Olympic Wrap-up

March 2, 2010 @ 13:13

I really don't know how to handle this without sounding like a hypocrite, but I guess when you get right down to it, there are a ton of us in this category.

I'm one of those guys who doesn't believe in the Olympics. I think they're a colossal waste of time and money and I've made that point on many occasions. I've said I don't want the Olympics to come to Toronto and besides being a burden on taxpayers, the Olympic movement is rife with corruption and very few at the top can be trusted.

Having said all that, what a great two weeks in Vancouver.

I guess its like anything else, regardless of your position, once the commitment is made the best thing to do is make the most of it and man oh man did Vancouver make the most of it.

All the events were held, all the medals were handed out and most people, other than snobby malcontents, walked away happy, impressed and full of fabulous memories.

That ultimately is part of the satisfaction for me. The British and Russians press were Vancouver's biggest detractors, but in the end they looked absolutely foolish while putting pressure directly on themselves to out-do Canada in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

Great moments? There were a ton of them with the capper being Sidney Crosby's overtime goal. It was excruciatingly painful to watch the closing minutes of regulation time, but in retrospect, it couldn't have had a better finish, an overtime goal scored by Canada's latest hockey icon giving this country a record for gold medals at a Winter Olympics.

It was the final event for a wonderful event and it all went our way. With those 14 gold medals we did own the podium make no mistake about it.

I could go on and on about other poignant moments but I won't. They've been talked about and analyzed by everybody and his brother.

All that matters at this point is that the games were a success and hopefully the price tag won't be too staggering and force all of us to keep paying for decades to come. But it's too late to worry about that now.

And not to close on a downer but I have to mention this. If there was one clear-cut blemish to these Olympics it was the decision by CTV Globemedia to bully their way to the front of the line and have their announcers carry the torch.

And it has nothing to do with journalistic integrity, it has everything to do with earning the right. Kerrin Lee Gartner and Donovan Bailey didn't carry the torch, but Ben Mulroney and Michael Landsberg did. Are you kidding me?

Shameful. Shameful for CTV to think it up and even more shameful for those involved to actually do it. I can only deduce that they were forced to do it.

If any of those broadcasters had entered the Torch Lottery like everyone else and won, cool, there's no problem with that. But to do it the way they did was downright wrong.

They should have declined, I would have.

Category: Sports

32 Responses to "Olympic Wrap-up"

Al
March 2, 2010 / 14:01

I'm suffering from Olympic withdrawals. Regular NHL just won't cut it when you compare it to the hockey we were treated with in the last two weeks. Plus, I wish I knew when the next time is that I can watch Snowboard cross or ski cross. Those two events were spectacular!

One of the only (biggest) gripes I had about the games was the CTV coverage. I thought SNet & TSN did an ok job, they are (after all) sports networks, but the CTV coverage was embarrassing. Ben Mulroney and MTV VJs interviewing atheletes and asking STUPID questions. The only saving grace on that network was Brian Williams.

I don't know how much longer CTV has the rights, but I pray for the day CBC gets them back. In other years I was always proud to hear stories of Americans watching CBC's coverage because it was better. This time around, I dreaded hearing an American say they watched CTV's coverage. It was just so bad.

LEW
March 2, 2010 / 15:18

I couldn't agree with you more Fred. I was one of the 40+% of locals that did NOT want the Olympics here.
I have to hand it to Furlong and VANOC, that was one special event. The torch relay was brilliant marketing. By the time it got to Vancouver, the entire province if not country was engaged.
As for the payments, you had to be here to believe it. They had Hudson Bay open 24/7 to by Olympic products, there were line-ups around the block that was lasting hours, it never stopped. I would not be suprised to see a profit out of this!

Mike from Lowville
March 2, 2010 / 15:56

"They had Hudson Bay open 24/7 to by Olympic products, there were line-ups around the block that was lasting hours, it never stopped. I would not be suprised to see a profit out of this!"

I should think so, most of the crap was made in China!

neil morrison
March 2, 2010 / 16:16

Freddie boy - Wasn't 100% behind the games either. But it looks as though the games are going to actually be profitable for the city of Vancouver. The budget wasn't blown and - with the exception of some minor inconviences, it was a pretty good party. Having Team Canada win on Sunday was a perfect way for the legacy that will be VAN 2010 - perfect way for it to end. As you know i had the pleasure of being in Whistler for the games. For those who live in Toronto, it was nothing special. Many differenet cultures and languages all hanging around. Kinda like Yonge street any given night of the week. But to Westerners, it was pretty special. Great thing about the whole dame thing was that Vancouver probabaly emerged as - as it alway bragged - being a 'world class city'. Losing it's big city menatlity/ small town practicality...an actually looking as good as it seemed to look like on TV. It was an incredible experience for me, as it was my first games. And like i told you during our Friday break, Listening to James Scott of CFNY from Calgary back in 1988 and thinking, "Wow, that would be cool"...Having the chance, i loved ( pretty much ) every minute of it.

