Olympic Cynicism
By Daniel Miessler on August 13th, 2008: Tagged as Sport
Call me cynical, but when I hear about someone winning 11 gold medals the first thing that comes to mind is, “Great, so I wonder how long it’ll take for them to charge him with steroid use and strip them from him.”
Meh.
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Nah, they’ll charge him of wearing a swim suit that’s too high tech. That’s why he’ll get a million dollars from Speedo if he wins 8 at this Olympics. (I’m not complaining .. most sports have improvements in technology that improve play .. I’m assuming that you’re not using a 1950’s style paddle when you play table tennis.)
Comment by Carl M — 8/13/2008 @ 12:26 pm
Except almost all the swimmers are wearing the Speedo LZR Racer suit, even the Nike sponsored swimmers have been given permission to wear it. Hence the “playing field” is level, IF your wearing the suit, you too can compete to be second place to Mr. Phelps
Comment by Michael S Black — 8/13/2008 @ 3:13 pm
I’ve read that Phelps (as well as some other US athletes) has offered to go through really extensive dope testing in order to prove that he’s competing clean.
Comment by Marisol — 8/13/2008 @ 3:53 pm
I think he’s just one of those individuals that comes along and dominates a sport. Sort of a freak of nature.
Comment by Jason O — 8/13/2008 @ 4:45 pm
I’m a little more dismayed that NBC uses this as an advertisement to pump up the number of viewers.
The Olympics for me never will be about one person, or even one nation, or the number of medals, but about a feat of humanity in it’s triumph over the common attrocities to achieve a shortlived brotherhood, to spite our faults, and reach for some plane of greater mutual understanding.
So, today, when I heard on NPR about Phelps being the “most winningest” Olympic athlete, I had to admit I’m a little tired about hearing about Phelps’ Olympics. In fact, until someone recognizes bronze and silver for actual achievements in each sport, I’ll be the one to count all medals, and Phelps seems to sink into the sea of winners we should accept as one pinnacle in the realm of humanity.
Olympians.
-=T=-
Comment by TIMM — 8/13/2008 @ 6:22 pm