For the most part my columns deal with sports and sporting activities that occurs right here on Whidbey Island, or at least in a close enough proximity to draw local readers’ interests.
But this time around, I must stray a bit and make mention of the Olympic games that recently concluded in Beijing.
I’m sure some of you folks watched at least a portion of the telecasts I did, but I refused to park myself on the sofa accompanied by the dog and an unending supply supply of junk-food snacks, both of us with slightly glazed looks in our eyes glued to the big screen television watching events that were being broadcast nearly 24 hours a day. I imagine the round-the-clock telecasts were a boon for all you insomniacs out there, or those working swing shifts who wanted to keep up with how the red, white and blue was doing against the rest of the world.
The Chinese did well, if anyone expected the host team to do otherwise. Hey, if government officials begin taking athletic prospects away from their parents at age three to begin training, they should be good.
Before everyone raises their eyebrows at this practice remember the United State had professional basketball players on its teams, as did just about every other country, so why not have the “best of the best” competing?
I’ll tell you what, though, if those female Chinese gymnasts were age 16, the kid is going to take over the starting quarterback duties from Matt Hasselback when the Seahawks open the regular season!
There were some surprises at the games, but I won’t bore you with breaking down the individual events with who shoulda, who didn’t and who did.
Michael Phelps did his expected great job in the pool winning eight gold medals, and it’s not that often an athlete lives up to the pre-game hype.
Success has its rewards and guess what? His picture won’t be appearing on Wheaties cereal boxes like some of the Olympic stars from years past. Instead, he struck a different deal and his smiling countenance and medals will be on boxes of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes. I imagine they paid America’s newest golden boy a dime or two for that gig!
Phelps has also sparked a renewed interest in swimming by both youngsters and adults and the latest buzz words by the kids are, “I wanna be like Mike.”
Too often, youth swimming doesn’t get the recognition other sports do. But having attended a couple of North Whidbey Aquajets meets in addition reporting on the high school teams, I can say they are a competitive bunch and a real kick to watch. Maybe you should give it a try, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
One of the major surprises of the games, at least from my point of view, was the United States didn’t have a boxer who stepped to the forefront as they’ve done in past years.
There have been some good ones who came out of Olympic competition and went on the professional ranks. Pugilists like Muhammad Ali (he was Cassius Clay back then), Ray Charles “Sugar Ray” Leonard, and Evander Holyfield to name a few.
Then again, there wasn’t the big boxing buzz in the United States for the Olympic trials, either. We all remember how it used to be, “This or that guy is going to be the next big star Don King promotes,” and all that good stuff.
On the topic of King, the walking advertisement for Aqua Net Hair Spray, he somehow wrangled his way into being allowed to tour some of the earthquake-ravaged areas in central China. This was some sort of “goodwill tour” and a promotional photo shoot where he met victims, signed autographs and whatnot. Apparently, he has some inside connection with the Beijing government to be able to pull something like this off. Good for him but New Orleans is still trying to recover and has been for three years, so why not go there?
At any rate, the Olympics are over and we are going to have to wait four more summers for the next extravaganza.
Personally, I’m happy the National Football League regular season is about ready to begin.
