Winter Olympics 2010

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

In 1968 at Mexico City, Bob Beamon destroyed the long jump record by over 21 inches. The previous holder of the world record, a Soviet names Igor Ter-Ovanesyan said "Compared to this jump, we are as children".

That was how I think Shaun White's opponents must have felt last night. No one is anywhere near this guy. He was simply amazing.

What I find interesting about him is that he's the kind of perfectionist and loner that is usually A) arrogant and B) disliked by his competition. But he seems to be neither.

He doesn't hang or train with any of the other boarders. He retreats to his private half pipe in the mountains, helicopter access only. He comes up with stuff in secret, doesn't share it with anyone (as if anyone could keep up with him anyway), and comes out of hiding to destroy them...and yet everyone seems to like him, and he's totally humble (as humble as one can be when they're inhumanly talented) and doesn't come across as the least bit arrogant.

[Snowflake]

I can't help it, I still miss the old ABC coverage of the Olympics when you got to see everything.

This cutting to mere snippets of events and the tape delays and thousands of commercials. Here's one race, more after this commercial, hi Bob Costas here, more after this commercial......I hate NBC.

I have yet to see anyone actually receive a medal, either.

[blueerica]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

I can't help it, I still miss the old ABC coverage of the Olympics when you got to see everything.

This cutting to mere snippets of events and the tape delays and thousands of commercials. Here's one race, more after this commercial, hi Bob Costas here, more after this commercial......I hate NBC.

I have yet to see anyone actually receive a medal, either.

I do and I don't miss seeing everything. Most of what I want to watch, they're showing. I do wish they had better coverage of the extra stuff that wasn't on USA. What I don't like are all the freaking commercials. Seriously... Ugh.

However, I've seen a number of medals presentations... maybe just lucky timing? They're usually shown (on TV) after NBC's shown the competition for some other event, sometimes two events.

[blueerica]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

In 1968 at Mexico City, Bob Beamon destroyed the long jump record by over 21 inches. The previous holder of the world record, a Soviet names Igor Ter-Ovanesyan said "Compared to this jump, we are as children".

That was how I think Shaun White's opponents must have felt last night. No one is anywhere near this guy. He was simply amazing.

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

What I find interesting about him is that he's the kind of perfectionist and loner that is usually A) arrogant and B) disliked by his competition. But he seems to be neither.

He doesn't hang or train with any of the other boarders. He retreats to his private half pipe in the mountains, helicopter access only. He comes up with stuff in secret, doesn't share it with anyone (as if anyone could keep up with him anyway), and comes out of hiding to destroy them...and yet everyone seems to like him, and he's totally humble (as humble as one can be when they're inhumanly talented) and doesn't come across as the least bit arrogant.

I was noticing how much everyone seems to really love Shaun White. I think it probably has to do with the idealism of progression. Maybe snowboarders are just more into that than anything else. During some of the filler programming, they were commenting on how far snowboarding had come. During an interview, White said something to the effect that what he did in 2006 might get him to the finals, but nowhere else. Everyone is just that much better.

You know, I am just really digging this Winter Olympics - despite some of the crappiness.

[Jazzman]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

What I find interesting about him is that he's the kind of perfectionist and loner that is usually A) arrogant and B) disliked by his competition. But he seems to be neither.

He doesn't hang or train with any of the other boarders. He retreats to his private half pipe in the mountains, helicopter access only. He comes up with stuff in secret, doesn't share it with anyone (as if anyone could keep up with him anyway), and comes out of hiding to destroy them...and yet everyone seems to like him, and he's totally humble (as humble as one can be when they're inhumanly talented) and doesn't come across as the least bit arrogant.

I was thinking about this post as I watched him receive his gold just now, and watching him absolutely beam during the ceremony, I think that it has to be partly because he's just so genuine. How can you not love a guy who is just so happy to be doing what he loves? His joy at boarding and being an Olympian looks truly infectious.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Jazzman

I was thinking about this post as I watched him receive his gold just now, and watching him absolutely beam during the ceremony, I think that it has to be partly because he's just so genuine. How can you not love a guy who is just so happy to be doing what he loves? His joy at boarding and being an Olympian looks truly infectious.

See, but that's just it. One shouldn't be allowed to enjoy the competitive benefits of being a stupidly wealthy megalomaniac loaner AND be likable. I mean, that's just not fair!