I don’t do these TMI posts from Sean at Just A Jeep Guy every week, but on occasion, I see a topic that I can’t resist. Since I’ve been wanting to do a post on the Olympics, this one was a no brainer. I wanted to answer the question. I hope you enjoy my answers.
THE WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES
1. In general (we’ll get to the politics in a few) do you watch the Winter Olympics?
Yes, especially since nearly everything else on TV has been reruns. I quite enjoy he spirit of the Olympics, not to mention that so many of the athletes are so impossibly good looking.
2. Winter or Summer?
I prefer the summer games, mainly because of men’s swimming, diving, and gymnastics. Though all the Lycra outfits are nice during the Winter Olympics, you just can’t beat a speedo, unless they went back to the original “uniform” of the Olympics, which was to be nude.
3. What are your favorite winter events? Do you follow any of them outside the game?
Though I love figure skating, speed skating will always have a special place in my heart, because Dan Jansen was a hero of mine when I was younger. I will never forget his gold at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics. That being said, I do love watching figure skating. It is one of the few women’s sports that I enjoy almost as much as the men’s competition.
4. Which sport needs to stay and which one needs to go?
I think most of the sports need to stay. The only ones that I have a problem with is the snowboarding events. I don’t think it is an established enough sport to really be an Olympic event. Now Curling, I don’t understand at all, but it has a long history, so I don’t think it should go, no matter how odd or boring it is. I really can’t think of an event that should be gone.
5. Which is the weirdest sport?
Curling is by far the weirdest sport. Some might think the biathlon (skiing and shooting), but most sports have a basis in military training and this is by far the most obvious.
6. What is your POV on boycotting The Olympics by countries and or athletes?
I think that boycotting the Olympics is absolutely contrary to the meaning of the Olympics. It is a time of peace and celebration, so for me, boycotting the Olympics is turning your back on the true spirit of the games.
7. Are you boycotting NBC or any Olympic sponsors?
No, I am not.
8. Do you think boycotts are effective?
No, I think that boycotts are not particularly effective unless it is done on a massive scale, and it’s hard to get enough people to agree on an issue in order to protest it.
9. If you were an athlete what would you do?
This question can be answered on many levels:
A) Would I boycott? No, I would not, and I don’t think it’s fair to,ask athletes who’ve spent years training, to wait another four years, especially if they are at their peak.
B) What sport would I compete in? If I were fearless and in great shape, I’d probably be a ski jumper because it looks like they are flying. Then again, that’s a bit if, because I’m afraid of heights.
C) What would I do? I’d use my charm and Olympic body to make gay sex an Olympic event. Just kidding, but that would be fun. There are lots of stories of bed hopping in the Olympic Villages.
Joe
The Closet Professor 
February 13th, 2014 at 7:32 am
Well, I disagree about boycotts … studies at various universities have shown that even small ones are surprisingly effective, since a small percentage off the bottom profit line coupled to bad publicity troubles any company.
Interesting, Prof … we also read the same blogs !
February 13th, 2014 at 7:46 am
I think boycotts can be effective, but I think that not much is going to change Russian policy as long as Putin is in charge. Media attention and foreign governments can put pressure on them, but I don’t believe boycotts of the Olympics will make a huge difference.
February 13th, 2014 at 8:06 am
Well, hard to say … they certainly have been effective in the past, but perhaps those were larger boycotts. I just know that historically (oops, sorry, prof … you’re the historian) that in the American South and in South Africa, boycotts often started out small and ended up making a big effect.
February 13th, 2014 at 8:19 am
That is certainly true, and of course there are some that are affected. In the case of the American South and South Africa, those protests had wide support. The problem with Russia is that they have some very vocal support for their laws. The thing about the Olympics though is that a boycott will hurt the athletes, and they are there to show strength and unity. I was proud of the IOC for making a statement against Russian discrimination and I think I the future the IOC will look more carefully at sites they choose for Olympic hosts. That to me is worth more than an immediate protest of the Olympics.
When I was writing this post I was thinking of US and USSR protests of the Olympics in 1980 and 1984. Those protests were in my opinion contrary to the spirit of the games.
February 13th, 2014 at 8:32 am
I think you clearly know more than I on this subject, my Prof … and I defer to your genius. Your point about choosing sites makes sense … especially considering China as host.
February 13th, 2014 at 8:35 am
Mainly, I’m just thinking out loud, bun I’ve loved discussing this with you. You always make me think deeper on an issue. Thank you for that.