My wife Andrea is a big fan of the Olympics. She'll watch from the opening ceremony with the whole parade of nations and everything. Her favorite sports for the Summer Olympics are swimming and gymnastics but really, she'll watch almost any sport.
Not quite sharing Andrea's enthusiasm for the Olympics in Tokyo was blogger Ken Levine. Ken says he's "usually transfixed by the Olympics, no matter the event" but this year, Ken says he has "zero interest. None. This year it’s just a big money grab. And many lives will be needlessly put into COVID jeopardy because organizers don’t want to cancel and give up all that broadcast rights money."
Ken says, "I find the whole event irresponsible."
To a certain degree, I understand Ken's point. But whatever the ulterior motive for more money, there should also be some consideration for the women and men who have trained their whole lives for this moment, to demonstrate to the world their astonishing gifts in a variety of sports.
Maybe Ken is right, that the health risks are too great to extend this opportunity for this demonstration of their skills and talents. But as I watch these young people perform feats of astounding athleticism at a level that I can barely begin to comprehend, I am keenly aware of the loss of this chance for these athletes to do what they've strived for would have been a shame.
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The big story, perhaps the biggest story, involves someone deciding not to compete.
Currently the most accomplished gymnast in the whole world, Simone Biles came into Tokyo with the wind at her back and the world for the taking.
Except...
Routines that would normally be epic and masterful were shaky, riddled with errors. Simone Biles was not her usual self.
And she made the call. She withdrew first from the team events and then from her solo events.
Simone Biles was fried.
I have regarded Simone's proficiency as a gymnast as almost being akin to a super power with her almost ethereal and effortless way of defying gravity.
But gravity pulls on Simone Biles as much as anyone else in this world and it only looks effortless because she has put in so much effort to make it look that way.
And that effort is as much mental as it is physical. And every body has it's limits in it's muscles and in the mind.
And Simone Biles reached hers and to admit, "I just can't do this."
In America, admitting "I just can't do this" is a bold statement. We put an inordinate value on pushing ourselves past our limits. How can we say we danced our hardest if we didn't leave blood on the dance floor?
Other gymnasts have understood Simone's predicament when she cited her mental stressors curtailing her physical efforts. Mental acuity is as essential a component of a successful gymnastic routine as physical ability. A single loss of focus can lead to injury, a twisted ankle, a broken leg, a snapped spine.
If Simone Biles' head was not in the game, it was a wise move to back off before she hurt herself or hindered her team's chances at winning an Olympic medal.
Simone's struggles have engendered a lot of positive support.
Over in right wing media, the knives are out, labeling Simone Biles a coward, selfish and a disgrace to America.
It's that kind of bullying that makes it hard for people, particularly Americans, to be forthright about their mental health.
When it comes to how important a strong mental state is, I am reminded of this old Far Side cartoon.
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On Sunday, Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten was so excited. She threw her arms in the air as she crossed the finish line, filled with the joy of victory.
She had just won Olympic Gold!
Except no, she hadn't. She was going to get a silver medal.
Because Anna Kiesenhofer of Austria had already gotten there, crossed the finish line, grabbed a bite to eat and played a game of checkers before van Vleuten showed up.
OK, it wasn't quite as bad as all that but Kiesenhofer spent much of the rest of the race so far ahead, she was out of sight of the other cyclists van Vleuten.
Awkward.
Well, it could've been worse.
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Speaking of being ahead way out in front, Andrea and I watched Katie Ledecky just totally crush the competition in the debut of the women's 1500 meter freestyle at the Summer Olympics.
Ledecky plowed through the water like a frickin' torpedo. Aquaman got nothin' on Katie Ledecky!
The announcers began to speculate who might come in 2nd since who was coming in first was virtually a done deal.
Well, I didn't relax until Ledecky touched the wall for the final time to claim her victory.
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The opening ceremonies belonged to a most unexpected man.
Harry Dank.
Nope, he's not an Olympic competitor.
He's U.S. basketball star Sue Bird’s mother’s boyfriend.
As Sue Bird carried the American flag ahead of her fellow American athletes, we got to see Sue's mom cheering on her daughter.
And Harry Dank was there also. Just chillin' in his recliner.
Despite the return appearance of the shiny chest due from Tonga, Harry Dank was the topic dujour on Twitter.
Tomorrow, it's MORE Olympic stuff... from the before times!
Flashback Friday goes back to 2016 for the Summer Olympics in Rio!
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