I know. I've been MIA for awhile. I've had ideas of posts in my head and somehow they just don't seem to make it here. Maybe it's because the NFL season hasn't started yet. While I love baseball, it's a long season and I will admit my favorite time of the year for sports is September - January. Why? Because you get the baseball crunch time to the playoffs, the playoffs, college football season + bowl games, the NFL season and the NFL playoffs. I <3 fall sports.
Quick note before I go into the Olympics. First, a shout out to the NL for winning the All Star game and securing home field advantage to the NL team that reaches the World Series this fall.
Speaking of baseball, wow, have my Cardinals got themselves in a situation. On the one hand, they are definitely in the hunt for the 2 wild card spots. On the other, they currently stand 5.5 games behind the Reds for the NL Central division. I don't really care how the Cards get into the playoffs as long as they do. It's been a rough season. They lost Carpenter for the season and while the offense has been pretty productive the bull pen is another story.
I'll sum up the past month with this note:
Dear Cincinnati,
Would it be too much to ask for you to lose some games? How about a game or two?
Sincerely,
Cardinals fans everywhere
Now, to the Olympics.
I love the Olympics. Both winter and summer. Why? Because it's an opportunity to see some really amazing athletes and also see some sports that you don't see very often on display.
Other than the winter Olympics, when do you ever watch curling? Other than the summer Olympics, how often do you watch track and field (my runner friends are exempt from this question). We are exposed to major league sports on a regular basis, but network TV does not showcase much other than those major sports.
Gymnastics and figure skating get more TV exposure because the US has history of dominant Olympians in those areas. But swimming? Soccer? High jump? Not so much.
I watched the opening ceremonies tonight. I always feel like the opening show feels like some sort of interpretive dance/broadway musical mesh and London didn't disappoint. There were a lot of great moments, don't get me wrong. I loved Daniel Craig as James Bond picking up the Queen for the Olympic opening ceremony. And the lighting of the Olympic flame was very cool. And of course, for this Beatles fan, it doesn't get better than Sir Paul McCartney.
But, in the end, I've seen Broadway shows that have engaged my interest more than the opening ceremonies. Where was Monty Python? They should have had Eric Idle and John Cleese produce a bit. Why wasn't Sir Paul (and possibly Ringo?) included earlier on? I saw people dressed up in Beatle's clothing from the Sgt. Pepper albums but there was no explanation and it came and went quickly. For a music group that defined a generation world wide you'd think the Brits would have milked it more but, maybe they realize that the younger generation doesn't get it.
Anyway, the point is the Olympics are here. And I am looking forward to the next two weeks. It's going to be hard to not be spoiled since London is 8 hours ahead of me but I'm going to try not to be spoiled.
I can't say that I know a ton about the Olympians. Obviously I know about Michael Phelps (who doesn't at this point?) and am starting to get to know and follow the women's gymnastic team.
But there is much more to watch and enjoy than those two sports. I love diving, but I know it's not a strong US sport. I still love watching it.
But my absolute favorite summer Olympic sport, has to be, by far...synchronized swimming. Just look at the amazing technique of the team below:
More updates to follow (I hope) as the Olympics continue. I'm sure there will be many amazing stories at the end of the day that NBC will be sure to highlight. Especially the synchronized swimming competition.
Until then, Go USA!
