08/27/2004: "Olympic updates and miscellaneous Loose Ends for a Friday"

music: Moulin Rouge
mood: Strangely mellow and simultaneously perky

Well, we are almost to a close. The coverage has been weak (It’s a ratings game and they left allthe best races to midnight. Boring) but despite al the scandal and poor press a few heroes stand out.

By far the man we will be remembering is Dimas, the Greek bronze medal winner in weightlifting. He put some much needed perspective on the games and proved without even trying that you can be a winner and a hero without the gold. The class and nobility of his attempt at a 4th gold medal was dignified and his 15 minute standing ovation celebrating his successes and his career was touching. His kids were pretty cute too up on the podium with him. I wonder if you are allowed to have people up there on the podium with you normally or if they made an exception. Leave it to the Greeks to drive home the ideal of pride without arrogance. There was no pretension in that man and no disgrace when he did all he could, competed fairly and came out a bronze instead of the desired gold. Hero,yes.

The Japanese woman that won the marathon was cute and the youngest ever Heptathelon winner from Sweden was adorable. A little scary with her Viking battle cry each time she released the Javlin, but I think it's in the rules you have to make some sort of a sound...seemed to be par for the course, hers was the best though.

Other heroes are the Ethiopian 10,000m running team. And I do mean team. In a sport where it is thought every man for himself, the three members were attempting a 1-2-3 sweep for the finish. It didn't matter who got what, it didn't matter if they had a world record, this was an effort for the team. Two of the runners held back to keep their third, an older and slower athlete in the game. a Kenyan started to make his move and was leading for a while. Quite a lead. The two Ethiopians didn’t even look winded, the third was struggling. They hung in there as long as the could and when their third team member fell back far enough and deep enough into the race that there was no more hope, the two teammate looked at each other, and took off easily managing 1st and 2nd. I like seeing the teamwork. I like seeing strategy, I liked the cut of their jib. Which leads me to another track related incident...

My two cents on the "embarrassment" that Crawford and Gatlin were involved in. They exchanged some looks and egging each other on in the prelims for the 100m. A lot of people thought they were rubbing it in the face of the other runners, that they were being cocky and it was not a wise choice of Olympic etiquette. I'm sorry. I disagree. I am so sick of seeing athletes take things SO seriously. Where is all the fun, why are you in this sport if you don't enjoy it. I want smiles and not the fake ice skating ones. I want enjoyment of the see those feelings physically and mentally that I had every time I had a race. I want to live vicariously since I couldn't make it there. I know at that level there is perhaps some concentration involved, focus yes, but somehow I enjoy a sport more when I get the sense that there is still joy left in competing and to be in the top 100 or less in the world should be the same as just being nominated for an Oscar. Love what you do. If you can support your team mate especially in a sport that breeds conceit and arrogance for the individual, I say more power to you if you can share, smile, and relax a little in addition to backing it up which Gatlin did. I would much better those two show a little fire in the prelims than Maurice Greene. And the karma I think paid off too. One gold for Gatlin, one for Crawford ( even in a race that was delayed because of a booing greek crowd who were missing their drug test missing favorite), and none for Maurice "greatest in the world" Greene. That’s what you get for ripping off Mohammad Ali's catch phrase. Come up with your own and then bring it. So I know people will disagree and think the "display" was uncalled for and showy, but I saw life and team there, something the games have been seriously lacking. This was not a football touchdown in your face dance, this was simply testosterone appreciation and love of the competition.

May and Walsh won their gold finally in Beach Volleyball, a sport that only sells because of the uniforms. And its sad that it is judged that way, it may not be that exciting to watch on TV but I certainly know I couldn't do what they do, and that's sort of how I judge sports these days. I couldn't do it but I think the outfit would be flattering on me, a good cut of suit for a hippy girl, if you can't be good, you might as well try to look good. Which reminds me, since when do athletes wear makeup? Very bizarre trend here at these games. Flo Jo (RIP) had the nails, few have tried to copy her and failed, but now we have runners and soccer players wearing eye shadow, and lipstick, and not just on the podium. If you are thinking you need to look good during sport through cosmetics, you are either CERTAIN you are getting that endorsement when you win or compensating for lack of talent. I'm all about the glitter and the pigtails though. I doubt it will make you run faster but whatever.

A few questions I still have.

How exactly can you be a Polish WALKING LEGEND? I think if I could have a random title, that might be a close contender along with inspector 12.

How do they measure the long jump?

Why do divers scores hover around 7-9.5 and gymnasts all get scored in the 9.000-9.900 range…who makes up that scoring? Seems to be more complicated than it needs to be.

Some more athletes from the past...

Alberta Tomba...the Bomb...Italian skier, chauvinist, and only athlete to really reach rock star status. He is apparently now doing charity work for UNICEF. AHHH YEAH. He's ballooned up to 2000lbs fed still on his moms pasta but still skis and drink his espresso. He's the kind of guy you wouldn't mind sharing.

Greg Louganis, Diver and multiple gold medal winner (more notably remembered perhaps for hitting his head on the platform) is now writing books about dogs and caring for them. uh...okay...whatever makes you happy...glad you are an expert. He is still living HIV positive after nearly 10 years, and lectures around the world.

And there you go. Have a good closing ceremony and I’ll see ya later!