Once again, I'm recycling another spectacular story from nearly a decade ago that is germane to today's climate. Please enjoy until my return next week. And thanks for reading.
Olympic Fever
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| Not Michael Phelps |
Every four years we are deluged by the Olympics. This year, the summer Olympics are being held in London and things there are going well for nearly every country except Uzbekistan who, as of this writing, has one bronze medal.
Most folks are into the Olympics, even if they don’t watch other sports such as football, baseball, or other decisive, competitive sports. I believe this is because people can cheer for their home country which builds nationality, or a as Leftists call it, jingoism.
Patriotism is a good thing. Feeling part of a winning team, thought, or lifestyle, can be satisfying and can enrapt the viewers while encouraging a sense of belonging.
There are several Eastern Shore area participants in this 2012 Olympics, two of whom are sailors. Another local participant could be a gymnast but, I’m not sure. There’s probably a runner in this mix, too.
Running, jumping, swimming, and even basketball, are all sports events that test one’s mettle. Finishing first requires great skill which comes with practice, coaching, training, and determination, coupled with individual proficiency culminating in a win by finishing first, second, or third, thereby winning a medal.
But, there are those events that are subjective such as diving, balancing on that wooden beam thing, apoplectic tumbling, and that stuff women do with a stick and ribbon. Judges watch such events and give their best guess as to who the winner is. What I feel is good, they do not. Some of these athletes appear to have just arrived from that television show, “You Call That Dancing?” In no way does doing summersaults to music on a mat reflect a real sport any more than bass fishing does. Sure, it requires talent and skill, but…
And dressage events seem to require more talent from the horse than the rider, unless the roles are reversed. Badminton and beach volleyball? Really? Where does someone in land-locked countries learn to play beach volleyball? Golfing is making its debut in 2016. I’m waiting for beer drinking to be introduced. Can fruit carving be next?
Gold medals for first, silver for second, and bronze for third place adorn the winners. It must suck to be fourth. Still, second place is merely the first loser.
Michael Phelps, the golden boy of the pool, has won a record number of gold medals. In fact, he has so much gold around his neck, he resembles Mr. T. Forget his scandal a few years back with that bong in his mouth. He’s America’s hero.
Another irritant is the woman who is appearing in her fourth Olympics. Some quick ciphering makes her roughly 40-years old. I would think that a country with 350,000,000 people could find another participant who is at least as good to compete in their first event instead of wheeling this woman out on a gurney.
People train from early youth with special coaches in first-rate facilities, for hours on end, year after year. They are fit, both mentally and physically, and should be the absolute best a country has to offer. I wish the Americans well and hope the best-of-the-best win their events. And, so does the federal government.
It seems as though each medal winner gets money from the government. Gold, silver, and bronze medal recipients get $25,000, $15,000, and $10,000, respectively. They also get tax bills for the medals themselves, upward of $5,000 each. That’s a nice way of saying “thanks” from Uncle Sam.
So, I’m not sure what irritates me more: The fact that “amateur” competitors receive a stipend from the government, or that the powers-that-be tax these athletes who encourage patriotism.
