China and Olympics

As the time begins to tick away at the commencement of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, I am both excited and trepedacious. The Olympics is one of my favorite global events, even with all of its commercial imprints, its over the top milking of emotions, its less than stellar competition at times, and its preponderance of attention paid to gymnastics, swimming and track. I love the idea of the Olympics. I love the idea of bringing all the best in world at what they do and letting them do what they do together. But I am also trepedaciosu because this is in China.

One the one hand I want these Olympics to showcase my culture, I want to proclaim to the world that they ignore the Chinese at their own peril, that the little Chinamen are strong, resourceful, and smart. On the other hand I want to see the oligarchs of the communist party fall on their faces, I want to see them lose face, on the biggest stage in the world as the limelight shines on them. Afterall, they had asked for the attention, they have had eight years to prepare for a smoothly functioning event. They have had eight years to right the wrongs and to create a 21st centurey legacy for the future generations of Chinese people. But hey have not done so. Instead, what I am seeing, on the eve of their coming out party is a group old men, scared of what they have wrought, getting cold feet right before their big debut, resorting to decades old totalitairan tricks as the world is ready to celebrate their emergence into world leadership.

It is ironic that they are showing the world that they are incapable of pulling off a showcase event, let alone lead the world in all of its economic, political, and philosophical needs.

I hope the sports turn out to be excellent, because the hosts certainly are not doing their part. They have shown themselves to be niggling cowards of the ultimate sort.

SUPER BOWL Champs

This one was tough. Two teams I don't particularly care for, two coaches I don't care for. Eli is OK, Brady I am jealous of. Well, at least the Giants shut the media's collective pie holes up.

And right on cue, the ESPN schmucks are milking the Manning-Tyree play as the best play ever in a Super Bowl or the best play ever. RIIIIIIGGGHHHHHTTTT. No doubt a great scramble by Manning and an incredible catch by Tyree, but it will have to go a long ways before it supplants The Catch between Montana and Clarke. That was breathtaking. Tyree was just a little lucky to hang on to the ball. Montana and Clarke, just a great play. Manning and Tyree? Great play with a little luck. Thats the tie break.

By the way, didn't the commericals suck bananas?

Remember when Tom Petty was considered cutting edge? When he was breaking new ground in rock and roll? When a new album from the Heartbreakers raised people's expectations? When it mattered? It wasn't all that long ago. Even in the 1990's, TP was doing interesting things. Now he is playing the Super Bowl. It IS pretty cool to see this, but think about this: the NFL went to rock and roll for their Super Bowl half time show in the aftermath of the Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake wardrobe malfunction, i.e. they wanted something safe, clean, and non-controversial. Acts like the Stones, Prince, and TP.

Have our standards of "wholesomeness" come to include rock and roll, the supposed soundtrack of rebellion and the counter culture? Or has rock and roll de-evolved to the point of being synonymous with "Up With People"? I suppose the truth is somewhere in the middle, but seeing Tom Petty at the Super Bowl is blowing my mind right now. He looks old, Christ, his roadie looks old. And where is Benmont Tench? Oh there he is, it was the full head of white hair.

Great, now he is on King of the Hill.