Los Juegos Olímpicos – The Olympic Games

I have always been a big fan of the Olympics and can remember a number of great moments in the past that were important and motivational to me as a kid and as an adult. For example, I remember (recuerdo) seeing the US Olympic hockey team beat the Russians for a unfathomable gold medal. I also remember the great track and field efforts of Edwin Moses, Carl Lewis and Bruce Jenner. In more recent times, there was the world domination by the Dream Team in US basketball (baloncesto), which included such sports icons as Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

The Olympics are a great source of national pride for every country (por todos los países) and countryman and country woman who participate in these storied events. This summer, the Olympic Games (los Juegos Olímpicos) were held with great fanfare and public display in Beijing, China and the amount of coverage and promotion was seemingly limitless throughout the world. At least that is what I read, as I had a limited connection to the coverage to the Olympics here in Chile, not because it is not available (disponible), but because I did not purchase the coverage as part of my TV package (paquete). This is not a huge problem, but I did not think it would be something extra, I merely thought I could turn to NBC or ABC (or whoever was broadcasting the O-games) and kick back and watch.

Well, I was wrong, and I struggled to even find highlights on the news, in English or in Spanish. I could read things on the Internet, and also see clips from record performances, such as Michael Phelp’s unprecedented 8 Gold medals in swimming or Usain Bolt (great name) flying down the track to be crowned the Fastest Man in the World in Grand Style. Sure, I got to see lots on the progress of the fine Chilean athletes, many of who medaled in sports (deportes) such as Fernando Gonzalez who won a silver medal in Men’s tennis, yet I was not getting much of anything else for the longest time. In fact, I never saw any live action (acción en vivo) throughout the entire games, not the opening ceremonies or the closing ceremonies. Well, I can’t say that I did not see anything live, as I did catch one final, and it turned out to be a great one for this American (norte americano) in Chile.

I went to bed one night near the end of the games with the TV on and I woke up a little while later, and could have swore I was seeing the beginning of the US/Spain Men’s Basketball Game live. I knew that this game was going to come on and of all the events that I most desperately wanted to see, this was the one. Coach K from Duke is the coach (el entrenador) and the team (el equipo) includes a modern day dream team (dubbed the Redeem Team to take the US b-ball back to the top). The roster had arguably the best players in the world, including Kobe Bryant and Lebron James. Well, I thought I was dreaming and cut off the TV and went back to sleep.

I awoke some time later and it was 4 AM in the morning (en la mañana), and I suddenly was wide awake. I quickly remembered seeing the basketball game and cut on the TV to see if I had been dreaming or what was going on. I was sure I had missed it and my one chance to see live action was long gone. But, suddenly I was redeemed as well, as the game (el partido) was entering the fourth quarter and the US team help off a talented Spanish team to win the gold in great style. With the volume turned down to 0 so as not to disturb a sleeping Sarah, I silently chanted “USA! USA!” and probably (problamente) was the only one in Chile making such a silent spectacle, but for a brief moment, I was living the dream along with the team.