We’ve talked here before, right, about what makes you cry? Emotionally manipulative movies, weddings? For me, it’s the Inspiring Sports Story.
It works every time, in all its variations: Overcoming Adversity, the Nice Guy You Can Relate to Despite His Being a World-Class Athlete, the Ragtag Team that Comes from Behind, etc. I get a little cheap catharsis, ranging in intensity from moist eyes to full sobs of joy.
So of course, I love the Olympics.
In between the handful of Inspiring Sports Moments, though, you have to watch all the rest of it. And that’s hard.
The ads are already annoying, and it’s only the third day. The Bank of America “Save the Change” ads are especially awful. The best ads are the ones with the Morgan Freeman voiceover — beautiful miniature Inspiring Sports Stories in themselves.
And a key disadvantage to an event in which a main draw is emotional pr0n, it turns out, is that all on-screen business is conducted with utmost seriousness. NBC long ago decided not to freak out the squares with the least little bit of humor. The other night, as fans carried flags back and forth in the stands during a volleyball match, an announcer said, “It’s a parade of flags here tonight. I hope it doesn’t go on as long as the parade at the opening ceremonies…[here a long and awkward pause during which the announcer realized he had cracked a mild joke at the expense of the dignity of the Olympics]…which were of course incredible, amazing…”
Mostly, though, the announcers are just dumb. At the end of the men’s bicycle road race: “And so, like the conquistadors of old, the Spanish take gold.”
Or this priceless exchange: “It’s like having a tear in your wedding dress before you walk down the aisle.” “Yeah, that would be a bad situation.”
Or lamenting the loss of the Romanian women’s gymnastics teams from the good old days of the brutal communist dictatorship, one announcer saying with a tone of barely disguised disgust, “This is a different Romania.”
And of course, suddenly George W. Bush is sitting at the desk with Bob Costas. This is a downer. I suppose it’s what I get for watching women’s gymnastics, definitely the creepiest Olympic sport — all the little gymnasts walking around like John McCain. Why is this sport even popular? And how do you spell that Romanian gymnast’s name?
The Olympics certainly capture our attention. Demosthenes and I were discussing the reasons that the U.S.A. captures so many medals. We agreed that a main reason may because of our opportunities (economic, medical, transportation, etc.). Usually the opening ceremonies are boring, but I agree with Dave, they were amazing.
The interview with President Bush started off really well, he was candid and almost humanistic, until he blew it with his- aw, uh, well, oh, yeah, yeah. Then to top it off, he then came across as morally superior, and the shit-eating smile.
Great post Dave. I totakly agree with you Marley that Bush interview as being morally superior. Also, Dave for me Gymanstics continues to be popular for me because I was one of those girls who took some gymnastics as a child and dreamed of one day being like Nadia, it is extremly hard work, and yet made to look artistic and easy. Our team usually continues to be good since Nadia’s coachs Bela and Marta have been coaching the US team since the early80’s beginining with Mary Lou Retton’s team. It is one sport that I never get tired of watching. Dave I do agree that the ads are annoying , plus you miss stuff during the commericals
Photos like this one can help keep interest going, too. Dude’s ripped.
Ahhh yes, the olympics. I love them too. And I, too, caught that downer of an interview with Bush (lucky I had a novel handy).
Why is gymnastics popular? Because we love a freak show! Because there’s an artistic element to it! Because it’s socially-sanctioned child labor! Because of the drama! Because who doesn’t love watching what the acrobats can do!
I watched the Bush interview in HD, and I was immediately struck by how unusual it is to see GWB under good lighting and with so much detail. Every gray hair and liver spot stood out. I’m used to seeing his photos in newsprint and on the internet – typically low-resolution. The HD humanized him, but didn’t make him sympathetic. So that is what monsters look like up close.
I thought the Costas interview was great. He is a bright man who can speak to a wide spectrum of issues outside of sports. His questions yielded answers that highlighted US hypocrisy without needing follow up questions. What about human rights in China? What about the violence in Georgia? GWB’s responses only served to highlight American human rights atrocities and American violence.
Two times in the interview GWB brought up the importance of letting ‘religion,’ presumably Christianity, spread in China. The man knows his constituency. He said something to the effect, “And once religion takes hold in a region, it can’t be stopped.” Hmmm… and what does that mean for the situation in the Middle East? When he used the term ‘crusade’ to describe our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, he really meant it.
I like Costas when he talks outside of sports. It would be interesting to see him take a turn at Meet the Press.
“And once religion takes hold in a region, it can’t be stopped.”
You know, I though I heard this, but since I wasn’t really listening to the interview I did a double-take and decided he must have meant something else.
There was also “I don’t see America having problems.”
But yeah, from what I could stand to listen to, Costas did better than most TV journalists.
I watched Nadia get her 10. I watched that Strug girl vault with a broken ankle. I watched that US girl get silver when she wanted gold. I watched the swan chick from Russia. And every time I think: “where are their breasts?” Do they bind them or just not have them? Like female, bouncing castrati. I agree – artistic, talented, compelling, yes. Creepy? definitely.
I cry at that Applebee’s commercial about the retiring coach. I am not ashamed.
Is it just me, or do girl gymnasts have fatter necks than they have in past Olympics? I remember watching Strug and thinking she was pretty. But these chicks? They all look like Arnold. And yeah, I’ve watched gymnastics and ice skating for so long that I make the appropriate noises before the commentators do.
I’ve enjoyed the swimming more than in past years. Must be all the swimmers in the family.Or Phelps and his always-mentioned drama. And the pagentry of the opening ceremonies was appropriately cool.