I think one problem with Olympics commentators

[Oeditpus Rex]

is they're always looking — and seemingly hoping — for the "next" whomever.

Pokerfan's thread about Katarina Witt made me think of this, and I think it's a problem with sports in general, but it seems more evident during the Olympics, or in Olympic-type sports such as ice skating and gymnastics. The "next" Katarina Witt/Dorothy Hamill. The "next" Olga Korbut/Nadia Comenici/Mary Lou Retton. The "next" Mark Spitz.

And, outside the Olympics, a long succession of the "next" Babe Ruth.

I don't have any hard evidence to support this. It's just a sense I get, and I'm just throwin' it out there.

[XemaSab]

1. It's possible

They're also looking for something--anything--to say about a competitor, like that poor girl last night whose shoelaces were untucked.

[billyskank]

2. Hey!

:hi:

[XemaSab]

4. Hello!

I'm back!

How are you?

On edit: I didn't even know Britain HAD an Olympic team. :P

[billyskank]

5. I'm okay!

:D How are you?

[XemaSab]

6. Feeling a bit more chipper after a chai and a scone

Sugar.... yum. :D

Any plans for the weekend?

[billyskank]

7. I was gonna laze around all weekend

:bounce:

I need to clean the place up up course, but that only takes a few hours. And clean the car too if the jet wash is working and not frozen. My car is filthy! You?

Glad you're more chipper. :D

[XemaSab]

8. My car smells like dirt

Literally.

I had a giant sack of potting soil in it that spilled a bit. Other than that, my car looks like the back room of a small, poorly funded science museum. :P

[billyskank]

9. LOL

So what are you up to this weekend? :P

[XemaSab]

10. Probably going birding

The weather's been REALLY nice... 75-80 degrees and sunny.

The snow's melting a bit. All the birds are singing and beginning to think about nesting.

I'm thinking it's a good time to go see what's happening in Lassen County, northeast of here.

I'd also like to take the puppy to the snow before it all melts, or to a lake to see if he's interested in swimming. The planter box needs work, so I'll do some stuff on that. I planted a bunch of seeds yesterday, and I need to plant some more. It's time to clear out the garden so the morning glories, er, vegetables have a place to grow.

Or I could sit around all weekend and goof off on DU! :hi:

[billyskank]

11. Wow sounds good

Just make a little bit of time to goof off on DU!

Particularly when I'm awake :hi:

[XemaSab]

12. Aww.... you're sweet!

:loveya:

I also need to get new tires (tyres to you) so I can take off on a birding road trip sometime before I land a jobby job! :bounce:

Which reminds me, I haven't started a rant thread in a day or so. :P

[billyskank]

13. Oh, rant away

:bounce:























:loveya:

[XemaSab]

14. Done

:D

[billyskank]

15. High quality rant

:thumbsup:

[XemaSab]

16. I don't think it's the best. rant. evah. but it'll do in a pinch

:D

Oh, and the job required working with MS Word, Excel, and that awful database program. Should have put that in as a shout-out. x(

[billyskank]

19. Ack!

MS Office x( :puke:

[DS1]

20. Yes, we do, and the Synchronised Franco-bashing team is the finest

in the world.

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. I just read about that a few minutes ago

in this forum, and I'm sure they said that because she wasn't their choice for "next."

[grace0418]

18. Yeah I was watching when he made that comment.

It was so stupid and he wouldn't stop harping about it. God I want to slap that guy.

[grace0418]

17. I don't know about the other commentators, but Dick Button is a

fucking pervert and a complete ass to boot. Skating isn't my favorite sport in the world or anything but what is up with the comments he was making? It's one thing to make honest criticisms based on a performance. But if he wasn't commenting in a pervy, creepy way about the skater's figure, he was making horrible, rude remarks about how much she sucked.

One skater (from the Ukraine, maybe?) was competing in her 3rd Olympics and the female commentator said something like "Wow, to train for 12 years, every day, in order to compete in the Olympics, you really have to love the sport" to which Dick replied something like "Well, maybe in those 12 years she should've thought more about what she was doing." So basically, if she couldn't become good enough to win a medal, she was wasting her time. You know, for 95% of us, just being good enough to compete in the Olympics is an amazing achievement, much less compete in 3 Olympics. That's sorta the Olympic spirit, is it not?

Like I said, commentators making honest assessments of the athletes is totally fine. I'm not one of those people that thinks everyone should get a trophy. But that asshole takes it way too far.

[KamaAina]

21. Look! I found the next Bode Miller!