tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post1938771657557837395..comments2024-03-26T10:26:51.288-04:00Comments on Jim Leff's Slog: Enough OlympicsJim Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00007232702717055047noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post-6001984316699659172010-02-18T23:25:16.881-05:002010-02-18T23:25:16.881-05:00I'm not sure if it applies to the superstars, ...I'm not sure if it applies to the superstars, but this video and story shows how important the Olympics are to even professional athletes: http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nhl/columns/story?id=4908628<br /><br />Jim, I think if you watched the snowboarders, you would have seen lots of smiles, camaraderie and downright fun.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03743825684303825072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post-75935593276901664392010-02-17T11:18:19.809-05:002010-02-17T11:18:19.809-05:00-------
"Yes, it's heartbreaking to see m...-------<br />"Yes, it's heartbreaking to see missed dreams. And yes, the TV crews love to home in on the broken dreamer. But, I doubt a single one of those athletes would trade the experience."<br />-------<br /><br />Well, that's their perspective. From my perspective, the problem is that I don't see my upside, as a viewer, to match the downside of my feeling awful for some 16 year old whose life just collapsed because she didn't quite stick the landing of her quadruple double twist philodendron turn.<br /><br />I don't see joy in any of the performances. It's just people performing rote maneuvers in a spirit of anxious trepidation, with the best a tenth of a second faster (or a tenth of a point higher) than the worst. It's a great big wash, and it feels oppressive to me, with the stress and the palpable mind-numbing repetition that went into it all. There's heart break on the one hand (which I share) and, on the other hand, there's jocks getting medals (which I don't). Idunno.<br /><br />I guess some people get off on the nationalistic aspect of medaling, but I never understood the concept of rooting for one's country (except, like, against invaders shooting guns), so I don't thrill at all to see the 87th American gold medal awarded.<br /><br />All in all, it's sort of like watching people stand pins on end. When they succeed, you sort of nod disconnectedly and say, yep, that sure is a lot of pins. When they don't, you want to beat your head into a wall. And the pin-standing process is ulcer-burning in its stressfulness.Jim Leffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00007232702717055047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post-56271448433581755662010-02-16T23:04:14.607-05:002010-02-16T23:04:14.607-05:00I gave up my TV a few months ago and so far, I hav...I gave up my TV a few months ago and so far, I haven't missed it. Until the Olympics. I live for the Olympics. I always have and I still do. So I'm on the opposite side of the fence - one who wishes I could get more of it (even when I had TV, I couldn't get enough). Yes, it's heartbreaking to see missed dreams. And yes, the TV crews love to home in on the broken dreamer. But, I doubt a single one of those athletes would trade the experience. Certainly they'd have wished the outcome were different, but the experience is one I'm sure all are ecstatic to have participated in. So why should we feel bad about sharing in that participation? <br /><br />I'm nostalgic and naive, I know, but I still feel like the Olympics brings out so much that is good. For the most part, it still bridges geographical divides. The stories and feats are truly inspirational. I'm not ignorant that much beneath the competition is crass money grabbing. But I'll still take the Olympics because in the end, that shared experience of watching - literally with the world - of competition, feats of amazing athleticism, great stories of success and failure is something I find absolute pure pleasure in.<br /><br />And, considering it comes only once every two years (winter + summer games) I wish they'd dedicate MORE programming to it. <br /><br />Maybe it's just me. I'm a sucker.adamclydehttp://adamchristensen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640470443420164863.post-68202264570042394622010-02-16T17:13:03.293-05:002010-02-16T17:13:03.293-05:00My favorite moment thus far was watching Alexandre...My favorite moment thus far was watching Alexandre Bilodeau receive the Gold Medal for Canada after winning the Men's Moguls. I far prefer the Winter Olympics.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15774626480247366602noreply@blogger.com