Jake
March 2, 2010 / 16:52

My luck---missed Ben Mul entirely. Brian Williams with his one finger pointed up could have been replaced by one of the TSN's best.
Positively great show...the camera coverage of fast moving sports events was superbe.
Interviews with most athletes are usually tedious.
Remember when Ward Cornell asked Frank Mahovolich how big the drift in his stick was...FM said the what?

Right Uppercut
March 2, 2010 / 17:14

Nice to see the "protesters" and other leftist crap-heads basically ignored by the media as well!

Van City Boy
March 2, 2010 / 17:37

Just another reason why Van City is such a better place than the concrete hell of Toronto

Jeny
March 2, 2010 / 18:53

Hi Fred,

Loved your article. Here is a link to a wonderful article in the Boston Globe. Enjoy
http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/olympics/articles/2010/03/02/it_was_canada_at_its_best/?page=1

Al
March 2, 2010 / 18:54

Well that sense of unity didn't last too long. Leave it to a T.O. basher to ruin it for everyone. Thanks Van Shitty Boy.

Zeke
March 2, 2010 / 19:25

Van City---rains every day and is full of goons and gangs. My favourite place to visit after Mexico, Iran, North Korea and Iraq.

Argie
March 2, 2010 / 21:51

Mike from Lowville,

This is one of the few times a year I agree with you.

JAMES
March 3, 2010 / 08:35

Like you Fred I'd never want the Olympics here. The one thing I heard from people coming back from Vancouver was the about the rail link to their airport. How much easier it is on travelers. We have been promised this for years, always attached to a bid for something. It was hard not to be a proud Canadian during the games. I think it's to much cost for one city to handle these day's. Maybe every Olympic year spread the games around the world. As for Harper he is dead to me. Could care less for him and his party of cowards. You can back who you want; it's your right. But he has done nothing to earn my respect and you should be able to respect your leader.

Howard Stern
March 3, 2010 / 08:50

Were the Leafs playing last night or posing as pylons?

Ruthless Ruth
March 3, 2010 / 08:51

Yeah-what looked liked a Carolina power play was 5 on 5...was that an embarrassment.

Paul
March 3, 2010 / 08:52

Freddie, I wasn't intending to watch any of the Olympics. I was far too annoyed with all of the pre-games hype and media blitz. But, I am happy to say that I was sucked in. I ended up watching some event every night. I loved the hockey moments, but also enjoyed seeing some of the newer sports like snowboard cross or ski cross. These were great!

Couldn't agree more about CTV and the torch bearers. It was a sham and took away from the moments that should have been. This was especially true when they had that buffoon Tom Brown (CTV Dave Devall wannabe) carry the flame. I think Barney the purple dinosaur was more deserving to have carried the flame than this rambling fool.

Steve 0
March 3, 2010 / 11:11

I agree that seeing Ben Mulroney and any other CTV employee carry the torch over deserving athletes was hard to take. I must admit though paying 153 million U.S. to the I.O.C. for rights fees I would have done the same thing if I were in CTV's shoes. They had to get their on air personalities known and "out there"before the games began.
On another note Jay Onrait was outstanding in the morning. Watching him make fun of Ben Mulroney and those two tools from MTV was just too funny. The best part was these clowns didn't even know Jay was taking shots at them.

Pam
March 3, 2010 / 11:14

Jack Layton: Disgusting to see the guy who worked tirelessly to make sure Toronto DIDN'T get the 1996 Olympics, - front and centre at Gretzgy's and shoving people out of the way - disgusting to see him cheering the Vancouver Olympics... what a colossal hypocrite.

RickyP
March 3, 2010 / 12:03

I wish Jack Layton the best as he battles cancer, but that doesn't mean that I have to enjoy seeing him front and centre in a bar celebrating the Olympics. In fact, I can't stand him or his douchbag wife.

Pam is right on, he is a hypocrite of Olympic proportions.

Curly
March 3, 2010 / 13:03

See what connections get you?
Gretzky's bar and a CTV camera there with Jack Layton right in the middle. No co-incidences here. No-hey look who just happens to be here---get him on camera , surprise!!!!!!!!

Trish
March 3, 2010 / 13:06

Bravo! Vancouver did a terrific job - everyone should be proud despite the luge tragedy and the glitches.

Toronto isn't capable of holding the games now. Public transit is inadequate and the city has never fully recovered from the garbage strike. And as with the 1996 bid, there are still too many silver spoon socialists opposed to holding the Olympics here.

Yea, but they watched that hockey game the other day, didn't they? I'm surprised the IOC just doesn't cross Toronto off its list permanently...

Jack Layton
March 3, 2010 / 19:45

I'm deeply offended by all the criticism I've received about me celebrating the hockey game at Gretzky's. No one even mentioned my lovely wife, Olivia Chow who was right by my side.

Rick C in Oakville
March 6, 2010 / 16:50

I too got sucked into watching the Olympics, was thinking it was going to be a colossol bust. Glad I was wrong, excellent show, and there is no way Toronto could ever host an Olympic event, but maybe I'm wrong on this too (hopefully)

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