Olympic Sports (and the Oscars)

Sports fans, I just want to say this: I don't know how you do it.

I am not a sports fan. In fact, the Winter Olympics are the only sporting event I watch. And even then, I tend to stick to the boblsleigh, luge, and the skiing. But I got sucked into the plight of the men's hockey team, and watched them play Russia. That was an exciting enough game for me. That was nothing compared to today's gold medal game against Team USA. From the start, I had butterflies in my stomach. Then when Team USA scored that goal with only seconds left...I started to get real anxious. Heart in throat, etc. Luckily Sidney Crosby (who, to me, seems almost legendary) got us the game winner in overtime, and we brought gold home...which is just the way it should be.

I realized that I just can't be a sports fan. It gives me too much anxiety. Hockey is the one team sport I can stand to watch, and while I enjoyed myself, I'm kind of happy that it will be four years before I have to deal with that gut feeling! I'll stick to film and television, where there is not as much anxiety involved.

Due in part to the Olympics, I haven't watched many movies lately. I realized that the Oscars are a week from now, and I have yet to see most of the nominees! My goal is to get to The Hurt Locker before Sunday. The Oscars are more my scene. Yes, there is still the anxiety involved (will James Cameron take Best Director? Who will get Best Picture?), but I generally know when the award will be given, and know when the show will end. It just feels like a different type of anxiety and excitement. Plus, I know the names of most people in the room at the Oscars, whereas with sports, I'm lucky if I know the names of two of the players.

I always tell people that the Oscars are my Super bowl. I make my predictions, then on the night of the show, I sit down with a bunch of snacks, and yell at my TV all night. Last year was one of the best shows for me. I'd seen almost all of the nominees, so I didn't feel lost or out of the loop, and I got most of my predictions right (or was pleasantly surprised when I wasn't right)! Hugh Jackman did a great job hosting, and it was generally a fun, and often touching ceremony. This year, I am not as excited because I do feel a little out of the loop. I have not seen most of the nominees, because I've been so busy with school. That being said, a few days ago the excitement started to build up. I will just have to get online and do some research to decide who I think will win. Right now, I figure James Cameron is a lock on Best Director, and probably Best Picture as well...as for the hosts, I am excited to see how Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin do. It has been awhile since they did it with two hosts, so the change in dynamic will be interesting. I know the last time Martin hosted, it was just after the Iraq War began, so the ceremony was more somber, and he didn't really get a chance to "spread his wings" so to speak. This year, he will likely get that chance, which means more opportunities for great comedy!

Plus, every year around this time I start to fantasize about winning an Oscar. I'd like to write the next great film, and get myself nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Then I'd be able to walk the red carpet, and meet all my favourite actors and actresses, and make the standard hurried, panicked speech when I win. Then I'd proceed to cry my make-up off backstage as a result of being so overwhelmed and happy. This past week I've been fantasizing about taking up bobsledding and winning a gold medal for Canada, but now that the Olympics are all but over, I'm back to dreaming about Oscar glory.

One week away! Who else will be watching the Oscars?

Reading Week!

The long awaited Reading week has arrived. I am looking forward to a week of rest and relaxation before returning to the grindstone.

Which means...

Movies! Lately I've felt like I have been neglecting to watch as many as I really should be. I've just been so busy, and now that Lost has returned, I have another hour of television to watch every week. Several people have been kind enough to lend movies to me, and I'll be trying to get through them all this week. I find that when faced with leisure time, I give myself goals, but tend to get so wrapped up in "doing nothing", that I don't do as much as I always want to. I am also hoping to get to the theatre at least once or twice, since I have not had the time to do so on any real sort of level since last semester.

Of course, the Winter Olympics are on TV as well. My mom is miffed that so many shows are airing new episodes during this time, since she likes to watch all of the events, particularly the skating, curling and the hockey. I like the Winter Olympics more than the Summer Olympics, but I still do enjoy watching some of the events. Particularly the bobsled, downhill skiing and the luge. Therefore, hearing of the death of Georgian athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili left me shaken up. To me, it sounds like that track is too fast, and too dangerous, at least for the luge and skeleton competitors. I saw the footage on the news, and that shook me up further. It is true that they did warn viewers of the content, but I probably could have gone through life without seeing that. I just hope his family was not there to witness the accident, and does not ever see the footage of it.

Since I don't watch much of the Olympics, I can't say I mind that many of my shows are airing new episodes during this time. I do wonder whether it is a good move on the part of the networks though. The Olympics are a pretty big deal, especially since they only come around once every two years, so there will be a huge ratings drop. Why not air reruns for two weeks?

The Opening Ceremonies were the most watched television event in Canadian history. I didn't watch it myself, save for a few seconds here and there when I was upstairs. I think the games will be good for Canada, and I do like to see people feeling Canadian pride. Though I do wonder, why do the Olympics need to come here for us to feel so patriotic? Why can't we feel this sort of pride all of the time?

But here's a question: Will the record the Opening Ceremonies set be broken during the span of the Winter Olympics? I think it probably will be. Canadians are suckers for hockey, so the gold medal games will bring in huge numbers of viewers. I may even tune in for a couple of minutes during the third period!

Happy Reading week everyone!