Commentary: Winter v. Summer

Ahh, it’s that time of the year….wait---let me rephrase.

Ahh it’s that time of every other year…sound better? Yeah, I think so...that I anxiously wait for. It’s Olympics season folks and I couldn’t be more excited to watch sports that I can only watch once every 4 years.

But the great debate has fallen on my shoulders, which is better: the Summer Games or Winter Games?

After much thought, weighing locations, sporting events, most memorable moments and athletes, the verdict is in…

SUMMER GAMES win by far for me.

Yes, I do enjoy watching the occasional mogul run (which now included jumps and turns and helicopter tricks? Since when did that happen?), bobsled run (no team from Jamaica this year!), snowboard half pipe, or triple sow-cow (what’s the difference between ice skating and ice dancing?)…the Summer Games outweigh the Winter Games.

How does curling and the biathlon (cross-country skiing & shooting rifles? Really?) compared to swimming, tennis, intense rounds of ping-pong and badminton, and gymnastics (Shawn Johnson , man, I could watch her pommel horse or floor routine any day of the week).

I think what appeals to me and most other people about the Summer Games is that more of the sports played are entertaining to watch. Sure, the Winter Games have more sports I’d like to try (I’ve always wanted to luge/bobsled and try that ski long jump), but I don’t want to watch that as much as an epic swim race, thank you Michael Phelps.

I mean how hard does Speed Skating look? Yes, I know it is really difficult and requires a lot of strategy, but when watching it, it just looks so easy to do. And that long jump? Just keep skis in track, lurch forward for awhile, and then make a landing. Piece o’ cake! I think that’s why events that look harder to do are more appealing to watch.

Nevertheless, I still love the Winter Games and will be watching daily…rooting for Apollo, Shawn and Bode, who hopefully will lay off the partying until after all of his races.

I’m definitely most excited for Hockey, but I’m torn who to root for. Buffalo Sabre’s coach Lindy Ruff is coaching for Canada, while their goalie, Ryan Miller, is on USA. Either way, Hockey is my must-watch choice of all of the games.

I wonder what Tara Lapinski is doing these days.