The tender father, and the gen’rous friend;
The pitying heart that felt for human woe,
The dauntless heart that fear’d no human pride;
The friend of man-to vice alone a foe….
–Robert Burns
Jim Redmond: Tender Father, Generous Friend
Filed under Athletics/Track & Field
Potential Unfulfilled: Samuel Wanjiru, Kenyan Marathon Runner
The world lost a great runner and a remarkable athlete with the death of Samuel Wanjiru, who died May 15 following a domestic dispute. While his survivors bicker amidst allegations surrounding his death, it almost seem as if the real story–the life of Samuel Wanjiru– is being overshadowed by the manner of his death the events that have followed.
Filed under Athletics/Track & Field
Olympic Torch Revealed: Can Someone Pass the Cheese?
Olympic Torch or Cheese Grater? Can you tell the difference?
Organizers for the 2012 Olympic Games revealed the torch for the London Games, and just as with Wenlock and Mandeville, the Games’ official mascots, it leaves much to be desired. Continue reading
Filed under Olympic Fever
NBC Again Victorious With Coverage Rights Through 2020 Games
Money talks.
Five hours ago the IOC announced that NBC had yet again secured coverage rights for the Olympic Games through 2020. The Peacock network (owned by Comcast) somehow managed to fend off both Fox and ESPN (Disney Group) with an entire bid of roughly $4.38 billion.
Tis a sad day for this fanatic. All the months of hoping, praying, and crossing fingers did nothing to help secure a change in Olympic television coverage. Unless I move, I will still be subjected to NBC’s paltry coverage, much of which isn’t live, and much of which is poor in quality with smarmy commentators and ignorant analysts.
It’s obvious that quantity–not quality–is most important to Jacques Rogge and the IOC. So much for striving for a swifter, higher, and stronger quality of Olympics television coverage.
Filed under Olympic Fever
2020 Olympic Shocker! What Does It Mean for the 2020 Games?
It’s been an interesting two weeks for Olympic fans. If Dick Ebersol’s departure last week wasn’t shocking enough, yesterday South Africa announced that it would not be submitting a bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
There had been much hype about South Africa as a potential host for the 2020 Games. Last summer, the country tested the waters when it hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which it did successfully. The next (and most logical) step for the Rainbow Nation would be Olympic host city, right? But yesterday, Gideon Sam, President of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), released a statement in which he said there would be no 2020 bid for the country.
There’s no chance my sentimental favorite, Portugal, will submit a bid. (It just accepted a major financial bailout from the European Union.) It’s unlikely that a U.S. city will submit a bid, especially given the financial crises that city
Confirmed bidder Rome, Italy.
governments, including previous bidder Chicago, face. As of this date, Rome is the only city that has submitted a formal bid. Even amidst the recent disasters in Japan, Tokyo has vowed to proceed with submitting a formal bid. While dozens of other cities have expressed interest, it remains to be seen which of them will have the financial and political stability to move forward with such a mammoth commitment.
I’m still hopeful that Toronto will again submit a bid, though the Queen City must feel much like the Susan Lucci of the Summer Olympic Games, as it’s been repeatedly snubbed when bidding on the Summer Games.
I’m very disappointed that South Africa will not be a contender. I always respected South Africa’s intentions of hosting, and saw it as another opportunity for the country to move forward and shed its still somewhat marred reputation. The FIFA World Cup showed that the country is intent on emerging as a leader and striving for unity and harmony. I certainly hope that SASCOC will consider a bid for 2024.
So where does this leave things for the 2020 Games? Host city hopefuls have a deadline of September 1, 2011 to submit their formal bids. It should to be an interesting summer as the deadline approaches.
To the people of Portugal, I beg you to start working towards 2024, and to the people of South Africa, I encourage you to do the same. To Torontonians, my fingers are crossed that you will not give up and will submit a bid. To Rome, I have one question: That Coliseum of yours will have to undergo major renovation, no? 
Swifter, Higher, Stronger.
