Seems to me that the Paris Olympics was a raging success, because people are still talking about it. Usually as soon as the Olympics are over, they’re forgotten. Anyone remember Wyomia Tyus? I’m trying as best I can to remember the name of one of our top contenders from the 1980s, and I can’t. She didn’t win any medals at any of her Olympics, so she’s lost to history.1 Anyway….
The two Big Controversies are of course the male boxers who destroyed the female competition, and the break-dancing. I couldn’t care less about either.
Of course, I’m against men beating up women but since this is just Second Wave Feminism in practice, there’s nothing that can be done about it without disavowing the core philosophy and to quote gold medalist Novak Djokovic, “ain’t gonna happen.”
The break-dancing? Give me a break!
It shouldn’t be an Olympic sport in the first place, so complaining about who competed and who won is next-level crazy.
Break-dancing in the Olympics highlights the utter prostitution of the games, which were supposed to showcase amateur athletes. Amateur means “one who loves.” An amateur participates for the love of the game.
When I was a kid during the Cold War, we capitalists (rightly) complained that our athletes were up against what were in reality professionals. But we won anyway.
To me, the scandal isn’t break-dancing or men beating up women, it’s Steph Curry and LeBron Who Needs No Surname playing. The b-ball team should be our collegians. (And yes, I realize that college athletes are professionals, but that’s another story for another day.)
Our basketball team should be a bunch of kids playing for the love of the game, looking happy, stunned, and grateful on the podium. Curry at least salvaged the reputation of the US men’s team on the podium. LeBron looked stoic, as if he begrudged having to look at that flag, and most of the rest looked slick, bored, and professional. “When do we get to leave?” One or two looked sullen, as if to say, “Why do we have to do this shit?”
And don’t get me started on the women’s team. Diana Taurasi, oy vey! Athletes (and dancers) should give it over to youth. Simple as that.
Personally, I’m happy that Caitlin Clark got a break and was spared having to be associated with this filth- and scandal-ridden spectacle. Honestly, that girl must have a guardian angel looking over her.
Feast your eyes on this lovely young woman. Enjoy her while you can.
STOP THE PRESSES! I remembered it just as I was about to hit the “Publish” button - it was Evelyn Ashford and she did win gold medals. See what I mean about the Olympics and memory?
I didn't watch. Last time I did it was Nadia Comaneci who got my attention, and the attention of millions of others. Twisting herself like a pretzel and defying gravity on the bar... They even wrote a song about her. I bought the album. (What's that? What's an album? Never mind.) That was about five years ago, right?