Never had Olympic fever, but I'd check out the break dancing

It only happens every four years, but I’ve never caught Olympic fever. Hope that doesn’t put me on a black list for national pride.

I’ve always caught the headlines and even enjoyed the telling of a heartstrings, overcoming-the-odds story. But I never have had any event at any Olympics that I didn’t want to miss.

I know New Zealander Rex Maddaford, a distance runner at Eastern New Mexico University who competed in Mexico City in 1968. But that’s about as close as I’ve come to any personal connection with the Olympic Games.

I tried watching the opening ceremonies, but I got creeped out and turned it off shortly after the horse and rider traveled along the River Seine. Just as well, since the ceremony seemed to anger a good number of those who watched it.

As an old retired fart I’ve seen more Olympic coverage this year than ever in my life. Part of it because I just didn’t change the channel after the news went off.

One night I fell asleep during the news and woke up to skateboarders. When that was over rock climbing came on and I was blown away that it was actually a speed climbing event in which two guys scrambled up a fake rock course like two monkeys, in under five seconds.

I had not watched any basketball but one night by accident I found the women’s 3x3 that I didn’t know was a thing. Half-court three on three was very interesting and Germany was good enough to take down the USA, which intrigued me since the USA’s basketball teams are always heavy favorites

When my ESPN app told me the men’s USA team was down double digits to Serbia at the half I had to turn it on to watch. My opinion of NBA players are that they’re lazy, self-centered, undisciplined and overpaid. Serbia was taking them to school on those very weaknesses. The Americans finally made a comeback halfway through the fourth quarter.

Later that day I learned more about water polo than I ever dreamed I would know. USA and Australia were tied at the end of regulation and they had a shoot-out, a single player attempting to throw the ball into the net against the opposing team’s goalie. After six rounds Australia won the shoot-out.

I finished out the day watching rhythmic gymnastics. I had always seen that event name but was never sure what it was all about. Apparently it’s juggling on steroids while doing ballet, either with a hoop, ball, clubs or a ribbon on a stick. I’ve got to admit they were talented but even though USA seemed to dominate in the real gymnastics they didn’t seem to have anyone competing in the round of rhythmic gymnastics that I watched.

Apparently, baseball and softball have been dropped. I understand it was primarily because Major League Baseball wouldn’t adjust its schedule to allow its overpaid, lazy, undisciplined athletes to compete. But they did add break dancing, which I didn’t even know was still a thing.

I wouldn’t mind checking out the break dancing and seeing the basketball finals, especially the 3x3. As far as the rest of it, I’ll take a rain check.

Karl Terry writes for Clovis Media Inc. Contact him at:

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