Tae Kwon Dumb

The Olympics made for must-see-TV for our entire family, from me right down to my six-year-old son. My wife was taken in by the gymnastics – she always is – and my daughter enjoyed watching everything in sight. My son just wanted the USA to win everything; he is ultra-competitive and couldn’t stand it when the “home team” lost. Oh, and I think he developed his first crush, too, on this gal:

We walked into a WalMart and into the electronics area where all of the TVs were showing – of course – the Olympics. During a gold medal montage, we saw swimming, track, volleyball, and gymnastics. My son knew the names of several of the performers, but only named one. It’s not the first time that happened during these Olympics.

But with the thrill of victory comes the agony of defeat, unsportsmanlike conduct, and hot air. The hot air came courtesy of IOC President, Jacques Rogge, who saw fit to criticize Usain Bolt’s celebrations more so than to criticize China, which tried to obfuscate when journalists foraged for evidence that China misrepresented the ages of some girls on their gymnastics team. Geez, Louise, Jacque (do you like Jerry Lewis, too?), way to show off your power. I could knock on Bolt for acting like someone who just won the biggest sporting event of his lifetime, too. But I think I’ll refrain from that. I probably wrote more about the Chinese gymnastics team here than Jacque mentioned about it. What’s the Arabic term for “Chinese dhimmi” again?

Unsportsmanlike conduct was delivered by the Cuban Tae Kwon Do (TKD) competitor Angel Matos, who delivered the agony of da feet to TKD referee Chakir Chelbat for disqualifying him. Adding insult (stupidy?) to injury was Fidel Castro’s defense of Matos. Of course, Cuba’s teams are shrinking and becoming less competitive because of the draw of greenbacks from that place up north (no, not Michigan). Fidel…buy a clue!!!

(And, Fidel, karma isn’t on your side, either. Tropical Storm Gustav may have its way with you.)

Thankfully, Tae Kwon Do officials know better, and are attempting to get Matos banned from the sport for life. My kids take Tae Kwon Do, and they know the guiding principles of the discipline. Maybe Matos ought to learn them, too.

To all those Olympians who did their best – whether they won or lost – congratulations! You served your countries proudly.

To Rogge, Matos, Castro and the “Chinese behind the curtain” at the Olympics, I have one more award for you:

And now I know why Guns & Roses named their “next” album “Chinese Democracy”…cuz it’ll never happen.