Next event in the Commonwealth Games, Wheely Bin Racing!
October 18th 2010 01:10
Now, I’m not exactly a huge sports fan. I’ll watch the occasional rugby game, I like to play volleyball and I’ve been known to whoop a few butts at Snakes and Ladders, but that’s about as far as it goes.
But there’s just something about countries coming together in competition that magnetically draws people to watch. And since America is not in the running, I can happily cheer for Australia without fear of recrimination.
That being said, I have to admit I was a little taken aback the other day when I heard the 20K race walk was coming up. So I paused to see what it was all about. Now, I have to say upon seeing the sport, it reminds me a bit of myself when I am out in public and have to use the bathroom but don’t want to break into a full-out run and draw attention to myself.
I will probably get some slack for this, but I’m a little astounded that this is a sport people actually train for. I know, I know, there are rules. A certain way you have to walk -- these people are “athletes”, you say -- I get it. But come on, if walking like you have to pee for 20 kilometres -- a very short distance, if you ask me, since the average stay-at-home mum usually averages that in a day – can get you a gold medal then sign me up.
And then there was the story about one of the race walkers, Luke Adams that could almost feel the gold medal around his neck when he tripped over a piece of cement and lost his lead by 20-30 metres. And sadly he came in thirteen seconds behind the leader, oddly enough named Jared Tallent, who they say took advantage of his trip and “surged for the win”. (These jokes just write themselves.)
And don’t even get me started on table tennis. Seriously, which committee member – or former university beer pong champion – convinced the rest of the world that this was a sport? Of course, I jest. But if I have offended anyone, please send complaints to takeaspoonful@hardenup.com.
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Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Too much sport is never enough in my books . . .
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
And, being an EX American, sorry, but that is what you are now, COMPLETELY AUSSIE OI OI OI... you should remember Ping Pong Politics, with Nixon and China.
Anyhoo, nice to have a new 'hybrid' in our island continental home surrounded by sharks and poisonous critters with our big desert fly blown snake infested paradise...gasp...gasp..
so welcome!
cheers
fog
Comment by Chris Champion
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old
Money Whither
Race-walking has strong followings in power bases like Mexico, Spain, Russia and the rest of eastern Europe. And, for some reason, Australia has thrown up a series of top walkers over the past 20 years.
Surely one of the highlights of the Comm Games was the Aussie winner of the men's 20km walk hugging the second-placed Aussie in the women's 20km walk. Both named Tallent. Husband and wife.
The traditional road-walk distances are 20km and 50km. They didn't have the longer race in Delhi, probably because four hours of competing in that heat and humidity would have resulted in more corpses than medals.
I'll take you on at snakes and ladders any time.
Chris
Comment by Lisa Vankula Donovan
Blogging American
ZENtertainment
Chris, believe me, those race walkers would kick my patooty on that course, but I found it humourous that the guy lost 20-30 metres after tripping over a "bit of cement". But you wouldn't catch me out there, they'd leave me in the dust for sure. And cool tidbit about the husband and wife both winning!
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
actually, I have American rellies...bro in law, my sis married, and she has lived in San Diego for over thirty years now...so she is now truly "Ameriaussie" soooo that must make you an "Aussiemerican"...but, I will let you be Ameriaussie for awhile, till you fully adjust...
Practise speaking Aussie; keep your teeth lightly clenched, do not move your lips too much, and resonate in your nose...
now practise saying the following;
G'day,
howareyah,
didjahavagoodweekend,
strewth,
howzat,
bullcrap,
bogan,
seeyah.
Practise and you will be speaking Aussie in no time!
Oh, and the next time your back in the States, can you bring us back an aircraft carrier or two? Just a thought...
cheers
fog
Comment by Lisa Vankula Donovan
Blogging American
ZENtertainment