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Olympic Thoughts

Olympic Thoughts

• The Chinese women deserved to win the gymnastics gold, the Americans simply choked.

• Those Chinese gymnasts have not yet seen 16, I don’t care what their passports say.

• Michael Phelps is impressive because of what he can do under immense pressure (media, expectations, world class competition, etc.). I remember when Bjon Borge was winning all those Wimbledon titles, a competitor said, “We’re all playing tennis out there, but he’s doing something else.” Like Sandy Koufax, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordon, Pele, Jackie Robinson, Joe Montana, Wayne Gretzky: When they were on top of their game, they were untouchable.

• The media are so protective of those they love. We’ve seen Michael Phelps’s mother and sisters frequently, but I haven’t heard even once if he has a father, if he’s living, and so forth. Wouldn’t that be more complete reporting?

• If you’re having trouble sleeping, watch synchronized diving. It’s about as zzzzz……..

• Sorry, I nodded off. The greatest swim relay, and greatest single relay leg I’ve ever seen was in that 4X100 with our anchor catching the French swimmer from behind, who is the fastest in the world. That was the most problematic gold for Phelps of the eight hoped for. The anchor, who came in second in the last two Olympics, said, “I was just tired of losing.”

• Bella Caroli, the great gymnastics coach, is simply great to listen to, all passion without any semblance of political correctness or tact. Bob Costas looks at him like he’s expecting his head to explode.

• I love competition decided by who finishes first, or jumps highest, or picks up the most weight, or touches a wall first. I hate the conspiratorial judging of events such as gymnastics or figure skating, where you always wonder who has the “fix” in. I remember watching trotters race at the Jersey Meadowlands one year. I asked a regular how he handicapped the horses. “I try to figure who has the biggest bribe behind him,” he said somberly.

• If you stop to scratch your nose, you miss the entire fencing saber competition. It ain’t about finesse.

• They have distributed 100,000 free condoms at the Olympic Village. I kid you not. The 80,000 of four years ago proved to be too little, and more were urgently required. Sort of brings new meaning to “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game….”

© Alan Weiss 2008. All rights reserved.

Written by

Alan Weiss is a consultant, speaker, and author of over 60 books. His consulting firm, Summit Consulting Group, Inc., has attracted clients from over 500 leading organizations around the world.

Comments: 1

  • lkutner

    August 14, 2008

    As a former competitive saber fencer, I disagree that it’s not about finesse; it’s just too fast for most people to see, especially on television.

    Then again, you can think of it as whole-body whack-a-mole!

    –Larry

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