A lot of people... particularly some of my TV news friends... have been dogging on the Winter Olympics. I have to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed the Winter Olympics coverage! I guess you could say I'm a bit of an Olympics geek. I remember watching the games as a kid... and loving it even back then.
I got teary eyed when Joannie Rochette, the Canadian skater whose mom died, gave the performance of a lifetime on Tuesday. Though honestly, I could do with a little less Scott Hamilton on commentary. He's obviously a skating legend and has his own amazing story, but he was all over the emotional map... nearly exploding each time someone landed a jump and nearly breaking down after Rochette's skate. I don't want to take anything away from him, I've seen him skate and he's amazing... but perhaps dial it down a notch for the commentary.
I loved watching Lindsay Vonn win her gold medal. I was in awe of Shaun White's amazing snowboard performance. I LOVED both ski cross and snowboard cross. Those athletes have to be a little crazy, but it looks like so much fun! And while I've heard people say biathlon is boring... you have to admire the ability of those skiers... I mean come on! Cross country skiing is rough... but then to have to shoot at and hit itty bitty targets... when your arm and leg muscles are burning and shaking?? That takes skill people! I can admire that! And you only get to see this every 4 years unless you truly follow that sport.
I think the many of the Winter Olympics sports are cool. Skeleton, luge, bobsled, downhill skiing, curling, speedskating, ski jumping... these sports only get world-wide attention during an Olympics year so it's fun to watch. I wish for once in my life I knew what it was like to be really good at a sport.
I've enjoyed NBCs coverage in the evening as well. I do like Bob Costas. And Mary Carillo's Canadian adventures have been fun to watch. I am probably a little biased. Four years ago when I was still working as a news producer, I was pulled off my daily show to produce our station's version of "The Olympic Zone." It was a half-hour show dedicated to the Olympics... during the Torino games. I had so much fun doing that show! And Wisconsin has so many Olympic connections it's insane. Many speedskaters train at the Petit National Ice Center here... including the amazing Shani Davis. Others have at the very least raced here. Curling and hockey are other sports where there are Wisconsin connections. I absolutely loved it. And I worked for an NBC station for 8 years... so I saw my fair share of Olympics coverage during that time: two winter games in SLC and Torino, and two summer games - Sydney and Athens. (I really wish Chicago had won the Olympics bid... oh well!)
Alex, while not quite as enthusiastic as I am about the games, has also enjoyed the Olympics. He really liked ski jumping and the snowboard events. He even liked figure skating! But I hope it opens his eye to sports other than the ones you usually think of... basketball, football, soccer, baseball.
What about you? Do you love or hate the Olympics? Which sport(s) fascinate you?
