BEIJING -- In a surprise decision just before the start of the 2008 Notre Dame football season, NBC Sports announced that they will be making additions to their broadcasts of Fighting Irish home games.  Due to the overwhelming ratings success the Summer Olympics have been for the network this month, they will be incorporating some of the breakout stars from the games to football Saturdays in South Bend.

Former American women's gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi will be joining Tom Hammond and Pat Haden in the booth, providing the unrelenting enthusiasm and unfiltered partisanship that Notre Dame fans appreciate, all bundled in a loveable old man with a great mustache and accent.

"Working with Bela has just been great," said Olympic host Bob Costas, leaning back in his chair at the Beijing studio and placing both shackled ankles onto his desk.  "I'm chained to the set until the Closing Ceremonies, so my time spent watching gymnastics with Bela has been one of the few bright spots in a rather smog-covered week-plus here."

Karolyi, famous for training Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton, Dominique Moceanu and Kerri Strugg, defected from Romania to the United States in 1981.  He is perhaps best known for the conclusion of the 1996 women's gymnastics team competition, when one of his students, Strugg, executed a gold-winning vault on a bad ankle and had to be carried to the podium by Karolyi.

Karolyi has had a renaissance in popularity during these games, as his reaction to American victories and his crusade against underage Chinese gymnasts have made him a popular face on the primetime broadcasts.  Karolyi, who is not known to have any knowledge of American football, is also expected to provide additional commentary on the cheerleading routines of both Notre Dame and any visiting squads.

Also joining Karolyi during the broadcasts will be fourteen-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, who has helped NBC reach record ratings since he began his epic quest.  In an attempt to ride the Phelps mania that has swept the nation, the network will be attempting to incorporate him across their entire fall schedule.  The most accomplished medalist in history he will be hosting Saturday Night Live, attempting to get his name into Emmy consideration with a guest spot on 30 Rock, becoming Christian Slater's third personality in the freshman drama My Own Worst Enemy and starring as an "Aquaman"-type character and Hayden Panettiere's new love interest in Heroes.

NBC representatives said they were not sure what role Phelps would be playing during the Notre Dame broadcasts, but stated they were sure America would never, ever tire of Phelps no matter how often they put him onto the airwaves.