*I started watching women’s soccer a couple of days before the opening ceremonies were on. Soccer was my one team sport growing up so it’s the one that I feel like I can really follow now. It absolutely amazes me to see athletes at this level displaying the same cheap shots and poor sportsmanship that turned me off from competitive sports in the first place. These people are supposed to be the best in the world. Do they need to be pushing and punching? Shouldn’t the skill and teamwork be enough?
*The opening ceremonies had the appropriate amount of spectacle, and I’m pretty sure London must have bought their fireworks from the same bulk retailer that the producers of the tepid “Total Recall” remake bought the glass they planned on breaking. It was great to see dozens of people running around on the stadium floor wearing Freddie Mercury harlequin body suits, and I so desperately hoped my nephews were watching when Mr. Bean accompanied the orchestra on “Chariots of Fire.” When the health care system was rolled out as a major focus of national pride, it almost made me want to tune in to talk radio the next day to see which bloviating neocon windbag was going to spontaneously combust first. I’ll also give the producers a lot of credit for using UK artists. It fit much better than having Elton John play at the closing ceremonies in Atlanta or having U2 at the Super Bowl halftime show. And anyone who saw the Arctic Monkeys covering “Come Together?” Don’t run out and buy their catalog based on that performance. Those were not the same Arctic Monkeys I had to sonically endure when they toured with the Black Keys this spring. Although I’m sure they had better sound mixing at the opening ceremonies than they did as the opening act....
*I never would have thought to put the words “badminton” and “scandal” in the same sentence.
*I get it: Broadcast is commerce. But when these new NBC shows have shameless Olympic references wedged into their promos, which seem to run at least twice during each commercial break, and when I have to be reminded of how warm and fuzzy all the gang at KARE 11 is, it becomes off-putting after awhile. All NBC is doing is convincing me I’m not going watch that comedy with Matthew Perry, that other comedy with the baby that’s trying to copy “Modern Family,” the hospital show with the animals, or that other show where all the electricity in the world turns off. I’ve had to sit through so many ads for these I feel like I’ve already seen the first two seasons of each.
*I just have to put this out there -- Michael Phelps’ sister Hilary is gorgeous. I didn’t mind the camera cutting to his family every time he won.
*Do elite athletes really drink a lot of Coca-Cola or eat a lot of McDonald’s? I have a hard time believing this, even if McDonald’s is rolling out this new Under 400 calorie menu. Remember people - that’s under 400 calories PER ITEM. Who goes to McDonald’s and only orders one Filet-O-Fish?
*Speaking of ads: Isn’t that music teacher guy in the Target back-to-school ads the same guy who played the Air Marshall in “Bridesmaids?”
*I’m not a big fan of spoilers. And yet, there have been some people on Facebook who will post things like “Whoo! Go USA!” in reference to a big win that hasn’t been broadcast yet. To say nothing of headline stories on the CNN home page telling me the US won the gymnastics all-around and Michael Phelps won his 19th medal as a gold before I could watch these events... on the same night. And then there are so many people retweeting things I’d rather find out on my own. Olympic spoilers are unavoidable if you go online at all, or if you watch other networks who seem to take pleasure in announcing scores and medal counts before NBC has the chance to show them. Welcome to 21st century media.
*One of my favorite athletes from these games so far is Missy Franklin. Not only was she a dominant swimmer in her events, but she seemed like she simply loved being there and having the chance to compete. She was enthusiastic, poised, and for someone who isn’t even out of high school yet was able to answer many questions from many reporters that made it sound like she has a brain in her head -- and lets face it, that’s something not all of these athletes are capable of pulling off. It’s hard to believe that someone like her and people like the New Orleans Saints players who had accepted bounties for injuring other players even have athletics in common.
Let’s see what the second week brings....
