Do you watch the Olympics?

The question seems simple enough, but when posed, it generally elicits a bit of debate.

Most of the people who do and most of the people who don't watch cite the same reason:  these are sports I've never seen before. 

I stand in the camp of watching, and so far I've not been disappointed.  The idea of overcoming adversity to compete on a global stage in a sport you are passionate about is compelling to me.  Only a few days into competition, here are a few observations, positive and negative.

• From the vignettes that NBC feature, it would seem that you cannot participate in the Olympics unless a) training every day meant a 17 hour journey, b) one or both parents/siblings died suddenly within two weeks of the opening ceremonies OR c) the athlete themselves were near death in the last 6 months.
• That said, the best of these vignettes have featured the developmentally disabled siblings of several different athletes, and the message of encouragement they convey to their "normal" brothers.  A fantastic lesson in life and what gifts everyone has to offer.
• For all the talk of the commercials during the Superbowl that often get overlooked if you're attending a party, the corporate sponsors (with the exception of McDonald's) have stepped up in a big way with their own compelling ads (GE gets my gold medal), whether they be poignant or funny.  And they get repeated more than once so if you missed it the first time, stick around.
• Broadcasters should also be tested for substances.  Cross country skiing is interesting to watch, but I have to say the color commentator at the end of these races may need an ambulance or rehab given his near-apopletic play-by-play at the finish line.  Regardless, they deserve an A for enthusiasm and drawing the viewer - neophytes that we may be - into the drama of the sport.
• Technical difficulties have been rampant since the opening ceremonies, and Canada needs to step up their ability to foresee and react to these snafus once they occur.  Last night's speed skating events were delayed over an hour because not one but three Zamboni's were on the fritz.  It's Canada - doesn't everyone drive one during the winter?
• Figure skating has so far managed to be a sport and not a soap opera - here, here!  (Granted, we've got a long way to go - there HAS to be a scoring controversy brewing.)

I do watch the Olympics, and I am proud to do so.  While I doubt I will ever understand the Biathlon, I can appreciate the sheer athleticism and cardio-vascular integrity you need to push your physical limits on skis, then stop and calmly fire a rifle at a target the size of a tennis ball.  I've heard these athletes can plummet their heart rate to about 28 beats per minute while firing to stay calm and aim true.

Still not convinced?  What else is there in the middle of February, still too far from Spring Training games and with the NFL in the rear view mirror?  Pass the chips, please....