Post by cantonhall34 on Feb 18, 2014 0:32:35 GMT -5
I gotta say I really like the Olympics, for a number of reasons.
Observations from my time watching the Olympics so far -
- As I've believed for some time, Olympic Hockey is about as good as it gets in sports, along with: Overtime NHL Playoff Hockey, March Madness, and World Cup Soccer - no matter WHAT - they always deliver. I'd love to put NFL playoffs (and SB) in there as well as college football bowl games, but they'd be just behind those other things in the consistency of entertainment value. Sure, you have great football games of course, but it seems the percentage of great games is higher in the others I listed. At least for my money.
- If you missed it - it was on really early one morning before being replayed later in the day - the Women's 4x5km Cross Country Skiing Relay was in a word - A.W.E.S.O.M.E. - and I don't even watch the sport very much other than the Olympics. It was about as great a race as I have EVER seen, in any sport. If you can, check out the replay on OnDemand (if you're satellite/cable provider has such a thing). It will take a couple hours to get through, but it is worth it. Maybe the greatest thing I've seen so far this time.
- Snowboard Cross...frickin' rocks. Love that thing. And NO, I don't feel bad for the American chick that lost on the last curve in her semi-final - I mean, sure I feel bad for her this time, but she had this race won years ago and blew it. She had a chance at a GOLD MEDAL in 2006, and as she cleared the final jump, she tried to show off and do a trick and fell on her ass, allowing the rest of the racers to zoom past her and she didn't even medal. Coulda had the medal at that time, and then the whole "redemption" BS wouldn't be sucha big deal. Sure, she missed out again in 2010, then got hurt, etc. And I feel bad about that, and that she fell THIS TIME, but in no way do I feel bad in general for someone that already had a race WON only to eat it whilst showing off on the last jump. So the Gold Medal "eluded" her...but she should have one already.
- My 9 year-old son was watching with me last week during the Slope-style Snowboard event, where the American guy (Sage) won the gold. He was so fired up that he wanted to do it too...then later he watched some figure skating and got into that too. He realized that you don't have to be from the same country to appreciate what some of those folks are doing, and I gotta tell ya...that's frickin' awesome. Future Olympian? haha...who knows...but it was really cool to watch some of that bad-ass stuff with the Little Man.
- People "representing" a country they're not from or have ties to, just so they can go to the Olympics. It's not the first time I've seen/heard of it, but something just seems a little douchey about that. Should be outlawed.
- Reporters BADGERING athletes as soon as they're done in their event to evoke an emotional response - Also kind of a crappy thing to do. The person is emotional already and these media people feel they HAVE to bring up all the sad and tragic things that athlete has had to deal with and get it on camera. There's a line somewhere there, and too often the media crosses it when discretion on those very personal things should be the rule.
- I realize that some of the "analysts" they brought in for the televising of the Olympics are experts and know more about the events they're covering than I ever will, but there comes a time where they should either: shut up, or THINK about what they're saying before it comes outta their mouth. Heard some really stupid and ignorant BS lately. Just sayin.
Observations from my time watching the Olympics so far -
- As I've believed for some time, Olympic Hockey is about as good as it gets in sports, along with: Overtime NHL Playoff Hockey, March Madness, and World Cup Soccer - no matter WHAT - they always deliver. I'd love to put NFL playoffs (and SB) in there as well as college football bowl games, but they'd be just behind those other things in the consistency of entertainment value. Sure, you have great football games of course, but it seems the percentage of great games is higher in the others I listed. At least for my money.
- If you missed it - it was on really early one morning before being replayed later in the day - the Women's 4x5km Cross Country Skiing Relay was in a word - A.W.E.S.O.M.E. - and I don't even watch the sport very much other than the Olympics. It was about as great a race as I have EVER seen, in any sport. If you can, check out the replay on OnDemand (if you're satellite/cable provider has such a thing). It will take a couple hours to get through, but it is worth it. Maybe the greatest thing I've seen so far this time.
- Snowboard Cross...frickin' rocks. Love that thing. And NO, I don't feel bad for the American chick that lost on the last curve in her semi-final - I mean, sure I feel bad for her this time, but she had this race won years ago and blew it. She had a chance at a GOLD MEDAL in 2006, and as she cleared the final jump, she tried to show off and do a trick and fell on her ass, allowing the rest of the racers to zoom past her and she didn't even medal. Coulda had the medal at that time, and then the whole "redemption" BS wouldn't be sucha big deal. Sure, she missed out again in 2010, then got hurt, etc. And I feel bad about that, and that she fell THIS TIME, but in no way do I feel bad in general for someone that already had a race WON only to eat it whilst showing off on the last jump. So the Gold Medal "eluded" her...but she should have one already.
- My 9 year-old son was watching with me last week during the Slope-style Snowboard event, where the American guy (Sage) won the gold. He was so fired up that he wanted to do it too...then later he watched some figure skating and got into that too. He realized that you don't have to be from the same country to appreciate what some of those folks are doing, and I gotta tell ya...that's frickin' awesome. Future Olympian? haha...who knows...but it was really cool to watch some of that bad-ass stuff with the Little Man.
- People "representing" a country they're not from or have ties to, just so they can go to the Olympics. It's not the first time I've seen/heard of it, but something just seems a little douchey about that. Should be outlawed.
- Reporters BADGERING athletes as soon as they're done in their event to evoke an emotional response - Also kind of a crappy thing to do. The person is emotional already and these media people feel they HAVE to bring up all the sad and tragic things that athlete has had to deal with and get it on camera. There's a line somewhere there, and too often the media crosses it when discretion on those very personal things should be the rule.
- I realize that some of the "analysts" they brought in for the televising of the Olympics are experts and know more about the events they're covering than I ever will, but there comes a time where they should either: shut up, or THINK about what they're saying before it comes outta their mouth. Heard some really stupid and ignorant BS lately. Just sayin.