It's almost un-American to not watch at least some of the Olympics, but it's also a two-week opportunity for everyone in the world to proudly follow their country's athletes and patriotically cheer them on. It's the closest thing we have to a World Party, where everyone gets to have fun. If somebody could just stop the incredible violence going on around the world for just this two week period, that would be a great start. Instead we have to send warships to the Black Sea to insure our athlete's safety; there's something fundamentally wrong with that!
I've always enjoyed the Winter Olympics the most. The skating, skiing, and snowboarding events have been fun to watch. The bobsledding, luge and skeleton events have been fantastic; for some reason these sliding sports have always been my favorites. And let's not forget the US hockey teams; both women's and men's have been great, and medals are certainly within their grasp.
The USA has been near the top in medal counts for most of the games, and with any luck, we'll see a lot more before it's over. As of this writing, USA leads in total medals with 23, just ahead of Russia and the Netherlands, but we have 2 less golds than Norway. Special congratulations should go to Meryl Davis and Charles White for their gold medal in Ice Dancing Pairs. This is the first time in history that Americans have won a gold medal in this discipline. I've never been a big fan of this sport, but they were incredible to watch!
With the Russian men's hockey team eliminated from further competition yesterday, the US team has one less tough opponent to play. I just read where they defeated the Czech Republic 5-2 today, so they'll be facing a very talented Canada team on Friday in a semi-final contest. USA! USA! USA! Anyone else remember the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980 without getting goosebumps? That was an extremely special Olympic moment in my lifetime. What a thrill!
Best of luck to all of the athletes in the Olympic Village! This is the best of the best in the world, and we're quite fortunate to see them all in action. But I'm a homer, and I hope every remaining American athlete wins a medal in their event. Go Team USA!
Okay, let's get out of the cold for a minute and go to warmer climes, where Major League Baseball has officially opened Spring Training. Baseball camps across Florida and Arizona have welcomed all of their players to the start of another season, and life begins anew. At least for us baseball fans; but even if you're not a fan, you should be in agreement that Spring Training has always been a harbinger of better times ahead.
Winter has been a brutal visitor this year across most of our country. We're seeing things we haven't seen for many years, with intermittent snowstorms blowing across the South in the last month or so, and ice so thick in parts of the country that people are saying it may not thaw until June. But with any luck, that will all change soon. Does anybody else find it ironic that we're experiencing a salt shortage when our country is surrounded by salt water? Somebody needs to get on this with a little more urgency!
If you're one of my Northern friends, be assured that the eighty-degree days of Spring Training will come to your town in just a few months, and you'll only be left with the lasting memories of twenty foot snowbanks! The snow and ice will melt, and you'll be signing up for a course in how to drive on dry, clean roads. Soon you'll be complaining about how fast the grass is growing in your yard, and talking about how those tomatoes you just picked from your garden are the best. It'll all be happening soon in a yard near you, I promise!
I've been picking on my family and friends all winter about the cold and snow, but with one storm after another hitting the northern states, I've begun to think I should ease up a bit. I should stop posting things on Facebook about how warm it is in Florida, how I love looking at snow (on TV), you know, those types of things. But I probably won't!
We're having a "Chamber of Commerce" day today here on the East Coast of Florida. Eighty degrees and a clear blue sky! And there's baseball being played right up the road; it's a beautiful thing!
Happy 1st Birthday to my grandson Bradley LeClair! Sorry I couldn't be there to help with that cake!
As always, please share this to your timelines or forward to your friends if you enjoy. Thanks!
Mark T. Bradbury, Author
Literary Associate of Little Pond Publishing
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Serpent's Curse should be available as a paperback from Amazon.com by 3/1/2014. Here's your chance to buy it if you haven't already!
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