I don't like to be one of those foreigners that complains about Americans' patriotic chauvinism, but the Olympic commentary is really bothering me.
The set-up: the French men's 400 meter free relay team said they are going to "smash" the Americans.
Americans love to hate on the French, so this was commentator gold: the commentators ran as far as possible with it.
The Amercans came from behind and won by 8/100 of a second
Immediately after the win, it began. The incredibly offensive commentary starts at 5:45 in the video above.
Commentator: "Who's talking now? Stunned. I think they need to use another word other than "smash." That might be the most incredible relay split I've ever seen in my entire life...French are still in shock. We're going to play the footage here in real speed here, to give you an idea...Let's watch it again, you've got to watch it from above. Watch how he gives into this way, just a huge lunge. I just can't believe that Lesak just did that...At the other end, you've got Bernard, who did the talkin', and he's not saying much right now...So the results. The heavily favored French bow to the Americans. They smash the world record."
Interviewing the American team, at 9:02:
Q: "Well, the French said we're going to smash the Americans. Who's talking now, guys?"
A: "We are, the United States of America."
At 11:00: "Bob came by and said the Frenchies were talking stuff, and I said, 'I don't even wanna hear it, we're goign to take care of business when we get to the pool, and we took care of business, that's all that matters."
People ask, "why do they hate us?" I'll show you:
Compare this with the women's 100 meter butterfly final, involving the same commentators. Here, the American swimmer Magnuson won silver, in a similarly close finish, with Australian swimmer Trickett taking gold.
Immediately after the Australian takes the gold, the commentator stresses that she's "just off the world record."
Then, incredibly, "what a race by Magnuson, holding off Schipper. Trickett, she almost didn't make it to the semis from the heats... what a beautiful swim by both these swimmers right there, the two of them together, both quick off the blocks, Magnuson just a tick faster on her reaction time...look at the turn, Trickett had a great turn, but you know what, Magnuson never panicked, never never panicked, she was really so good."
Bottom line: when Americans win, they're so great, everyone else sucks. When Americans get silver or worse, they did a great job, and it was so close anyway.
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Kerry Lauerman
Farhad Manjoo
Tracy Clark-Flory
Rebecca Traister
Sarah Hepola
Joan Walsh
Salon.com
Comments
As for the gold "we rock, you suck" and silver "we were so close mode of commentary, it exists elsewhere, just in slightly different form.
For instance, on the BBC:
- English athlete wins - "A magnificent victory for the English runner here..."
- English athlete loses - "A valiant effort by the British sprinter, but it was not to be..."
- Scottish athlete wins* - "An unexpected but satisfying win for the British runner..."
- Scottish athlete loses - "Another crashing disappointment for the Scottish runner..."
*This is by far the rarest of the different calls listed above.
Lisa & Haggis, yes, of course, but we're already the only superpower, we're already awesome, we don't need to rub it in. A little humility and downplaying of accomplishments could go a long way.
Designator, I only watch 2 events, evah: Olympics and World Cup. But i'm an Olympics omnivore, I'll watch anything. I got into archery last night, and weightlifting.
Maybe it's just more noticable when it's the Americans since our media and physical presence is so overwhelming compared to most other countries. I do cringe when I hear the chants of "USA, USA,USA..."
Dont make me use 'Bitch' cuz you aint
Intense, yes, Bitch, no.
Mucho congrats on the univ success!
I will post soon: do I get 1 freebie rant
as a long term protagonist? No? I didnt think so
tsk, -intense.
This is an opportunity to let all the worms out of the
can. None of us will have Any secrets left after 6 mo.
or so.
Really glad to be writing this: I was concerned for
a while, that you were a victim of the economic
storms.
Need advice (optional, if you have Time/ or not)
--I ve dragged the guts (content) out of Memory (a
decades worth. -weird clippings and pix from waay
back.
Query: what blog content, and expression (worthwhile
topics vs crap), --good writing of course, originality vs
sheep dip, --that kind of critique. (you dont know if you dont
ask), Actually, advice on this from Anyone, is welcome,
(Rilly asking for it huh ). I dont want "No more artsy semi nudes
dude, just Think and write!! " ---in my mailbox: so this is
preemptive avoidance. What works What not?? outrageous?
scandalous? spicey? funny as hell always works, deep wit?
irreverence? -it cant be a Keynes retrospective and fears of
Weimar All the time.
You suprised me! --that you took the Olympic commentator
seriously enough to comment (or even get p---ed about it)
'Dont sweat the small stuff' is religion to me, but I had to learn
that the hard way.
En tout cas: (btw some of the new blogs are, uh, un peu Snob??
I dont care, but isnt that a rather obvious bait?
Take care mme C: & giveemhell. Cheers
Argonne
The Olympic Games were created for the exaltation of the individual athlete.
The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.
Stupid Frenchman. What does he know?
And Phelps was nothing but a gentleman when he turned to the French swimmer who had bragged about smashing him and his fellow teammates, held out his hand and congratulated him for his silver.
The American commentators--idiots. But they're just typical of the MSM--making predictions before events actually happen.
Interesting that you would declare the entire population of a state, judgemental and ignorant just because one of them disagrees with you. Perhaps it's not everyone else, whadaya think?
Back in Dallas, when I still had my accent, "friendly" Dallasites would always be asking, "where you from?" and then follow up with "well, welcome to mer'ca!"
Yup, just as I remember...
It was also very charming when y'alls middle-school-aged chirren didn't know the difference between "Jewish" and "Satanist." Good times.
Plus, it would be hard for me to be one of those angry and bitter folks Barack was talking about, since I have neither guns nor a religion to cling to.
For the commentators - what country do you expect their audience to cheer for? When broadcasting for American audiences, the focus is on the achievements of the American teams. No surprise, and nothing to get all bent out of shape over.
Argonne, I'm not really sure what to make of your posting, but I'm flattered to be the first person you posted to on OS.
i think it is interesting that it's the trash talk and rebuttal aspect that seems to have rubbed you so wrong. i guess the question is: are the olympics above that sort of behavior? maybe it is and we're fed so much "glory of the games" hype that it certainly seems so. but, competition is still competition and it breeds this.
I think what rubbed me the wrong way was not the trashtalk and rebuttal, but the particular glee of the commentators that the trastalking losers were French. The French were not classy with what they said, but the Americans LOVE to hate on the French, which is very odd to me. I never understood this hatred, and I find it kind of crass.
As for hating on the French, you are absolutely right, there was a lot of pleasure seemingly taken in taking them down. Whether this is because of the underdog thing, the trashtalk, or some sort of residual "freedom fry" hangover is really the question, I think. Either way, you're right that it's crass.