Surfing IS an Olympic Sport

What
a shame we have to work during the Olympics. Missing so many events is
making us think seriously for the first time
about getting a TiVo.  On the other hand, by flipping through the
4 or 5 channels in the NBC family which are sharing the broadcast, cable
serendipity has brought us to a surprise ball of obscure events, mythical
matchups, personal and international dramas, and occasionally, a complete
surprise.

Today, for example, we were channel surfing in the afternoon
when we came across an Olympic sport WE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.  As
an inveterate sports fan and true believer in the lofty ideals and gritty
reality of this quadrennial extravaganza, up until that moment we would
have bet a considerable sum of money that we were familiar with ALL of
the Olympic events, even recent bastard children like Synchronized Diving
and Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Anyway, in this new sport we saw what appeared
to be about 7-10 women on a side, tossing (but not dribbling or kicking)
an orange rubber ball into a small low net somewhat akin to a lacrosse
net.  There were no bats, baskets, pads, racquets or special equipment
at all. The game was played indoors, on what looked like a wooden court,
with lines painted indicating penalty areas, sidelines, etc. What could
it be? We wouldn’t have accepted it as an Olympic sport at all if not
for the huge Olympic symbol painted on the middle of the field of play.

Later, we enjoyed watching several fights between Russians
and Cubans, who seem to be between themselves, dominating the later rounds
of the Olympic boxing championships. This is obviously because the boxers
in those countries have relatively little access to the professional
ranks and the millions that lie along that path. Nevertheless, one wonders
why some ambitious boxing promoters haven’t lured some of these world
champions into the shady world of professional boxing long before now.
Perhaps their style and training to score points rather than do damage
makes them worthless as professional pugilists.

On the other side of that coin, the American boxers, who
used to dominate the medals stand, especially at welter weight and above,
have been quickly given the boot this time around.  Again, they
are unaccustomed to the scoring system and up against fighters with
years more experience. It’s no wonder they are losing. America will dominate
Olympic Boxing again when we develop a few thousand talented fighters
who can afford to turn up their noses a\t the millions of dollars being
dangled in the pro boxing game and dedicate the best years of their
lives to learning the rules and acquiring the skills of Olympic boxing.
Maybe if we recruit among Shakers, Mormons and Krishna’s, although we
understand the Krishna’s have become quite capitalistic lately.

Getting back to the Russian vs. Cuban boxers, it was a
bit like watching Brazil vs. Germany in soccer.  A single minded
modern sports machine against a creative celebration of sport as art.
A disciplined
band of northern European Aryans marching triple time in formation taking
on a slap-happy band of Latin sports lovers dancing their way to fame.
Power vs. Touch. An efficient crew of killers taking on a gang of Devil-may-Care of soul brothers. Old world vs. new world. Death vs. Life.

In soccer over recent years, and in boxing today in
Greece, Life won out over Death, Creativity over Control. Unfortunately,
in the world at large, this is the exception rather than the rule.