For Quad God and Country

By Sean McVeigh

I mentioned my apathy toward the Winter Olympics a few weeks ago in “Potpourri Part II.” Upon further review, I’ve decided that apathy just isn’t my style.

Say what you will about the Winter Olympics, but there’s really no avoiding them. NBC has unleashed a promotional blitzkrieg, and it’s paying off. Everywhere you look, there are five rings in your face. That’s fine — I’ve come to embrace it. There’s nothing wrong with getting swept up in a little irrational nationalistic fervor every couple of years.

Some of the events just make sense. Hockey was made for the Winter Olympics. Any event that involves people careening down an icy track on sled-like devices — sometimes with a partner, sometimes solo — well, there is nothing more winter than that. And watching skiers fly down ungodly steep hills gets the blood pumping like few other things on television.

Not all the events are created equal, however. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why song choice or the outfit someone is wearing should have any bearing on a figure skater’s score. I don’t think there should be much subjectivity in sports, especially not in the Olympics. Can’t they just wear a uniform decked out in their country’s flag like everyone else?

But even with my qualms, watching the “Quad God” stumble during his routine was heartbreaking. He was representing America, after all. We all stumbled right along with him — funky outfit and questionable music choices and all.

I love when the coverage jumps from an intense event like alpine skiing or biathlon to curling. It’s incredible that, in the end, the winners of both can say they won a gold medal at the Olympics. One of them took their body to the absolute extreme. The other glided a stone across a hockey rink.

Make no mistake, curling is electric. I have invested far too many hours in it. To be honest, I think it’s my favorite Winter Olympic sport. And yet I still have no idea how the game works, aside from the obvious get-the-stone-in-the-middle objective.

All of these athletes are amazing, regardless of the sport. Lord knows how many of them found their way into some of the more … unique events. However it happened, they have devoted their blood, sweat, and tears to becoming the very best at what they do. That does not deserve apathy. That deserves admiration.

Lately, I’ve been feeling like something of a winter Olympian myself when I try to take my dog for a walk before bed. Each night, the melted snow from the daytime turns into a thin, slick, sometimes nearly invisible layer of ice. Making it out and back without falling takes skill. So far, I think I’ve earned at least a spot on the podium. And the judges must be loving my outfit choices.

At this rate, I may only have to compete in my event for another three months or so before the snow from that one storm a month ago finally melts completely. Until then, I will try to make my country proud each night out on the ice.

USA! USA! USA!