Comments on: What’s Wrong With The Olympics? No Good Enemies http://informedspeculation.com/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/ Refunds Cheerfully Given To All Who Disagree Sat, 07 Apr 2012 09:00:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Decision ‘08 » Blog Archive » Now Where Have I Heard THAT Before? http://informedspeculation.com/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-13006 Decision ‘08 » Blog Archive » Now Where Have I Heard THAT Before? Sat, 18 Feb 2006 16:40:30 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/#comment-13006 [...] Those explanations seem plausible enough, but we think another factor might also be at work. Today’s Games are en route to becoming the least watched in years because they tilt against historical winds–namely, the end of the Cold War and the subsequent waning of nationalist impulses. Me, eight days ago: The most immediate memory most people retrieve from recent Olympics is some variation of a sickeningly sweet human interest story from Jim McKay, the undisputed Sultan of Saccharine Schmaltz. Actual competition has taken a backseat to heart-tugging stories of overcoming adversity that would not be out of place on an Oprah Winfrey broadcast. That’s not because the athletes are in decline - on the contrary, untold millions are spent around the globe identifying and training potential medalists from just out of the cradle. Today’s Olympic athlete is capable of almost superhuman feats, even without performance enhancers. [...] [...] Those explanations seem plausible enough, but we think another factor might also be at work. Today’s Games are en route to becoming the least watched in years because they tilt against historical winds–namely, the end of the Cold War and the subsequent waning of nationalist impulses. Me, eight days ago: The most immediate memory most people retrieve from recent Olympics is some variation of a sickeningly sweet human interest story from Jim McKay, the undisputed Sultan of Saccharine Schmaltz. Actual competition has taken a backseat to heart-tugging stories of overcoming adversity that would not be out of place on an Oprah Winfrey broadcast. That’s not because the athletes are in decline – on the contrary, untold millions are spent around the globe identifying and training potential medalists from just out of the cradle. Today’s Olympic athlete is capable of almost superhuman feats, even without performance enhancers. [...]

]]> By: Mark http://informedspeculation.com/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-12615 Mark Fri, 10 Feb 2006 22:29:30 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/#comment-12615 dmac, indeed - that coverage outweighs all the shlock that followed by a country mile... dmac, indeed – that coverage outweighs all the shlock that followed by a country mile…

]]> By: dmac http://informedspeculation.com/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-12612 dmac Fri, 10 Feb 2006 22:09:45 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/#comment-12612 McKay has become a caricature of himself, but I remember his amazing reporting during the Munich Olympics. He displayed grace under extreme pressure (and he was only a sports guy), and he never flinched or editorialized the awful hostage situation in progress. When he reported on the terrible aftermath, almost immediately after he had reported that the hostages had been rescued, was unforgettable. "They're all gone," was how he ended his broadcast of their murders. McKay has become a caricature of himself, but I remember his amazing reporting during the Munich Olympics. He displayed grace under extreme pressure (and he was only a sports guy), and he never flinched or editorialized the awful hostage situation in progress.

When he reported on the terrible aftermath, almost immediately after he had reported that the hostages had been rescued, was unforgettable. “They’re all gone,” was how he ended his broadcast of their murders.

]]> By: Mark http://informedspeculation.com/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-12596 Mark Fri, 10 Feb 2006 19:05:30 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/#comment-12596 Ah, a little gossip, eh? I love it... Ah, a little gossip, eh? I love it…

]]> By: Martha http://informedspeculation.com/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-12595 Martha Fri, 10 Feb 2006 18:58:30 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/#comment-12595 I really can't wait for the figure skating though. I usually record it if I'm having to work late at the office. I will probably at least tune in for the Opening Ceremony until I get bored of it. Also, Katie Curic has supposedly been pulled because rumor still has it that she will anchor CBS evening news. She is at least pulled from the opening ceremonies. I really can’t wait for the figure skating though. I usually record it if I’m having to work late at the office. I will probably at least tune in for the Opening Ceremony until I get bored of it.
Also, Katie Curic has supposedly been pulled because rumor still has it that she will anchor CBS evening news. She is at least pulled from the opening ceremonies.

]]> By: Clint http://informedspeculation.com/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-12586 Clint Fri, 10 Feb 2006 17:52:08 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/#comment-12586 In addition to the lack of a big enemy, the Winter Olympics is hampered by a much smaller (and weaker) set of events than the Summer Olympics has. Figure skating and hockey are the only real draws. Sports like downhill skiing just weren't meant to be spectator sports. In a running race or swimming race everyone is doing it at the same time, which brings out the competition for the spectators. How difficult would it be to digitally reedit the downhill skiing, luge, bobsled and such to show all the competitors racing down the hill together? In addition to the lack of a big enemy, the Winter Olympics is hampered by a much smaller (and weaker) set of events than the Summer Olympics has. Figure skating and hockey are the only real draws.

Sports like downhill skiing just weren’t meant to be spectator sports. In a running race or swimming race everyone is doing it at the same time, which brings out the competition for the spectators. How difficult would it be to digitally reedit the downhill skiing, luge, bobsled and such to show all the competitors racing down the hill together?

]]> By: dmac http://informedspeculation.com/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-12581 dmac Fri, 10 Feb 2006 17:02:29 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/#comment-12581 True enough - President Peanut made that quite obvious during his boycott of the Russians back in the day. True enough – President Peanut made that quite obvious during his boycott of the Russians back in the day.

]]> By: miriam http://informedspeculation.com/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-12578 miriam Fri, 10 Feb 2006 16:23:09 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/#comment-12578 George Orqwell made much the same point--that the point of the Olympics was sticking it to your political enemies. George Orqwell made much the same point–that the point of the Olympics was sticking it to your political enemies.

]]> By: Mark http://informedspeculation.com/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-12575 Mark Fri, 10 Feb 2006 15:38:42 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/#comment-12575 Oh, no, I didn't take it that way...I prefer Turin, as well, but I just wasn't sure... Oh, no, I didn’t take it that way…I prefer Turin, as well, but I just wasn’t sure…

]]> By: AcademicElephant http://informedspeculation.com/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-12573 AcademicElephant Fri, 10 Feb 2006 15:35:52 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/02/10/whats-wrong-with-the-olympics-no-good-enemies/#comment-12573 I was not implying that you are Eurotrash. Just NBC, which has gone on this whole "Torino" thing, which I find unbelievably contrived. I was not implying that you are Eurotrash. Just NBC, which has gone on this whole “Torino” thing, which I find unbelievably contrived.

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