DearDiary Logo
Public DiariesHomeLogin

D'vorahDavida
Yetzirah

Olympic Money Games
Mon Feb 13 2006


Is it just me, or has the Olympics totally lost its charm?

I seem to have developed a rather robust aversion to them over the last several years.

It used to be that those who showed up to compete were actually amateurs. But now a days they all look, dress, act, and get press like they were professionals. And I am sure the anti has been upped by the crazy high levels of perfection to the point where in some sports it starts to look like abuse. If not child abuse, then certainly drug abuse.

And other sports just leave me totally cold.... (pun alert!) and if not cold then baffled. I mean watching grown men and women bob sledding down a course that probably cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to construct, just seems.... well..... silly. A person is supposed to go bob sledding for FUN.

I remember when they used to ride on sleds that looked like they were made in Uncle George's garage or something. Now I'm sure they cost thousands of dollars.

I don't know about you, but the amount money you throw at a sport, does not cause my enjoyment of watching it go up. The Tour de France has become so much about equipment and computers and personal chefs, that I can't watch it any more. (I actually used to).

I'm getting to the point where I would like to see competitions: based on real skill and problem solving instead of who has the biggest pile of money. I mean even Harry Potter had the Nimbus 2000. I wonder if he could have won that match with a Hogwart's issue broomstick? Eh? Eh?

I have done a little bit of photography in my day, and even won a ribbon or two at the county fair. It has always been a fantasy of mine to hold a photo contest where everyone is handed the exact same camera and the exact same film that will be developed at Wal-Mart. Then you will find out who can capture and frame the best pictures. Not who has the most expensive camera and developing lab to manipulate the results.

Oh I am not questioning these athletes commitment or skill or dedication. I just think the whole thing has gotten distorted. So much so, that I don't care to watch it any more.

You know what?

I think I am an anti-elitist. That's it.

(Ya think?.... jeeze.)

Not anti excellence, just anti elite.

And money does not necessarily excellence create.

A Yoda sounding sentence if ever one there was.

[album 65561 GoofyHen2.JPG]

"What IS a bobsled anyway?"



9 Comments
  • From:
    Dustbunny3 (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Feb 13 2006
    Best guess!! Yes MONEY ,Media, Sponsors, Drugs,and crazy new tecknogly. Parents handing out money. It is not the same and started when countries paid and trained the youth. Amatures
    were now PRO'S

    The Gammys is the same I love my music but gave up watching and listing to lyric's that made no sence or could be understood. For I am lost in a world of flashing lights and in your face monkeys . Think I will just go to ZOO
  • From:
    AeolianSolo (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Feb 13 2006
    I started to get irritated with sports when EVERY team, athlete, or camp cook had to have sponsors' logos emblazoned all over them. I have always hated that our all-American sports arenas with great names like the Cow Palace and Candlestick Park have all been replaced by advertisements. I was very proud of the integrity of Seahawks Stadium until I learned it had been renamed two years ago to Qwest Field. >:P

    I can't even keep up with my favorite teams because the clubs all move around so much. I never know what old teams are now in new cities, and I have absolutely no idea what team my favorite players are with anymore.

    It's all about the Benjamins, for sure.

    As far as the Olympics, I agree with you. The original idea of the Olympics, as I understand it, was to bring nations together in friendly competition. Now it's an all-or-nothing knock-down-drag-out to see who can get the best competitive edge. I wonder if the athletes worry about it as much as the coaches and the sponsors do?

    --Solo
  • From:
    Supertrooper (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Feb 13 2006
    Hear Hear !!!
  • From:
    Parett (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Feb 13 2006
    'Times...they are a changin''. Let the purging be completed!!!!! Let the cleansing begin!!!

    "Sumthin's gotta give, sumthin's gotta give, sumthin's gotta give."

    I love ya....Parett
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Feb 13 2006
    i tend to agree mate
  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Feb 13 2006
    Now, there you've gone and spoiled the Olympics for me. All along I thought they were competing for a colored medal on a long ribbon.

    And a chance for a headline in the sports section of the newspaper.

    Well, I still like figure skating and Alpine skiing.

    Shalom
  • From:
    Bookworm (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Feb 14 2006
    Here, here. I have to agree. ;-)
  • From:
    Kordelle (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Feb 14 2006
    you are right little red
    what is a bobsled and who cares hee hee
    little red would you be mine instead
    happy valentines
  • From:
    InStitches (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Feb 14 2006
    Don't know why, but we keep falling asleep even during events we used to like. I think much of it lies in the type of coverage. I am so tired of the so called " human interest" pieces and the never ending voices of the commentators mincing every little detail in the background. Give me a break; if they know so much maybe they should be out there competing. And, by the way, couldn't they take some of their precious time to show some of the not so greats with real spirit along with the oh so great elitist snobs?

    Quilty says I have to stop now because I'm starting to rant......and we don't mess with the hen. LOL