As the 2012 Olympic Games move closer and closer to the Closing Ceremonies, I have to step back and look at what I have promised. Yesterday, I gave my opinion on what should not be in the games. I forgot to add a few sports. Well, one. Softball should be back in. Baseball stays out on the "Pinnacle of the Sport" theory. You could argue that it survives under the same rules as soccer, and you may be right, but baseball just doesn't seem right in the Olympics. Maybe that's because Cuba usually wins. When we are sending amatuers and others are sending de facto pros, eventually all doors will open. There is no place for major leaguers in the Olympics, just like there shouldn't be NBA players. So keep it out.
I have also promised more mostly naked athletes, local summer sports wrap ups, a Baltic States Post and a Beach Volleyball Post. No one wants my Baltic States post, so I will keep that one in my back pocket for a slow time. Mostly naked people are coming, but not today. Today is my Beach Volleyball Post. Seems appropriate as the most successful Olympic beach volleyball team (you can't argue that title) won their third and presumably final gold medal last night.
Beach Volleyball has become one of the "it" sports in the Olympics, at least for America. It is up there with swimming, track and field, gymnastics and diving. I say this because beach volleyball, along with swimming, track and field, and diving regularly gets tape delayed to show on NBC's Prime Time show. Not all of it, but various matches throughout the games were shown, in part or in full, in prime time. This is hallowed status in US Olympics. And like the other sports, beach volleyball disappears from most of America's consciousness until the next Olympic games.
There are many reasons beach volleyball has reached such high levels in Olympic coverage. First, and most important, we are good at it. Since Beach Volleyball debuted in 1996, the US has won seven medals, five of which were gold. This is second all time behind Brazil's nine medals, but Brazil only has two gold. It also helped that the biggest name in the sport, Karch Kiraly, won the first gold in Atlanta. Generally speaking, the US audience likes US domination. That is what the Olympics is about, really, no matter what a sometimes preachy blogger may have said a couple days ago. There is a reason judo and badminton and team handball aren't on NBC and can only be found on random affiliate channels. We suck. No one wants to watch us suck, or try to figure out what MNE stands for. (Bonus points if you know.)
Second, it is cool to watch. There is a lot of action, it is relatively easy to understand (as long as you don't get a double touch call) and the athleticism is readily apparent. Also, the time commitment is pretty minimal, with a match usually not lasting more than an hour. All of this makes for a good spectator sport.
Third, skimpy bikinis and cheerleaders. Let's be honest, sex sells. Beach volleyball is the biggest pusher on the block as far as selling sex. Amazingly, they sell the sex appeal of the women, basically ignore the men, but appeal to both women and men. I think the competitors on the women's side have a lot to do with that. They look sexy in their skimpy bikinis, but don't act sexy. They just play hard. So I can admire Marta Menegatti for how she looks in a bikini while my wife sympathizes with her as she cries after a loss. Beach volleyball managed to go the "sexy chick" route without annoying Amertican women. That was a coup.
FInally, and this relates to the first point, Misty and Kerri. They are fun, they seem sincere and they dominate. They make a great story. A great story, plus skimpy bikinis, plus high level of watchability plus US domination equals a ratings bonanza. That is what beach volleyball has. Every four years. Now if they could just figure out how to make people watch outside the Olympics.
In London, you also have the venue. The beach volleyball was played at the Horse Guards Parade, which looks really cool. My Volleyball Insider tells me that American Sean Rosenthal said it was the best venue he has played in. This is in part due to the venue and in part due to the sand, we assume. Packed sand helps jumpers. At least before the competition got going, we assumed the sand was pretty packed. I imagine rain packs it down some, too.
Brazil loves beach volleyball. Brazil has beautiful beaches. I suppose they may have already selected the venue for Rio 2016, but I haven't checked. It won't have the historic backdrop of the Horse Guards Palace, but I think it will probably be pretty cool. And somehing tells me there will be some sex appeal at the Brazil Olympic Beach Volleyball competition. We may hear very little for the next four years, but beach volleyball will be back in Prime Time in four years. Even if Misty is not.
