As I sat watching the Opening Ceremony at the 21st Olympic Winter Games, all I could think about was this: I sure the media hype doesn’t come back to bite these kids in the ass.
The “Austin Powers” Opening Ceremony was nice (White Go-Go Boots? Interesting choice) last night and Canada’s “I Believe” corps was out in full force. And that’s all good. We want to believe in our athletes.
I just hope that all this pre-Olympic hype doesn’t come back to bite these athletes in the behinds if it turns out that they don’t dominate the podium like we’ve all been promised.
Canada should do well, but there are no guarantees. Let’s cheer for our athletes, but let’s not condemn them for the national media’s insane pre-Olympic hyperbole if things don’t turn out to our liking.
If we don’t win the Games or don’t win all the medals the national media has promised, let’s not be taking it out on the athletes. Make sure we take it out on the people who created the hype machine, not the kids getting all sweaty in our honor.
I will make this vow. Here www.rivercitysportsblog.com and every day on 92-CITI-FM, I will not EVER criticize a Canadian athlete or coach. We all know the athletes will do the best they can and yet m aybe, just maybe, their best isn’t as good as the “I Believe” hype machine guaranteed it would be.
In the meantime, I’ll cheer for the maple leaf and not be too depressed if the Canadian kids don’t win every single medal.