(Almost caught up… only a few hours behind)
I feel like I should say something about Phelps. I can’t think of anything. It’s amazing he’s incredible and so on. I was desperately hoping Mark Spitz would launch into a tirade on national TV about how shabbily he’s been treated and Phelps is overrated and is his day they didn’t have these crazy swimsuits etc. No such luck.
I don’t like his Mom and her reactions after the wins. Sure she’s proud. Sure she’s happy. But surprised? Astonished? Mouth hanging open like Mother Teresa just parachuted in? No. It’s Michael Phelps for goodness sakes, half of these races he hasn’t lost for years. Get over it and show a hair of dignity.
When Phelps retires, do you think he’ll gain 80 pounds in the first year? He’s been eating such huge amounts of food for years. Maybe he’ll have a second career as a Subway spokesman.
At last they’re showing minor sports. I’ve just watched shotputting (awesome) indoor cycling (awesome) and badmitton (not so awesome). During badmitton the announcer said of a winning point, “It hits the tape and lands like a butterfly with sore feet!” Ah, the poetry of badmitton.
I like the heptathalon. There really is something amazing about being so good in a variety of sports. The strange one is shot putting. “Ok, you have to run fast, run fast again, run while jumping over something, jump high, jump long… and it says here you’re supposed to huck this big rock as far as you can.” I think they should have more variety. They should compete in a round of golf, slam dunk contest, uneven bars, kayaking, darts, the dozens, Magic, World of Warcraft, rock paper scissors, etc. And of course the shotput.
I just watched a commercial for Bounty. The family discussed how many sheets it would take to pick up the spill they had just made. In the corner it said, “Not a competitive claim”. What does that mean? I think it means they’re lying and you aren’t allowed to hold them to what they’re saying. Has there ever been another ad to say this?
Equestrian: It’s funny that it all takes place in Hong Kong, 1200 miles away from the action. It’s like the organizers said, “You really want to do the whole horses thing? Okay… but we’re not having you weirdos near the actual athletes.” What is with the outfits? How can you call yourself a sport when you’re wearing those ridiculous red jackets? And is there any other olympic sport that depends on an animal? I think it’s kind of cool but let’s have some consistency. Add falconing and the Iditarod. Maybe some piegon shooting, enough with these clay substitutes!
Later update: They did an extended interview with Phelps and his Mom. I have to walk back my snarky comments about her. That mother did something right. Great family. Somewhere the Dad who abandoned them is kicking himself over and over and over.
Steeplechase? I like little events, but that is just plain weird. The water jump is about as random as you can get. I had a vague impression that steeplechase was something horses did. I still think I may be right.