The Winter Olympics are underrated. Rather than being loved, the Winter Games are more often made fun of than they are appreciated. Perhaps because this “cold weather” competition is the home for some very obscure – bordering on bizarre – sports. Maybe since most people hate cold weather and all things that you can do in it, the Winter Olympics doesn’t get the respect it deserves.
So without further delay, here are some ramblings, Winter Olympic-style.
The Opening Ceremonies. I got the same vibe during Friday night’s kick-off to the Torino games that I did during the Super Bowl festivities. There was a lot of craziness that I don’t think has anything to do with sports. But whatever. And what was with the '70s and '80s classic disco soundtrack that accompanied the parade of athletes? Songs by Gloria Gaynor, Michael Jackson, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Chic, and the Village People were just some of the artists featured during the “walk-in.”
Bermuda’s Olympic Team. One dude. A reporter for the Bloomberg Network based in Japan, graduated from Elon University in the U.S., and born in Bermuda. His name is Patrick Singleton. He also was a one-man team in Salt Lake City. In those opening ceremonies he wore Bermuda Shorts … he didn’t do so in Torino. Oh and he competes in the luge.
High Hemoglobin Counts. The hot new scandal. From what I’ve heard as of Sunday there were 12 Olympians that have been “suspended” for having high hemoglobin counts. Reports have mentioned that this was being done to “protect” athletes from possible problems with blood clots, since high hemoglobin counts can result in blood clots. Nonsense! High hemoglobin counts – especially in endurance athletes – is one of the indicators of potential doping. During the Salt Lake Winter Games four years ago triple medal winner Johann Muhlegg was caught taking darbepoetin when a random test revealed he had high hemoglobin counts. He was stripped of his medal and banned. The other excuse we’re being given is that somehow these high sounts are a result of the athletes either being dehydrated or as an adaptation to the high altitude. More nonsense…how come only cross-country skiers are getting caught?
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