Something’s wrong with my TV, namely, that whenever I turn it on, I am not greeted by a bent-over ass sheathed in spandex. The Olympics was a delicious drug — I even took a vacation that first week so I could watch them uninterrupted in small-town Michigan. Four! More! Years! Ugh. I’m clearly not ready to let go, so join me in reliving your own Olympics highlights that may or may not consist of actual Olympic events. For example, some of mine:
Gold: Any time any of the swimmers — especially the winning U.S. Men’s 4×100 relay, pictured — helpfully unzipped the back of a teammate’s high-tech bodysuit. I found this THRILLING. They were always like, "Dude…thanks. I needed that." Not out loud, but you know.
Silver: Misty May-Treanor’s hilariously misguided dance moves down the steps of the Great Wall, with bewildered tourists in the background wondering how a remedially programmed robot got past security. NBC replayed this footage all the time, and why wouldn’t they? (YouTube footage criminally unavailable.)
Bronze: Those people who insisted on riding their bikes alongside the rowers. I can’t be the only one who usually ended up watching them, instead.
Honorable mention goes to fencing (the dramatic black background made it seem like a stage production), Cris Collinsworth’s eminently goofy voice/grin, and that one time Bob Costas said "Ni hao, America" with a completely straight face to kick off the primetime telecast. What about you — is it "They’re finally over" or "Give me back that needle"? Share your personal highlights, below — and we promise, this is the last post.
UPDATE: Wait, ha! Just kidding! Mandi’s writing another one!
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My favorite moment was the behind-the-scenes footage of commentator/gymnastics coaching icon Bela Karolyi’s reaction to one of Nastia Liukin’s near-perfect floor exercise.
Nope. As much as I enjoyed the Olympics, I was ready for them to be done. My favorite moments were: Michael Phelps, the American girls gymnasts winning SOMETHING, and the discovery of one smoking hot girl named Lolo Jones. She is so freaking yummy, and I’m sorry she didn’t fare so well.
I really wanted Bob Costas to say, “Ni howdy,” just once.
I’m feeling Olympics withdrawal, too, just like I do every time. I said on the night of Opening Ceremonies that those 16 days were going to go fast, and they did.
I loved the Michael Phelps saga–during the last race, my heart was pounding hard enough that you would have thought that I were swimming in it. I was happy for Shawn Johnson, finally getting her gold medal, and Nastia Liukin, winning the all-around gold.
A friend of ours remembers seeing Lolo Jones run in state track meets–she’s close to his daughter’s age–and he remembers her being a stand-out athlete. Too bad that things didn’t go the way that she was hoping.
No, because it’s only a month until hockey season starts again!
I was always curious about the bikers next to the rowers….but yeah, I’m have a little bit of withdrawl. I’ll miss those volleyball matches. Sometimes you catch a game here and there on TV, but 2 weeks of straight v-ball is fantastic. I love watching sports that you don’t see all the time. Badminton, Fencing, Shooting. I’ll take them all.
But hey, the regular TV season starts soon. My withdrawl won’t last long.
I miss the Olympics too. I didn’t care what was on, day or night, or who was in it, but I would be watching it. Yesterday night was BRUTAL without my fix.
I’m with you Sarah – the silver lining is that there is only one more month until hockey. Thank God – I’d be going bonkers if it was any longer. I needs me my sports fix!
Withdrawal really is the only word for it. The way they cover the Olympics nowadays makes it a fully immersive 2-week experience. Having the ability to flip between 3 different events on 3 different NBC affiliates (that was the most at one time that I noticed) at the same time is just remarkable. And it was even more fun when the sports were lesser known. I didn’t care if I was flipping between women’s doubles table tennis, crouss-country equestrian, and men’s team handball. I needed to see some of each. Fortunately I’ve been pretty busy so far this week so I haven’t had time to fully register that they’re over.
And here I felt silly for taking vacation so I could stay up late watching gymnastics and not have to go to work the next day. I’m adjusting to the post-Olympics routine, but I’m going through Bela Karolyi withdrawal. Seriously, can’t he commentate something? Like maybe my life? My gold moment is probably him practically tackling Costas out of his chair and yelling “Wow!” a lot during Nastia Liukin’s all-around floor routine.
I miss the Olympics too! I especially miss swimming and diving.
Yes – I’m definitely suffering. And I suddenly have a lot of spare time on my hands.
