Olympics 2012, in Londontown

The number of events doesn't bother me per se . . . as long as you are doing different things.

In track and field you are running . . . and jumping . . . and hurdling . . . and vaulting . . . and throwing . . . and in one event you do them all.

In swimming you are . . . swimming.

 

Right. So don't watch. Much like my personal response to tennis.

 

You know they now have open-water swimming? Like swimming in a real lake (no word if sharks are in the vacinity).

And, of course, there's synchronized swimming, which some will debate endless its merits as a sport.

 

Synchronized swimming = not a sport.

 

Lord have mercy, people. If you don't like the Olympics, change the channel.

Gee. It's not rocket science.

 

I swear, some of you turn hating sports into an art form.

 

Isn't that the Olympic Trials in an old Soviet Bloc country? ("or else" is either Siberia or a visit to Barry Bonds' doctor).

 

Oh, it's not really "hating" a sport.

It was just frustrating at my shop many years ago when our "Olympics" reporter (who also covered a lot of swimming for us) went to the Games . . . AND NEVER LEFT THE NATATORIUM because the 31 (count 'em, 31) medal events at that time dragged on for more than a week. Now it's 34.

Jeebus, we spend that much money to send you there, you're at a spectacle with dozens of things going on, and the readers get nothing but a daily dose of swimming.

 

It can't be Olympics without bitching about the TV coverage...my latest gripe:

Rowdy Gaines makes Gus Johnson sound like he's covering golf on NPR. EVERY MOMENT IN THE POOL IS LOUD AND AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

 

Rowdy Gaines got a lot of traction out of the call of the 4x100 relay in Beijing, I think, which makes him try and repeat that magic with every. single. race. Doesn't work. I also dislike the gymnastics crew, which tells me nothing about the sport itself other than "that's super-hard" or "that's a step," basically things anyone with working eyes can figure out for themselves. Plus Al Trautwig (I think that's his name) goes for the trailer-worthy catchphrase about once every segment.

All that said, the sports themselves are awesome. Ashton Eaton (I think) setting the world record in the decathlon brought chills, and what's better than a run-off for the third and final spot on the women's 100 meter dash team?

Plus NBC has finally gotten with the times somewhat and is offering every event live online, even if you're in the Pacific time zone like me, as long as you have a cable/satellite package that includes MSNBC and CNBC.