August 5, 2016: The First OIympics

I thought I was writing this blog long enough to have covered an Olympic games, especially now that they do it every 2 years vs every 4.  I was wrong.  I started writing this blog 2 months after the Winter Olympics ended in 2014.  So as far as this blog goes, this is the first Olympics.

Of course the 1st ever Olympics was back in 1896… 120 years ago.  Nobody remembers that, kind of like the last time the Cubs won the World Series.  What are your Olympic memories?

For the purpose of today’s episode, we’ll keep it to Summer Olympic memories.  My first Olympic memories should have come from 1984 in Los Angeles; I do remember one thing.  I do remember Carl Lewis winning a bunch of gold medals; I don’t remember how many, but the name sticks out.  I think Bruce Jenner was around in those Olympics too; I remember the Wheaties boxes.  I wonder what old Bruce is up to nowadays?  I don’t even remember Jordan and the USA basketball team claiming a gold medal; I have absolutely no recollection of that.  I’m trying to think of the memories that stick out the most…

The one that immediately comes to mind is Greg Louganis, and not for any spectacular performance.  Of course it was the back of his head hitting the diving board on his flip that I remember the most.  That’s kind of crazy for that to be the first thing to come to mind.  More recently I’d have to say the Phelps dominance; my wife pointed him out in the Opening Ceremonies on Friday night to my son, who has been taking swimming lessons since he was 18 months… “that’s going to be you!”

The products are priced at a lower price, without compromising on quality. viagra no prescription canada Each medicine has possible side effects such as headaches, flushing, upset buy viagra on line stomach, visual problem etc. Barley I must say that this is the best and perfect dose for the men who suffer this kind of issue during regular activity. http://appalachianmagazine.com/2017/01/27/beware-can-you-hear-me-now-scam/ generic tadalafil online This particular structure has been developed in order to behave cialis 40 mg as a PDE5 inhibitor, the body chemical that has been generated under the unfavorable body conditions and sexual deficiencies developed by the activity of PDE5 body enzyme. The next thing that comes to mind is the Dream Team of 1992.  The best single team ever assembled.  They dominated the competition.  Ever since they allowed pros to play ball in the Olympics, the USA has ruled.  I remember a lot of the high divers, especially those divers from China that look like they’re 12 years old.  Jumping, twisting, entering the water with barely a splash.  I guess I remember a lot of the gymnastic events too; the girls more than anything.  How these petite figures go flying in the sky off that horse, and stick those landings.  That’s pretty cool.

I remember watching with my family back then, and then trying the different events with my brother and sister.  That was fun.  And now I watch with my family today, and think… there are families watching this all over the world.  That connects us.  The fact that we’re watching the same thing… the fact that the Olympics are world wide, with so many countries and participants; that is really cool.

So my wife has the DVR set to record all of it.  I will try to catch as much as possible, yet, as the opening ceremonies on Friday night wound down, I thought… what time does the Cubs game start?  By the time I flipped it on, it was already 4-0, then it was 7-0, then I was sleeping.  It was a long week.

The next 2 weeks should be fun with all the Olympic activity going on; I’m sure I’ll touch on that topic again in this blog before it’s all said and done.  The little USA flag that my son has will be used a lot during this time period.  Just as he waved it on Friday night during the opening ceremonies, I hope to see it waved many times, in our house, on the TV, and in houses across the country.  It’s the start of the Summer Olympics.  Go USA!