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I’ll admit it — I’m a sucker for the Olympics. I love seeing sports I otherwise don’t follow much, and I especially love seeing sports I love that don’t get much visibility otherwise.
Part of this goes back to high school, when I had an older friend who was a Cyclist with a capital C. He was world class cyclist, and worked his butt off to get there. He put in miles of road work in all kinds of weather, and hours and hours working the the local bike shop both to pay the bills and to figure out how to get that last little advantage out of his bike.
When the Olympic qualifying rolled around, he ramped up his training even more and was selected as an alternate.
Sadly, this was 1979.
When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, and the US pulled out of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, my friend was really torn. He understood and even kind of agreed with the boycott, but he also felt like this was probably his best shot at the Olympics and now it was gone.
I lost track of my friend years ago, but I remember his work, dedication, and absolute delight in what he was doing every time I see the Olympics.
God, I wish more members of Congress and Democratic political activists were more like my old friend.
With that in mind, go read Garrison Keillor, and pay close attention to this part:
I still believe in hard work. It’s more fun and it’s a better way of life. I don’t have much patience for Democrats who grab hold of defeat and find vindication there. They long to be a heroic voice in the wilderness, crying out against selfishness and cruelty and going nobly down to defeat, and for their obituaries to say they were visionaries and ahead of their time. I’d rather they were in their time and did the hard work.
My old friend knew lots of cyclists who talked a good game. They knew all about bikes, and knew all about the strategy that goes into the sport. But they didn’t do the work, and so never even had a chance of winning.
Whether you are talking about sports or political activism, doing the hard work beats hardly working, every day of the week.
(photo h/t to anatman)
8 Comments
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Well said, Peterr – thanks
Punishing our athletes and farmers (with grain embargoes) in 1980 really showed the Soviets that they shouldn’t be meddling in Afghanistan.
I thought I remembered 1979 pretty well so I was surprised to see how much racing bikes have changed since then.
An old mentor of mine: “Trying is lying”.
You either do it, or you don’t. pedal to the metal, baby.
It seems to be that most politicians work very hard. So hard in fact, that by the time the campaign is over they feel entitled to some R & R.
I really enjoy watching the spectacle of the opening ceremony. It’s so interesting to see the faces of regular people from different nations and see how they carry themselves and get an idea of each nation’s spirit or personality. I think it’s interesting to see the round faces of the Poles and Ukrainians and understand that these same genes determined the shape of my face! I love the different flags and the different national anthems. It’s also fascinating to see different countries’ names changing as they become more independent and usually more democratic.
And then, when the actual events begin, it’s so fun to root for USA; or if we aren’t in the finals of a particular event, to cheer for other favored countries. Go USA! Go Canada! Go Austria! (Anyone but Germany– they win too many Golds).
Do, or do not.
There is no try.
– JMY
I think the boycott was the right thing to do; sorry for your friend and heartened to hear there were atheletes who even kind of agreed with it.
The irony here is that there are many activists working very hard right now to oppose the corporate giveaway that we call “Olympics”.
I’d have more sympathy for the athletes but for the fact that BC towns just outside of Vancouver are closing their schools due to lack of funds. But hey, those journalists arent going to deport themselves.