my Olympics wrap up...

This is the first time I have spent in another country, seeing the Olympics thru another media's eyes. As Americans, we are characterized as having an untouchable national pride. Sure we have out internal conflicts, as long as there are two humans on Earth, there will be conflict. But when our nation competes against other nations, we become rabid animals and pool together as one nation. This is one reason why I can't understand how we cannot appreciate soccer. the sport itself is much like war. The fans lay their hopes and dream of bragging rights in the hands of a coach and 11 players to right the wrongs of yesteryear. we as americans can relate to this. How? Well are we still talking about the Winter Olympics where we beat Russia in the semifinals? Do you think the Russians are still crying over one lost? Still the game holds much importance as this was , albeit then end, cold war era. Instead of bombs and missiles, we went to war over ice and pucks. Brutal as hockey may be, better choice of conflict than global thermonuclear war.

So the Olympics as the poster child for global conflict in a sanctioned manner. No need for the Geneva Convention or NATA peace keepers when we have the Olympics ruling committee to monitor the rules and regulations set for years before. Like war, the soldiers to compete train for life times, to be placed in a position to win glory for their countries. All the while, the hosting city is transforming into the city they should have been, but are now motivated to make those changes to polish their image for every tourist, media personnel, and visiting world leader in hopes to show their brilliance. China, long hounded by their politics, human rights record and place on the world stage, showed up and delivered a spectacular opening and closing games. But jut like any Olympics, the games were blemished by the random acts of individuals who are not on the same page and use the games as a way to be heard. i am sure more stories will surface but hopefully we can see the positive in the games as a whole. That would be the biggest defeat for the naysayers.

Still i would like to point out some of my finer memories from this years Olympics. I would like to share my American point of view while under Spanish media influence. for those of you not convinced that the media has some influence on how you think...take it from me. It's brainwash.

1.The Spanish Basketball team. talk about the biggest whiners in the world. i am not sure if you guys are getting this, but they have been crying ever since the final buzzer. I will give it to them, they played some kick ass basketball against the Americans in the gold medal game. I was nervous as I woke up in time to catch the second half of the game. I, being a long time fan of basketball, have a sense for the game and it's strategy. Which makes my enjoying the game that much more difficult to sit back and enjoy. Still I thought the officiating was less than par. Fouls not called on loose balls, illegal and moving picks were ignored and some offensive fouls called in error. But in the end the Americans prevailed. But to my surprise, the Spanish media was carrying a story about how critical the Spanish players were against the referees. they felt they could have won the game if the refs were calling traveling violations like they thought they should have. Carme was wondering out loud what was the rule on traveling. Still she was jut thinking out loud because she has the attention span of a gerbil when it comes to me explain anything about sport, computers or world politics. The problem ultimately was that the American's got way too lax and let the Spaniard think they were good enough to beat the Americas, thus they had to look for an excuse as to why they lost by a handful of points rather than the 30 pts. they lost by in group play! Babies!!! take the silver and call it a day. Remember 2nd place is the 1st place loser!!!

2.Australian women's basketball team. Ok I have something to admit and it ain't going to be pretty. I am not a fan of female sports. I can't get into gymnast because they look like little 12 year old girls (China used that to try to slip a possible 12 year old into the competition and she won the gold! I know, head my own advice and stop whining right?). synchronized swimming just freaks me out with all the waterproof mascara they use and their hair all pulled back. Long distance running can get into but it can be a bore to see a woman doing the same thing over and over again, left then right. their clothing is not see thru so when they dump bottles of water over their heads, there are no wet t-shirt moments. Sigh. I do get a kick out of the sprinters. Thick legs and rear ends run amock. but the race is over in 9 seconds and then what? I need something a bit long lasting to capture my male mind and the need to look at women despite being happily married.

o i flashed over to check out the women's side of the basketball tournament. I happened to run across the Australian women's basketball team game and i was floored! Ok if you scroll a bit you will see what i mean. normally, the women's side of thing took their queues from the men side of fashin. thank goodness women's professional basketball was not wearing the tight and high shorts of the 70's and waited for at least the late 80's to pick up on the longer and baggier shorts. Still the only redeeming factor is the occasional pretty face. the uniform being unflattering and often hiding of assets of the shapely female figure, just made me think i was looking at men with mullets and pony tails. their rough exterior seemed in direct proportion with their basketball skills. the better the player, the less likely you will find them in high heels and a skirt. But how fair is it for me to have my cake and eat it , too.


Then came the Aussies! Their uniform being a reminder of more like a wet suit than some oversized pajamas. Oh sweet heaven...when are the next international competitions?!?

3.Michael Phelps. Someone check his DNA for fish genes! someone check his blood not for doping but fish oil!!! Still, 8 events, 8 gold medals, 7 world records....something to reach for in 4 years Mikey!

4.Usain Bolt. It is uncanny how this man has the same name as what we use to describe units of measurement for lightning. i swear i thought he was going to break stride and run backwards the last half of the race when he let up and still broke the world record.