I take it from comments yesterday that there are not many Olympic Games watchers among us. Now, I'm not an avid watcher, but there are sports that I like to watch - shooting, dressage, archery etc. Unfortunately these are the same sports that get about 2 minutes of airtime.
Well, since Mitt Romney was responsible for saving the 2002 US Olympics in Utah and it's a lazy summer afternoon, let's discuss what would make us more excited AND make the Games worth watching.
Question: If you were head of the Olympic Committee, what sport or combination of sports would you add to the competition to liven it up, or at least compel you to watch?
One "Rule": You can only use "Naked Women's Beach Volleyball" if you can add something to make it interesting for women too...
***Olympic 2012 Fun Fact #1: For the first time in Olympic history, there are more female athletes than male athletes.
***Olympic 2012 Fun Fact #2: The Romneys have a horse in the Dressage competition. Of course, they are being criticized for it because they are rich and out of touch.
Well, since Mitt Romney was responsible for saving the 2002 US Olympics in Utah and it's a lazy summer afternoon, let's discuss what would make us more excited AND make the Games worth watching.
Question: If you were head of the Olympic Committee, what sport or combination of sports would you add to the competition to liven it up, or at least compel you to watch?
One "Rule": You can only use "Naked Women's Beach Volleyball" if you can add something to make it interesting for women too...
***Olympic 2012 Fun Fact #1: For the first time in Olympic history, there are more female athletes than male athletes.
***Olympic 2012 Fun Fact #2: The Romneys have a horse in the Dressage competition. Of course, they are being criticized for it because they are rich and out of touch.
31 comments:
So I just got an "emergency weather alert" and am going to shut my computer down for about an hour. I will get back to you shortly.
But let me get the ball rolling -
In our post-modern electronic world, maybe we should add "Texting" as an Olympic sport! There are zillions of teenagers who could compete and finding sponsor would be a breeze.
And you could have combination events like Texting and cycling,
Texting and Running,
Texting/Running/Cycling (new Triathalon event).
And I see kids training for these events already.
lacrosse (men's and women's) lawn bowling, dog frisbee, corn shucking, jumping up and down on hospital beds.
What? Being naked on a beach with a volleyball coming at you isn't interesting enough? Oh, you mean interesting for the women spectators! In that case, I got nothin'.
Synchronized flag-waving. It was truly impressive at the Beijing Olympics.
I think they should add a "cupcake eating" aspect to naked beach volley ball'cause those women need some flesh on those bones!
I generally don't watch the games unless the women's diving competition is on while I just coincidentally happen to be in a wide screen HD TV store.
But entering into the spirit of the thing, I would say that since events like the javelin throw and pole vaulting have their genesis in military activities, I think these would be far more interesting if they were updated. The 1000 mile drone hellfire launch and synchronized grenade apartment house clearing for starters.
In this scenario, some events could be combined. The shooting events could be combined with the running events with the 200 yd free form sniper evasion course. There would very likely be some new world records in the 100 yard dash if it's to escape from a 1500lb IED with an 8 second fuse. (1300lb IED in the women's event).
This would be far more exciting methinks - I can particularly visualize Abram's tanks chasing those dancing Doctors and nurses around the arena. Now that's entertainment.
K - I like the way you think! We could combine the shooting events with the running events...
And yeah, aren't there sick people in the UK in need of doctors and nurses? I loved the battalion of Mary Poppinses though. They were kind of like Flying Monkeys from the Wizard of OZ. Once I saw "Mary Poppins" as an adult, I realized she was really mean...
BTW, I did not notice that NBC did not broadcast the "moment of silence" for 7/7. I just thought that I'd missed it when I got distracted. But I read this morning that they did it, but they just didn't show it in the US broadcast. Score points for Bob Costas!
Though they did do another "moment of silence" for soldiers lost in WWI and WWII. The British love their "moments of silence"'s as long as they aren't for dead Israeli athletes.
Bev: It is nice to hear from someone who is brave enough not to love Mary Poppins.
Also glad that they had a moment of silence for the lost soldiers from the world war 1-2. Too bad the brave men who fought and died there wouldn't recognize Britain today.
I'll admit, I and my friends got sucked into the '08 Olympics. Watching Michael Phelps (pre-pot Michael Phelps) and Usain Bolt and all that was fun. But I can't say I'm just jonesing for the games, and the opening ceremonies are often just a little bit creepy. Though I did like seeing Paul McCartney on stage last night.
Jello would certainly make it more interesting.
For the guys, just add fighting to everything.
That way, even if someone doesn't get a medal in their chosen sport they have a chance to win one if they win the fighting segment.
Of course, they can mix it up, throw weapons into the mix, and put the contestants in survival situations.
Oh, and add rollerball.
Ooh, yeah, having a Jello swimming event like Synchronized Jello swimming with semaphore flags (the flags are for LawHawk).
"And you could have combination events like Texting and cycling,
Texting and Running,
Texting/Running/Cycling (new Triathalon event)."
My mind just went to Monty Python
Kit - That's a Monty Python classic! See, that's what the Olympics should be like.
Ben and Bev: I think you've created what may become my favorite Olympic event.
There's always room for jello.
When were watching the open ceremonies my daughter commented that it reminded her of the Hunger Games (book not movie). And I thought that would be awesome. Top male and female athlete chosen from each country. Sole survivor wins gold. There is no silver or bronze. Winning athlete gets $1 billion.
Koshcat, Jello Slip-n-Slide at the Cornucopia or I ain't interested.
Koschat,
May the odds be ever in your favor. ;)
For me the highlight of the opening ceremony was watching James Bond and the Queen. Wow, just wow.
Also, US and Colombia played today where Abby Wambach was apparently "hit" in the face. Here is the video: LINK
The more I look at it the more it looks intentional but I haven't played soccer since elementary school, so, I'm probably not the best judge.
The US won the game by the way. 3-0
Michael Phelps finished in 4th Place in the 400m IM with Ryan Lochte winning the Gold.
Kazakhstan's Vinokourov came out to win the Men's Cycling Road Race.
France beat North Korea in Women's soccer 5-0.
US already played France and won 4-2 and will play North Korea July 31.
Here's a question: Why is North Korea allowed to be in the Olympics? In my opinion, there's only one good reason to let them into these games, and that's to give their athletes a chance to defect. Beyond that....
T-Rav, They've gone to Britain to steal food so they can bring it home. Notice their extra large pockets!
So the French can clobber them in Soccer. (5-0!)
T-Rav- North Korea is there for the same reason Syria is there and Venezuela, Cuba, etc- their commitment to world domin....er...peace.
Apparently in the aftermath of the Olympic Opening Ceremony twitter is alight with a message: "Shut Up Matt Lauer"
LINK
I agree, they were awful. Chatting away during the many musical numbers in the event. Saying things like "That is a smoke stack".
I will say Bob Costas' handling of the Parade of Nations was pretty good. At least what he said was interesting.
The same can't be said for Lauer and Viera.
Kit - I wasn't so much upset with the ongoing commentary. I was upset that they kept breaking to a commercial every 10 minutes. I understand that it was taped, but really, it was annoying.
oh yeah, the Olympics are on...
Anyone else get the feeling that the media is cheering against Phelps, rooting for him to fall flat?
I just get that feeling.
Kit- Yes. They seem to take great delight in it. Though it's not just Phelps. It seems they are delighting all of their failures. but lots of photos of Michelle hugging basketball players.
"They seem to take great delight in it. Though it's not just Phelps. It seems they are delighting all of their failures."
That really annoys me. The media builds up athletes simply so they can tear them to pieces at a later date.
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