The Olympics are probably one of those occasions that some of us love and hate at the same time. Love to hear the human interest stories and to see our national tallies grow, but can’t wait for it to end so that life gets back to normal and our regular television schedule returns!
I have given up watching the event. Why? I seem to have not been sent the memo that said that we were all to change our attitudes and to castigate and criticise anyone who did not win. We, as arm chair experts, apparently, are not to consider a second or third place as worthy of praise.
Indeed, if someone wins a silver medal, we must at all costs restrain ourselves from saying “Well done!”; but rather point out that they failed to get gold. The more seasoned critics point out how, if we had just clipped our pubic hair, or tweezed our nostril hair, we would have gained on our competition. Less than number one is failure.
I feel such a fool, for as a teacher I stupidly urge my students to have a go. Silly me, I stand in front of them and tell them that it doesn’t matter how well they do, as long as they try. Moronically, I also suggest that they try to have fun along the way. If only I had known that I was blowing against the wind, I would have alerted them to one of the truths of modern life: failure is anything less than number one.
Also, failure means public humiliation and the right of anyone and everyone to offer their opinions and criticisms. Failure means that you must not for a moment falter in the stiff upper lip and instantly done your sack cloth as punishment – punishment for not meeting our false expectations, and bringing reality to bear in the form of not everyone being able to finish first.
The memo must have stated that second or third means that you did something wrong; not that you tried your best, but someone else was better on the day. Every action of your last few weeks, months or every minute since the day you were born will need to be dissected by media on a 24 hour news cycle until the become distracted by another victim.
Why devote years of your life to a sport, give up self indulgence and spontaneity for discipline and restraint, when people who never say no to a second helping, and rarely rise from their bed before 7am will freely gut you at the first moment they sniff vulnerability?
No wonder our children are so apathetic. Why try if you can’t be number one, because who wants to be a second placer and therefore a failure? If you don’t try, you can’t fail, so that makes it all right doesn’t it? We can’t disappoint the public and the media if we remain in our place and try nothing new, aspire to nothing and just maintain our allotted status quo, can we? Winning is so important that we need to consider cheating and manipulating for gain that podium position, right?
Risk? Forget it that is for fools.
I am so glad I finally got the message otherwise I would have continued leading children astray by my urging that it is not whether you win or lose it is how you play the game. I have to get a new tee shirt, Win, Win, Win, or we attack.
I love this post! I am glad to see that it is not only the American commentators who seem to have gotten on this horse. My friends 15 yr old was watching the gymnastics and said to his Mom, “Is that actually hard Mom, I mean do they have to practice? Do they practice a lot?” People do not realise the sacrifices and the effort that goes into these performances. I’m disgusted by Michael Phelps show of very poor sportsmanship…yeah he’s the most decorated guy in the history of the Olympics, but would it kill him to do the right things and shake someones hand after he loses? No, and what an impact it would make. instead, he looks like an Ass and someone is thinking that this is appropriate behavior. I think sometimes commentators need to give the sport a go and show everyone how bad they are at it…
Michael Phelps does seem to not really want to be there. Maybe he has lost his mojo! We have a swimmer, James Magnussen who was full of big talk and youthful bravo, mainly from being a big fish in a little pond, who has failed to perform as everyone expected. He is learning a very big life lesson but the media has been ceaseless in their pursuit of his “failure”. He got a silver and all we hear is what he did wrong, not that hey he got a silver. I mean, what is wrong with being second IN THE WORLD!
I do fear for those two Chinese badminton players who threw their games – I hope they don’t get imprisoned or a bullet to the back of their heads when they go home.
I agree with you 100%, but do think that Magnussen brought some of the criticism on himself by guaranteeing he would win gold, and saying (in an interview on the US broadcast anyway) that if he didn’t win gold he may as well have stayed home.
BUT … as I always say to the critics – “how many silver medals do you have?”
We weren’t impressed when the men’s relay team named themselves “weapons of mass destruction” – turned out to be self-destruction!
“Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall”
Are you talking about me?
No, I don’t want to be on the stick list, lol.
Just a general statement about bragging.
Wise man
Is that lady with the dress flying? o.o
Not sure if I understand your query. I assume she is their coach or chaperone. They are an Australian Olympic swimming team (not this year’s!)
I am so with you on this – what happened to taking pride in the fact that you were good enough to qualify? What happened to pride in all of your hard work, your discipline, your courage? We are not a very generous people, I think.
Maybe the media hypes our expectations too high and then it seems to be the Australian way to knock people down as soon as we have placed them on a pedestal.
One of those annoying poolside commentators said to Magnussan – you don’t have anything to be ashamed of (by coming second). He probably wasn’t until she mentioned it. Ashamed, what a terrible thing to say.
I couldn’t believe how they shoved the mic in his face the moment he was out of the pool and asking him what went wrong. They didn’t even let him get his breath back!
Ha. yes. I think that they should randomly draw the name of someone from the crowd, or of one of the judges, at every event, and have them perform alongside the Olympians, just so we can see exactly how spectacular even the “loser” is, compared to the rest of us who sleep in and drink soda all day. You could have the “mortal lane” at the swimming and running events, you know?
I love the concept of the “mortal lane” – a humbling experience for all!
We’ve been watching some of it here.
Have to say I am loving that it is in London and all the footage of the areas outside the olympic arenas! : )
don’t mind the tv schedules being off…as long as Jeopardy is on! : )
Mr FD has been watching it as it happens which is evening for us, and I catch up in the mornings before work. We play the TV in the library during the day as well, so feel saturated with it. Loved Boris and his high wire trick.