As I thought, most everyone is getting all worked up about President Obama's remark on the Jay Leno show last night. If you weren't watching, Barack was discussing his bowling game and Jay asked how he was doing. The President replied "I bowled a 120 the last time-kind of like the Special Olympics."
Are we that ahem, so offended that our Commander in Chief is forced to backtrack and issue an apology? I would think most adults who are up at that hour and watch Jay would understand the context of the President's remarks. There was a woman on our local news being interviewed who said she had an autistic son who participated in Special Olympics and even she understood that it was a joke and it wasn't intended to be mean or vicious.
One of my best friends is disabled. 100% blind. I tell her she sometimes sees better than I do. She's the kind of person you can have a drink and a good joke with and no one gets their feathers ruffled. She once told me that if "she took offense at every little thing, that would be no way to live. It's the non-disabled community that needs to get over it!"
She's right-and it seems most of the howls are from those folks. I can't even believe some people are making such an issue of this over what was a program on at an adult hour, targeted towards adults. In other words, the family hour was over long ago. I watched the show and didn't find a bit of offense in it at all. Jay is pretty tame-compared to what you might see on HBO and even Letterman can get a bit risque at times.
And of course people are trying to link this non-incident to Chicago's bid. Let's review folks: Chicago out in the first round of voting. And it will have nothing to do with Obama or Jay Leno.
Now you will have to excuse me-while I spaz out on my 18% March Madness bracket.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Enough already-tired of the excuses
It's Saturday---supposed to be my day off. Word of warning...if you see something posted on a weekend here, that means we're fired up. I am here in Philadelphia and supposed to be enjoying myself!
It seems the current fashionable thing to do is to make excuses regarding the Michael Phelps situation. Bottom line: bong=pot. He wasn't smoking Marlboro Lights. Get with it people.
John Meyer of the Denver Post put it best. About a month ago, he wrote a column and said "who cares anymore?" Some people might say "well Maryanne, you are writing about it." No not about him but the people who think it is cool to dance around the subject ("was it pot or wasn't it pot") instead of calling it like it is: a spoiled kid who didn't think the rules applied to him, who in turn has some in the sport community covering for what is clearly illegal actions and saying it's OK on the guise of the question of what was in the bong at the party.
Let's call it what it is folks: pot, weed, marijuana, Mary Jane, whatever. Just don't call Phelps a hero-loser is more like it.
Over and out.
It seems the current fashionable thing to do is to make excuses regarding the Michael Phelps situation. Bottom line: bong=pot. He wasn't smoking Marlboro Lights. Get with it people.
John Meyer of the Denver Post put it best. About a month ago, he wrote a column and said "who cares anymore?" Some people might say "well Maryanne, you are writing about it." No not about him but the people who think it is cool to dance around the subject ("was it pot or wasn't it pot") instead of calling it like it is: a spoiled kid who didn't think the rules applied to him, who in turn has some in the sport community covering for what is clearly illegal actions and saying it's OK on the guise of the question of what was in the bong at the party.
Let's call it what it is folks: pot, weed, marijuana, Mary Jane, whatever. Just don't call Phelps a hero-loser is more like it.
Over and out.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Let's do Denver
Less than four weeks to go...if you are going, how are your plans coming along? Have you decided on going to the Colorado Avalanche hockey game? Or the Denver sports arenas tour versus the US Olympic Training Center jaunt? I however will pass up the 6:30 AM runs thru downtown Denver-that's too early! There is something going on most every night after 5PM. We're going to be taken care of-nicely.
I am getting the impression some folks (attendees/bid committees) are getting a bit smug. Not everyone is like this, but I can see where people are playing cards that don't matter ("Obama is from Chicago so it looks like they have an advantage") to erasing memories of past tragedies ("that was in the past" is the impression I am getting.) I can tell you this: some will get to Denver and have the verbal equivalent of cold water thrown in their faces. They will be getting a wake up call (and it won't be from the hotel front desk.)
