For the record ...

[ed_rex]

... and I don't say this with any pride or even some political axe to grind.

The truth is, I just don't give a shit about the Olympics — except for the hockey, in which I am compelled to maintain some interest. I might actually watch some of the games.

But about those who ski quickly, or dance forcefully, or sweet with authority ... er, you know, good luck to you and all that, but I'm simply indifferent.

(And yes, I'm aware of the anti-social sociological results that hosting a Games usually brings to said host's city, and the Nazi origin of the torch ceremony &cetera, but I think, when wars are being fought and famines ignored, that those too are pretty small beans.)

I'd like to see the Canadian boys and girls bring home hockey gold and might (might!) watch a game or two, but I am basically, fundamentally, indifferent to the whole kit and kibboodle.

In all likelihood, this has been my final Olympics-related post.

Carry on.

Comments

[tokio.livejournal.com]

I have never seen a Super Bowl or an Olympics. Perhaps it's due to all the hype, but I've never been able to maintain any interest, partially because watching sports or games on a television has put me in a weird place since the first time I saw football.

Not sure what you mean

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

Did you first see football live and so find it hard to watch on television?

Re: Not sure what you mean

[tokio.livejournal.com]

Yes. I'm not sure what's difficult to understand about the sentence, but I'll attribute it to you being Canadian.

(Just kidding.)

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

My general opinions on hockey:

Ovechkin is far and away the greatest thing to happen to hockey since Wayne Gretzky.

Crosby is an insufferable dick.

The Canadian Olympic team screwed over Mike Green by leaving him off the team, and I think a Canadian anti-Ovechkin, pro Crosby bias plays a role in making the Canadian media anti Capitals.

At this point, I feel like I wouldn't be terribly disappointed if the Russians gave Canada a good pounding. I never thought I'd say that, as a Canadian, and I'll probably change my mind once the Olympics start, but for now ....

Sweet, sweet Ovi!

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

I don't think I know the origins of your anti-Crosby feelings, but — as you might remember — I certainly share your love for Ovechkin.

Fortunately, perhaps, I haven't been paying enough attention to the media to have noticed an anti-Capitals bias (mostly, I check cbc.ca to see how Montreal did the previous night and, er, that's about it).

[sinnamongirl.livejournal.com]

I would've forgot about the Olympics except there was a slight mention of them on Days Of Our Lives, and a larger mention in Street Roots, a paper I love, about people with housing issues being pushed out of their homes so landlords could make exorbitant profits by renting these places to tourists.

So. Not too excited, myself.

Days of Our Lives, eh?

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

Boy, does that bring back memories of an unproductive summer!

Re: Days of Our Lives, eh?

[sinnamongirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah... you can watch it online, so the fact my TV doesn't get actual TV reception has screwed me over in that sense.

I started watching the year I was home-schooled, because my best friend wanted me to tape it for her every day since it was on before school got out. I've gone through years and years of not watching it, but it turns out missing years out of their storyline doesn't matter.

sigh.

Re: Days of Our Lives, eh?

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

I take it Victor is still making trouble for everybody, eh?

Re: Days of Our Lives, eh?

[sinnamongirl.livejournal.com]

Oh yes!

But you know what's AWESOME?? They brought back Vivian Allemaine :D Or however you spell it. She's staying with Victor right now, to get revenge on Carly Manning (who, as a character, is pretty easy to despise just for being so dumb). I've realized I really love the evil ones; they get all the funny lines. Victor's been super-cranky lately which is very enjoyable.

[sirs-littleone.livejournal.com]

I usually forget the Olympics are on until I go to watch a favourite TV show and discover half the TV channels have been taken over by a nice variety of sports I don`t really give a crap about.

Oh well, time to get some serious PlayStation gaming in... *grin* I mean, schoolwork. Daddy said no games til homework is done.

Ah! Sweet, sweet pre-emptions

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

A recurring childhood memory was the frustration I felt every CFL season, when I would be randomly deprived of some or all of The Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner Hour, depending on how long the damned game lasted.

[deweyintoronto.livejournal.com]

Maggie gets a giant smile on her face when I lift up her arms and chant "Go Habs, go!" but other than that, her interest in hockey is nil. I hope to correct this problem with an immersion program of watching every single Team Canada game during the Olympics with her. Might as well put Mat Leave to good use.

Otherwise, I have not caught the Olympic spirit and I feel a bit of rage every time CTV runs one of their dorky promo spots. You can have Donald Sutherland's dulcet tones droning on all you want, CTV, nobody gives a shit about luge.

'Nobody give a shit about luge'

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

You should make that your journal's slogan. (Meanwhile, mijopo's comment about Ovechkin reminds me just how much fun it can be to watch good hockey. Despite what I said above, I now suspect I'll be glued to the set for both the Canadian and the Russian games.

[ultrasexified.livejournal.com]

I'll let you off the hook because you're going pro-hockey.
The ladies will take home the gold, and the boys will settle for silver.

Some silver!

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

I hope you'll also let me off the hook for my ridiculous delay in replying to your forgiving response.

Meanwhile, I hope this is one case in which you don't mind having been wrong! (And while I don't regret doing what made me miss seeing the men's win, I still wish it had happened on another day; seeing a hockey game when you already know the final score just ain't as good as seeing it live!)

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

I'm also going to watch only some hockey games. The rest is pretty boring anyway.

[lustfulwonder.livejournal.com]

I love the Olympics - the Winter Olympics especially. In our household we really enjoy watching the more 'obscure' sports that aren't broadcast in prime-time and sometimes not even on the main NBC network (a la Fencing during the Summer games)

Most of the time in my corner of the US (which is, ironically, only a few hours from Vancouver), Hockey is incredibly overlooked in the general sports-watching public, so seeing it on a huge, world-wide stage is always awesome to me.

The fact that my NHL team has 8 players participating this year could also have something to do with it.

Trying to work out ...

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

... which team is yours. Just how many hours south of Vancouver are you? And what is your definition of "a few"?

Re: Trying to work out ...

[lustfulwonder.livejournal.com]

I've been following the San Jose Sharks since I was a kid in the San Francisco Bay Area - I never started following any other NHL team after we moved North, I just love 'em too much. Otherwise, I love following the Portland WHL team, since I have to get my live game fix somewhere!

As for how far from Vancouver? If I recall, it's about a 5-6 hour drive (okay, maybe 'few' isn't the correct word, but driving from the Portland area to Vancouver never felt like a huge drive to me). Not something we'd do every weekend, but I have been dying to go back up to Canada at some point soon.

Re: Trying to work out ...

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

I've been a Habs fan since I was a wee boy-kid growing up outside of Montreal; as much as I remain a fan at all, the C-H will keep my loyalty. But I understand the Sharks are playing some purty hockey these days, so I don't blame you for your predilections.

And yes, in countries like ours, I suppose 5-6 hours counts as "a few". :)