July 31, 2008

Oh, eight days till 08-08-08

The Olympics start next week, and I don't know if it's just me, but there seems to be less excitement about this year's games than any other one I can remember. Aside from wall-to-wall coverage of Baltimore's own Michael Phelps (highly recommend article in the NYT's Play magazine today), and lots of handwringing about China's human rights blah blah blah and some stuff about Iraq's team blah blah blah, I'm not feeling the fervor that usually accompanies an Olympic year.

Although, in what must be a sign that the Olympics can still command attention for all the right reasons, the stream of news about drug-related suspensions started today.

I guess I'll try to watch Phelps' races, some track and, if the TV schedule is decent, some men's basketball. And maybe the end of the marathon, to see if it's possible for humans to run 26.2 while breathing greenish-brown air. But otherwise, I'm sort of eh.

What about you? Any interest? More or less than usual?

6 comments:

JBhumitra said...

im kind of irritated with BJ. the gov there has not done as promised regarding cleaning up the air. these are athletes - being in bad air could be extremely detrimental to their profession, what they have worked years to achieved - i think it is a total lack of respect on BJ's part to bid to hold the games there just for the income it will bring; they clearly dont respect the sporting event enough to provide a safe environment for the athletes. and then the censorship of the internet, etc. BJ has too many problems, and its character is counter to what the olympics is supposed to support - unity, etc. i had read that some of the athletes were training with gas masks. such a mess.

Anonymous said...

I'll watch the volleyball, but otherwise, I'm not too pumped for it.

Anonymous said...

it's going to mess up my soap opera watching - does that count for something?

"Highland Park" Attorney said...

It's all Badminton for me. I am soooo excited that the men's and women's singles events begin on the opening day of 08-08-08. Prime time coverage baby!?!?!?!?!?!?

Your escalator operator said...

J - I think China made it clear they're not going to do anything just because they're told to. The air pollution is also why plenty of top marathoners aren't running.

L - Beach or indoor? Eh, both good, although it was better when the U.S. was dominant, back in the day.

B - I'm sure it counts for something.

E - I can't tell if you're kidding.

Anonymous said...

yea baby!