Note from MMM: For some strange reason, more people visited my little blog yesterday than any other day so far – and I didn’t even post anything. I know – weird. . I am grateful to all of you, and very flattered. I am also sorry that your vacations are obviously coming to an end.
Ahhh, the Olympics.
We are sitting here watching the Summer Olympic games. Again. My almost 5th grader is loving it and doing his best to keep track of all the athletes and events. He has an endearing knack of constantly repeating back what the commentators say while we are watching. But he is loving it, and it brings back memories, because I probably did the same thing.
Me? I’m watching, but it seems that the older I get, the less I care about it. I have been trying to figure out why – mostly because I think my family is irritated by my apathy. I have come up with some reasons. If you are an Olympic super-freak, I apologize in advance. I really wish I felt the same level of excitement I did when I was younger.
Mostly, I think the internet is wrecking it for me. I am online a lot, and am a news junkie. So when I see the Phelps won his 19th medal at lunchtime, it makes it hard to feign excitement during the rebroadcast ten hours later. (I am not a spoiler though – I play along.)
I like “live” sports. I don’t even like watching sports on my DVR. If I know the game is already decided, I would rather just learn the score. I think it’s because if it is not really live, my yelling at the TV will have no real impact on the outcome.
NBC is making me crazy. The have all day to edit the events to show us later that night, and this is the best they can do? After a gymnast performs, NBC shows everyone standing around waiting for the scores – for longer than the actual routine lasted! How about this? “While we wait for the Gabby’s score, let’s watch so-and-so on the vault.” Not too difficult, right?
Some of the events just creep me out a bit. And by some of the events I mean men’s synchronized diving. And by creeped out, I mean Speedos.
Some of my favorite Olympic memories had a lot to do with McDonalds. You used to get a game card that had an event on it – like “Middleweight Boxing.” If the USA won the Bronze in that event, you would get a free drink. A Silver was good for free french fries, and a Gold was worth a free Big Mac. It was awesome. Suddenly I would be personally invested in “10,000 Meter Racewalking.”
Tonight I read about someone giving one of the US swimmers grief for eating at McDonalds after a race. Those guys consume like 6,000 calories a day – give ’em a break!
I miss the days when professional athletes couldn’t participate. Sure, it’s fun to watch the “Dream Team” beat Tunisia by 50 points, but I liked it when the team was a bunch of college kids. It needed to change, because none of the other countries played by the rules.
My preference has shifted away from events like gymnastics and diving, and more towards swimming and track. I like events that are determined by a clock, or a tape measure, and not by the opinion of a judge. This was definitely reenforced in 2002 when that French judge got caught cheating.
When I was young, I revered Jim McKay – and those of you who remember Munich in 1972 know exactly what I mean. Now we get Ryan Seacrest talking about how many people are tweeting about Angelina Jolie. I didn’t even know she was competing.
Did it occur to anyone else that XXX can mean more than “Thirty?” Brings new meaning to the “XXX Olympics.” (From what I’ve read, that’s what goes on non-stop in the Olympic Village.)
I think Bob Costas needs to find a new mortician to do his make-up.
Learning more about how some countries steal children and raise them to be Olympians kind of turns my stomach. It was so great to see a girl like Missy Franklin who stayed home to train – and is happy. What a cool kid.
The Olympics were also more exciting when we really hated the Soviets. Especially in hockey. In 1980. At BYU. In a dorm room. Twenty of us.
Maybe the years are taking their toll. I can hardly remember the names of people that I see at the grocery store, so I don’t even try to remember the name of an athlete that I had never heard about until today, and I’ll never hear about again after today.
Sure, a few superstars stand out – you’ve got your Sugar Ray Leonards, your Bruce Jenners (Before he was a woman), your Mary-Lou Rettons, and yes, your Michael Phelps, but for every one of those who rise to the level of being remembered, there are a thousand others who have spent their entire lives on a completely forgettable quest…
…A quest driven completely by pride. Yes, I said it. Pride in country, pride in team, pride in accomplishment, and most importantly, pride in the fact that you beat the person that is now standing below you on the medal podium. Because that is the reason they compete, and the reason why we watch.
I can’t help but think about the judgment day scenario:
God: So tell me what you did with this life you were given?
Athlete: I won a Gold Medal at the Olympics.
God: Give me some detail…
Athlete: I trained 6 hours a day for 15 years.
God: Wow! That’s a lot of time!
Athlete: I even held a World Record for a few minutes.
God: That is impressive. Now what was your skill?
Athlete: I threw the javelin.
God: I need to introduce you to Teancum. He’s great.
Athlete: Never heard of him – Was he an Olympian, too?
