Mmmm, the Olympics. One of the few times in my life where I don't even start to feel guilty about not getting away from the TV screen - well, the World Cup is similar, soccer football I am talking about, but at least that is usually only eight hours a day at most, whereas the Olympics just keeps going and going and going twenty five hours a day LOL.
New Zealand had a reasonable first day, and the Aussies had a good one, but it isn't about the petty nationalism for me, it is kind of like, yes you keep an eye out for the Kiwis, and cross your fingers for them in the rowing and swimming, but then you get entranced by a Germany v Cuba volleyball game. Cuba, raving favourites and two sets and a heap of points up, versus a Germany coming back from that far down and taking two sets and then splitting the fifth set so it came down to the two points ahead rule, and several match points later Deutschland Deustchland.
And then watching the cycling road race with far more interest than I will ever show the Tour de France - I mean, I love the Tour and all, but in a it can be on TV in the background kind of way. With the Olympic cycling I CARED whether the Swedes would beat the Germans and whether the French would come in LOL, and then after all that it was an Italian that won it, an unknown Portugese rider who came in silver, and the son of a five time Belgian Tour de France winner that got bronze. It was nice to read on the New Zealand team website this morning that one of our guys got fifteenth, but it's not about petty nationalism. Actually, only watched about half the race, as I had been up since three thirty yesterday morning, and the race was only half over at about eleven o'clock.
But, I did go to sleep with the TV on, just in case I woke up in the middle of the night, put on my glasses and see something interesting I could see it LOL. Of course, I slept until eight ayem this morning, after the whole early early morning thing last night. Aussie wins two golds in the pool and that has basically been the story on the TV allllllll day. About five replays and all - swimming is THE Olympic sport as far as Australia is concerned. Then came out with the start of today's schedule, New Zealand v Australia in the men's hockey, bit of a slaughter, and New Zealand v Italy in the basketball, a gallant loss LOL, seventeen points down at half time and then only lost by two dammit! Gymnastics is always good, and hmm may just be me, but it seems less dodgy to appreciate the men's gymnastics nowadays then the female, or should I say teenager girls on the other side, they are still good and all, but yeah, just sometimes get that Lolita itch at the back of my neck - not the good itch either LOL.
Boxing is another good one, at the amateur level it is good to see and try not to think of the circus that pro boxing has become (if it ever wasn't, LOL to my age group Muhammed Ali and his I am the greatest thing is classic and not circusish in any way LOL). Beach volleyball, hmm great athleticism, but OMG I am like put some clothes on LOL, the real volleyball and basketball gear women wear now means it doesn't have to be baggy, but for chrissake show less of the cellulite, lol and is it true that the international body looking after beach volleyball said that you have to wear bikinis? Czech Republic v Holland, another example of not being parochially one eyed in the coverage I like to watch :)
Oh, and away from the sports, what about those Greek sprinters. What a fecking farce, oh where was the accident, where's the motorcycle blah blah. Automatic two year ban unless they can come up with a reason they weren't where they should have been when the drug testers came a knocking - and the whole thing of maybe letting him get away with retirement before he gets expelled GRRR. But one that may not have made the presses whereever my loyal readers are is the fact that there is a Greek judo participant who a few days before the game attempted suicide, or got thrown off a balcony by her boyfriend whatever - a couple of days later he did the same, citing police harrassment or something from the reports I read. Both critical condition and not expected to live last I heard.
Hmm, the Swedish team is saying it will pull out of the Games if the sprinters aren't expelled. Good on them, LOL has been too long since we had a good boycott at the Olympics - where's a rugby tour to South Africa when you need it LOL. Sad that the most significant thing New Zealand has ever done sporting wise probably was to create the African boycott of Montreal LOL. Oh, and just a thought, with Phelps going for lots of medals in the pool, does anyone remember who came second to Spitz in the events in Munich? No, didn't think so LOL.
Okies, outta here - Austria v Spain men's beach volleyball to watch LOL. Ode to Joy and Celebrate Humanity indeed. One of those moments where my cynicism retreats as far as it can and I have a belief in mankind and songs like what the world, needs now, is love, sweet love etc- lol saw a Burt Bacharach CD review yesterday. Although the music in between the points at the beach volleyball mmm - Venga Boys, We Like To Party, and the fact that all the in ground commentary seems to be in Euro English LOL. Euro English where they try to sound American but don't pull it off and just sound cheesy instead, eh surrender monkeys :)
Back to the real world, although it seems that the Yanks and Brits are trying to be quiet and get an Olympic truce going, the new Iraqi PM just wants to blow the opposition up. Bleah, same old same old... oh, and the All Blacks got MONSTERED by the Springboks early this morning, glad I didn't go out and see it...
Paul
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