So as most Americans are at this time of year every four years, I have been basically glued to the television watching hours and hours of the NBC coverage of the Beijing Summer Olympics. This has proven to be quite challenging for me this time around for two reasons:
1) Beijing is 12 hours ahead of us (they're in the future, if you really think about it. Their tomorrow is our today. Weird, but I digress). I am an internet news junkie. Newspapers have basically gone by the wayside in my little world, and in their place, I read the news headlines (and celebrity gossip) on the computer numerous times a day. This makes life difficult, because news reporters report stories in real time as they happen, not on the 12 hour plus tape delay that NBC has been forced to use for this Olympics because most people in their right minds are not able to stay awake to watch the events live without paying a hefty price the next day at work when they have to keep their eyelids propped open with toothpicks. I can't tell you how many events I've looked forward to watching in primetime coverage and then lo and behold, I get online to read the news, and there's a link right there in my face that says, "U.S. Women's Volleyball team wins gold." Crap. I DVR'ed that to watch tonight because it didn't come on until almost midnight. What's the point now? I know the result now. The same thing has happened to me with some gymnastics, diving, and track and field events. So frustrating. If they have to post the news as it happens, that's fine, but at least make it so you have to click into a spoiler section so you don't just come across it like I have so many times. Annoying. Frustrating. I could prevent it by not reading the news, but that's my livelihood. It keeps me going during the day and makes me feel connected to the world. Maybe that's geeky, but it's true. I like to be "in the know."
2) I don't live in the United States, I live in Canada. Let me elaborate a bit. The first day of the Olympics, I go to turn on the games, and of course, both of the two channels that we get that are U.S. channels are televising the BUFFALO BILLS PRESEASON FOOTBALL GAME. WHHHHAAAAAT??????? The Bills?!?!!?? I don't care if we are close to Buffalo, it's preseason, big deal, and they can barely keep the team in their city, so why are they letting them monopolize BOTH NBC channels. Ludicrous, I tell you, just ludicrous. So, I decide to give the Canadian channel, CBC, a chance. Well, that lasted for all of five minutes, the guy on there has a Ben Stein voice, only he's more dry and boring, and the big event of the day was Equestrian stuff. ALLLLLLL day. Yikes. All I have to say is that I really appreciate Bob Costas more than I ever thought I could. Thank goodness I only had to put up with that for one day.
ANYWAY---enough of that. Stop and think about the Olympics for a second. Think about what goes into that. Think about all of the different countries that show up, how hard all of the athletes have had to work to get there, how many different cultures and backgrounds and beliefs and environments they come from.....but yet they're all in one place with one common goal--a gold medal proving that their country is the best in the WORLD. That's a pretty big deal. Think of all of the venues that must be built, all of the planning that is involved, all of the people that it takes to work the events and judge the events and cook food for the athletes and all of that. Yes, there was a stabbing there this time, but for the most part, everyone comes together and gets along. That's a pretty awesome thing if you stop and think about it.
Now, for the all-stars:
MICHAEL FREAKIN PHELPS---8 gold medals....INSANE!! And the finishes to a few of those races were just ridiculous. It was cool that in the end he had to rely on a team to achieve a personal goal. I liked that. And his mom is hilarious, so that made watching even more enjoyable.
Misty May and Kerri Walsh---wow. Double golds in volleyball, something like 108 consecutive matches won. I wish I could be them.
And, as much as I hate his showboating ways, Usain Bolt of Jamaica. Two world records that were thought impossible to beat and he beat them both in a matter of days. The gymnastics judges are smoking something too.......so inconsistent and biased, even though bias is not supposed to happen because of the way it's set up....it totally does, and I think everyone can agree with that. When you bring Bela Karolyi to tears, something's up. Poor Alicia Sacramone. First she falls on two different events at the team competition, then gets screwed out of a bronze by horrible judging on the vault final. Bummer.
More to come......
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