Jenny From The Blog

Olympics

The photo above (courtesy of the AP via cnn.com) is of brand spankin' new gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa looking decidedly unladylike. (see bullet point 2 below for some elaboration on this topic.). Seriously, doesn't the look on her face combined with her posture kinda say "Hey sailor! C'mon in!"

I love the Olympics, especially the winter games. I can't help it that once every 4 years I give a damn about speed skating and curling. I love hearing announcers attempt to pronounce Norwegian names. I love to watch the ski jumpers. I love it all.

Well, most of it.

What I'm disappointed in is US Olympic coverage. It blows. NBC tapes the whole damn thing, then schizophrenically jumps from one event to the next without any real explanation of the sport or decent stories about the athletes. I know its a ploy to keep the coverage moving and to us all watching, but its NOT WORKING! The Olympics used to be a big deal and now its getting beaten in the ratings by American Idol. What little 'getting to know them' info they give on the athletes is either next to nothing, or so over-wrought with drama its comical. (Does anyone have more obstacles in life to overcome than an Olympic athlete? It seems like they're tragedy magnets. Mama's don't let your babies grow up to be bobsledders.). Back in the day, my family had the NASA sized satellite dish and with the giant dish we could pick up the CBC. Those Canadians, they know what they're doing. The coverage was in-depth, the announcers not bitchy or flat out stupid (or both...NBC Figure Skating commentators Dick Button and Sandra Bezic, I'm looking in your direction), and they actually acknowledged the existence of athletes in other countries. And when the Canucks were featuring a sport they stayed with it. I watched curling all one Saturday afternoon during the Olympics when it was first introduced. (yes, I've always been a nerdy couch potato)

My other sore spot about the Olympics comes from the fact that figure skaters are the most annoying and useless people. Ever. They are a whole bunch of fuss over a bit of fluff. I am drafting my own little two bullet point open letter to Olympic figure skaters. When I take over the Olympics, two major changes will take place:

1) If you fall down in the Olympics you will NOT win a f***ing medal. Your job is figure skating. You do this every day. If you fall at the big show, you will be booed off the ice and kicked out of the arena in your ugly little sparkly outfits. Your weeping will please me.

2) If you are a female figure skater, I do not at any point want to see your crotch. I'm very impressed that you're uber-flexible and can get your leg above your head and still skate in a straight line. That's nice for you. However, gliding gracefully along with your business on display is nasty. Yes, I realize you have your little skivvies on. But when you boil it down there's about two inches of cloth separating your special purpose from the prying eyes of the free world. The fact that most of you are teenagers or in your early 20's makes it all the more creepy and unseemly. Please, for the love of the sweet baby Jebus, stop. Or at least wear pants.

Whew! I feel better now.

The homework status is meh. I'm still reading. I have yet to write up annotations but I'm not too worried about that. See how I defend my procrastination, even to the bitter end?

The sad little afghan is still sad. It didn't get any attention this week. I haven't even taken a sad little picture of it. Poor dear.

Is anyone else watching the news and thinking apocalypse? Just wondering. Iraq is fast speeding past mere 'quagmire' and heading straight for 'lifeless smoking crater of devastation'. I'm so glad George W. is in charge! He'll keep us and our ports safe! (note the sarcasm...the thought of Dubya at the helm actually makes me want to crawl under the bed next to Fuzzybutt and curl into the fetal position.)

posted by Jennifer @ 8:50 PM