David EdwardsSportingMind's Olympic Wrap
August 20th 2008 00:04
Whilst SportingMind has to this point avoided writing about the Beijing Olympics, the time has now come to put my extremities to the keyboard and potter out a astute diatribe - which will hopefully address the key issues/happenings in the Olympics thus far.
Last night was Olympic Silver for our two most beloved darlings; Anna Meares in the Cycling sprint and Sally McLennan in the women's 100m hurdles. Apparently Meares had overcome the obligatory near death experience in order to take part in the Olympics this year, however her efforts were justly rewarded with a silver - albeit at the hands of yet another British rider.
McLennan's silver was full of histrionics, as the affable 21 year old from the Gold Coast displayed the kind of emotion reserved only for NRL grand final victors, yet displaying far more eloquency and likeability. Clearly stoked with her race, McLennan can look forward to years of public scrutiny from now on - including heightened expectations and the inevitable "Tall-Poppy syndrome" that comes with being an elite athlete.
Something that has taken SportingMind by surprise has been the prevalence (and success) of Jamacian sprinters this Olympics. Excuse the shameless stereotyping, but weren't all Jamacians meant to be relaxed, slow-moving, reggae-listening weed smokers? Strumming guitars in between smoking the Island's finest ganja , barefooted by the beach enjoying a complete disregard for the concept of time? Funny that they should be so exceptional at sprinting - perhaps the fact that the Island has one of the highest murder rates in the world has contributed to a culture of survival of the fittest. Such an island of contradictions.
Tonight the US "Dream Team" take on the might of the Aussie Boomers in a match that will propel the winner into a shot at the medals. I will stay up for this one, Australia will have a lot to play for - yet the US side really should wipe the floor with us. 10 p.m., Channel 7 - hopefully Andrew Gaze will be calling the match.
Much has been made of the Channel 7 commentary team for these games, with dishonourable mentions going to Mike McCann, Simon Reeve, Tom Williams and Sonia Kruger. Even Bruce MacAvaney, an actual commentator, struggled to convey the emotion we desire as mere onlookers. I have no idea what Channel 7 were thinking in signing these "celebrities" on as Olympic commentators, probably thinking that the public would feel comfortable with these familiar voices coming into our living rooms every night. This is the Olympics, for Christ's sakes. We want authority, credibility, knowledge - not a hastily assembled motley crue of "Sunrise"/ lifestyle program presenters.
The BMX events kick off today for the first time in the Olympics, with Australia's great white (trash) hope Kamakazi, (that's right - he changed his name by deed poll to Kamakazi) hoping to do us all proud by winning a gold medal. The world's greatest living stereotype will hope to live up to his name (Jamie Hildebrandt) by turning in a typically consumate, Germanic performance.
That just about wraps up all you need to know about the Olympics right now - we are currently sitting in 4th position behind the mother country - who have 16 Gold medals to our paltry 11. How embarassing.
-SportingMind
Last night was Olympic Silver for our two most beloved darlings; Anna Meares in the Cycling sprint and Sally McLennan in the women's 100m hurdles. Apparently Meares had overcome the obligatory near death experience in order to take part in the Olympics this year, however her efforts were justly rewarded with a silver - albeit at the hands of yet another British rider.
McLennan's silver was full of histrionics, as the affable 21 year old from the Gold Coast displayed the kind of emotion reserved only for NRL grand final victors, yet displaying far more eloquency and likeability. Clearly stoked with her race, McLennan can look forward to years of public scrutiny from now on - including heightened expectations and the inevitable "Tall-Poppy syndrome" that comes with being an elite athlete.
Something that has taken SportingMind by surprise has been the prevalence (and success) of Jamacian sprinters this Olympics. Excuse the shameless stereotyping, but weren't all Jamacians meant to be relaxed, slow-moving, reggae-listening weed smokers? Strumming guitars in between smoking the Island's finest ganja , barefooted by the beach enjoying a complete disregard for the concept of time? Funny that they should be so exceptional at sprinting - perhaps the fact that the Island has one of the highest murder rates in the world has contributed to a culture of survival of the fittest. Such an island of contradictions.
Tonight the US "Dream Team" take on the might of the Aussie Boomers in a match that will propel the winner into a shot at the medals. I will stay up for this one, Australia will have a lot to play for - yet the US side really should wipe the floor with us. 10 p.m., Channel 7 - hopefully Andrew Gaze will be calling the match.
Much has been made of the Channel 7 commentary team for these games, with dishonourable mentions going to Mike McCann, Simon Reeve, Tom Williams and Sonia Kruger. Even Bruce MacAvaney, an actual commentator, struggled to convey the emotion we desire as mere onlookers. I have no idea what Channel 7 were thinking in signing these "celebrities" on as Olympic commentators, probably thinking that the public would feel comfortable with these familiar voices coming into our living rooms every night. This is the Olympics, for Christ's sakes. We want authority, credibility, knowledge - not a hastily assembled motley crue of "Sunrise"/ lifestyle program presenters.
The BMX events kick off today for the first time in the Olympics, with Australia's great white (trash) hope Kamakazi, (that's right - he changed his name by deed poll to Kamakazi) hoping to do us all proud by winning a gold medal. The world's greatest living stereotype will hope to live up to his name (Jamie Hildebrandt) by turning in a typically consumate, Germanic performance.
That just about wraps up all you need to know about the Olympics right now - we are currently sitting in 4th position behind the mother country - who have 16 Gold medals to our paltry 11. How embarassing.
-SportingMind
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"Even if you were deaf you’d know there was something very big about to happen here".
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