PACman PROPAGANDA ???

AWED BY THE AWESOME ?

There are people who casually claim “they never vote.”

There are people who boast “they never read.”

And, there are people who say “they never watch the Olympics."

Frankly, I cannot imagine my life without including all three. Rating the Olympics as equivalent to “voting” and “reading” as life essentials may sound like a stretch.  Here’s my take! I am in absolute awe of these extreme athletes; not only do they spend a minimum of 10,000 hours in practice, but their ability to perform under immense pressure at the highest levels of expertise producing performances of impeccable execution is beyond my comprehension. Rarely do we have the opportunity to witness this level of excellence, particularly in multiple sports genres. To watch years of hard work culminate in a five minute competitive performance is incredibly inspiring.  Determination, Tenacity, Perseverance, Endurance, Commitment, Courage, Dedication, Discipline, Sportsmanship and Heart – the most cherished character traits of American ideals - are showcased by the athletes who compete and make it to the Olympic Games. In my opinion, everyone should watch the Olympics and hear the back stories of these outstanding athletes, in order to appreciate the work and sacrifices required to excel. 

My whine about the Olympics?  Why do the announcers constantly criticize and emphasize the negatives throughout the performances? And, why is the emphasis solely on the Gold, while the Silver and Bronze are treated like second bananas?  Participating in the Olympic Games is a major victory, achieved only by the best of the best. Only a handful of athletes qualify in a sport to represent each country at the Olympics, after rounds of eliminating competitions and years of grueling training.  Yet, while I would like to enjoy the elite figure skaters perform their jaw dropping programs, I am forced to listen to Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski give a running negative critique of every movement. When did the world get so hyper-critical and forget to include the deserved praise implicit by these athletes’ presence on the Olympic stage?  The judges are appointed to ultimately judge on technicalities, but the commentators and spectators should be supporting these magnificent athletes. As the married figure skating pair remarked the other night, “mistakes are irrelevant” in relation to their years of accomplishments and the unique honor of competing at the Olympics. While understanding the need to elucidate the technical elements required in each sport, the over emphasis on the negatives over the positives is, sadly, endemic of today’s culture.  It is much too easy to passively sit on a couch or behind a screen, harshly judging others actively involved in striving to succeed. 

Watching Shaun White on the snowboarding half pipe at 31 years old succeeding, falling, and coming back with a record breaking score motivated me to keep dreaming and risking failures in my own life, regardless of the judgments of others.  That is what living is all about!