The Olympics Are Boring and Disappointing This Viewer
Published February 25, 2006
Sorry, GE/NBC, but I'm part of the reason your ratings are down this time.
Frankly, I miss Tonya Harding. Well, not her personally, but a controversy/news event of that caliber. This Winter Olympics has been, in Dawn's words, "lame."
There was the fracas about the speed skaters. I tried to get interested in it. I side with those thinking Shane Davis is the one who came off as professional, honest, and fair about the situation. Chad was rude and he came up with excuses for his bad boy behavior but none really justify his unsportsmanlike attitude. He can go off with Bode Miller and sit on the blowhard dumbass box for all I care.
But frankly, to me that debate was about as exciting as whether it should be called Turin or Turino.
And neither compare in interest, to me anyway, to the skating judge scandals of past years.
Maybe personal issues played a factor in my not catching the Olympic fever.
Maybe it's because my back went out the first week of the Olympics and I got laryngitis while student teaching during the second week of the games. That's why I did not have much TV time. But when I was at home by the television I'd turn on the Olympics and try to watch it.
I wanted to like it - really I did. But inevitably I'd tune in and see Bob Costas looking the same - as well as the same set - as four years ago. And he'd have that "I am so much smarter and funnier than anyone here so why can't I get a real job" grin which irks.
Last night I tried again. I tuned in and caught the skiing. As NBC is wont to do, as soon as you get interested in one sports event they switch over to another, in this case figure skating. Then it was back to skiing.
And I wanted to get excited, really I did. But God, was the interviewing inane. It pained me. Sample interview with,I think, Julie Mancuso, who got the gold medal.
Reporter: Hey, skier who has worked for years to get here, what's up with the delay on the starting time?
- The Olympics Are Boring and Disappointing This Viewer
- Published: February 25, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Sports
- Filed Under: Sports: Olympic, Video: Sports
- Writer: Scott Butki
- Scott Butki's BC Writer page
- Scott Butki's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
Matthew: I didn't see much feedback to your posts. If I'm wrong my apologies.
I was just joshing - no offense was intended. I think Britney could appear to curl her hair during a curling game and it would still appear boring to many.
Bode Miller
I smell a reality show or at least "Celebrity Quarters".
Oh yeah he can be a has been on that reality show of has beens
I admit I watched a fair amount of the Olympics, as I always do. Regardless of my actual level of athletic participation at any given time, I am a perennial reliable coach potato (potatoe). But boy am I glad it's over. Reason: I am more non-corporate than I am corporate. Definition of corporate for this post: having a large ownership stake in, being a highly place executive at, or being an owner or executive wannabe regarding, a large corporation (such as GE/NBC).
Corporate reaction to Bode Miller's failure to win medals: outrage. What did we pay you all that sponsorship money for, why did we hype you at great cost? How dare you.
Non-corporate reaction: Who cares? One athlete fails to win; others win. We get to watch the competition either way. (Did love the Letterman quote, however: this just in: Bode Miller has tested negative for gold medals.)
Corporate reaction to U.S. winning less medals than were theoretically possible: what a tragedy.
Non-corporate reaction: who cares? (See previous comment.)
Corporate reaction to NBC's ratings being down: (see last Sunday Times's Sports section; it's right in there) this is right up there as a major story along with Miller and the U.S. medal count. How awful. (9-11 and now this.)
Non-corporate reaction: We could give a shit.
Thank you.
Oh I had not heard Letterman's quote - I love it.
Here's a suggestion - head over to Google Video and search for videos of the BBC's Top Gear auto show, in particular the Car Winter Olympics show. Much more fun than the real Olympics...
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/44137)
"Watched Matthew try in vain to get anyone else interested in curling."
Please tell us all, citing evidence, that this is accurate, Scott.