Tuesday, July 01, 2008

OLYMPIC FEVER

I have caught major Olympic fever. I’ve been watching the trials like crazy and just can’t wait to see more. I have four main sports for the summer games; gymnastics, swimming, diving, and track and field. It is interesting because even though Figure Skating is my ultimate sport of choice I thin I look forward to the Summer Olympics a little bit more. I suppose it is because I follow Figure Skating year round every year and I get just as excited about a world championship every year as I do about an Olympics every four years. The summer Olympics are new, exciting, things I only watch when Olympic fever hits.

Even though I love the sports mentioned above I know very little about those who compete in them. Sure I know the gymnast twins Paul and Morgan Haam, they competed a few times in Ninja Warrior, and Michael Phelps, the God of Swimming but that is really it. Watching the trials I get to pick out favorites for no reason other than I like their name, the cut of their jib, or something particularly cool that they do. I have already seen one favorite, Raj Bhavsar, not get selected for the Olympic Gymnastics team even though he was the closest one to automatically qualify. He came very close four years ago so I was really pulling for him to get to go this time but it just didn’t happen. Some others have caught my attention.

I’ve saw a perfect dive off the platform from 30 year old Laura Wilkinson. Is there anything more awesome then someone ripping through the water without a splash? It doesn’t even seem possible. I saw world records broken by both Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff in the 400 meter medley. I saw a 400m hurdler fall and knock into Sheena Tosta who somehow still managed to come in third and secure a spot on the Olympic team and in the Men’s 400m hurdles, Bershaun Jackson beat men with legs as long as he is tall (not really) to win the race. I fumed as NBCs HD feed kept shorting out over and over causing me to miss some races.

However, the thing that is possibly the most exciting about the Olympics is to see all the people from the rest of the world who are amazing at what they do and I have no idea who they are. With the games in China, their team should be on fire. I’ll look for strong contenders in diving, swimming, and gymnastics. I don’t know so much about their track skills? It is still great to see everyone come out and perform at the top of their game.

Come 8.8.08 we will bear witness to thrills of victory and agonies of defeat. We will cheer as people we never heard of before awe our senses and win our hearts. If you ask me, it can’t come soon enough.

1. Well its hard enough to get there/ On your own/ And it’s always time to pay the rent/ When you’re home

2. Are you afraid to go outside/ Are you afraid of what you might find/ baby girl, I understand it/ I seen it too and I don’t recommend it

3.Well it’s all in your mind/ It’s all in your mind/ Well it’s all in your mind/ It’s all in your mind/ and I want it to be

4. Around the world/ Around the world/ Around the world/ Around the world

5. And she was lying in the grass/ And she could hear the highway breathing/ And she could see a nearby factory/ She's making sure she isn't dreaming

13 comments:

Mrs. Loquacious said...

Natalie - you are *so* diverse in your interests! How do you find time to read Dostoevsky several times over, *and* watch figure skating/Olympic coverage, *and* cultivate your love of music?!?

I envy your time management strategies, of which I am lacking. ;)

I do plan to be in Vancouver when the 2010 Olympics take place, although I seriously doubt I will be buying tickets to the events. Me = cheap. I will likely watch it on TV, though!

Foofa said...

I don't think anyone has ever complimented me on my time management before. Sure, I manage to get things done when necessary but I certainly have no special skills. Having a DVR helps with the sports stuff. I can fast forward through all the commercials. If something isn't recorded I often read on commercials. I read and listen to music on the train to and from work so that gives me a good hour plus or so every day. I'm a pretty fast reader so that also helps.

Mostly I only do things I enjoy. Cleaning the house, working out, organizing anything...those things don't happen until they really really NEED to (if at all) cause I'm too busy rereading something for the 3rd time while watching TV.

Anonymous said...

4. Around the World - Daft Punk. (Really Friend??? That song always makes me think of Katherine dancing around her dorm room and Sean glaring at her annoyed)

5. And She Was - Talking Heads

Anonymous said...

Olympics...! This year is the 40th anniversary of the Mexico City Olympics. The 2 African American athletes who stood on the podium with fists raised are going to be given an award for their courage at this year's ESPY awards. See http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3417048. I think this is way cool.

I haven't watched the Olympic trials but will no doubt watch the Olympics themselves.

Vancouver...! We went to the 1986 World's Fair in Vancouver. We had a great time, aside from Natalie's very scary asthma episode. In retrospect, I wish we had been able to stay longer and also spend time in Vancouver itself -- we were only there for 3 days and spent all our time at the Fair itself. (One thing I remember is how the locals said "van-CUE-ver"... Also the Russian exhibit, featuring a tribute to Yuri Gagarin (first man in space) and lots of stuff about nuclear power... Also some phenomenal artifacts from China...) I wish I could go to the Olympics there...

Natalie, managing to get things done and doing what you enjoy are key to time management. Don't disparage your skills, my child...

And Brooke guessed the only song I would have had a hope of a prayer of figuring out (Talking Heads). Congrats!

dmarks said...

I heard some commercial on TV referring to the Olympics as being when all nations put differences aside and all that. Kind of ironic considering China refusing to treat Taiwan as what it really is (a completely independent nation) in regards to Olympic matters.

Foofa said...

Brooke- Sadly there are just some times when I really want to listen to Homework. The album is kind of good.

Mom- That is pretty cool. I am a little shocked that I am so into the trials this year but I think I want every excuse possible to look at my TV. I am kind of hoping that Chicago gets the 2016 games because I will certainly try to score some tickets although not as many as I would want to I am sure.

Dmarks- When I saw that commercial I thought how the Olympics were a competition and highlighted the differences and rivalries between the countries of the world rather than the unity but...whatever. There are certainly many problems with having the Olympics in China, their treatment of Taiwan and involvement with supplying many of the weapons used in the genocide in Darfur. I've heard many people talking about boycotting and I understand where they are coming from.

That being said...Olympics are awesome and I think the athletes have a right to compete in the games. Boycotts would certainly hurt China economically but they would also destroy the athletes chances of realizing their dreams.

Woozie said...

8/8/08 has got to be some kind of cursed date with all those eights.

Michael C said...

I can't wait to get to watch the Olympics every evening for over 2 weeks. I love the summer Olympics!

And did you happen to see Huey and the News perform in Washington DC on the 4th? They kicked major booty!!!

Anonymous said...

I always enjoy the summer Olympics (even though I also like the figure skating). I'm looking forward to seeing some of it this year.

8 said...

I got #5-Talking Heads, but missed the rest.

Maybe I'm too much of a dude, but I can't get into the Olympics at all. I might watch basketball, but honestly, probably not even that.

I'd like to dress it up as a principled anti-China stance, but the sports just don't appeal to me at all. I appreciate the immense strength and grace and power involved in being an Olympic gymnast-I just don't find it interesting.

Maybe there has to be a ball involved.

thethinker said...

I love watching the gymnastics competition! Have you ever heard Paul Haam speak? If I were blindfolded when I heard him, I'd have thought he was a girl. It's actually pretty funny.

Kiyotoe said...

As a kid I used to love watching the summer olympics and the excitement fell off as I got older...UNTIL '96 when the Games came to Atlanta and I worked at the GA. Dome the whole summer.

Ever since then I've been glued to certain events all over again.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

i cant wait to see the 100 and 2000 meters.

Nice spot u have here, hope u don’t mind the drive by, do chk me out one day

rawdawgbuffalo and if u like what u read, maybe u will come back, even Blog Roll Me