from Sochi, keeping Matt Lauer in the anchor seat while he co-hosts the "Today" show.
On Tuesday night's broadcast, his first in relief, Lauer said: "I keep expecting Costas to follow in the footsteps of Willis Reed and hobble heroically in and take us through the second half."
As Lauer spoke, Costas was most likely in his darkened hotel room, treating his eyes with medication, eye drops and cold compresses. Costas remains day-to-day.
"Bob is America's Olympic host and they have been watching Bob do this and do it extraordinarily for several decades," said Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Sports Group. "No one is more frustrated or bothered by it than he is."
Ski jumpers crash
Gold medalist Kamil Stoch of Poland and Russian ski jumper Mikhail Maksimochkin crashed during landings while training for the individual large hill event.
Stoch, who won gold in the normal hill event Sunday, was the last jumper of the night when he fell. He walked off the hill after having a brace put onto his left arm.
Paramedics earlier immobilized Maksimochkin with a neck and back brace.
