TMI Thursday: The Games

Sean at Just a Jeep Guy started it, now all the cool kids are doing it.

THE WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES

In general (we'll get to the politics in a few) do you watch the Winter Olympics?

I haven’t been watching as avidly as I usually do, but yes I have been watching a couple events from the Sochi Games. I enjoy snowboarding, slope style (the new event at this games), bobsledding, speed skating and hockey.

Winter or Summer?

While the Winter Games has a prevalence of lycra-clad mens… the Summer Games are preferable due the total lack of clothing on divers, swimmers, gymnasts wresters and jostling packages of track & field participants.  Nothing can beat the beauty of a gymnasts’ body --->

What are your favorite winter events? Do you follow any of them outside the game?

I watch the snowboarding events when they’re televised and we have a pretty good minor league hockey team locally. I don’t think they televise bobsled or speedskating much in the off years.

Which sport needs to stay and which one needs to go?

Hell… I don’t care. I like the ones I like, I don’t pay much mind to the ones I don’t. Just like in the society at-large, everyone should like what they like and do what brings them joy (so long as it doesn’t deprive others of the same right). If I don’t like an event, I’m sure there is someone who does. Who am I to deprive people of their love of curling, or the biathalon?

Which is the weirdest sport?

Most of them are weird in one way or another. It seems to me that many recreational activities make you wonder what was going through the mind of the first person who slid head first down an ice chute at 90 miles an hour (skeleton) or thought that cross country skiiing five miles before stopping to target shoot a dime, then setting off on another five mile ski (biathalon). Curling is pretty weird… shuffleboard on ice? Dat ass --->

What is your POV on boycotting The Olympics by countries and or athletes?

I believe the Olympics are the pinnacle of achievement for athletes in many sports that are only given much attention every four years. I think that using their hopes and dreams as a political bargaining chip is evil. That being said, the IOC screwed up big time putting the Games in Sochi. Obviously they were paid handsomely by the Russians to make the choice.

Are you boycotting NBC or any Olympic sponsors?

I don’t know what I think of ‘boycotting’. On one hand I know that corporations are running our lives. Their power and financial resources are so far out of reach of the common man that they cant be touched. Regulations can be changed at the government level, but won’t because the corporations own governments. I’m not “boycotting” the games, because I celebrate the achievements of the athletes. I’m not “boycotting” sponsors… I don’t eat at McDonald’s or drink Coke anyway. My complaint is the same in Sochi as it was in London; NBC could do a better job with camera angles and graphic placement. Its like they intentionally block the good shots. One of the hockey players --->

Do you think boycotts are effective?

Massive public boycotts? Yes, they are effective. The sheer size of the corporate sponsors demand a massive international boycott for months in order for them to notice. A few thousand people not buying Coke for a week in February isn’t going to mean a thing to the bottom line.

If you were an athlete what would you do?

Bobsled… see the Canadian team at the top… RAWR!

I shall leave you with a picture of Gold medal winning Olympian Apolo Ohno’s legs. --->