Filed under Olympic Fever
Ebersol’s Departure Leaves Future Olympic Coverage in Question
With the news last week of Dick Ebersol’s departure from NBC, my friends know I’m not lamenting over this announcement. Ebersol and his colleagues claimed him to be a pioneer and champion of the Olympics. Yet I, along with many other die-hard Olympic fans, held him responsible for NBC’s paltry coverage, which paled in comparison to Canada’s coverage, especially the most recent 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The news of Ebersol’s resignation excites me, yet leaves me (and other fanatics) worried and unsure of the future. How will Ebersol’s absence affect future Olympic television coverage in the U.S.?
Ebersol’s departure leaves NBC and its parent Comcast in a difficult situation, as the network is currently waging a huge battle with ESPN over broadcasting rights for the 2014 and 2016. Something tells me that without its crusader (Ebersol) on board, the odds are ever more in ESPN’s favor. We will find out which network will emerge victorious when the IOC holds its television coverage auction June 6-7 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
As I wrote earlier this year, ESPN has a lot going for itself. I’d prefer to see a joint bid by ABC and ESPN under the Walt Disney Group, as it would allow more coverage options, unless ESPN is already planning on using ABC stations for any coverage? ESPN’s coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was respectable. They were committed to covering all games, even if the games did not involve the U.S., England, or Brazil. My only criticism was their choice of anchors and commentators. If they secured the broadcast rights to the Olympics, I’d hope they would choose wisely when selecting their team for coverage. There’s nothing worse than mispronounced names and incorrect analysis.
I suppose I’ve always been tough on Ebersol. Journalists have always written of Ebersol’s passion and love for the Olympics, and how he always worked diligently to secure more broadcast coverage for American fans. But I have high standards. I’ve seen how much more coverage residents in Canada and Europe receive. (I have my ways, and they shall remain secret.) Americans receive far less superior Olympics coverage than sports fans in other countries.
Perhaps Ebersol improved American television coverage of the Olympics (when compared to the 1970’s and early 1980’s). But this fanatic wants better, additional coverage, and perhaps his departure from NBC is signaling this needed change. Maybe it’s time for a new network to try its hand at broadcasting the Olympics, and see how it does at striving for Swifter, Higher, Stronger.
Filed under Olympic Fever
Olympians Part of Royal Wedding
Greetings, sports fans and royal wedding watchers!
After two months of exile during which I was buried under my 9-5 job responsibilities, I have emerged! And I did so just in time to take in the wedding of the decade!
there’s no question that Prince William and wife Princess Catherine pulled off a wedding worthy of a gold medal. There’s been lots of talk about the dress, the kiss, the parties, and the grumpy bridesmaid. What about that guest list? I’m not talking about Sir Elton, Mr. Bean, or Joss Stone. I’m talking Olympians! If one includes a few members of the royal family, then that number increases as well. Here we go:
Power Olympic Couple! Prince Albert of Monaco, himself an Olympian, attended with his fiancée, Catherine Wittstock, who is also a former Olympian. Prince Albert competed as a bobsledder in the 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, and 2002 Winter Olympics. Wittstock competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics as a member of the South African women’s 4 x 100 medley swim team, which finished fifth.
Yes, Princess Anne was once an Olympian! She competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics as a member of Great Britain’s equestrian team. No medal for her, but something tells me she wasn’t looking to be on the Wheaties Box (Or British equivalent).
As if announcing his comeback earlier this year wasn’t enough big happenings! Australian Olympic swimmer (and multiple gold medalist) attended Wills and Kate’s wedding. It seems that the Thorpedo did not bring a date (Ahem).
While there were numerous rugby players in attendance, the sport is only returning to the Olympics in 2016 after a 92-year hiatus. Therefore, stars such as Brian O’Driscoll, Martyn Williams, and Mike Tindall have never been to the Olympics.
David Beckham might be one of the faces of British football, but he has never played Olympics football. Neither has Prince William’s first cousin, Zara Phillips (daughter of Princess Anne). However, Phillips hopes to make the 2012 British Equestrian Team.
Although Clive Woodward is currently the Director of Elite Performance for the British Olympic Association, he has never competed in the Olympics.
Filed under Olympic Fever
