This was a wonderful column! It really hit home. I was in Milan in June and absolutely loved it. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to all the people who told me I was crazy to spend four nights and three days there, that one full day was enough. No way! I’d go back tomorrow!
NBC should have covered the games on their sports channels if they have them. The athleticism, grace and pageantry were probably beautiful to watch on one level, but we seem to conflate the importance of college and professional sports with other things that REALLY ARE MORE IMPORTANT. I hope at least that there were public service announcements about the importance of exercise and physical fitness.
As a non-sports person in general, I get the concern about the primacy of sports in our culture—that no doubt was why I was surprised to find myself engaged in these Games. What I was trying to get at here was that the Olympics at their best are about more than entertainment. These Games, at least, made visible a kind of civilizational excellence beyond sports, and that's what I wanted to call attention to.
This was a wonderful column! It really hit home. I was in Milan in June and absolutely loved it. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to all the people who told me I was crazy to spend four nights and three days there, that one full day was enough. No way! I’d go back tomorrow!
Thanks, Kim! I spent the whole Olympics just wanting to be there. 😂 My ski buddies have put it on our list.
Definitely go! It’s beautiful.
NBC should have covered the games on their sports channels if they have them. The athleticism, grace and pageantry were probably beautiful to watch on one level, but we seem to conflate the importance of college and professional sports with other things that REALLY ARE MORE IMPORTANT. I hope at least that there were public service announcements about the importance of exercise and physical fitness.
As a non-sports person in general, I get the concern about the primacy of sports in our culture—that no doubt was why I was surprised to find myself engaged in these Games. What I was trying to get at here was that the Olympics at their best are about more than entertainment. These Games, at least, made visible a kind of civilizational excellence beyond sports, and that's what I wanted to call attention to.
I know that you must receive a lot of comments on everything you write about; thank you for taking the time to read my comments and respond to them!