I’ve been thinking about how I’d cover the Olympics. Short answer? I won’t be, really.
In general, the Olympics are one of those events in which the build-up is often better than the actual product. It’s a spectacle. That point is proven when you hear people talking about how the opening ceremony is one of the best parts of the games. The other day I was speaking to someone about the upcoming games in London. The conversation quickly shirted to the previous games in Beijing. The specific topic? That oh so fantastic opening ceremony. If one of the highlights is the athletes standing around for 4 hours, I’d just assume turn the baseball game on — same thing really.
The Olympics are like a WrestleMania pay-per-view. The hype (see: storylines) generally top the games (see: matches).
What does Vince McMahon do when he realizes the in-match product is lacking? He adds some lovely ladies to the mix. The Olympics have the same thing going for ‘em.
That’s where athletes like Michelle Jenneke come into play.
That’s Jenneke’s pre-race routine. And/or her brilliant way of making herself marketable. In fairness; I’ve seen people do this at the gym before hoping on the treadmill.
Check out the top 5 of the “most searched for” Olympic athletes, as compiled by Yahoo!. Four of them are “Olympics hotties.” That’s what America wants to see — fact.
Here’s my Olympic sports take…
Based on Jenneke and swimmer Stephanie Rice, Australia is going to have a big summer.
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What we really want to see during these games is history. Bringing the baseball connection back into play — that’s what makes the MLB and the Olympics bearable. It’s the history that our culture has attached to each.
Home run totals and individual gold medal counts — that’s the crux of Americans want to focus on. But of course chicks dig the long ball, and dudes dig dancing sprinters.
