Olympics

Haven't written in a while.  You know, I've been pretty busy lately.  It takes a lot of time to be addicted to the Olympics.  Hour after hour sitting on the couch toggling between NBC and Universal HD.  But week 2 hasn't been quite as spell-bounding as week 1 so I will take a pause to mention a few Olympic observations...

• A 41-year-old silver-medalist swimmer.  A 38-year-old marathon winner.  A 31-year-old gymnastic medalist.  It's made me think, "Maybe it isn't too late to fulfill my Olympic dream?"
• Olympic badminton.  Olympic trampoline.  Olympic ping pong.  I'm going to make a prediction that by 2020 we will have Olympic bags (baggo, corn hole).  Maybe I'll start training for this.
• Michael Phelps.  Love him.  It's so cool when the star of the Olympics is actually a very likable human being.  I saw every gold medal winning race.  History that I'm pretty confident will never be repeated in my lifetime.
• I've always loved swimming, track-and-field, and gymnastics; but a new favorite sport at the games is beach volleyball.  I would think about taking up this sport but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be caught dead playing any sport in my underwear so I guess I'll just be a fan.
• Bela Karoyli is out of control.  I can't decide if it is a good thing or not having him comment on gymnastics.
• I have to admit, the past couple nights I've been checking the results of the gymnastics apparatus finals on line before they are aired in primetime.  This has taken some of the fun out of it, but has also greatly reduced my Olympic watching stress.
• China is kicking butt in almost everything.  I don't remember them being this good.  Is there that significant of a home field advantage in the Olympics?
• Watching Usain Bolt win the 100 meter dash makes you realize how utterly ridiculous showboating looks in the Olympic games.  Maybe that's what makes the Olympics stand out from other sporting competitions.  It still has honor and class.

Let me just issue this final WARNING: If Chicago is awarded the 2016 Olympic Games I'm going to be out of my mind.  I love the Olympics!

Comments

[gretchen magruder]

Tammy, I'm confident you could take the Chinese in Corn Hole.

[Tammy Melchien]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Gretchen! Want to be my corn hole partner?

[Mike]

I prefer to think of Bolt's actions as youthful exuberance. Remember, we were 21 once upon a time.

[Tammy Melchien]

Yeah, still not a fan of it, Mike. I think the sportsmanship that we don't get to see much in sports anymore is one of the things that makes the Olympics special. Plus, I would have loved to see him run the whole race through and set an amazing world record. If you're the best show us with your best effort!

[Pat A]

I too have been watching almost everything I can once I am home from work. I love Bela Karolyi simply because he is so enthusiastic about the sport. He loves what he does and will love it till the day he dies. Not everyone has that same passion for their work. I don't think gymnastics would be what it is today without the coaching abilities of both Bela and his wife. Beach Volleyball is the best. But I, like you, would never play something in so little clothing. So I am content to watch at home. As for 2016, if the Games are in Chicago, I am taking 2 weeks vacation and volunteering.

[Shelley Christensen]

Tammmy, I always knew we were destined to be BFF. I'm as olympic obsessed as you are! Little known fact - I used to compete in trampoline. My Olympic dream, however, is in the luge. I'm convinced I would be phenomenal.

[Tammy Melchien]

shelley--maybe i could become your luge coach and we could go to the olympics together!