Olympic torch not the shining light it was

by ADAM GRAHAM
guest columnist

It's that time again... Time for another rant. And what, might you ask, am I going to ramble on about today?

It just so happens that it is a subject dominating television-the Olympics.

I can't stand the Olympics. Now maybe it is a personal shortcoming, and I'm willing to accept that. But the fact still remains, the Olympics make me cringe.

The events seem silly to me, the action is less than thrilling and I grow weary of the "circular" events. (For those of you who don't understand what I mean by "circular" events, let me explain. I use this term loosely to describe those events which go nowhere, such as back and forth, round and round, whatever the case may be.)

I would much rather watch sitcom reruns than sit through another rousing bout of synchronized swimming.

Not only do the Olympics bore me, I also take exception to the commercialization of them.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the Olympics are necessarily a bad thing (although I question why countries are allocating funds for athletes when far bigger issues abound, such as basic human needs).

I simply can't get into the whole Olympic spirit thing.

Now some people take winning as a matter of national pride, but I tend to see it more as what country has the deeper pockets.

There isn't anything "pure" about the Olympics anymore. Not that this doesn't apply to all sports, but I have always thought that the Olympics were suppose to exemplify something more (as in who is a better athlete, not who can afford the best trainers and equipment).

I find my thinking leads me down the path that the Olympics have degenerated from the ideals of the ancient Greeks to the greed of modern man. It isn't even about the athletes themselves anymore, rather it concerns sponsorship and television rights.

My only consolation is that they only come once every four years (that is until some brilliant TV exec decides that ratings can be improved by running them every year).

So as the Olympics churn along this year, all I can say is this: I can't wait till that torch is doused and I can get back to wasting my time on mindless sitcoms.

Adam Graham is a reporter for The Parthenon. Comments may be sent to him at 311 Smith Hall.