FIRST TIME IN MY ADULT LIFE I HAVE WATCHED ZERO OLYMPIC COVERAGE

[chief38]

After what has transpired in our Country over the last year or so I lost all my desire to watch the Olympics this year. I know there have to be some athletes that respect our Country and our Flag but unfortunately the bad apples have spoiled the event for me. Sad to say - but I have not watched one single event!

As a matter of fact, I do feel bad for the few patriotic athletes who have to pretend or keep their mouths shut so they are not shunned at the Games, but in this complicated Country we now live in I have chosen to just not watch this time around - too painful. Hopefully things will change in the future, but somehow I doubt that.

 

[eb07]

I won't lie. I watched the shooting competitions. The rest ignored.

 

[crazyphil]

I quit watching pro football 5 years ago when I saw Kappernick take
a knee. Haven't missed it at all.

 

[Imshootin]

Too bad the women's soccer team lost to Canada.
They probably had sore knees from too much kneeling.

 

[Fishinfool]

I have watched some, mostly swimming, gymnastic, and track competitions. I have not seen any non-patriotic activities by any of the American athlete's.

Not saying there are not some, (woman's soccer, for example) but there are "sluggs" in every facet of life, and if you let them dictate what you see, do, and say, well then, they win....

Larry

 

[tripledipper]

Stopped watching any kind of sports except boxing. Still apolitical, they just want to beat up the opponent.

 

[Onomea]

I've watched a fair amount of it. There've been some terrific performances, and not just by our guys and gals. I love the Cinderella stories where some guy/gal no one ever heard of, someone who's been working hizzer butt off in the shadows, emerges to glory.

Like the Italian born in Texas of an American father and Italian mom who was raised by his mom in Italy. Won the 100M dash. Gold. Nobody outside Italy knew who he was. Everybody knows now: Lamont Marcell Jacobs, Jr.

Or the Tunisian swimmer in lane 8 who barely made the 200 free finals and who took the gold, surprising everyone mightily, including himself: Ahmed Hafnaoui

There's an American distance swimmer, 800 and 1500. Not famous. Not until these Olympics anyway. Hangs a bit behind the leaders until the last lap, then sprints past, blowing the field away: Bobby Finke

Good stuff.

Re the loss by the US women's soccer team, while sorry to see our great team lose, too much winning is not good for a team. Like a knife, it loses its edge and becomes dull. This loss will shake 'em up, and they'll come back strong.

Added later: (Re the kneeling and such, while I understand many disagree, it does not bother me. I don't see it as disrespectful, but as in our country's tradition of free speech and individualism. "My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right." "My Country, Right or Wrong" Quote Origin and Meaning)

 

[ancient-one]

When the Olympic Committee's start to act fairly in picking those selected I may watch again. Yes, they have trials and playoff's but politics are too often involved in those selected to participate.

 

[MRB1]

It's been years since I've watched any Olympic event. Munich did it for me, and the new fad of mindless protests insures my no return. It is refreshing to hear of the losses by our embarrassments though.

 

[moosedog]

I must have been ahead of my time. Never watched the Olympics, Football or Basketball. Recently gave up on Major League Baseball too.

 

[trooper2899]

The politicians and commercial media maggots have poisoned 80+ percent - TV audience is down 40+ %

 

[Rustyt1953]

Olympic gold medalist wrestler Tamyra Mensah-Stock: ‘I love representing the US".

She wins the Gold and my respect.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I am looking forward to sports in 2022.............
if the "Bugs" die off and everyone is healty again.

Not really interrested yet, with everything that is going on.
Sports might be at only 10% of my viewing right now.

 

[ZGrand]

I've been watching extensively -- always have. The coverage has been excellent -- five or six broadcasts at any given time. The technical camera work has been impressive -- they even had cameras mounted on the racing bicycles. I just ignore any political demonstrations. The men's and women's 400 meter hurdles were unbelievable.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I support my country in athletic endeavors against opponents both foreign and domestic. If you think about it, an athlete that wins a gold medal for the USA who hates the USA is doing their mission and conscience a disservice, and for that I appreciate their effort . . .

 

[timjake]

I gave up watching the Olympics in 1980 (Moscow, boycotted by many western nations in protest over the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan). In several areas, they were always political during the Cold War (women's gymnastics as an example).

My wife watched the golf competition this year. To me, it was no different than a PGA or European Tour event, since pretty much all the competitors belong to those tours.

 

[67tempest]

I have come across the Olympics flipping channels but just kept on flipping, have no real interest in watching them anymore. I remember as a kid back in the 60's my parents would have the Olympics on literally all day, I had no choice but to watch them. We only had one TV so if you didn't want to watch the Olympics you were SOL.

 

[SMSgt]

None of the summer games. I'm more the winter games type.

 

[alwslate]

I’ve watched a good bit of the Olympics. Lots of good stuff to see. I watch it to view the high level of performance of the athletes. I don’t even think about politics as I watch it. I enjoy getting a close up view of the competitors from all over the globe. The Olympics is about athletic competition and not the government of the country that the athletes represent.

 

[Onomea]

I support my country in athletic endeavors against opponents both foreign and domestic. If you think about it, an athlete that wins a gold medal for the USA who hates the USA is doing their mission and conscience a disservice, and for that I appreciate their effort . . .

Muss, while I appreciate your sentiment, I don't think our athletes who engage in gestures of protest hate our country. I think those who believe they hate our country misunderstand them and their gestures of protest.

I believe that to protest, criticize our own country, is our right and perhaps even our duty as citizens. One can argue time and place for it, of course, and there are good arguments there on both sides. But it is undeniable that an athlete's ability to draw attention, to have the most impact, will never be greater than at the moment of victory.

(And, like with everything else that happens in our country, some people make a living, and their adherents a habit, out of using these incidents as weapons in their relentless culture wars. I say "their culture wars" 'cause they aren't my culture wars. I ain't gonna play. Got better things to do with my time.)