Opining on the Olympics

By Sean McVeigh
My wife is something of an Olympics fanatic. She has had this day circled on the calendar for months. Therefore, I have found myself watching more of the Olympics than I believe I otherwise would. Since the opening ceremony, we’ve been tuned in and are getting more use out of our Peacock subscription than the previous few years combined.
With my newfound zeal for the Olympics, I have a few thoughts — very random thoughts — that I would like to share.
The games are certainly impressive in their size and scope. There is so much going on at all times. I pity the people who are tasked with organizing something of this magnitude. I even pity the folks at NBC who have to sort out what will be on TV, on what channel, and when. My head is spinning just thinking about it.
I know there has already been a lot said about the opening ceremony, so I will not dwell here, but I do want to make one comment: Throughout the hours-long event, Mike Tirico, commentating the display, informed me several times that “the designers of this portion tell us that it represents blah blah blah.” Is that so? I didn’t catch that. It’s never a good thing when you have to explain to the audience what the hell something means because it is so nonsensical that they can’t gather its meaning on their own.
Nothing screams Olympics to me quite like Snoop Dog. From the get-go, the coverage has been a little perplexing. I do not mean to say that it has not been good — it has! — I only mean to say … “Huh?” So many talented former U.S. Olympians and NBC calls up Snoop, Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson for their insights on the games. But who am I to doubt the NBC bigwigs making these calls?
Breakdancing? Really? I haven’t seen a single second of it but … really?
A friend remarked to me, “I don’t understand how these gymnasts figure out they can do all this without killing themselves.” I completely agree. Some of the things they do in the air are awe-some … I find myself literally in awe. I also would be the worst gymnast judge of all time. Every move they make appears flawless and the only “fault” I can ever see is a missed stuck landing. My wife, watching in all her glory, sees the tiniest infractions like toes not being pointed or knees being ever so slightly bent, and announces them to my disbelief only moments before she is vindicated by the announcers parroting her exact thoughts. Why are you even looking at their toes? I, for one, was a bit distracted when they began to soar through the air, spinning like the Tasmanian Devil. 10/10s all around for me.
Can you imagine the traffic in Paris these few weeks? It makes me shiver.
The Olympics takes these sports that most of us would never watch in a million years as stand-alone events and pulls us in hook, line and sinker. This past week, I’ve found myself enthralled in the likes of archery, cycling, table tennis and fencing. That will be the last time I watch any of those until 2028.
Even through all my curmudgeonliness, I can’t help but have a deep admiration for all the athletes competing (yes, even the breakdancers). Once upon a time I was involved in a competitive sport, and I know the mental toll it takes on you having to compete at a high level for a long period of time. Training can be monotonous and grueling. It taxes not just the body but the mind. These men and women have been training for this moment for years, if not most of their lives. I can sit here and jeer about the things that bother me but, shortly thereafter, I will also be cheering these Olympians as they make their countries and their loved ones proud, and leave me in awe.