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Olympics feature late-night drama
(by Barbara Christian - August 21, 2008)
Olympics feature late-night drama
The Olympics? Are they over yet? We all have to get some sleep. We can thank the time change from here to China for napping at our desks.
I didn't think I like the summer Olympics. So why was I sitting in front of the TV in the middle of the time watching the tie-breaking quarter of men's volleyball, U.S.A. vs. Argentina. The Yanks won, and I slept well.
I haven't cared a thing about volleyball since junior high school, when a girl from the opposing team spiked the ball into my upturned face, causing a bloody nose.
But there is just something about those earnest young American Olympians that is touching. They are all so shiny, scrubbed and all-American. You just have to support them, even if it means losing some sleep.
This year's games was not without drama. Much of it was behind the scenes but nonetheless fascinating.
For instance, the French said they were out to "smash" one golden boy, Michael Phelps. Not a nice thing to say to start with, plus the Frenchmen may not know anything about sports psychology, or they would know that statements like that serve as motivators. In this case, it motivated the smashee.
Mr. Phelps and his fellow relay swimmers swamped the Frenchmen in a surprise gold-medal win. The French won silver and had to stand humiliatingly close to the Americans on the medals stand.
Yes, a lot of sleep has been lost this past week or so. What we watchers learn quickly is that, when Bob Costas signs off for the night, there is still plenty of Olympics to watch and watch and watch.
If you stayed up late, you may have been regaled with story of a love triangle involving a French woman and two Italians. It began four years ago in Athens, when French swimmer Laura Manadou and Italian swimmer Luca Mari fell madly in love. She was just 17, and he was 22. But when Laura left her longtime coach to follow Luca to Italy to train, the Italians nipped that idea in the bud and sent her packing. The couple broke up shortly thereafter amidst much publicity.
Now, Luca has taken up with teammate Federica Pellegrini. Some conspiracy theorists insist Luca and Federica were together all along, and the whole thing was some kind of plot against the French.
Sounds like an afternoon soap. And now, gosh darn it, if not all three of them are in Beijing. And get this: Laura and Federica swam against one another. Federica won the event we watched. We were told she won, because she was the stronger competitor. Obviously.
And there was a disturbing story from the Olympics opening ceremonies when a charming 9-year-old named Lin Miaoke sang a song about love of her country. The problem was Lin was lip-synching the words sung by 7-year-old Yung Peiyi. Why? Chinese officials decided Yung was not cute enough.
It's the kind of stuff that keeps you up at night, along with the French and Italian love triangle, Mike Phelps' quest for eight gold medals and, or course, Yung Peiyi, whose voice was sweet but who was not cute enough for prime time.
By the way, about the latter, is that one of those Chinese human-rights violations we're always hearing about?
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