Getting "long in the tooth" is probably the major mistake most people make. I saw it happen to New York City's bid-and when Mayor Bloomberg had that meltdown in the lobby of the Raffles in Singapore, that just about sealed their fate even before the vote went down.
The closer it gets to crunch time, the more mistakes will be seen. The weird thing is that the folks involved think it doesn't matter or that no one will see them. You never know who will be around or who will hear what. I know of one IOC member who some years ago made a time bomb of a comment that could possibly affect one current bid city's chances. Funny thing is, he's on the attendee list. Oh the irony!
We're in for some surprises-count on it.
I am getting the impression some folks (attendees/bid committees) are getting a bit smug. Not everyone is like this, but I can see where people are playing cards that don't matter ("Obama is from Chicago so it looks like they have an advantage") to erasing memories of past tragedies ("that was in the past" is the impression I am getting.) I can tell you this: some will get to Denver and have the verbal equivalent of cold water thrown in their faces. They will be getting a wake up call (and it won't be from the hotel front desk.)
Getting "long in the tooth" is probably the major mistake most people make. I saw it happen to New York City's bid-and when Mayor Bloomberg had that meltdown in the lobby of the Raffles in Singapore, that just about sealed their fate even before the vote went down.
The closer it gets to crunch time, the more mistakes will be seen. The weird thing is that the folks involved think it doesn't matter or that no one will see them. You never know who will be around or who will hear what. I know of one IOC member who some years ago made a time bomb of a comment that could possibly affect one current bid city's chances. Funny thing is, he's on the attendee list. Oh the irony!
We're in for some surprises-count on it.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Jock, The Nerd, The Princess, The Principal
We're hitting the road in several weeks. First stop: Philadelphia. Next up is Denver. Finishing it out in Minneapolis. Guess which stop is going to produce the most fireworks: Denver, by far.
In looking at the attendee list for Sport Accord, it appears to be the most stellar group of people in one place for a long time. I can't even remember at an IOC session the caliber of attendees being this prominent. Everyone from the former NFL commissioner to Ted Turner. Plus the associated characters in between. Some people I haven't seen since Guatemala City, and can't wait to see again. The others? I will file them under the heading of I'm Just Not That Into You. Not too many in the latter, a lot in the former (of which I am most grateful.)
I caught the last few minutes of The Breakfast Club tonight. It's a movie I have seen a zillion times before. I had to laugh becuase there is a line in the film that goes something like "you are going to see us as you think we are" and names some of the above characters. I had to start laughing because I could link a name of someone who will be in Denver to the above characters. The Princess has everyone fawning over her. The Nerd has a heart of gold. The Jock is totally larger than life and has lived a thousand lifetimes. The Principal: I just roll my eyes when he walks by-a total waste of space.
It's going to be one heck of a week in Denver. I am looking forward to it. New city-new ideas.
Don't you forget about it.
In looking at the attendee list for Sport Accord, it appears to be the most stellar group of people in one place for a long time. I can't even remember at an IOC session the caliber of attendees being this prominent. Everyone from the former NFL commissioner to Ted Turner. Plus the associated characters in between. Some people I haven't seen since Guatemala City, and can't wait to see again. The others? I will file them under the heading of I'm Just Not That Into You. Not too many in the latter, a lot in the former (of which I am most grateful.)
I caught the last few minutes of The Breakfast Club tonight. It's a movie I have seen a zillion times before. I had to laugh becuase there is a line in the film that goes something like "you are going to see us as you think we are" and names some of the above characters. I had to start laughing because I could link a name of someone who will be in Denver to the above characters. The Princess has everyone fawning over her. The Nerd has a heart of gold. The Jock is totally larger than life and has lived a thousand lifetimes. The Principal: I just roll my eyes when he walks by-a total waste of space.
It's going to be one heck of a week in Denver. I am looking forward to it. New city-new ideas.
Don't you forget about it.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
That Phelps photo
You know the one.
The one that England's News of the World paper published on it's front pages (both on-line and in it's newsstand copies.)
He's apologised, and made the usual "error in judgement" statement to the public.
But what is really disgusting is that people are so quick to give him a pass on this one.
