Trash talk

[vettecat]

Has anyone else noticed that the ice-skating commentators at the Olympics are being particularly nasty and snarky this year? (Scott Hamilton is being a gentleman, as usual - I'm referring to the other two, who do most of the talking.) It's one thing to say, e.g., "oh, he did a double instead of a triple, that's going to cost him points." It's quite another to say someone's costume reminds you of your dining-room drapes (yes, they really said that), or to say a competitor's choreography is "trite," or to make sweeping less-than-complimentary comments about the competitors from a particular nation. These are the best skaters in the world, trying their hardest to perform extremely difficult moves under intense pressure; the least they deserve is a little respect. There were points both last night and tonight when I was so disgusted by their insults that I was seriously tempted to hit the mute button, but it's hard to fully appreciate the beauty of a skating routine when you can't hear the music. Is this making anyone else's Olympic-watching experience unpleasant, or is it just me?

Comments

[lucretia-borgia.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that the couple of times I've caught the skating -- usually when I'm looking for something else -- I've made snarky comments about costuming (particularly back when they were in the "not quite naked" phase of costume design) and about the astounding waste (IMO) that this man/woman has been getting up every morning at 4 am to go skate for a few hours before kindergarten, elementary school, high school, etc. and since starting HS probably spent more time on the ice than in school or doing anything else with their lives. I appreciate their accomplishments, but think it's a bit sad; and I am appalled at the fact that this sport (like most of the winter Olympic sports) are really for the well-off. At least most of the summer Olympic sports can be done by anyone with feet! (As some of the Kenyans demonstrate, shoes are optional.)

But snarky comments by someone who's supposed to be an expert and actually interested in the scene on the ice -- that's rude, and pandering to the lowest part of the TV crowd.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

So you're not among the 70% of American women who watch skating, eh? (One of my few ventures into the majority.) I see your point about spending more time on practice than on schoolwork, but you could say that about many extracurricular activities. I generally feel that most sports (professional team sports in particular) are a waste of time and resources. But in this instance I am impressed by their skill, and admire their determination. And I would think that dedicating oneself to improving until they reach the level of world-class competition is at least as worthwhile as working at McDonald's. I don't agree that it's just for the well-off either, a pair of skates aren't really more than a pair of sneakers these days. It's more a matter of coming from a supportive home and having a family that will stand behind you - which may be more common among the well-off, but I don't think it's an absolute. Most of the American champions have been middle-class.

I do agree about the pandering, though - and I don't like what that says about societal trends.