God: Nevermind. So, what you are telling me is that you spent most of your life, and your primary focus was learning how to throw a stick farther than anyone else on the planet?
Athlete: I…I guess so.
God: Okie-dokie. I’m going to need to give this some thought.
Yet… when you see a group of teenage girls win the Gold – Or hear some of the stories of sacrifice that some athletes had to endure to reach their levels of performance – Or when you see an underdog surprise the world – Or when you see the parents in the stands living or dying as their child puts it all out there in front of a billion people – Or when you hear the National Anthem…
…even this cynical man gets a little teary. Gotta run – I think it’s time for the Women’s Quad Sculls!
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I was very touched last night when the winner of the Men’s 400 meter Track traded his name bib (yes, it’s called a bib) with Oscar Pistorious, the double-amputee runner from South Africa. THAT’S Olympic Spirit.
Love the post. Not to put a damper on things but what’s the real cost of the time and commitment given? I admire the athletes greatly. Their level of commitment and perseverance overwhelms me, but will there be different lines at the Judgment Bar?
Lawyers – This way to Hell
Athletes – Exceptions R Us
Regular Joe’s – Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
For every LDS athlete we hear about making it big there’s an Eli Herring
http://www.lds.org/new-era/1997/10/to-keep-it-holy
and many others who will never stand on a podium. They chose to commit to something else. Something they felt was of far greater worth and will take them not 5 or 10 years, but a lifetime to achieve. It’s the Sabbath. As Eli’s father said, “Our great-grandfathers called it The Holy Sabbath Day. Our grandfathers called it The Sabbath, Our fathers called it Sunday, and now we just call it The Weekend.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPRL7UHmjbs
I’m not saying that in the Great Day of Judgment the measuring stick will be how we kept the Sabbath Day, but I have a memory of one of the Brethren saying something like, “How we keep the 4th Commandment is a good indication of how we keep the rest of the commandments.”
Maybe I’m just on my own little soap-box but it is a commandment, right? As Pres. Kimball put it: To many, Sabbath-breaking is a matter of little moment, but to our Heavenly Father it is disobedience to one of the principal commandments. https://www.lds.org/ensign/1978/01/the-sabbath-a-delight?lang=eng&query=%22sabbath+day%22
Sorry, not my blog.
I’m with you on the delay. i don’t want to watch if i already know the outcome. I’m so impressed with Missy Franklin! when i heard her age i thought for sure she homeschooled to be able to train, but then I saw the story about her. She still competes on her high school team! We are hoping she holds all the school records…..
Very funny!
Love the bob costas remark, and the Ryan seacrest. You are always spot on.
Thanks for the laughs!
I’m one of those people who would rather know the outcome of the event before watching it. I get too upset and stressed out when the person I am cheering for doesn’t do well. I stopped watching the womens gymnastic preliminaries when I found out the favorite to go on didn’t make it. I can’t watch that much disappointment.
Which brings me to a point I have been thinking about since the US womens favorite to win gold didn’t make it to the all-around competition. Gymnastics has been her life for years. She trained, and she is exceptional. She could have won the gold, but then she made a few little mistakes and now she doesn’t even get to compete. She is out. It seems so unfair. I am happy that in the “competition” we call life, there is a way to overcome the mistakes that we make. We are always still in the game.
Ooh, I like it! Score one for GInger.
Great post! I’ve often wondered many of the same things. We have the Ironman competition here. I’ve watched them cross the finish line and heard many stories of the injuries and illness, but in my mind I’ve always thought, “why would I want to spend so many hours a day training when there is so much life to live!” Guess that’s why I still need to loose 30 lbs, too. ;o)
Agreeing with Linda here. I keep telling my boys that I am raising a Son of God first and an athlete second. Trying to not have any other “Gods or Idols” that were so frequent in the Old Testament. But I do have to give it to those who have competed–win or lose– they’ve shown more work ethic and dedication than I have– except in the “Mom” department. If I competed in laundry, diapers, crumbs and throw up, I would have won that in all the years of raising 7 kids. ;o)
I understand that Women’s Soccer isn’t the most popular sport, but can we show even a 10 min highlight? Come on, I’ve been forced to watch Women’s Water Polo and Kayaking. Others should be forced to watch soccer.
Someone sent me this Blog trying to make a point.
I didn’t know anyone out there thought so much like I do.
Thank you for being there, and saying what I feel.
AMEN! Bro…
RCC
I loved those McDonald’s cards. I had one once for a swimming event that the US swept. Free Meal! (exciting for a teenager) And I don’t think God will be any more impressed with my profession than a javelin thrower (unless I can make accounting sound more exciting to Him than it sounds to my wife.) I think there will be other questions.
