But Hu Is The President Of China?

I would say I am "moderately" interested in the 2008 Summer Olympics from Beijing. I haven't heard much buzz in my crowd but am guessing it would not be difficult to find friends who are more eager for tomorrow's big day to arrive and also easy to find some who have even less interest than I.

With almost non-stop TV coverage on NBC for the next two weeks-plus, it will be tough to see everything. The time difference certainly works against convenient prime time broadcasts here in the U.S. and each year that we get deeper into the 21st century it is becomes less acceptable to air sporting events on a delay of several hours.  Sorry, the internet doesn't care what time it is.

One thing I do like about the Olympics every two years is the virtual guarantee that someone I have never heard of today on the eve of the Games will do something that will amaze or inspire or maybe even crush me before the closing ceremony. 

Looking past the LeBron James-Michael Phelps-Tyson Gay-type star athletes I will already be watching, here are 5 other Olympians whose stories make me want to search out their events too.

1. Jake Deitchler, just the third high school wrestler to make an Olympic team. He graduated from Anoka (Minnesota) High School in April, finishing with an 111-match unbeaten streak. What was I doing 4 months out of high school? Planning on getting around to filling out that McDonald's application probably.

2.  Natalie Du Toit, on the South African swimming team, is an amputee. She lost her left leg below the knee in an auto accident. And she swims without a prosthetic limb. Hmmm....seems like a disadvantage to be down a flipper.

3. Dara Torres, the first U.S. swimmer to qualify for - wait for it - five Olympic teams. She set two American records in the 50 freestyle during the U.S. trials. Did I mention she is 41 years old? And kinda hot?

4. Eric Shanteu, on the U.S. swim team, diagnosed with testicular cancer in June and has been undergoing treatment. No word on whether he got the Lance Armstrong surgery. I'm guessing not or he would only swim in circles.

5. Amnat Ruenroeng, released from a Thai prison last year after serving less than two years of a fifteen year prison sentence for burglary. Authorities commuted his sentence after he unexpectedly won the nation's light flyweight boxing crown. I need to find out how he was able to enter the tournament from jail.

Opening Ceremonies air (tape delayed) here on the West Coast at 7:30 tomorrow night. 

Comments

[Edmund F]

USA USA USA USA USA USA!!! Screw Global community and let's kick some commie butt.

And please keep playing John Lennon's "Imagine" in your commercials. See the song is about Peace through the abolition of Government and Religion among other things. The song is as appropriate to the Olympics as Born in the USA was to Reagan.

Done.

[LiLa]

I'm so excited to watch the Olympics! I can't wait to watch the corny inspirational pieces, I'll be sure have my kleenex handy. The swimming competitions are my favorite.

[alisa]

yay! i always look forward to the olympics. and i can't wait to see what wacky antics the chinese opening ceremony will have in store for us.

[Edmund F]

One more thing. They are trying to keep the whole torch lighting thing a mystery. Let's see what mythical Chinese creature could be known to breath fire?? Oh Wait a dragon.

So, yes, the Torch lighting will be a huge dragon breathing fire. On Tibetian Monks doused in gasoline. Sorry to spoil it.

So in conclusion, F Hippies.

[Heather]

Swimming in circles!!! Ahahhahaha. That was the best morning laugh I've had in awhile. Thanks, Bean. I still like you even if you have a freak-of-nature belly button.

[Anthony]

I'll be boycotting the Olympics until they have U.F.C. type events there. I mean, since when is dancing around with a stick and a ribbon a sport???

Lol that out of ALLLLLL the sports, China is worried about winning Ping Pong the most!!!

-Anthony

[John E]

As usual since NBC has been televising these things, it's going to be the worst TV ever. I don't want to sit through 50 minutes of commercials, massively overhyped promos (this is NBC, after all) and human interest stories each hour just to watch 10 minutes of some event I actually want to see.
I mean, screw NBC for bidding over a billion dollars to televise this thing!!! Nobody said they had to spend that much money! Now that they have, it means that we the viewers are sentenced to watch promo after promo after promo after promo after promo after promo advertising NBC's dumbazz fall network shows, not to mention we have to suffer through the weepy, boring human interest stories that they show in order to pull in the "family audience" instead of, you know, actual sports fans who care about these events.
Just sayin'.

[Raul]

My co-workers friend has a son who made it to the Olympics. He is doing the triple long jump. His name is Aarik Wilson.

I want to see the opening ceremony mainly for the fireworks...Them people have good ones

Hu's the President of China

[db]

Will not watch-unless Jim McKay gets on the mic to tell me something terrible just happened...what?...really? in June? ok then...WILL NOT WATCH AT ALL

[Wag]

The summer Olympics are boring and not worth watching. The winter Olympics on the other hand have one of the most exciting events ever and that would be curling.

[Rose]

Screw the TV coverage. I'll be watching online coverage of the events that they never show on TV. Team Handball, baby! Modern Pentathlon! Women's Yngling Sailing! (No, I did not make up that last one.) Oh, poor less-popular-in-America events. I'll show you some love.

[Gdub]

Bean,
I haven't heard you mention the Brazilian twins who are competing in synchronized freaking swimming.
Enjoy.

http://machochip.com/2008/08/bia-and-branca-feres-are-into.php

http://www.mahalo.com/Bia_And_Branca_Feres_Photos

PS On behalf of your Los Angeles blog reading crew, let me be the first to wish you a happy Tater Tot Friday.

[Young, Hot & Asian]

aren't the Olympics some time this year?