Olympics

Like my friend Kenny, I wanted to stay away from commentary on the Olympics. They are my favorite event (whether Summer or Winter), and I love watching hours and hours of sports I wouldn't watch otherwise. I have no evaluation of the game-play on Madden 09 because I haven't really played- I've been watching Olympics. I have watched maybe 100 snaps of Exhibition NFL games (and I have NFL Network, so I have the opportunity to watch every preseason game) due to the Olympics. And I don't care. The Olympics are special. Occuring only quadrennially, they take precedence over my "normal" routine.

I have tried to record as much of the Games during the day (I LOVE my DVR!!!), so I can watch them in the dead time (Boxing on Universal HD) before the evening primetime broadcast begins. I have stayed up much later than I should to watch events live. My cable provider added an Olympic basketball AND Olympic soccer channel!

As a sports fan, I have been overwhelmed by the level of competition. Phelps and Bolt are the unquestioned stars of these Games. As a TV viewer, I have been underwhelmed with the braodcasts. Bob Costas has been horrendous, openly asking why he was there ('cuz Jim McKay died, Bob!) and being generally goofy and unorganized- nothing like what I normally enjoy about Costas.

The use of Mary Carillo and Cris Collinsworth as reporters is worse than terrible. Carillo has had too many BoTox tretments and can't speak properly. Collinsworth is an idiot, and should not be allowed to come into contact with successful athletes, lest the Bungle in him spread. He tried to tell Alicia Sacramone that losing two Super Bowls was akin to falling off two apparatuses. I understand wanting to show empathy, but c'mon. Fool sucker.

The soccer coverage has been abysmal, especially in light of the tremendous coverage ESPN had of Euro2008. Shouldn't NBC get the best (or at least competent) commentators? And I've been disappointed with the soccer channel in general. While CNBC and Universal HD have shown every boxing bout, the soccer (and baskeball, for that matter) channel has not shown continuous tape of the matches. For those of us who work during the day (night, and therefore primetime in Bejing), it is hard to catch the games live. I would be more than happy to watch taped rebroadcasts. Having to do so for the last two Games (Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004), I'm used to it.

But the absolute worst has been Al Troutwig. He has covered gymnastics for as long as I can remember, yet he seems to lack the basic understanding of the sport. He makes wild observations that his partner is quick to distance himself from. I have been pleased with the lack of wall-to-wall coverage of gymnastics, but even when I want to watch I have a hard time due to Al and his idiocy.

Ok, too much negativity. Back to the thrill of victory: Phelps was dominating and deserves the accolade thrown his way. He has accomplished a feat that may take another 30+ years to match. I will not add to the gushing over him, but I have thouroughly enjoyed watching him make history. Kudos to the Baltimorean!

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh have been outstanding all tournament. Beach volleyball is one of my favorite Summer Games sports, and I have not been disappointed.

But Usain Bolt is amazing. If you haven't seen his 100m run, go to nbcolympics.com and do so. I have never seen a World Record get blown up like this, especially in a event that is measured by hundredths of a second. Jamaicans is fast!

Well, that's all for now- I'm going back to watching the Games!

Madden 09

Through the years, Madden is the only video game that I have consistently played (NHL 95 was great, tho- breaking heads, fighting, dekes...) and I always look forward to its release. I picked up my copy last night (this morning?) at 12:05 a.m. I got home, put it in, and off I went...

So here is my rant. Rosters on the game are never completely accurate, but there are a few head scratchers. For example, WR Chris Henry is listed as a free agent even though he is suspended for the first 4 games of the season by the NFL. Pacman "Making it Rain" Jones is not in the game at all. Before you start screaming "homer!" (for the Cowboys, not the fat yellow man), I can understand not including a player currently under suspension from the league. But how can you include the "One Man Crime Spree" and exclude Pacman? Pacman has a far better shot of actually playing this season than does Henry.

But the coup-de-gras is this: Michael Strahan and Brett Favre retired around the same time. Favre is on the cover of the game. Yet Gap Tooth is still listed on the Giants roster while Favre is not in the game AT ALL! WTF?!?!

I realize that rosters were set months ago, but still. How hard is it to add a player? In previous years, undrafted rookies appeared in the free agent pool as did retired players. I am completely outraged that EA couldn't stop production long enough to at least get Favre in the game, regardless of the team. HE'S THE FUCKING COVER BOY!!!!!!!!