I don’t particularly care for anything Olympics-related. Too me it’s a huge waste of time, money and effort. All that fake-patriotic-thrill-of-victory-agony-of-defeat malarkey doesn’t do anything for me.
And at the risk of sounding like the cranky old fart that I have become, my bottom line is an old school take that I prefer my sports with balls as in “If it doesn’t have a ball, then I’m not interested.”
The one Olympic ball-less sport exception that I will entertain involves swimming. That is because all of my kids swam competitively and Maryland boy Michael Phelps really was an Olympic bad ass. So, I’ll concede that swimming makes the cut, but that’s it. No mas! (OBTW, how the hell did Breakdancing ever become an Olympic sport? Can Dwarf Tossing and Paper, Rock, Scissors be far behind?)
Quick note here that in addition to not really caring for the Olympic games themselves, there is a whole other political reason for also disliking the Olympics having to do with the IOC being a money grubbing outfit in cahoots with world dictatorships (click here.) However, I’m not so concerned with all of that, because as Bruce always says “Sooner or later it all comes down to money.” (Video below.)
Amidst all that negativity about the Olympics, nevertheless at Buzzy’s Country Store yesterday afternoon I tuned in to the opening ceremonies and found myself actually enjoying it. Then again, that may have had alot to do with it being in Paris the world’s most picturesque city. Regarding the opening ceremonies along the banks of the Seine River, as Chris Farley would say “That was awesome!” (I just learned that the Washington Post reporters covering the opening day’s events tended to agree with me (click here for their review.) A broken clock you say?)
If you missed any of the show, there are numerous Youtube videos you can check out that will give you some idea how extravagant and cool the whole ceremony was.
Music figured alot in the ceremonies. (Note NBC wouldn’t allow embedding the video of Les Mis to Gojira, but you should be able to view it if you (click here.) The heavy metal French band featured was Gojira (click here.)
I enjoyed it so much that later on at Buzzy’s today, I may just have to tune into some of the Olympic competitions. Orioles play at 4 o’clock. Got some bikers dropping in earlier in the afternoon, so swing by if you’re out and about. Where else can you get your fill of some cold beverages, motorcycles, the Olympics and the O’s?!
Bruce finishes up his European tour tonight in London and then heads back home to the US of A. For a good review of his first London show from the other night (click here.) Note that the money line I quoted above is at the 1:30 mark in the following: