My view from Olympus

Yeah, it hooked me. My jaded self keeps noting the self-serving dictators callow violation of the games created by the world’s first democracy. OK, I acknowledge that the Chinese women’s team is a pedophile’s dream. When Phelps is in starting position, my concentration is on his heel to see if his mom too failed to dunk him properly. Evidently, she did better than Achilles’ mom did. And, she seems to know it after each swim — even the Hollywood choreographed finish last evening.

I’m staying up past my normal bedtime and watching events that don’t get my attention except on a quadrennial basis. Some are nice action events. A couple are something where I hold an expertise – OK, it is only an affinity. And, I’ll admit I do the man thing and channel surf to and from getting the guy version of picture-in-picture using low tech clicking.

NBC waxes on and on about the opening ceremonies that were as rigged as a bike racer’s blood. The fireworks were digitally manufactured. The bazillion drummers in their choreographed zombie dance should have been the lead-in for that Apple ad. I kept hoping their actor would show up to throw that big hammer that shatters the Bird Cage.

NBC also can’t run 5 minutes into their puff pieces without showing the food. It ain’t the stuff we get at the $7.95, all-you-can-eat, Chinese buffet – at least that’s my hope. It seems all that is available is a Micky-D or rats and bugs on a stick. If I’d only known, I’d have tried to go entrepreneurial with a Soylent Green stand.

As a poker player, I really can’t get into those swishy Greek gods either. I figure the only place with poker tables would be Valhalla. Then, I shudder over those Scandahovians that always show up at my table trying to get lightning out of Grubby’s Thor’s hammer and figure me and Broomcorn’s uncle might do better pitching pennies against the nymphs.

What makes it worthwhile is seeing Cobby act human and even humble for a few minutes. It is nice to see people in sports that aren’t as over-hyped as the NBA get a moment in the spotlight. It is great to see people with no chance who invested the same time and effort as a Michael Phelps. Not taking any credit from Michael but there are others with the same dedication without a snowballs chance of even getting some air time. It is nice when they do get a passing mention.

CC aimed me at a photographer that shows it better than even HD. It has the magic that TV cameras try to accomplish but usually miss. Aspland shows the dance of the fencers as only a few like he and a Leroy Neiman can.

While the opening ceremony was Technicolor—Wide-screen–and–Sterophonic Sound, the glory is coming up. It is the closing ceremony where people like you and I on our very best day are displayed. This is the also-rans but they did it with so much class. Yup, warts and all, I’m hooked on the Olympics. NBC and Mao’s followers cannot even screw it up. That is an event!

ADDENDUM:

Take a look at Clearspine’s latest. It show the approach of a thinking donkey. That, BTW, is a compliment. We tend toward classic skills as Olympic wannabes. Well, poker may or may not be a sport. But, it has a flexibility that an Olympic venue can’t match. Push Monkey Poker? Maybe. But, a bit of thought makes that work. Slapstick was even practiced by Shakespeare.

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 16th, 2008 at 2:18 pm and is filed under Journal.