Today's Olympic Story Line - Ashton Eaton. Eaton broke the World Record in the Decathlon at the US Trials last month. He is an overwhelming favorite to win the decathlon in London today, and at only 24 years old, could become only the third man to repeat as decathlon champion (I am getting a little ahead of myself here, but I have work to do, so let's assume he wins today and just go with this.) The decathlon is a fascinating event. The competitors truly want each other to do well. In the long jump yesterday, one of the other competitors had fouled on his first two jumps and was facing a no score if he couldn't get a legal jump in his third attempt. Eaton was encouraging him and the crowd before the third jump and visibly celebrated when his fellow competitor was legal. Also, after the 1500, instead of the winner taking a victory lap, the field takes one together. There is comradery in pain and suffering. The 1500 will be on prime time tonight. Watch to see if Eaton wins. Watch to see if the US goes 1-2. And watch to see a group of men who put themselves through hell every day for four years, and do it again for two more at the games, celebrate the competition and the accomplishment of finishing.
Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and
medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -
1. Great day on the track for the US yesterday. Gold in the Women's Long Jump (Brittney Reese); Gold and Silver in the Men's 110m Hurdles (Aries Merritt and Jason Richardson); Gold and Bronze in the Women's 200m (Allyson Felix and Carmelita Jeter); and Silver in the Women's 400m Hurdles (Lashinda Demus).
2. Not so great day for US Men's teams - Volleyball swept by Italy; Water Polo trounced by Croatia. No medals in either sport.
3. Ashton Eaton and Tray Hardee are 1-2 after Day 1 of the Decathlon.
4. Things are definitely winding down. Prime Time coverage ended at 11:00 last night and NBC Sports Network coverage didn't start until 8:00 this morning. Soon our old friend will leave us again.
5. I have seen the gymnastics in extreme delay. Aly Raisman's parents are insane. They did a good job with their daughter, though. She showed poise, graciousness and sportsmanship in victory and presumed defeat. Odd that she and McKayla Maroney are teammates.
Predictions Wrap Up -
1. Misty goes out golden. Kessy gets the silver...and the pink.
Correct - Misty and Kerri have turned my wife into a vocal sports fan. She cheers for them, distracts herself from the stress, kicks her feet with nervous energy and celebrates right there with them when they win. After the match, watching the post match interview, she cried right along with Kerri. These two have given us a lot over the last eight years. Good luck to Misty and whatever she does in retirement (although I will be rooting against her husband) and to Kerri in her continued career.
What to Watch For -
1. Decathlon Day 2.
2. If you get a chance t see the Men's Beach Volleyball finals, watch Emmanuel Rego of Brazil. Best Men's player in the game today (according to my Insider).
3. Women's Soccer Finals - US v. Japan. Do the women of the US get redemption from last year's World Cup Finals loss?
4. Women's Water Polo Gold Medal Match: US v. Spain
5. Women's Indoor Volleyball Semis: US v. Korea
6. Men's 800m run - Nick Symmonds
7. Men's 200m run - watch the greatest sprinter ever complete a repeat double
Predictions
1. Eaton wins without a world record.
2. Hardee silver in decathlon.
3. Bolt wins 200m.
4. Spearmon gets silver.
5. US women beat Japan in soccer (yes, that is a biased prediction, but Abby won't let us lose this one.)
Fat Old Man Update -
2100 meters in the pool yesterday. There was a young woman swimming in the lane next to me. As far as I could tell she was going about as fast as I was. Maybe a little faster, but I honestly am not sure. We were doing different things, so it was difficult to gauge. I have accepted a lot in my bigger and older body, but I don't like when people in a random recreational pool swim faster than me. I think I pushed it a little, just because she was there.
No comments:
Post a Comment