I am just outraged that some people have said because it was an out-of-competition situation, that it shouldn't be an actionable offense and that WADA should stay out of it as well as the USOC (even though USOC has issued it's own statement on the matter.)
Others have said that because he was at a private party of a girl that he was dating at the time, that folks should mind their own business. It's part of life at college they say; school/beer/parties/pot.
Even more have said that just because he had a bong to his mouth, that doesn't prove he was smoking anything. Wrong, bucko. I remember Cheech and Chong doing all that marijuana-related humor and you can't say that they didn't toke it up from time to time-a lot.
Same thing.
WADA can make cases sometimes years after an alleged violation. They took away someone's medal from Sydney just recently. Ditto for Athens. Some got their chain yanked there too.
The USOC and IOC will have a PR nightmare on their hands if they *don't* get involved. Phelps, like it or not should realise he has a responsibility to set an example just because of the mere fact he is a public figure.
If he doesn't want to set an example fine. But once that 8th gold meadal was awarded, he was in that position-like it or not. And his out-of-the-pool behavior no matter if he is competing or not should be scruitinized, all for the fact that he has been held up as an example of what is right with sporting in America.
My message to the USOC, IOC and WADA is to *get* involved, and if necessary, re-test (even though according to everyone he has never failed a dope test) while in competition. And if necessary, start to yank medals.
Shame on you Michael. I expected better-and so did America.
The one that England's News of the World paper published on it's front pages (both on-line and in it's newsstand copies.)
He's apologised, and made the usual "error in judgement" statement to the public.
But what is really disgusting is that people are so quick to give him a pass on this one.
I am just outraged that some people have said because it was an out-of-competition situation, that it shouldn't be an actionable offense and that WADA should stay out of it as well as the USOC (even though USOC has issued it's own statement on the matter.)
Others have said that because he was at a private party of a girl that he was dating at the time, that folks should mind their own business. It's part of life at college they say; school/beer/parties/pot.
Even more have said that just because he had a bong to his mouth, that doesn't prove he was smoking anything. Wrong, bucko. I remember Cheech and Chong doing all that marijuana-related humor and you can't say that they didn't toke it up from time to time-a lot.
Same thing.
WADA can make cases sometimes years after an alleged violation. They took away someone's medal from Sydney just recently. Ditto for Athens. Some got their chain yanked there too.
The USOC and IOC will have a PR nightmare on their hands if they *don't* get involved. Phelps, like it or not should realise he has a responsibility to set an example just because of the mere fact he is a public figure.
If he doesn't want to set an example fine. But once that 8th gold meadal was awarded, he was in that position-like it or not. And his out-of-the-pool behavior no matter if he is competing or not should be scruitinized, all for the fact that he has been held up as an example of what is right with sporting in America.
My message to the USOC, IOC and WADA is to *get* involved, and if necessary, re-test (even though according to everyone he has never failed a dope test) while in competition. And if necessary, start to yank medals.
Shame on you Michael. I expected better-and so did America.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Not So Fast
Tomorrow marks a monumental day in American history, with Barack Obama being sworn in as the first African-American President of the United States. Along with that comes the inevitable specualtion as to his influence (or lack of it) on Chicago's bid.
I will go out on a limb and say what no other Olympic writer dares to do: the bid is dead as a doornail and any so-called "influence" is just that-perceived. Frankly, Barack has a lot more important things to fix. The economy for one. In the grand scheme of things, the Olympic bid in reality should be low on his list of priorities. Sure, he's from Chicago. It didn't take long for the lemmings to jump on the bandwagon and assume that since he is from that area, he automatically supports the bid.
Barack has said that restoring America's standing in the world is one of his main priorities. It's going to take years to undo the damage of the Bush administration. In fact, his influence could possibly do more harm than good. Chicago needs all the friends it can get. Especially in the media, since they seemed to have done well at one thing: alienating those influential people who can make or break your bid or royally ticking off those folks who are six-degrees-of-separation from the major players that will ultimately make that final decision.
