The Olympics: Patriotism vs. Commercialism

By Richie Whitt Thu., Aug. 7 2008 at 8:30 AM

Categories: Olympics

Cool. Just wish he'd carve a Mavs' logo in his scalp once in a while.

Got into a teensy tiny debate last night/this morning over the Olympics.

My friend – like NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol – says there’s nothing like wrapping yourself in the flag and rooting for try-hard athletes who make proud, passionate sacrifices to represent their country. She gets all goose-bumpy and inspired watching the Olympics, the purest sports left on our planet.

I – like Mavs’ owner Mark Cuban -- say the event has deteriorated into nothing more than a giant transparent business, neatly packaged and crammed down our throats as patriotism. I get nauseated at NBC and corporate sponsors like McDonald’s incessantly dictating to us who the “heroes” are, then marketing and exploiting them for profit.

So, what do you say? -- Richie Whitt

Tags:

Dirk Nowitzki, Mark Cuban, Olympics

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You should wite a blog post about a similar list of other posts for people like me. I came across your blog one day while googling, however I'm not really into the blog thing. I don't think it's because I do not enjoy blogs, but probably due to the fact that I'm slightly slow to them.
Really? Someone interview Chris Kaman about being pure competition. What about that WNBA chick who is playing for Russia. It's a sham. You're telling me these 2 are gonna feel a lump in their throat if they win gold when they are on the stand and they play their "new" countries nation anthem? Do they even know the words. If you arent born there, or born to real citizens who happen to be overseas, then you're out. Plain and simple. And this is the last year for baseball? But judo is a sport? How do you win at judo? You're telling me a game where there is always a clear cut winner is going away, but a "sport" where the winner is decided by friggin judgement is staying? You send Greggo over there to cover it, then I'll watch.
Mike - pro sports players don't pretend to be amateurs, like the Olympic athletes do. How do all the NBA stars become unpaid basketball players for a month? The Olympics are not interesting to me because I don't care for many of the sports, strange or not. (I'll make an exception for curling.) I also hate the fact that since it's on the other side of the world this time, there will be very little live. I won't even get into the political aspects. Where's cricket? It's one of the most popular sports in the rest of the world besides here, but it's not in the Olympics. At least they have soccer. It's the MOST popular sport in the universe (except here.) The World Cup is worth getting lathered up about, because it's about the best players in the world fighting for their country's honor. It's warfare without the bullets. The Olympics? Feh. If one sychronized swimmer drowns, do they all have to?
So, the Olympics are "nothing more than a giant transparent business" but the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL aren't? Couldn't you use this argument against all sports? I'm not trying to say that the Olympics are the only pure sporting event left or anything like that but it sure is fun to see the best athletes in the world compete against each other and root for my fellow countrymen (and women).
Have we considered the gambling opportunities?
I think it's a mix of both. What upsets me is when the media still label Olympic competitors as "amateurs." With the exception of the 14-year-old gymnasts, they're really not.
They are 'real' athletes and the best in world at their sport(s). The packaging of it is just media crap. You need to learn that all media are idiots.
I think the Olympics are good for those athletes competing in the lesser-known sports. Those athletes aren't going to get massive endorsement deals or get their face splashed all over the place. They want to be the best in the world at something. In fact, those "weird" events are the ones that I'm most interested in. Due in part to curiosity, but also because I know those athletes really have their heart in their sport.
I think that much of the problems people have with the Olympics is the coverage of the event, not the event itself (I got the peacock in my crosshairs). If we got a chance to see more events in which Americans didn't dominate and were exposed to more athletes and their backgrounds/personal stories, then the Olympics would be better for a lot of people. It would be about the essence of sport, not the red/white/blue. Plus, if you're a parent wanting to maximize your kids' experiences, the Olympics is a perfect way to broaden your kids' horizons. How many another chances are they gonna get to watch taekwondo or team handball or fencing or yachting? They may not interest the mainstream public, but if you're a kid looking for something to be good at, they could be alluring. Okay, and if ifs and buts were candy and nuts... IJS
i just like rooting for the good guys (us) to beat the bad guys (commy's and everyone else who is not from the great u.s. of a.). of course, i have to ignore the fact that 90% of the athletes from other countries live and train in the u.s. year round only to compete for ther "home" country in the olympics. but, let's not let facts get in the way of sports and entertainment. it works for reality tv, why not the olympics?
It's because you're a cynical American who doesn't really follow Olympic sports. But to someone from Germany, or Japan, or Norway, or Kenya, etc. -- where Olympic sports are actually *celebrated*, it's a big deal.
Sad. Sad. Sad. Go Michael Phelps!
A-friggin'-men.
http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0804-AUG_AMERICA