We’re used to the Olympics delivering peculiar moments, but this one beats most – Snoop Dogg as a rugby analyst, and a half-decent one at that.
That’s the amusing fate that befell us after France secured their first gold medal of the Games with their men’s rugby sevens victory over Fiji.
France stormed to an Antoine Dupont-inspired 28-7 victory over Fiji and iconic rapper Snoop was invited to comment on the highlights on NBC a few days later.
About Dupont, who set up a try and scored two himself, Snoop said: ‘I need him at running back (in my fantasy team), on the quick toss, 37 toss to the left.
‘He’s got wheels, he deals, he falls, he spills. He gave this to his homie and they get five to stay alive. That’s five points and now they’re grooving.’
Snoop Dogg made an amusing outing as a rugby analyst for NBC after France’s sevens win
The iconic rapper joked that he would have Antoine Dupont in his fantasy team for the NFL
NBC teased the rapper with images of him getting emotional during the national anthem
Snoop had been to watch Caleb Dressel win the men’s 100m freestyle relay in the pool
As NBC showed clips of the France players dancing after their triumph, Snoop soundtracked it with a rhythmic chorus of ‘ah, ahs’ and quipped: ‘Get your groove on.’
The broadcast then cut to footage of Snoop – real name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr – draped in an American flag and getting emotional during the national anthem.
That was ahead of Caeleb Dressel’s participation in America’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay swimming victory, with Snoop stood alongside the star’s wife Meghan Dressel, who was cradling her sleeping baby.
‘Mike, you’re gonna make me cry, man,’ said Snoop. ‘I wasn’t supposed to do that on this TV show. Come on, Mike, why you tapping your toes? Emotions, I don’t need that, man.
‘Star-spangled banner, when I hear that, I’m emotional about that. That song and just being there with all of those Americans. Being there with the family, I felt like I was part of the family.’
While Snoop revealed in January that he would be part of NBC’s coverage, it will have surprised a few to see him – particularly in the United Kingdom.
But the ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ and ‘Gin and Juice’ hitmaker has a history with the Olympics and has been involved in the build-up stateside.
Three years ago in Tokyo, he and comedian Kevin Hart provided streaming-only commentary on Peacock.
Snoop Dogg posed in front of the Eiffel Tower to announce his partnership with NBC for the 2024 Summer Olympics
Kevin Hart and Snoop Dogg on set as Tokyo 2021 commentators in their Peacock series
Snoop had an eye-popping reaction to Simone Biles’ Women’s Gymnastics qualification performance, lifting up his sunglasses to reveal a wide-eyed look
He has been taking in a variety of events at the Olympics as a fan and a broadcaster
And earlier this year, he starred in an advert for NBC’s Olympics coverage with several American athletes.
‘I grew up watching the Olympics and am thrilled to see the incredible athletes bring their A-game to Paris,’ Snoop said in a statement, as he posed in front of the Eiffel Tour as part of the announcement. ‘It’s a celebration of skill, dedication, and the pursuit of greatness.
‘We’re going to have some amazing competitions and, of course, I will be bringing that Snoop style to the mix. It’s going to be the most epic Olympics ever, so stay tuned, and keep it locked.’
Snoop Dogg’s participation in commenting over Olympic coverage generated ‘tens of millions of views,’ for NBC in 2021, the network’s executive producer and president for its Olympics Production, Molly Solomon, claimed in a statement to Variety.
‘That performance alone has earned Snoop a job as our Special Correspondent in Paris. We don’t know what the heck is going to happen every day, but we know he will add his unique perspective to our re-imagined Olympic primetime show.’
On Sunday, he had an eye-popping reaction to Simone Biles’ women’s gymnastics qualification performance.
Underneath his American flag jacket, Snoop Dogg donned a T-shirt with gymnastics legend Simone Biles’ face printed on it.
Snoop Dogg was in awe at Biles’ performance and a hilarious picture captured him lifting up his sunglasses to reveal a wide-eyed look.
Snoop Dogg carried the Olympic torch in Paris ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday
The torch’s unique appearance led to comparisons to a cannabis joint on social media – and an outpouring of memes
He also featured in the opening ceremony as one of the Olympic torch-bearers in a short run around the Stade de France.
But viewers watching Snoop – real name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr – immediately thought of something else associated with the rapper as it burned at one end: a rippling cannabis joint.
It prompted a tidal wave of memes on social media as pranksters manipulated images to swap the torch for an oversized spliff, while a cartoonist even sketched Snoop taking a draw from the torch.
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