To the 3-4 people who read this blog. Sorry. I've been busy/lazy. Now that 3rd year of school has rolled around, I am in the hospital lots, and when I have free time, I feel really using it to write these lists (as fun as they are to write). BUT. Hadi has criticized my failure to follow through, so starting today, I promise at least one update a week to this blog. Starting with todays suggestions to the IOC for the 2012 olympics. Each summer games, experimental events are tested to see if they can be added to the permanent slate of games. This was how snowboarding made its way into the winter games, and beach volleyball into the summer games. This year, the main new trial sport is one that should have been included a long time ago...ready...BMX BIKING!!! Really though, Sal Masekela must have some dirt on the IOC. BMX BIKING??? REALLY??? Is the popularity, watchability, and relevance to the current state of athletic competition of BMX BIKING really high enough to warrant its inclusion in the olympics??? Skateboarding...maybe. But BMX? We are thinking of adding BMX while dropping baseball and softball after this games (understandable, if they are going to replace those with something more global and awesome). Anyway...I can't write much more because I am on call, but here are five much more reasonable suggestions. Anyone with other ideas, post em.
1. Golf- The Ryder Cup is really really fun to watch. Why? Because of the amrrrkah pride I get (though not in recent history) if we beat up on the europeans, inclusive of any "Frenchies talkin' stuff." Let's globalize this competition. Major golf championships include golfers from all over the world. It's a world game, albeit one often reserved for the wealthy. The interest that a 2 player/country, match play format tournament would generate would be ENORMOUS. Imagine rory "talkin some stuff" to Tiger, and then having to face him in match play with the weight of his shit talking and his country's fans on his shoulders. It would instantly become my favorite part of the games.
2. Rugby- Union was removed after the 1924 games, and hasn't made it back in. While I'd prefer union, sevens would work here too. I think enough countries play rugby to warrant inclusion of this exciting sport (as much as I wish football could be in...no one else plays, at least at our level). Plus, the olympics peaks American interest in all kinds of random sports...synchronized diving?? While we don't get so into our boys in the world cup of rugby (an AWESOME sporting event), I feel like we could get down with an olympic team. Again...BMX???
3. Mixed Martial Arts- All of the individual fighting disciplines are there. So let's crown a world bad ass. Worldwide interest in this fighting competition has eclipsed boxing (another olympic sport) and so I think it deserves a seat at the olympic table. It would kind of be like the "all around" competition for the fighting categories. I won't be surprised if the shows up within the next few games.
4. Surfing- From an extreme sports standpoint, I think surfing belongs in way more than BMX. For multiple reasons. First, its a great "summer" venue. It will force the IOC to pick locations that are at least near to some beaches...unless of course host cities were to build large wave pools, which would actually create a pretty awesome specator event...even though surfing purists would be pissed. Plus, it would give the opportunity to put more females in little bikinis...something beach volleyball has already proven increases viewership. The picture above is from a chinese surfing spot, proving that some form of surfing could be included in the games no matter the site.
5. Strongman/woman- Like MMA above, I think an "all around" olympic strong person would be a great honor for the person and their nation. Not that individual weight lifting is boring (though I think it is) I think it would be more fun to test an athlete's overall strength. Bragging rights for the winning nation would be huge, and creative standardized event design holds potential for an extremely exciting competition.
