TV Talk

He seemingly has been around the Olympics since the days of
Baron Pierre de Coubertin, but this year is only Bud Greenspan's
50th as a Games documentarian. His upcoming movie on the Salt
Lake City Olympics will mark the seventh in a series of official
Games films the 75-year-old has produced and directed.

SI: Which title do you prefer: Dean of Sports Documentarians,
Poet Laureate of the Olympics or Bud the Olympic Stud?

Greenspan: Do you know how to spell G-E-N-I-U-S?

SI: You directed Denzel Washington in his first TV movie, the
Wilma Rudolph story. Are you responsible for his success?

Greenspan: He never calls me anymore.

SI: You recently located footage of Sonja Henie at the 1924
Olympics. Has anyone suggested that you shot the film?

Greenspan: People have suggested that I've been at every Games
since 1896.

SI: Your 2002 film about the Games will debut about the same
time as the new Star Wars film. Are you concerned?

Greenspan. Not the least bit. We'll kill them.

SI: We want to suggest a title for that film: Since you did one
called 16 Days of Glory, how about 17 Days of Mormons?

Greenspan: (laughing) No comment.

SI: Whose deep, foreboding voice is on your films?

Greenspan: Until seven years ago it was my brother David's.
People asked me where I found a guy with such a great
voice--they thought I was kinky when I told them I auditioned
him in my bedroom.

SI: You're not related to Fed chairman Alan Greenspan, are you?

Greenspan: He should have my money.

SI: Don't you know that glasses are usually worn over your eyes,
not on top of your head?

Greenspan: Johnny Carson says I'm the only man who can see out of
the top of his head.

SI: You wanted to be an opera singer when you were a kid. How
does Domingo, Pavarotti and Greenspan sound?

Greenspan: Like a law firm.

SI: Finally, if we ask nicely, would you sneak us into the
ladies' figure skating finals?

Greenspan: All you have to do is ask.

--Richard Deitsch

COLOR PHOTO: MATTHEW STOCKMAN/ALLSPORT