The Sports Widow Summarizes The Beijing Olympics, Le Fin d'Olympics
August 24, 2008 10:46 PM | 0 Comments
So, the torch for The Beijing Olympics is now extinguished, punctuating two exhilirating weeks in which we have witnessed athletes from around the globe performing astounding feats, breaking records and occasionally really flopping in front of millions of spectators. How can I, The Sports Widow, contribute to the commentary? How can I intelligently assess the phenomenon known as The 2008 Beijing Olympics?
The Politically Correct Answer.
The Beijing Olympics united us. We witnessed youthful, determined athletes competing against each other on a level playing field, and it somehow made us all feel connected. It also inspired each of us to greatness.
The Sports Widow Response.
The Beijing Olympics reminded us that many of us are sorry, pathetic, normal people with 2-pack abs, who are lucky we have the strength and tenacity to commute to work on a daily basis. It reminded us that we are flabby, middle-aged, accident-proned, and that life is one long, continuous, arduous Olympics in which there are no bronze, silver or gold medals. I'm just happy when I don't run into the corner of my bed causing a large bruise on my thigh. (Sadly, this recently happened to me for the millionth time in my life.)
The Conspiracy Theory.
The Beijing Olympics were contrived by the National Football League (NFL) to make Football Widows forget about their impending doom. Who can deny it? The Olympics just wrapped up, no coincidence, 1.5 weeks prior to the start of the football season. Those demons had a diabolical plot to lull us into submission by hypnotizing us with gymnastics and synchronized swimming so that we wouldn't start whining too early.
How would you recap The Beijing Olympics? Which theory do you subscribe to?
Life is a contact sport. It's full of Olympic events, so go for the gold.
The Sports Widow
(aka Nan Hall)
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From the Recreation Archives
The Sports Widow Reflects on Sports Palaces and KOs
August 23, 2008 8:12 PM | 0 Comments
Today marked our return to West Seattle, after a 2-week stint in Washington, D.C. and Virginia Beach. As I left Washington, D.C., which is where I met my sports fan husband Bryan, memories swarmed me like mosquitos in a swamp, like mosquitos in Washington, D.C., which at one time was a swamp and, frankly, still acts like one. Ask my children, these mosquitos have unusually large proboscises (I'm too lazy to look this one up, but it means stingers, emphasis on plural).
Beach Volleyball & Riptides: Sports Widow Report
August 20, 2008 5:30 AM | 0 Comments
Last night we watched Women's Beach Volleyball on The Beijing Olympics. The first thing I noticed was that a couple of the women had the letters BRA on their chests. I thought: This is ridiculous; are they labeling their clothing or something? Do the bottoms have the letters UNDERPANTS written across them? But the fact was that one of the teams was Brazil.
In an interview on the Sports Widow Radio show, we talk to a woman, Noreen, who was a Beach Volleyball Widow. When she first learned that her boyfriend, and eventual husband, played 2-man beach volleyball, she thought he just couldn't assemble enough players for a full team.
The Sports Widow's Questions for Michael Phelps
August 17, 2008 12:58 PM | 0 Comments
After spending the entire day at Water Country USA, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, it's only fitting that we concluded the day at my brother Jeff's condo in Virginia Beach unwinding to The Beijing Olympics Men's Swimming Finals. As far as I'm concerned, every night has been the Michael Phelp's show. That guy has got to be an automaton.
If I ever get the opportunity to interview him, I plan to ask for the answers to some eternal swimming-related questions:
Water Country USA Here We Come
August 15, 2008 10:28 PM | 0 Comments
We're spending the night at the Crown Plaza in Williamsburg, Virginia, tonight, because tomorrow we intend to immerse ourselves in Water Country USA. The major selling point for the Crown Plaza, as we surfed the internet hotel offerings, was that it had swimming pools and it was located on Pocohontas Rd, which has historic implications. Not surprisingly, our kids -- 14-year-old Kit; 10-year-old Austin and 8-year-old Caroline are tired of Washington, D.C.'s memorials, monuments and museums. In my opinion, a visit to a waterpark is an excellent way to pay homage to The Beijing Olympics, particularly to swimming contenders such as Michael Phelps. My only fear is that the weather is really nasty today. It's been raining and lightning, so we may not be permitted in the park. This would be what we would call a major bummer, particularly since this is the only time our family had to spring for lodging. We've been staying with family this entire trip.
Peril at Sea: A Recreation Widow Battles the Puget Sound Tides
May 27, 2008 9:36 AM | 0 Comments
We just completed our annual Memorial Day family weekend at Camp Orkila on Orcas Island, which is one of the San Juan Islands on Puget Sound. This is our sixth year of serving on a church committee, which plans this event, along with Sports Night and Advent Night. About 320 parents and families from University Presbyterian Church attend the camp, which is an old YMCA camp. Nothing fancy about the experience: Our family walks on the Anacortes Ferry, looking like human pack mules, and we set up camp in open-faced, three-sided cabins. Our cabin is right on the beach, so we fall asleep listening to the water gently lapping the shore. This kind of water lapping is nice, but there is another type of water lapping, of a ferocious, unpredictable nature, when you're in a rowboat, that is not so nice. This kind of water is the stuff that makes Memorial Day even more memorable.
