Just Shoot Me

Yes. I like the Olympics. Specifically, the winter variety.

Ok, now that the eye rolling that occurs when reading this site has been joined by outright laughter, let me tell you why.

It's different.

Despite the enjoyment I get from watching baseball, football, and college hoops, they do tend to drag from time to time. Hell, this year's Superbowl was one of the worst executed football games ever by both teams. The 2005 MLB Playoffs had more focus on blown calls by umps than on the games themselves. And college hoops, despite still being compelling, have lost a tremendous amount of talent and star power to the NBA with players now going to play professionally directly from high school.

So, why not give the Olympics a chance?

Many of the events are worthless. Nordic Combined? Modern Pentathlon? Cross-Country Skiing? Curling? Not exactly must see TV.

But what's wrong with watching a little luge every four years? Bobsledding is very cool to watch. Speed skating isn't bad. Ski jumping, so long as it excludes Eddie the Eagle, gives me vertigo. And the downhill is usually the highlight of the games. Given I watch these events every four years, why not like it?

What's really gone wrong with the Winter Olympics is the hockey. I used to love Olympic Hockey. The openness of the rink (wider than in the NHL) and the lack of fighting made the game about passing and skating, not the nightly brawl that is the NHL. That team in 1992 with Ted Donato and Ray LeBlanc was probably the last fun team to watch.

It's all been killed now by the advent of "Dream Teams." Now, instead of some pure competition, what we get is marketing for a league no one cares about.

Yes, I'm looking forward to the Winter Olympics. Just bring back the non-NHL hockey players, ok?

Oh. And hope that Michelle Kwan and her "special exemption" falls on her dumpy ass.