Skip to main content

The Pondering 10 - Reasons to Watch Winter Olympics

During the last Winter Olympics in Vancouver, I hashed out some words regarding my true feelings on the event - it wasn't the Summer Olympics. It doesn't have anything to do with the fact that I enjoy the summer season, but I discussed why I felt like the Winter Games paled in comparison to it's summer counterpart for three reasons - true world competition, money, and overall sports (The Olympics: Winter Games Just Not The Same).

Nonetheless, with Sochi being a focal point of the world right now, I figured I would give the Winter Olympics some love and even offer up my top ten reasons for enjoying them. So with that said, here is the latest Pondering 10 - Top Reasons to watch the Winter Olympics.



10. Hoping For Russia to Lose - Sure, the cold war is no longer, and in some respects Russia is an ally today, but it's still fun to have that 80's mindset and hope for their failure. Somewhere, Ivan Drago just sneered at that last comment. 


9. Figure Skating - Don't lie, you watch in anticipation of someone falling. Our society is so messed up. Seriously though, the Olympics are the only time as a red blooded American male that I can admit to actually watching figure skating. There is tremendous skill, balance, and technique involved, and if stereotypes can get past the dopey costumes, they would see it too.


8. Speed Skating - Who doesn't like speed-anything? We can take any sport and pretty much place a clock and timer on it and make it interesting. Speed skating is awesome, especially the gracefulness in which they do it. 


7. Jamaican Bobsledding - As a West Indian child, how can I not root for a neighboring and fellow Caribbean nation in a sport that they have no business being in? Plus, everyone loves an underdog, and well, Cool Runnings was a pretty awesome movie. Feel the rhythm, feel the ride, get on up, it's bobsled time!



6. Slalom Skiing - I don't know about you, but there is something so poetic about watching slalom skiing. Simply poetry in motion. No idea what it is, but it is so cool.



5. Curling - Ahhhhh, it's the cult sport that grips everyone whenever the Olympics come around. Shuffleboard on ice. You just have to love the strategy, the golf-like silence of the crowd, the two people brushing the ice to guide the stones, and that awesome sound when the stones collide. Who hasn't imitated their best curling release? 


4. Learning New Sports - Some were already mentioned above, but, the Winter Olympics are filled with sports you don't normally see on television everyday or really only see once every four years. Something unlike the Summer Olympics. It's a bit enlightening to watch, learn, become educated and mesmerized by the new sports.



3. Death Defying Sports - There are some crazy people in the Winter Games. From the snowboarders, those who luge, and of course, the ski-jumpers, there is a lot of riveting TV from the danger involved.


2. Hockey Matters - I'm sure the hockey enthusiasts are going to get all over me, but the Olympics are the only time casual fans check in on the sport. And for someone who prefers the Olympic product over the NHL product, it's the only time I'll truly be engaged in the sport.


1. Honoring Athletes - As obscure as the sports are, even more unknown are the athletes who participate in them. It's nice to honor our fellow Americans who train for these games, and it's even better to finally give them their due. 

Recently Read Posts

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 5/21/23

3 Up 1. Jim Brown's Legacy - It almost felt like it went without notice (maybe, just for me?), but the great Jim Brown left us this week. A fantastic athlete, with a more prominent voice and presence, Brown reshaped and redefined the standard for using your platform, and of course, expanding your influence.  2. Indoor Farms - As our natural resources became scarce, in some ways, alarmingly damaged (that's another discussion for another day), we've seen some amazing alternatives come about. The presence of indoor farms has been such, especially this precise farm in Compton that has produced 4.5 million pounds of leaves. Most importantly, is a resource within the community that was not available before.  3. $11B Rural Clean Energy Project - I'm sure they'll be some political retort to this, because well, there always is. But bringing clean energy to many rural areas of the United States is very much part of the issue in advancing our clean energy. On the surface, it

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 5/28/23

3 Up 1. Memorial Day Weekend - There are a lot of people who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. It's more than a three-day weekend, or the unofficial start to summer - take some time and appreciate the many lives given to be where we are.  2. Tina Turner - An absolute favorite of mine, Turner leaves us with nothing but awesome songs, memories, and a vibe and energy that was unmatched.  3. Debt Limit Deal - Well, one week later and I think I understand the entire debt limit stuff. Nonetheless, we're giving it an "Up" as it's settled. Crisis averted? Go America.  3 Down 1. Target Rescinds Pride - Our society has become ridiculous. After conservatives railed liberals for "cancel culture", the right has doubled down with threats at Target regarding their Pride Month displays. All of this follows a Bud Light ban. We've officially become a country where we all cancel what we don't like. So much for discourse.  2. Catholic Church in Illinois -

End of the 22-23 Knicks Season

Josh Hart was wide open at the top of the key.  Julius Randle just didn't feel like the target of that pass.  Jalen Brunson turning the ball over felt like an apropos.  Regardless, the end of the 2022-2023 New York Knicks Season is here and it hurts. It definitely hurts. Yet, for the first time in SOOOOOOOOO LONGGGGGG, I have what's called, hope. Hope!  As the youngest team in the NBA Finals, and one that fell just two games short of the Eastern Conference Finals, this team - heck, this organization! - is very much on the right path.  This year was fun, and at the same time rewarding. Next year will surely come with some expectations, many of which have already started, including the latest need for a superstar. We all know how that goes. There is already a lot of dumb mock trades and ridiculous narratives that are driving me nuts.  Regardless, it was a good year. We very much need to say that more.  Here are five really salient thoughts as we head toward the off-season.  Jalen

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 11/15/20

  3 Up 1. Coronavirus Vaccine? - It's here...sort of. Regardless of the semantics, the announcement of a vaccine produced by Phizer that is 90% effective - Flu Shots are 40-60% effective!! - has some serious promise. As the virus hits a second wave here in the Fall, the news coming from big Pharma is starting to make this pandemic feel like it's in the 4th quarter. Regardless, don't be stupid - wear your mask.  2. Michelle Ng - THE first female General Manager in baseball! I just love it. Let's forget that Ng has tons of experience and success throughout her career and has only been given this opportunity at 52 when farrrrrrrrrr more white males with less have been given GM opportunities as early as in their late twenties. No, no, I won't remind you of the inequalities that are at play here. I'm just happy Ng is given her opportunity, and that baseball is progressing forward - something it always struggles with.  3. Chris Nikic - You want an inspiring story? Ho