It will be a very interesting time in Copenhagen. Nothing is ever certain in the Olympic world. Assuming you have it in the bag is a dangerous path to walk down. And at the end of that path may be some very rough and tough questioning from those same media members you pissed off earlier in your bid.
Change is coming. Possibly from some of the IOC voting members who think another bid has more to offer-as well as more cooperation from all sectors of the sport world.
A slice of humble pie-please.
I will go out on a limb and say what no other Olympic writer dares to do: the bid is dead as a doornail and any so-called "influence" is just that-perceived. Frankly, Barack has a lot more important things to fix. The economy for one. In the grand scheme of things, the Olympic bid in reality should be low on his list of priorities. Sure, he's from Chicago. It didn't take long for the lemmings to jump on the bandwagon and assume that since he is from that area, he automatically supports the bid.
Barack has said that restoring America's standing in the world is one of his main priorities. It's going to take years to undo the damage of the Bush administration. In fact, his influence could possibly do more harm than good. Chicago needs all the friends it can get. Especially in the media, since they seemed to have done well at one thing: alienating those influential people who can make or break your bid or royally ticking off those folks who are six-degrees-of-separation from the major players that will ultimately make that final decision.
It will be a very interesting time in Copenhagen. Nothing is ever certain in the Olympic world. Assuming you have it in the bag is a dangerous path to walk down. And at the end of that path may be some very rough and tough questioning from those same media members you pissed off earlier in your bid.
Change is coming. Possibly from some of the IOC voting members who think another bid has more to offer-as well as more cooperation from all sectors of the sport world.
A slice of humble pie-please.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Ten Olympic New Year's Resolutions (in no particular order)
1. New IOC President. We need fresh blood and Dr. Rogge just isn't cutting it. He's decided to seek another term. Please don't-we've had enough.
2. People who are-shouldn't. There are some folks who just shouldn't be in the Olympic media business. You know who you are. Do us all a favor and get out-or retire.
3. Stop trashing 1996. There were some of us who worked our butts off for your ungrateful a**. Shut up already!
4. Dump the Youth Olympic Games. Bad idea, bad timing, just bad all around.
5. No to a Munich Winter Olympic bid. People have short memories about what happened last time the Olympics were there.
6. Make good on the promises to make the Olympic Games smaller. That vow was made at the IOC session in Prague in 2003. We're still waiting.
7. Find out how much the IOC has lost in the Bernie Madoff scandal. I am hearing it is close to five million---my gut feeling is that it is much higher.
8. End the Samaranch influence. Can someone teach Juan Antonio how to spell R-E-T-I-R-E-M-E-N-T?
9. Dick Pound for IOC President. Yes, I know what happened the last time he ran, but he's a good guy that the IOC needs to keep around.
10. Get Chicago 2016 to answer some questions. Some really tough questions that they don't like to answer. If you are not hiding anything, why the secrecy?
Happy New Year, and how long is it to Copenhagen? We're preparing and we're so there-and can't wait!
2. People who are-shouldn't. There are some folks who just shouldn't be in the Olympic media business. You know who you are. Do us all a favor and get out-or retire.
3. Stop trashing 1996. There were some of us who worked our butts off for your ungrateful a**. Shut up already!
4. Dump the Youth Olympic Games. Bad idea, bad timing, just bad all around.
5. No to a Munich Winter Olympic bid. People have short memories about what happened last time the Olympics were there.
6. Make good on the promises to make the Olympic Games smaller. That vow was made at the IOC session in Prague in 2003. We're still waiting.
7. Find out how much the IOC has lost in the Bernie Madoff scandal. I am hearing it is close to five million---my gut feeling is that it is much higher.
8. End the Samaranch influence. Can someone teach Juan Antonio how to spell R-E-T-I-R-E-M-E-N-T?
9. Dick Pound for IOC President. Yes, I know what happened the last time he ran, but he's a good guy that the IOC needs to keep around.
10. Get Chicago 2016 to answer some questions. Some really tough questions that they don't like to answer. If you are not hiding anything, why the secrecy?
Happy New Year, and how long is it to Copenhagen? We're preparing and we're so there-and can't wait!