Olympics 2012: Everything Must Change

I love the Olympics, lord knows I do. I've mostly enjoyed the games, but as the XXX Olympiad closes, I've got a confession to make: I've been having a hard time with the 2012 edition. I'm even experiencing Olympic fatigue. Yes, that's a thing. For the first time that I can remember, watching the Olympics has felt more like a job than a diversion. Why you may ask? Because I'm one of those weirdos that doesn't want to know the results before I watch an event and technology has made this dang near impossible. Between the Internet, twitter and the insensitive co-workers who spill the beans, I deserve a gold medal for the effort I've exerted trying to avoid event spoilers. This write-up from The Washington Post pretty much sums up my feelings.

"...I thought it would be easy. I’d just unplug. Ignore the Twitter feed. Stay off Facebook. Scroll past the headlines. #Spoileralert, #savethesurprise — all worthy sentiments, but I’ve learned over the past three days that they don’t save you from co-workers, spouses and talking heads telling you exactly what you don’t want to know.

As reporter Tom Jackman noted in the Post’s Olympic Live Blog Sunday night: “In the all-electronic world of today, it was impossible not to know that very big stuff happened in women’s gymnastics and one of the men’s swimming relays — it just floats through the air into your brain.”

Indeed. Olympics XXX: The year suspense junkies learned to surrender and enjoy the show when they already knew the ending."

Obviously I co-sign on all of this except the last part: How can I enjoy the show when I already know the ending? Where's the fun and excitement in that? No, Washington Post writer, I don't want to surrender! That's not what watching sporting events is all about.  Seriously, as wonderful as technology is, the London 2012 Olympics have made me nostalgic for the days when you had no choice but to wait for the tape delay coverage. Even though I was around in 1984 (I was 9), my memories of the Olympics start with the 1988 games in Seoul. Back in those days, we all (Americans, that is) found out the results and cheered together. Now I'm just supposed to be happy with knowing the outcome beforehand and still FULLY enjoy the experience. Dude, that so doesn't work with Track & Field, gymnastics, swimming...heck, the WHOLE DANG OLYMPICS!

OK, I'm being melodramatic, but it's truly the end of an era. Yes, I've managed to watch a few events online, but that hasn't always worked out. Unless you live in the same time zone as the host country, you're basically screwed, if you care as much as I do. If you don't, you're a better person than me.

I still love you, Olympics. But as the song says, everything must change, nothing stays the same. Oh well, let me get my watch strategy together for Rio 2016. Holla!

Stay random,
Jay