XX Olympic Winter Games

[Not Afraid]

Weir, who loves the country so much he taught himself to speak the language, seems awed by Russian style and excellence, but he admits most of his countrymen don't share his instinct to sit back and simply applaud.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...021300722.html

[Prudence]

Guess it's just one more reason for me to burn in hell.

[Gemini Cricket]

Anyone remember the song 'American Soviets' by the group CCCP?
Cold War 80's song.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Fashion pushes all kinds of clothing that make me gag. Doesn't mean I have to like it. Also doesn't mean I'm offended. I'm almost never "offended" by anything. We all have a right to do things that other people wouldn't do.

I'm not offended by the CCCP shirt, I just think it was a lame decision, seeing how he's representing the US. I agree with scaeagles.

I probably would raise an eyebrow at anyone wearing a CCCP shirt at any time, but I do the same to people with ridiculous hair or ill-fitting pants.

[innerSpaceman]

Switching away for a moment from the important Olympics fashion faux-pas ....

Daily Variety reported today that, well, nobody is watching the Olympics. Ratings in the States are miserable. With the games outside the U.S. this time, there's been plenty of network competition scheduled from the likes of American Idol and other heavy hitters.

The lack of compelling storylines in these Winter games is also cited as a reason for the lame levels of viewership. Heheh, note that we've had to talk about nothing but sweatshirt slogans for two days. Yep, nothing worthwhile going on in Turrino.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Yep, nothing worthwhile going on in Turrino.

Bah. Cheeks winning surprise gold in speed skating. Ligety winning surprise gold in downhill/slalom combined. Xiang and Xiang finishing their routine and winning silver after a fall that would have had any normal human being in the hospital. Plashenko's record score in the short program. I've unfortunately had tonight's broadcast of the inaugural snowborder cross event spoiled for me today, but I suggest you tune in as it's got a great finish.

And we're not even half way through the games yet.

[scaeagles]

Topics of important happenings at the Olympics:

Russian doping scandal in the hugely popular choice of fans everywhere biathalon. OK....maybe not hugely popular.

Then there's....um.....the hot chicks on the US women's curling team.

Then there's....um.....the cat fight a-brewing between the US womens and Canadian womens hockey teams. (The US has accused the Canadians of running up scores against their opponents, which may be true considering they are winning 16-0, 12-0, etc, but tone tie breaker is goals scored, so....maybe that's valid)

That may be about it.

OH! I almost forgot! That pillar of popularity Bryant Gumbel has referred to winter Olympians as pseudo-athletes and criticized the games in many ways, one of which being because they are "whiter than a GOP convention". I think Bryant Gumbal is a pseudo news-man being that so few people actually watch him it is possible that he doesn't actually report anything.

[innerSpaceman]

Won't tune in. I've been spoiled on that, too. Other than the Xiang-Xiang thing, there's been nothing dramatic. People winning gold medals is NOT dramatic; that's what's supposed to happen.

That long-shots are winning over favorites is not really that big a deal, dramatically.


Believe me, I'm not complaining that the games is a sporting event rather than a soap opera ... just pointing out that the sporting angle is obviously not enough to lure viewers away from American Idol (or to lure swanksters away from sweatshirt criticism).

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

(or to lure swanksters away from sweatshirt criticism).

We'd be doing that no matter what. That's what we do.

I haven't found these Olympics any more or less dramatic than others. I think the biggest factors are 1) it always suffers when it's outside the US because of the huge time delay and the fact that results are all over the place hours before it airs, 2) American Idol is getting absolutely mamoth ratings, nothing is tearing people away from that, 3) Winter Olympics are always a little weak ratings-wise in the US because US athletes just aren't as dominant as in the summer games.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

That long-shots are winning over favorites is not really that big a deal, dramatically.

So what is your definition of drama?