jlh | Olympics, week one. (Reply)

I keep trying and failing to write this entry without getting preemptively defensive, which has more to do with my current harried state of mind than anything else. So I will instead talk about the first week of the Olympics in a completely unselfconscious and entirely superficial manner.

What was the deal, during the Opening Ceremonies, with so many countries marching in wearing khakis and polo shirts? It was less the Parade of Nations and more the Parade of Middle Managers. The Americans looked great, though.
Synchronized diving is really cool and also deeply slashy. The two American boys making each other laugh to break the tension? The Germans basically looking like band boy members, especially the one with the goatee who winked and blew a kiss into the camera? The Russians with their shaved heads and Olympics tattoos? Never mind that wee British kid who hello, will be 18 for London 2012 so he's gonna OWN that shit. (PS, go Mexico!)
I'm actually finding the Michael Phelps thing to be sort of fun. He's so enthusiastic, and he's so good. It's easier than rooting for someone who's really jaded, which he so easily could be. The interview with Spitz the other night—I know some of you didn't like statements he'd made, but last night he was really classy.
Which reminds—hahaha, the US men's gymnasts. Hysterical. "That's how we roll" indeed. The French gymnast that won the individual bronze is up there for my favorite Olympian of the games—I love it when people are so excited when they win!
The music the women are using for the floor exercise sounds like incidental music from a magic act in Vegas in the 70s—like Doug Henning or something.
I'm really enjoying watching badminton and table tennis and archery, and what floors me about those sports (and possibly some others) is that the commentators are in New York, watching the matches on satellite. I'm sure that saved NBC a lot of money sending personnel for the lower-watched sports; it's more, wow, miracle of technology!
I adore the little banners the Korean fans have. I find it odd that the Russians are wearing shirts that say "Russia" in roman script.
Seriously, enough volleyball already. That's the problem with all this round robin-round of 16-quarterfinals-semifinals things, they take forever. I'm even getting sick of water polo and I really like water polo.
Go Radcliffe crew!
The women's marathon (yay Romania!) reminded me of Joan Benoit in '84 (yay Maine!) when she pulled away from the pack and just stayed there to win the race. The dash for the silver and bronze was fun to watch, too.

Last night's stuff in a separate post.