You remember don't you? i do! i recall vividly sitting in my living room in the winter of 1980
watching the US Olympic hockey team do the unthinkable... beat the dreaded U.S.S.R! It was sweet! i remember jumping up and down as Al Michaels asked..."Do you believe in miracles?!?" The US didn't win the medal that night but did a few days later after defeating Finland.What about Mary Decker Slaney at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles? She was attempting to
win her first ever (and best chance for a) gold medal in the 3,000 meter final. That is, until Zola Budd, who many Americans disliked simply because she represented the apartheid (at the time) nation of South Africa, crowded in on her causing her to fall. When Mary Decker fell, her race was over and she was not physically able to finish the race. We were not a happy nation that night.
Then, of course, there were the East German female(?) swimmers. Yikes!Now as we prepare for these summer games in Beijing... it is quite obvious to me, that in the intervening years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the eastern bloc nation Soviet satellite nation-states... the world needs a "new bad guy". Ta-da... Hello mainland China!
The news of the repressive, ultra controlling, communist Chinese government has been pretty steady over the past few weeks and days. i have really liked in particular how they have recently indicated that they can deny a visa to whoever they want to (can you say Joey Cheeks?), for whatever reason they want, so shut up!
Or how they have indicated that speaking out about basic human rights is really none of President Bush's business... so he should just shut up too!
i honestly can't remember a time in the last twenty years when i was more attuned to what was happening with the Olympic games than i am with these Games! i guess the thing that really continues to pull me toward paying attention to the Games is my stupification (is that a word?) with just what the communist government of China can do and face little to no "outrage" from the rest of the world. They must have a great PR firm working this Olympics for them.
Well i just hope i don't have to apologize for writing this little blog like several of our Olympic cyclist had to a few days ago for taking precautionary measures with regard to the incredible smog and pollution that fills the air of Beijing.
Dude, this should be fun!
1 comment:
I must admit, In past years I would watch swimming, track, basketball, a couple of other events. This year - not so much. However, I am enjoying the stories of the great lengths China will go to put on a "great" show (replacing the little girl, arresting/detaining journalists, etc). My son seems to be into it, he gives me an update everyday on swimming and basketball.
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