A college student at UW-Stout in Menomonie, Wis., Horwath is studying criminal justice and specializes in writing about the sports world of the Upper Midwest and whatever may the big national story of interest at the time. Bryan loves to write about sports and feels that the real curse laid upon a professional sports franchise belongs to the Minnesota Vikings. Are the Winter Olympics over yet? Do I ever have to hear the name "Bode Miller" again? Enough already. These had to be the most boring Olympics in history. Here's why.
Are the Winter Olympics over yet? While flipping through channels the other day, I think I was that the closing ceremonies were going on. Thank God.
Hey, the Winter Games are fun to watch -- if you have a family member or close friend participating.
Otherwise, give me a break. I’d rather watch the Home Shopping Network. Hockey is about the only sport that interests me and the Americans – both men and women – and they didn’t exactly set the world on fire in that sport.
In fact, the men triumphed in only one of the six games they played, while the women, who were expected to contend for the gold medal, finished with a disappointing bronze.
As far as some of the other sports on display, let’s just say I’m not very confident they evoked much of an interest with mainstream American sports fans. For example:
Curling: Don’t they have this game already? I think it’s called shuffleboard, only you don’t have ice. There must be a reason why only a handful of people in this country even know what curling is. I wonder what that might be (rubbing chin)?
Figure Skating: Incredible athletes, mind-boggling body control and precision, attractive women in next-to-nothing outfits. Sounds good so far, right? Sure, but how do they score?
It’s like boxing: great athletes, good entertainment, but how do you win? Nobody knows. All I know is it’s bad when you fall down. Those judges drive me nuts.
Luge: One man, two man… who cares? Couldn’t you just put a crash test dummy in the thing and let 'er rip? Honestly, do you have to do anything except lean back? In that case, we should’ve sent Fat Joe to Torino. He would've taken the gold for sure.
Personally, I lost interest in bobsledding when I got sick of the movie Cool Runnings about 10 years ago, so I think that leaves only skiing.
As far as Skiing, I have to be candid when I say that the only reason for tuning in would be to witness one of those horrific crashes and thank my lucky stars that it isn’t me.
I’m sure snow-bound countries like Norway and Switzerland love the Winter Games because they love winter sports, but Americans don’t care that much about the Nordic combined or the biathlon. By the way, what in the name of Apolo Anton Ohno is the biathlon anyway?
After all the hoopla and Bob Costas monologues, we finished second to Germany (again) this year in the medal count, but we all know those German athletes are so pumped full of steroids they make Barry Bonds look like Dave Chappelle.
So, I guess we did okay if you don’t count hockey. I just don’t care and I probably won’t until they come up with some better events to watch.
Hey, if the Summer Olympics can drop baseball and pick up ballroom dancing, why can’t the Winter Olympics have Chinese Fire Drill Luge or Skating with the Stars?
Yes, I can’t say the 2006 Winter Olympic Games were must-see-TV for this sports fan. Where’s Tonya Harding when you need her?