Con v. Less Con - The 2010 Winter Olympics Edition

In an effort to change things up, RTS and I have decided to try a "Point/Counterpoint" style repartee. We called it "Con v. Less Con" instead of "Pro v. Con" as we both are generally malcontents but we do try to see the two sides of every issue. If you're keeping score, "Con" = RTS and "Less Con" = Jan.

Topic Du Jour: The Vancouver Olympics start Feb 12th.

Do you care or should we care?

Less Con:
We should care and here's why: the Olympics represent what the world should be like. It's one of the few times that people put aside their differences and become "sportsman," "teammates," "patriots" personified. While I find the whole prostitution of the International Olympic Committee by big business and bigger governments to be tragic it is more a sign of the times than anything else. Also, to it's credit and it's detriment the Olympics have tried to evolve with the times and we find ourselves watching "The Flying Tomato" pulling a double McTwist 1260 and wondering what that just was but who cares it was cool. Do I watch the medal count? Sure, I want the U.S. of A to do the best but it's more than that. At the end of the day it is about the people, the amateur athletes competeting and for me there is always someone who has taken on whatever tragedy has befallen them in their lives (100x worse than what I will ever encounter) and persevered to compete on the Olympic stage and it gives me hope and makes me feel like anything is possible. What's so wrong with that?

Con:
I guess nothing if you like being the sucker of grandiose marketing schemes. It once was what you allude to with the sportsmen, teammates and patriots concepts. Let’s face it, those days are gone. Those days disappeared when they started letting the pros play basketball and hockey. In addition the 24 hour sports networks have killed the mystique of the Olympics. One used to have to wait every 4 years to watch these sports that can only hold ones attention for a couple of days every 4 years (and that might be stretching it). As it is now I can tune in and see the same snowboarders and aerial acrobatic skiers on ESPN 2, Versus, probably MTV and maybe Spike TV on any given Saturday. In fact I get mad when they are on, because it means Pro vs. Joes or classic college football is not. Even the premiere event, hockey, was done better by the NHL when they had the North America vs. the world concept for the All Star game. When was the last time the NHL did anything better than anyone?

Would you dissuade your child to grow up to be an Olympic athlete?

Con:
No and I would be excited if my daughter achieved that level of success. In my under educated opinion I think there are several levels of Olympian. At the top of the Pyramid you have the Pros. No one is going to argue if you are in the NHL you are not a Pro. Then you have the middle level, the people who do this for a living and make a fair amount of money competing and through sponsorships. Those would be your the skiers, figure skaters, snowbaorders and the like. Then you have the lowest level the bi-atheletes, curlers and snowman builders. That is a medaling sport now right? These people I am guessing don't make squat and only play their respective sports part time. Where I am going with this is yes I would be proud, but lets not pretend the people on TV in prime time are true amateurs as they are portrayed. Since you brought it up, I am curious as to what circumstances you would play the dream shatterer?

Less Con:
Of course I would be excited if my daughter achieved Olympian status. First of all, short of working a pole or a corner she can do no wrong. Second, if she was that dedicated and committed to a sport (even if it is the biathalon) and represented the United States of America I can't imagine being more proud as a father. The thought of her dressed in red, white, and blue and coming out to our national anthem? C'mon. Third, I'm gonna go out on a limb and make the assumption that if she were to be an Olympian she is most likely accomplished in other areas or her life (i.e. probably going to be a doctor etc.) and of course who doesn't want a Harvard trained doctor in the family. I'm not playing dream shatterer under any circumstances, now dream "guider" is a different story.

Is there anything you want to see specifically and what obscure sport might you watch if given the chance?

Less Con:
Specifically I'd like to see the US hockey team win the Gold medal. Not because of trying to recreate the impossible in 1980 but for the shear fact that hockey would peak interest on a national level and give us a shared story for the games. I would also like to see some Curling - my aunt is a National Champion in Curling (no lie) and I love the fact that they're all from the Range and/or Bemidji.

Con:
Way to go out on a limb picking the 2 sports that hit home close to the Minnesota iron range. I am surprised you did not pick the opening ceremony. I want to see the USA win a medal in something we have no business winning a medal in. Something we normally get smoked in such as the previously mentioned biathalon. As far as obscure sport I am going with the ski jump, that takes flat out balls. Like a NASCAR race, I will be waiting for a crash.

One last jab back to the previous question, I have a hard time seeing you committing to driving your daughter everyday in the wee hours of the morning to parade stadium for ice skating practice but I digress.