Crazy eights
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- August
- 21
As the Beijing Olympics draws to a close, I herewith humbly submit eight observations gleaned from NBC’s coverage:
1. Be the window, not the image. Too many reporters interject themselves into the interviews or stories they’re doing (although I do have a soft spot for Matt Lauer and Al Roker’s attempts at sports that require close-fitting outfits). Better in general to be the window through which we see the story.
2. Woa, woa, woa, feelings: Reporters should stop asking athletes how they feel about winning/losing and instead ask them what they think about their performance/sport/future, etc. We need to elevate the discourse by appealing to the mind. If a story is truly moving, the reporter doesn’t have to announce it’s moving. A poignant story sings itself, and the heart will follow. Just show, don’t tell….
3. Mother love: While I don’t begrudge the parents of Olympic athletes their 15 minutes of fame, given the sacrifices they’ve made for their children, I do resent the implication in the media that only a parent, especially a mom, can understand the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. You needn’t have reproduced to have empathy.
4. Little explored aspect of Michael Phelps (perhaps only unexplored aspect left of Michael Phelps): When someone is speaking in his presence, he gives that person his undivided attention. It suggests a commendable interest in others. And on that note….
5. There’s still no “I” in team: As I watched the American men’s swim team in their exhilarating relays, I thought of these words from Robert Frost’s poem “The Tuft of Flowers”: ”`Men work together,’ I told him from the heart, ‘Whether they work together or apart.’ ”
6. O Youth, O Beauty: While feminists were no doubt appalled at the Chinese emphasis on pulchritude that has led to robotic hostesses and a Milli Vanilli incident at the opening ceremonies — not to mention NBC’s obsession with women’s beach volleyball — the lure of beauty has cut both ways at the Olympics and in the coverage. Witness the gorgeous men’s swim team on display in their hip-hugging suits; the carping on related blogs about whether Phelps is beautiful enough for his iconic status (I think so); and tennis’ new golden boy, the muy caliente Rafael Nadal (absent, alas, from prime time.) A favorite: The Chevy Traverse commercial that’s part of the new “porn for women” genre in which an attractive man does the unthinkable — housework. You know it’s a fantasy, because no woman would let a man iron her dress. Anyway, next time less Misty, more Rafa.
7. Imagine: What would’ve happened to hyperactive, bullied Michael Phelps had there been no Mrs. Phelps or Bob Bowman? We may shudder to think of this, because apparently one of his teachers had written him off as unfocused. We need teachers with more imagination, who can project what their students can be. And we need to give teachers the broadest range of programs possible so that they can channel students’ interests and talents. I love how America is yelling, “Everybody into the pool!” now that Phelps is the new It Boy. How can we encourage children in athletics when many schools no longer offer even gym?
8. A leave-taking:Â While the coverage has been far from perfect, the Olympics has provided many of us with an armchair vacation in this the summer of our discontent. Thank you.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, August 21st, 2008 at 5:07 pm by Georgette Gouveia.
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