Bill Simmons’ guide to viewing the Olympics. Favorite part? The shout-out to G’s Netherlands field hockey team.- Me”
“Q: While I understand and sympathize with your scheduling dilemma at the Olympics, I have a suggestion to at least make it slightly easier. You can eliminate certain options by asking one question. “Is this the pinnacle of this sport?” For instance, you can skip all cycling events (Tour de France), anything involving horses (Kentucky Derby), sailing (America’s Cup) and badminton (any July 4th BBQ). Doesn’t create a schedule, but it eases the selection process ever so slightly …
— Keith Gordon, New YorkSG: That helpful e-mail inadvertently helped guide my choices these past 16 days. Some other tips I learned as the month went along …
A. Gravitate toward events that might be won by someone from the host country — like British heptathlete Jessica Ennis, or Sir Chris Hoy in cycling. Just a different level of intensity and passion.
B. Gravitate toward events that include the words “clearly the best.”
C. Always gravitate toward the words, “Swedish women’s handball team” or “Dutch women’s field hockey team.”
D. Don’t talk yourself out of an event simply because it’s a pain in the ass to get there. I knew USA-Canada was going to be an incredible women’s soccer semifinal, especially because of the setting (Manchester), then talked myself out of it because it was two hours from London, which meant either renting a car or staying over a night. I backed out, missed the match … and it ended up being the most exciting women’s soccer game maybe ever. Whoops.
E. There are real reasons that sports like judo, fencing and water polo never took off as spectator sports — you need close-ups, replays and announcers to explain what you’re seeing. You can lie to yourself with the whole, “Look, it’s the Olympics, it’s great to see anyone who’s the best at what they do, right?” Kool-Aid-drinker routine, or you could trust someone like me … and I’m telling you, you don’t have to see EVERYTHING at the Olympics. You only have 16 days. You have to pick your spots. Filling up with the likes of judo and fencing is like having four rolls before Thanksgiving dinner.”
Bill Simmons
August 13 2012
“The London Chronicles, Vol. 7: The Olympic Mega-Bag, Part 1”
This is the most horrible editing job ever done. I never edit photos and this was done in like 10 minutes on paint. Judge me all you want. I don’t give a hoot. hopefully someone takes this idea and makes a legit Hope Cholo and sends me a link! I just really wanted to do this. HAHAHAHAHAHA oh jeeze
