BLOG: You Know What Gets Me About the Olympics? - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

BLOG: You Know What Gets Me About the Olympics?

You know what gets me? The Olympics. Not the games themselves, but the way people react to them. For the good and for the bad.

For the good....

Watching the most insignificant medal race is always inspiring on some level to me, even though I say I don't like to watch the Olympics. There is something about a man or woman, regardless of nationality, overcoming all – even themselves – to win gold medals. To come in first. To be faster, stronger, better than everyone else at that moment.

The Olympics to me are more about victory in its purest form than the games themselves. Think about it. Men flap their arms and kick their feet in water. Women flip on balance beams. There is basketball, soccer, tennis, and even archery. It's all sport. Before any of the competitors could make it to London they had to win at another level, and another level before that, and likely another level before that, and so on.

But the most impressive victory, to me at least, is the victory over self. I have a hard enough time as it is just getting out of bed in the morning to come to work. For me it is hard enough just being a little bit better professionally than I was the day before. To see these young men and women rise above themselves first is inspiring to me. I dare say it brings a tear to my eye.

For the bad

You know what else gets me? Whiners. You know what I am talking about: the people on the Internet, complaining about how this person or that media outlet spoiled the surprise by cheering on Facebook or Twitter.

We live in the Internet age – the age of instantaneous information. The very second Michael Phelps or Missy Franklin hit the wall the world knows about it – whether they want to or not. It is in people's nature to share their feelings and the Internet makes it possible at ever increasing speeds.

The only way to avoid being disappointed, obviously, is tune out the chatter altogether. Put down your smartphone. Close your Facebook account and get back to work.

But all of us are way too addicted to broadband to do that.

Admit it.

(*The opinions above belong to Jared Frank and are not endorsed in any way to KHQ or SWX)