We have been hooked on the Olympics coverage (even if it is on NBC…I have bones to pick with that particular channel) Watching Michael Phelps win his gold medals in the mens’ swimming events has been a real highlight of this years’ Summer Olympics. We also enjoyed the Gymnastics, especially the womens’ events. Last go round of Summer Olympics the twin brothers(the Hamms) on the USA Olympic gymnastic team was kind of like watching Phelps succeed in this one. Too bad the Twins were injured and could not be on the mens’ team. I just watched one of the events that is not what would be called a "high interest sport"—-the team rowing in which the US won the gold medal. I really like some of the "off" sports like Fencing, Ping Pong, horse jumping, polo…. (haven’t seen any yet because I cannot stay awake for the really late- at- night things) Finally saw a game of indoor court Volleyball…saw the US womens’ team beat Poland earlier this afternoon.
The Olympics Puzzle is really not so hard to solve; Why are certain events shown in full on Prime Time? What I have noticed is that the mens’ swimming events were always on Prime Time and so was the Womens’ Beach Volleyball. That is not puzzle at all…..beach volleyball featuring bikini – clad young things is obvious….that attracts male viewers by the millions and probably not because they are entranced by the sport itself. You all know what entrances male viewers and womens’ beach volleyball has the key ingredients!!! This past week Rush Limbaugh (the Lech) said he watched beach volleyball no matter who won; he did not really care WHO won!! That is probably why that sport is on Prime Time.Why for instance, do the mens’ beach volleyball team not appear in skimpy Speedos? They are clad in big, long baggy shorts and tank tops…not very sexy huh??? It appears to me that the women who play beach volleyball allow themselves to be "used" for the purposes of viewers’ preferences. Maybe I am wrong but I have not figured out why the women players cannot play in ordinary volleyball clothing while the mens’ team does. "It is a puzzlement," as the King of Siam said in "Anna and the King of Siam".
I can see why womens’ gymnasticss is a Prime Time feature too….cute shapely girls in really tight, somewhat revealing outfits(nice buns) that Gymnasts always wear. I remember the cute and bouncy Mary Lou Retton in her white gymastic outfit in 1984—-white with some red stripes and some blue stars. I really liked the first outfits I saw in this Olympics…shiny red with a distinctive huge blue star outlined in white. I thought they were really classy and nicer than alot of the other gymnastic clothing on display. Shawn Johnson was this year’s "cutie". But again, it appeals to male viewers more than female viewers and that must be the population that NBC goes after in their coverage.
I loved watching the womens’ breastroke events in womens’ swimming. It gave me an opportunity to once again revive the story about "Lena" who was the best breaststroker on the Norwegian Swim team. She had set records in Norway and had out-swum all her competition. Of course she was number 1 on the Norwegian Olympic swim team but when she got into the breaststroke events at the Olympics, she lost every race…came in last in fact. When she found out that the other girls were using their arms, she was furious but her protest was rejected and she had to go home without any medals. I told that to the two grandkids who are still with us and they "got it" immediately and laughed themselves silly. Our boy said "that would never work for the men breaststrokers"…he is no dummy at the age of 11.
I bet if the women swam the breaststroke, Lena-style, there would be a huge audience for Prime Time and most of them would be males. Am I right????? Or am I an Olde Crank??? (don’t answer that one)
Oh Poor Lena..but a good joke! I have been watching also. My daughter was quite offended at the beach vollyball outfits, me..not so much, I guess those chicks can wear whatever they want, they are some really strong women, playing volleyball in that sand..I sweat just watching them.
I watch in the middle of the night the USA channel, I was most impressed with Archery, some kind of field hockey, softball and dressage. I love all the horse stuff, but have either missed the Jumping events or was asleep.
NBC doesn’t get it..they do a horrid job of commentary.
Phelps is indeed a great Olympic Hero, and I cheered him on..our kids today need some sports heros that are great and drug/steroid free. However the poor kid needs to brush up on his interview skills, he has a couple of sisters you think they might clue him in:)
Your comments on Rush limbaugh watching the beach volleyballers only for their skimpy outfits says all one needs to know about the “depth’ of character and thought of that hollow man. My question is why Rush says something so stupidly shallow—oh never mind ,he is rush and his audience is even dumber than him. My other question is why a thoughtful lady like yourself would listen to rush? I find my brain cells gasping for air whenever I stumble on his show turning the dial . I play a game sometimes wondering how long I can stay with his show before he says something so stupid , so false , that I have to retch and flip the dial . The game seldom lasts longer that a minute. By the way the most incredible achievement of the American team was Dara Torres . Three silvers at 41!!!!! , but more incredible was that she broke world records at that age! Broke world records. After 20 some years of swimming , after motherhood , she is PEAKING , Still better than 99% of the great swimmers of the world!!! Put it this way- will Phelps be shattering records 20 years from now??? Did Mark Spitz continue to be a world class , beating the young punks , swimmer for 20 years after 1972 ?? Torres did !!!! Of course limbaugh watched her because she still has that awesome bod!!Remember he threw away 3 wives younger than Torres!!!!!