Bob Costas told America on Sunday that Usain Bolt is a bigger deal in Jamaica than Bob Marley.
"With apologies to all you reggae fans, I think Bolt has even outdistanced Marley," Costas said on NBC after Bolt won his third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 100 meter dash.
This was all part of a bloviated attempt to make Americans care about Bolt beating an American, Justin Gatlin, through over-the-top hagiography. Of course, American sports fans and all other fans of the Olympics mostly love Bolt already (unless they hate him). Bringing Marley into it felt trite and unnecessary.