OK, so I don’t have my own summer Olympics. I don’t even come close to being able to possibly think about maybe competing. But I digress…
Do you remember the opening of ABC’s “Wide World of Sports”? “The thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat… the human drama of athletic competition…” I’m finding those words just as true to describe the experience of watching the Olympics this year, and moreso than the last several summer games I’ve watched.
I’m on an emotional roller coaster, and I don’t even know these guys! I don’t make a practice of watching competitive swimming or gymnastics or any of the sports featured in the Olympics. But here I am, on the edge of my seat watching the US men’s swim team do the impossible and win the 4×100 relay over France. And watching China and the US duke it out in men’s gymnastics. And watching the 33-year-old woman gymnast from Germany, still competing after her first Olympics 16 years ago.
The stories are heart warming. The competition is fierce. This is great TV.
I don’t know what NBC’s ratings are like for the Olympics so far. And I don’t know how many other people are staying up after the late news to watch the live coverage of events happening on the other side of the globe. But this is good stuff.
If you haven’t yet, take some time to tune in the Olympics. They still have a few more days on the air, and there are a lot of big events still to come. When you’re done, come on back here and let me know your thoughts.
Ben Martin is the CEO of THE FATHER LIFE. He lives with his wife and five children in the Rochester, NY, area.
Awesome games! Damn, time zone difference… Went to bed at 1am making sure that the men’s gynmastics team got their bronze… And looking forward to Phelps smashing the gold medals record! -Ben