Flip to any NBC affiliated station and you are likely to find some sort of Olympic coverage. Listen long enough (roughly 5 minutes) and you will likely hear mention of the “Olympic spirit”. You’ll probably hear tales of amazing personal trials, agonizing political pitfalls, and exhilarating Olympic appearances…all in the name of the so-called Olympic spirit. Undoubtedly, many of the vignettes you see during the television coverage embody the essence of the Olympic spirit…but do the Olympics themselves embody this seemingly mythical Olympic spirit? Perhaps more to the point, does the American television and internet coverage adhere to the Olympic spirit?
Unfortunately, not really.
For example, take James Blake. Blake is an American tennis player, one who defeated Roger Federer a few days ago for the first time in his career (after losing to Federer 8 previous times) enroute to the semifinals. Blake, for all intensive purposes, has had a great Olympics. On Friday, Blake played Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, where the winner got to play for the Olympic gold medal. Blake ended up losing an extremely close match, but he didn’t do it with the grace or dignity that the Olympic spirit suggests he should have.
Instead, Blake was quoted as saying “I've spoken all week about how much I've enjoyed the Olympic experience, how much I love the spirit of it. That's a disappointing way to exit the tournament, when you not only lose the match, but you lose a little faith in your fellow competitor." Now, Blake wasn’t completely eliminated (he’ll play for the bronze medal later this week), but apparently only the gold is gold is now good enough for Blake (who before was given virtually no shot at beating Federer for a chance to play for any medal at all).
Blake’s indignation with his opponent was a result of a single contested point where the ball glanced off his opponents’ racquet and then went out of bounds. The referee called it out (which was incorrect since replays showed the ball actually glanced off of Gonzalez’ racquet). Blake become agitated because his opponent didn’t acknowledge that the ball hit his racquet…in Blakes’ mind, his opponent wasn’t showing the same Olympic spirit that Blake thought he was owed.
Gonzalez, for his part, claimed he wasn’t sure the ball even hit his racquet, saying “"I didn't feel anything, I mean, it's just one point. There is an umpire. If I'm 100 percent sure about it, I mean, I will give it. But I'm not sure."
Now, we can argue the validity of Gonzalez’ claim until we are blue in the face, but as a fellow tennis player (albeit nowhere near Olympic level), I can assure you that it is possible to play a point out and not actually know whether your racquet hit the ball or not. If it’s happened to me in casual play, I’m sure it can happen in a match where the competitors are routinely hitting 100+ mph serves and returns.
However, the match was a microcosm for what I have noticed throughout the entire Olympics, namely, the Olympic spirit is only present during times when it’s convenient for the athlete (ie, when they are winning by a “safe” margin). After the tit-for-tat arguing by Gonzalez and Blake, Blake went on to sling a few more barbs Gonzalez’s way saying that “Gonzalez was a great player who does everything in his power to win, ‘usually’ within the rules.” Blake concluded his grievance with a final slam, saying “Whatever he wants to say is fine. Whatever is going to get him to have some sleep tonight, then that's fine.”
Essentially, Blake threw a fit after an umpire’s ruling didn’t go his way for a single point in a match he eventually lost. Blake didn’t lose the match on the contested point…but he did (apparently) let that point get into his head to the point that he ended up losing the match. Blake lost sight of the Olympic spirit and let his pride and ego make him look like a bumbling buffoon to the world.
Unfortunately, Blake’s reaction isn’t an isolated incident during the Olympics. By now, you have probably heard about Ara Abrahamiam, the Swedish wrestler who threw down his Olympic bronze medal and walked off saying “I don’t care about this medal. I wanted gold.”
Whether right or wrong, both Blake and Abrahamiam made their respective countries look bad. Both athletes took an achievement (and participating in the Olympics is a great achievement) and turned it into something negative. Both athletes managed to turn the Olympic spirit on its head and squeeze sour grapes out of it. Blake and Abrahamiam should each be ashamed, they’ve each managed trivialize the magnificence of participating in the Olympics with egos and bitterness…which is everything the Olympic spirit is not.
Sources:
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/tennis/news/story?id=3536427&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=reu-wrestling&prov=reuters&type=lgns
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/sports/photos/2008/08/14/abrahamian-medal-080814-392.jpg
http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2008-08/41630893.jpg
Unfortunately, not really.
For example, take James Blake. Blake is an American tennis player, one who defeated Roger Federer a few days ago for the first time in his career (after losing to Federer 8 previous times) enroute to the semifinals. Blake, for all intensive purposes, has had a great Olympics. On Friday, Blake played Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, where the winner got to play for the Olympic gold medal. Blake ended up losing an extremely close match, but he didn’t do it with the grace or dignity that the Olympic spirit suggests he should have.
