With the end of the Super Bowl, college basketball heating up and spring training right around the corner, many Americans are probably overlooking something that usually means a great deal to the rest of the world—the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Two hundred and eleven American athletes are being sent to Italy to represent their country in events ranging from ski jumping, to the luge, to curling. But does anyone really care?
My guess is no. I know that you can catch me watching the Georgetown-Marquette game on Feb. 16 and not the Biathlon finals, or the Villanova game on the 19th instead of a round of freestyle skiing. I think I make a safe assumption when I say that the Winter Olympics take a backseat in sports in this country, one of football and baseball and basketball more so than speed skating and cross-country skiing.
Four years ago, the Games were held right here in Salt Lake City, which probably accounted for most of the hype at the time. Now, with the games half a world away, most American sports fans could care less about Michelle Kwan receiving a special exemption to compete in the games.
The one and only reason anyone besides family members and friends will watch our fellow Americans compete in Torino is to see the United States exalted on a worldwide stage. It’s obvious to the rest of the world that as a collective whole, Americans think they are the greatest nation on this earth and that they love to flaunt their accomplishments. In Salt Lake ,the U.S. came in second with 34 medals to Germany’s 36 and this year the few people who watch will only be doing so to see us atop the podium.
Besides skier Bode Miller sharing tales of his crazy partying affecting his performance in big races, and how skiing drunk may be dangerous, I think most of the country would be hard- pressed to find a storyline to make these Olympics worth their time. I bet you didn’t know the U.S. skeleton coach was fired over accusations of sexual assault. What is skeleton anyway?
It’s unfortunate, but true. The Olympics are not what they used to be. Besides the U.S. Olympic Hockey gold in 1980, which was more of a symbolical political battle than one between athletes, there has not been a great storyline or record onslaught to come out of the Winter Games. Hell, the only thing I can recall from four years ago is a crooked French judge who turned the world of figure skating on its head. Thank God.
So from Feb. 10 to 26, sit back and enjoy a curling match or two, perhaps you might even catch a little of the Nordic combined. If you’re anything like me, or the rest of the country for that matter, you’ll be tuning in to watch NCAA basketball and your Hoyas continue their march toward madness. But if Italy’s strict criminal anti-doping laws catch any figure skaters, be sure to give me a holler, because I’d love to see that.