Annon, I always wonder why my teenagers get so excited for a free meal. ALL of their meals are free to them.:)
I am pretty sure my favorite part of the olympics is Bob Costas (minus the bad make up) making fun of the events. I loved when speed walking became and official olympic sport he said ” speed walking is kind of like having a contest to see who can whisper the loudest”.
I do enjoy watching the athletes. Its a reminder of what you can do when you really put your mind and energy into a goal- and that I am incredibly lazy.
” speed walking is kind of like having a contest to see who can whisper the loudest”. EPIC analogy!
competing in speed walking is like having a car race where you can’t leave 1st gear….
I once heard that the world is full of apathy…but I just don’t care.
I have kids who are involved heavily in sports. For us, to keep things Gospel centered, we have always pointed out where there talents come from. They use the power of prayer before games, they thank the Lord after. Sports aren’t our life, the Gospel is our life and we fit sports into it.
I think it makes our Father in Heaven happy to see his children use their talents.
However, I’m with mCat, speedos=creepy and women’s beach volleyball is banned from our viewing.
Speedos = creepy.
Yes!
Thanks for the affirmation.
And track & field is where it’s at brothah!
My daughter found out about the XXX thing when she set her recorder. Surprise!
I like the idea of the world coming together in peaceful, friendly competition and learning more about each other. I would like us to emphasize that more.
When I get the rare chance to watch I like to watch whether or not I know who won. For me it is less about who wins than about the amazing achievement of becoming an Olympian, their personal stories, and about just seeing them do their thing. I feel for each of them unless they come off as arrogant and selfish. I want everyone to do well. Whether they medal or not, I think they are winners.
I don’t like the constant medal count. And I wish the regular broadcast would show the equestrians.
I do love it when an athlete who lives an balanced life excels. I feel a bit sad for those whose whole life is centered on athletic competition. Or any one thing that excludes all else.
You know what irritates me the most about these Olympics? You have to have TV to watch them. You can’t watch them on NBC.com. Because I don’t own a TV and I can’t leave my toddlers at home while they are sleeping to drive across town to my friend’s house who has a TV. So I don’t get to watch the Olympics. That makes me sad. And a little bit bitter.
They have that commercial about all that the athletes have missed while training: “I haven’t ordered dessert in two years,”or that new best seller that the other hasn’t read yet because I’ve been riding a bike all day everyday. My response was “Wow you are missing out!” Not that being dedicated is a bad thing. Imagine how great the world would be if people put that much dedication into our marriages or families.But to put that focus into something like this is kind of sad too me. Not to mention I heard a story where they took Olympic Athletes and had them try and keep up with toddlers for a day and they couldn’t do it. Yeah, where is my medal?
I keep wondering why someone would continue to compete after they won a gold medal. These Olympic hopefuls have no life. I wonder if many of them don’t know what to do after they accomplish their goal.
Maybe I’m not enjoying the Olympics as much because it is a constant reminder of how lazy I am.
My EC commented how ironic it is that we celebrate the greatest athletes of the world by sitting around watching them on TV.
Also, I am loving this article today: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/ryan-lochte-mom-says-only-time-one-night-122924245–oly.html
My favorite line: “Either Lochte and his mom are super-close and she knows way too much about his love life, or Mrs. Lochte has fallen victim to the oft-hilarious “mom slang,” where she means something else than the current usage.”
Hahaha. First of all, I am enjoying the Olympics more this year than I ever have before. (But I don’t like watching any sports with a ball.) Swimming is my favorite this year, and it probably helps that I love swimming now.
And guess what? I was just telling my roommate last night about the judgment day scenario you told me when I was younger (except I think that you used Tiger Woods and getting a little white ball into a hole (before we found out Tiger Woods was a slime ball)). Funny the things that stick with you.
I am constantly amazed when I find out that you guys actually paid attention to my ramblings when you were kids! Thanks, daughter!
I would LOVE it if God said “Okie-dokie” to me someday, and then said “Come on in!” I would burst out laughing and throw my arms around Him. And meeting Teancum and Co. would be the coolest thing.
You should win the Best Blog on the Planet award.
I loved this. I’m with you on the duality of feelings while watching the Olympics. I mean, it’s so cool! They are amazing! And yet –I don’t know if I could ever let my kid do it. Unless they REALLY wanted to and the Spirit told us to do it. Because, obviously, there are a lot of Mormon Olympians. I believe there are 21 from many different countries in these games…
Track and swimming are my favorites, too. I used to adore gymnastics, but it’s not doing it for me this year. I still enjoy a good vault, but, yeah…hmm.
My daughter last night: “Mom, what does XXX mean?” It took me a second before I started explaining Roman numerals!