Instead, Blake was quoted as saying “I've spoken all week about how much I've enjoyed the Olympic experience, how much I love the spirit of it. That's a disappointing way to exit the tournament, when you not only lose the match, but you lose a little faith in your fellow competitor." Now, Blake wasn’t completely eliminated (he’ll play for the bronze medal later this week), but apparently only the gold is gold is now good enough for Blake (who before was given virtually no shot at beating Federer for a chance to play for any medal at all).
Blake’s indignation with his opponent was a result of a single contested point where the ball glanced off his opponents’ racquet and then went out of bounds. The referee called it out (which was incorrect since replays showed the ball actually glanced off of Gonzalez’ racquet). Blake become agitated because his opponent didn’t acknowledge that the ball hit his racquet…in Blakes’ mind, his opponent wasn’t showing the same Olympic spirit that Blake thought he was owed.
Gonzalez, for his part, claimed he wasn’t sure the ball even hit his racquet, saying “"I didn't feel anything, I mean, it's just one point. There is an umpire. If I'm 100 percent sure about it, I mean, I will give it. But I'm not sure."
Now, we can argue the validity of Gonzalez’ claim until we are blue in the face, but as a fellow tennis player (albeit nowhere near Olympic level), I can assure you that it is possible to play a point out and not actually know whether your racquet hit the ball or not. If it’s happened to me in casual play, I’m sure it can happen in a match where the competitors are routinely hitting 100+ mph serves and returns.
However, the match was a microcosm for what I have noticed throughout the entire Olympics, namely, the Olympic spirit is only present during times when it’s convenient for the athlete (ie, when they are winning by a “safe” margin). After the tit-for-tat arguing by Gonzalez and Blake, Blake went on to sling a few more barbs Gonzalez’s way saying that “Gonzalez was a great player who does everything in his power to win, ‘usually’ within the rules.” Blake concluded his grievance with a final slam, saying “Whatever he wants to say is fine. Whatever is going to get him to have some sleep tonight, then that's fine.”
Essentially, Blake threw a fit after an umpire’s ruling didn’t go his way for a single point in a match he eventually lost. Blake didn’t lose the match on the contested point…but he did (apparently) let that point get into his head to the point that he ended up losing the match. Blake lost sight of the Olympic spirit and let his pride and ego make him look like a bumbling buffoon to the world.
Unfortunately, Blake’s reaction isn’t an isolated incident during the Olympics. By now, you have probably heard about Ara Abrahamiam, the Swedish wrestler who threw down his Olympic bronze medal and walked off saying “I don’t care about this medal. I wanted gold.”
Whether right or wrong, both Blake and Abrahamiam made their respective countries look bad. Both athletes took an achievement (and participating in the Olympics is a great achievement) and turned it into something negative. Both athletes managed to turn the Olympic spirit on its head and squeeze sour grapes out of it. Blake and Abrahamiam should each be ashamed, they’ve each managed trivialize the magnificence of participating in the Olympics with egos and bitterness…which is everything the Olympic spirit is not.
Sources:
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/tennis/news/story?id=3536427&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=reu-wrestling&prov=reuters&type=lgns
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/sports/photos/2008/08/14/abrahamian-medal-080814-392.jpg
http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2008-08/41630893.jpg
You can see Olympic spirit when two swimmers qualify for a final and lean over their lanes and hug each other. You can see it when gymnasts from competing countries high-five each other after their events. You can see it on the podiums, in the stands, on the sidelines, wherever... but as you've pointed out, not everbody embraces it. And for the media, "Wrestler Throws Medal" makes for a much juicier headline than "Swimmers Hug." Good topic, fanofreds.
ReplyDeleteLarsen, you are entirely correct, especially in regards to the media. I suppose an ideal world would have a media who thought that headlines such as "Swimmers Rejoice in Other's Victory" would draw more readers than "Wrestler Throws Medal." Sadly, that isn't likely to happen...and with it a bit of the Olympic "spirit" fades away. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that our country has to be embarrassed by a buffoon such as Blake...America is supposed to be a beacon of light for the rest of the world, and this is the image we present? It's a shame...just a shame.
ReplyDeleteGreat work! Site looks great btw!
Class is like anything else. Some have it, some don't.
ReplyDeleteI try not to listen to the coverage. I like to listen to Costas but that's about it. I just prefer to listen to music and watch the games unfold.
ReplyDelete