Let the Games begin
The Summer Olympics are here
Earlier this week, I asked my two fellow podcast hosts if they preferred the Summer or Winter Olympics. I told them there was only one correct answer.
Both of them gave the incorrect answer.
I’ve held my opinion for a while. I knew I’d written about it before, and a Google search helped me find it: I took one side of the debate for a story that was published on a site called BlueRidgeOutdoors.com.
My opposition took the Winter Olympics because “performing sports when it’s cold outside is just plain harder.”
Sigh.
The cliff’s notes version of my argument:
The Summer Olympics have fewer events determined by judges
Many viewers have no frame of reference for, say, bobsledding or ski jumping; most all of us have swam or run
Because of cost and climate, the Summer Olympics are far more accessible to the world
The opening ceremony for this year’s Summer Games in Paris is tonight. I’m excited. And because I’ve matured in the 10 years since that story posted, I no longer feel the need to criticize the Winter Olympics to bolster my argument. Enjoy this year’s Games! And enjoy the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy!
My latest content
At every Michigan home football game last season, a black lab took the field during certain timeouts and caught frisbees. His name is Victor, and he is a good boy and good at catching frisbees. Unfortunately, he suffered a partial tear in the dog version of an ACL and will miss the start of this season.
I spoke to Victor’s owner about his frisbee skills, memorable moments from last season, and Victor’s surgery and prognosis. (The good news: He could return to the Big House for the last few games of the year.)
Here’s the story: Michigan football’s frisbee-catching dog has surgery, will miss start of season
I also spoke to one of the many players to transfer into the Michigan men’s basketball program this offseason: Roddy Gayle Jr., who is as interesting as any of the newcomers solely because of where he came from. Gayle arrives in Michigan after spending the last two seasons as rival Ohio State.
Why did Gayle leave Columbus? And why did he choose Michigan? I found out.
The story, with a bland but honest headline: Why Roddy Gayle Jr. transferred from Ohio State to Michigan
What I’m reading
I enjoyed the Guardian’s obituary on Bob Newhart, a standup comedian and sitcom star who died last week at 94.
He was a favorite of my late great Aunt Naj, who regularly played his albums on cassette. The obit reminded me of Newhart’s favorite bit, the one-sided telephone conversation. RIP Bob, and Aunt Naj.