After watching a mixed bag of sports events over the 3-day weekend, I have decided to step up on my "Soap Box" and vent a little. Just a little, because the weather was so wonderful here in Sacramento that I seemed to find myself outdoors pretty much all weekend. That is where Tivo came in, and I'm just now catching up on the stuff I taped.
So lets get started!
The Olympics: I have a few bones to pick here
Why is it that the sports media (NBC) sensationalize every single accomplishment that an athlete achieves, warranted or not. Case in point Yoko Ono, oops! Anton Ohno wins a silver medal after what I think were about 8 skaters falling in front of him (I know it was only 2, but I'm sensationalizing here) with about 20 yards left in the race. I heard about 20 times how he now is the most decorated American male Winter Olympian with six medals (2 each -- gold, silver, and bronze). I don't know about you, but I think Eric Heiden is the most decorated athlete with 5 Gold Medals. Yes! He has 1 for the thumb. Hey all you Cowboy haters, he is the Dallas Cowboys of speed skating. Sorry Niner fans, I don't count that last one because Bone Head (Switzer) was our coach.
The same with Bode Miller, the Fran Tarkenton/Jim Kelly of downhill skiing. In Torino, he was favored to win 5 gold medals. He came home with only a hangover from all the partying he did. He just won the bronze to go with his 2 silver medals (2002), and once again he is the most decorated American downhill skier. Phil Mahre and Tommy Moe have a gold and a silver. I think a gold trumps any amount of silver and bronze.
And here's another beef I have. Hey, Bob Costas, how do you win the bronze medal? Is the athlete leading the whole way only to stop before the finish line and let 2 athletes pass him so he can win the bronze? No! You either WIN the gold, or you are LEFT with the silver and bronze. Do you think the Colts would say they won the silver and the Vikes/Jets won the bronze? And do you think the Vikes and the Bills would trade their 4 silver medals for just one gold (Super Bowl Champs)? Nuff said!
I watched the Minnesota vs. Indiana (college) football game...I mean the pairs figure skating. Why, you ask? My sons and I wanted to see the final of the Snowboard Cross so I had to watch the skating. Here's my beef. How is it that a skater can fall twice and stumble another time and score higher than the 3 to 4 skaters before her who did not fall? I could not figure this one out so I went to the one person who knows everything about anything (married guys know), my wife. I was told that even though those skaters fell, they had a more difficult program than those who didn't fall. It made perfect sense! Please don't tell the Minnesota Vikings who seem to dominate the Saints, but had a few falls (turn overs). I don't think the Saint fans could give back all those hangovers.
Speaking about I.U. Did the Norwegian curling team steal Bobby Knights' plaid sports coats and make pants out of them? I thought I saw some of them selling cotton candy before they competed. Another thing I saw was a Zamboni machine prepping the ice for Curling. Why? Isn't that what the Curlers do?
I saw some of the NBA exhibition game and that was pretty entertaining. That matador defense was on display. Sorry everyone...No Kobe, No All-Star game. My beef here is if you have the game at Cowboys stadium, why would you have the athletes do what cowboys do instead of what Dallas Cowboys do? You could have the All-Stars hang out at the white house (not in DC). They could visit all the Michael Irvin strip clubs. Drive in a car with Nate Newton carring 300 pounds of weed trying not to get pulled over, or going to Mexico with Jessica Simpson before the big game on Sunday. Hey, I'm a Cowboys fan so I can say this. If you say it, I will block you. The funniest line I heard all weekend was when Carmelo was asked if trying to rope a calf was difficult. He said, "I'm from DC...I see a rope and I run."
My last beef is Nascar: I'm not a fan nor pretend to be. But I know what lap and how many cars were in the wreck that knocked Danica out of the race Saturday. But I cannot tell you who won the Daytona 500 on Sunday. I think Nascar just opened a can of "Go Daddy."
Today is Ash Wednesday...the end of Mardi Gras/Super Bowl parties. The world's largest hangover begins!
Thanks everyone for allowing me to vent. It was either here on the post, or pay Lucy 5 Cents (Peanuts Cartoon).
"Sports Wiseguy"
Curling...
ReplyDeleteWhy is curling an Olympic sport still? Why not have lawn darts and pool in the summer then. Technically that pregnant lady should be DQ'ed since they have too many members on their team.
Just because I sweat, doesn't make me an athlete!
Cheers! - Jimmy Johnson