Saturday, February 25, 2006
GOING FOR THE GOLD
Before I forget to ask, "what happened to the old coin-like Olympic medals"?
These thin things that the Torino winners are wearing look like CD's. In fact, that is what I thought they had around their necks the first time I saw them. Like ID discs or something.
The more I look at this edition of the big O, the more I see fundamental changes that somehow bother me.
There is more glitz. There is more hot-dogging. The serious obsession with doping (chasing the Austrians) pervades more levels of the coverage.
The pre-games media setup of a lot of 'stars' seems to have undone them. Many of the Bodes and Jeremys and the rest have flamed out. Too much, too soon?
I suppose the Olympics has been a bit of a circus since it started and the infusion of big big money into it has not helped matters one bit.
When did sports professionals or athletes already getting corporate endorsements qualify to appear?
Maybe that is why the medal has changed. It is a thinner and less durable symbol than it used to be. With a big empty hole right in the middle.
Going, going, gone.
