Since 1980, I've occasionally allowed my gruff exterior to be cracked like a crab claw by the Olympics. Once you get beyond the political whoremongering of the IOC, the bloated "up close and personal" crapola about every U.S. athlete, and Gary Hall, Jr., there are always some cool moments to look back upon: Mary Lou Retton (*sigh*), Joan Benoit, Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, Michael Johnson, Derek Redmond, Ali. And that's just the Summer Games.
2008, of course, is the Season of the Phelps. Personally, I know my Olympic experience would be greatly lessened without constant interviews with the guy's family and frankly disturbing close-up footage of his feet. I mean, he's only won a measly three gold medals so far. Though I must admit, watching the Americans beat the French in the 400m freestyle relay was one of those embarrassing "jump up and cheer" moments, after which you look around to make sure the neighbors didn't see you through the window. But fuck, they started it.
Personally, I'm waiting for the Dana Dara Torres events, as she's the only female swimmer I can ogle without feeling like a creepy old man.
Last night, I was hoping we might get a similar moment of jingoistic gloating with men's gymnastics. Alas, it was not to be, even as watching Jonathan Horton and Alexander Artemev, I allowed myself the fleeting possibility they might be able to topple the Chinese. Yeah. I grant that the Chinese were the better team last night, but having the Games every four years serves another purpose: it allows me to forget how annoying sports that rely on judges for their outcome really are.
And these announcers...does anyone else watch the Games on Telemundo just so they won't understand what's being said?
In other news, only two weeks until football season.
Further, my basic belief is that people who never played anything shouldn’t be sportscasters.
In that vein, Pete, why the hell are you a film critic? ;)
I have to admit, I never have liked Bob Costas as he talks as if he is 6’4” and is one of those people that I find as annoying as Scrappy Doo.
Exactly. He makes every piece of information sound like it’s the most important thing he will ever say in the entirety of his career:
“I JUST PISSED IN YOUR COBB SALAD. MORE TO COME AFTER THIS COMMERCIAL BREAK.”
In that vein, Pete, why the hell are you a film critic?
My high school Shakespeare project rivaled anything Douglas Sirk ever directed.
Personally, I’m waiting for the Dana Torres events…
If you ever meet her, and having seen the photos in Maxim I can understand why you’d want to, you might want to get her name right. It’s Dara, not Dana. I know the goofballs on Channel 2 have been getting it wrong for a month, but their stupidity is pretty much a given.
And is it just me or does Michael Phelps look like a 1960’s era Disney “big cat” cartoon like Tigger or Bargheera from “The Jungle Book”?
I still found yet more good TV last night with Bela Karolyi’s statement that the Chinese were doing better because they were using gymnasts under the minimum age.
Seeing the panic on Costas’ face at that point was worth staying up past midnight.
Tivo and has been a godsend throughout this whole thing. We record about 8 hours of coverage a day and manage to get through it all in about three and a half hours without having to hear any annoying “So the Olympic dream that you’ve been working on since you were six years old has been destroyed and if anyone ever thinks of you at all, they’ll think of you with choking sounds, how do you feel now?” interviews.
Here in the living room, my sister has the Olympics on and right now is women’s gymnastics. There was one U.S. contender named Nastia Liukin and, watching her face before she got started, all I could think of was Dolph Lundgren in “Rocky IV”: “I must break you.”
I share your overall sentiments my friend. Lucky for us, the US beat the French closer to mid night here on the East Coast, so my wife and I were alone in our shameless celebration which included finger pointing at the TV. I mean, not only was it the French, but it was smack talkin’ French at that. Then our guys had the class to shake their hands. Way to rub it in!
I have to admit that despite my own basic cynicism, heightened by opening ceremonies that were rivaled in their political menance only by Hitler’s 1936 show, watching my three young ones really get into this whole thing has been infectious. I am watching men’s weight lifting now. (Don’t tell my boss).
My only problem with the broadcasts outside of what you mention, is Bob Costas. I just don’t understand why he has a job. I have to admit, I never have liked Bob Costas as he talks as if he is 6’4” and is one of those people that I find as annoying as Scrappy Doo. Further, my basic belief is that people who never played anything shouldn’t be sportscasters. FInally, I have to ask what is up with his “hair”? Hell if it is an homage to Howard Cosell, at least Howard was a boxer before he went bald.
We don’t get Telemundo in our part of FLA - just lucky I guess. We have to settle for Univision as far as Cleavage TV. Go Team USA!