But it’s not four more years – only 1.5 (500 something days) until Vancouver 2010. You know we’ll all be hooked on that too!
I’m certainly not. I was ready for it to end after the first week. Cue the Debbie Downer music if you want, but I found the Olympics less than compelling.
Junior, just don’t tell us “Feline AIDS is the number one killer of domestic cats,” and I for one will let your lack of Olympic enthusiasm slide.
I am back in the real world as my friends were saying, but I do feel the bigh hole in my life…more than I should!!
My Gold: That relay was awesome!! Micheal Phelps (I have a huge crush!) and the diving was great! and Usain Bolt!
At least Vancouver is in 2 years and I might be able to attend.
I’m in the mixed camp: I’m glad to be able to get back to a normal sleep routine, but I am definitely missing my OSOTD fix (oh Adam van Koeverden, where can I see kayaking now?). My favourite moment was Simon Whitfield making a grand effort in the last 200 metres to try to come from behind and attempt to win the triathalon. It’s hard to fathom losing by 5 seconds after having swam (swum?), cycled and run 55 kms! Can’t wait for Winter Olympics in Vanc!!
Yes withdrawal- there is nothing like staying up until 2 a.m. watching the men’s basketball win the gold!
My tivo looks sad now.
Major withdrawal. I ended my summer internship two weeks early so I could go home the two weeks before grad school started and watch the games at my leisure. Mostly missing the swimming, and praying Aaron Peirsol sticks around for London. Psyching myself up for Vancouver and the Figure Skating. Thankfully I am a political junkie as well so I have the conventions to keep me company before fall tv premiers start and save me from my misery.
Men’s diving!! I enjoyed watching Tom Daley of Great Britain, and the Austrailian who won the gold.
I echo the comments of Winona and MK, Bela Karolyi’s comments were my gold moment. I’d very much like to attend his next gymnastics viewing party, please. I also enjoyed every moment of the swimming competitions and track and field.
Not sad to have Bob Costas off my tv, very sad no more Aaron Piersol. Or handball, which was my weird Olympic sport obsession this year.
I always watched the cyclists riding alongside the rowers waiting for a crash. They never watched where they were going, they had their eyes on the race the whole time. I thought for sure that just once there’d be a 10-bike pileup, and bonus if someone fell in the water.
Sleep, sweet sleep….my job is very happy they are over.
I laughed so hard I peed a little bit with the mention of bicyclists at the rowing venue. I thought I’d be the only one waiting for the impending pile up of wheels,legs and boat shoes.
Just an FYI – the people riding their bikes beside the rowers were their coaches.
Thankfully, the Olympics eased me off my addiction with a steady supply of rhythmic gymnastics, synchro swimming and diving. A good cool down. Now if I can just stop hearing HENRY!!!! EDWARD!!!! in my sleep, everything will be great.
I’m really surprised NBC hasn’t developed a prime time show set at an Olympic training facility, seems like a natural.
I’m a sorry case. I watched EVERYTHING!
Annie, you only have to wait 2 short years! The Winter Games in Vancouver are going to be awesome. You can watch spandex-covered asses shushing down a ski hill instead!
I too am in withdrawl! My boss and I talked about swimming and gymnastics everyday!! Michael Phelps, Aaron Perisol, Ryan Lochte, Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin…I miss all of them!! I have nothing to watch and hardly know what to do with myself. I can’t wait for the Winter Olympics; we might be able to go! Either way, I’m sure I will be hooked on that just as much as I was hooked on this!
Yes, I’ve got a pretty bad case of the shakes right now. At least I don’t have to tell Bob, Rowdy, Elfi-Al-Tim, Cynthia, or the twin Andreas of evil to shut up every two minutes or so.
Definitely in withdraw.
I’m avoiding cold turkey. I still have three Olympic sites on my bookmarks bar, check Olympics news at least twice a day, have surfed for Olympic wallpaper, have done searches for pics, videos, and the Olympic Fanfare and Theme, and have ordered the opening ceremonies. I even ran through all the cable channels last night hoping something, anything would be on. I guess I’m still hooked.
Annie – I’m pretty sure those people who insist on riding their bikes nesxt to the rowers are their coaches. I used to think the same thing, but then the commentator informed me.
In definite Olympic withdraw. As a Canadian I’ll anxiously waiting out the next 535 days til the opening ceremonies in Vancouver