The Olympics are Finally Here; Are You Psyched?

One of my best buddies said to me the other day, “You know, I’m so American that I don’t even care about the Olympics.” I laughed, because these are the kinds of things that she says to me fairly frequently. At the time, I wasn’t all that excited about the Olympics. It wasn’t that I wasn’t looking forward to them; it was just that I had a hell of a lot more on my plate.

Still, as we get closer by leaps and bounds (only hours away!) to the Summer 2008 Olympics, I guess I am kind of excited. I’m sure I’m not as psyched as lots of die hard sports fans who will be watching the Games like a hawk. But I am looking forward to seeing that torch lit. Just…not for reasons that I think resonate with the majority of Olympics viewers.

Love Those Losers: My grandmother and I started the tradition about ten years ago of watching the Olympics and rooting for the country with the least chance of winning. I’ve always had a thing for underdogs; I don’t know if it’s because they’re so utterly pathetic (really, you should watch just to see their, “Well, I saw that coming,” expressions when they fail horrendously) or because of how awesome it is when the team no one thought would even place gets the gold. Either way, I’ll be keeping a semi-close eye on the teams that the rest of the viewers and participants could care less about. (But I won’t be making any bets. I always lose those.)

Summer Olympics are HOT: I know you know it. Gawker knows it. We know it. This summer there is a delicious smorgasbord across several of the sports, and I do not just mean the competitive spirit. Two of my favorites are USA softball girl Jennie Finch and Australian diving boy Matthew Mitcham. Too bad I’m pretty certain Finch is straight and I know for certain that Mitcham is gay, so I’ve got no chance with either of them. Still, I can gawk and unfairly root for them.

Ride ‘Em, Cowboys (and cowgirls): Okay, so there’s no western equestrian events at the Olympics; it’s all just eventing (don’t worry if you have no idea what I just said). But I have to say, I’m kind of a sucker for the Equestrian events. I love horses. I love dressage (even though it’s hard as hell; let me tell you, I would have never thought that riding a horse around would be SO hard). I’ve had the fever ever since my girl got me into horses, and I don’t want an antidote. What? You don’t understand? Watch Anky Van Grusen from the WEG 2006 Freestyle Final. Even if you know nothing about horses aside from the fact that they are big and they eat as much as they crap, you’ll see just how awesome this is. It will change your LIFE.

Okay, That’s Enough: As excited (which, all things considered, isn’t that much) as I am about the Olympics, really, I’m getting a little tired of hearing about them. The news nowadays is either that they just found out Obama won’t pledge allegiance or, oh no, China’s polluted! Really, I’m sick of it. Yes, China has just as many, if not more, problems than good ol’ USA, and hopefully the Olympics being there will jar it into bettering itself. Yes, people have every right to be upset about the Tibet’s suppression. But can’t we just let the Olympics do what they are going to do and then figure out how to fix this afterwards?

The point I’m making, ladies and gents, is this: love them or hate them, excited, angered, or indifferent, the Olympics are here.