The good the bad and the downright ugly of the Rio Olympics

As the sun sets in Rio on the games of the 31st Olympiad, one cannot help but comment on not only the level of cut throat competitiveness but also the drama that follows all Olympic games. Initially Rio as a venue was marred in controversy - will there be enough space to build the stadiums, will there be enough security and just recently Zika virus decided to rear its head adding to the already crazy mix. However, except for the green diving pool, plumbing issues here and there at the Olympic village and Ryan Lochte's exaggerated tale on the big "hold up" Rio showed the world that Brazil is still a tour de force to reckon with as a tourist destination. From the sun kissed mountains, the music,the samba, to the magnificent statue of Christ the Redeemer, the white sand at CopaCabana beach we were left awed by the beauty of the city. First off lets begin with the opening ceremony - yes you could tell it did not have the glitz and the glam of Sydney Olympics or the uniform routines of Beijing but Giselle made up for this with her catwalk across the stadium. Although one would wonder what was the point of that walk - here we were waiting for the ground beneath her to turn into gold or chocolate to fall from the skies but alas no such thing happened. Meanwhile the walk of nations - Cameroon yall know how to clean up good - those outfits were a true representation of the mother land Africa. While the opening (and closing) ceremonies did not have the va va voom and technology of other host cities that try to out do each other each Olympic year - Rio was simple and beautiful. And thats what Brazilians wanted - love us or leave us - this is who we are. Anyhu... lets start with the darling of the Olympics - Simon Biles - though she be but little she really is fierce..that girl can jump and twist and do things to the human body that you wonder ala is that normal. Another Simon (Mullen) became the first African American to win in the swimming competition - kudos! As for Ally Raisman folks - what passion they had!!They would twist and clutch their seats and twist some more when she took the floor - true Bostonian spirits right there!Meanwhile back at the ranch - Gabby Gabby Gabby smh smh. wait did she really skive the closing ceremony??Gabby Douglas became an icon of the phrase from hero to zero. I wrote about her 8 years ago right here..I will admit half the time she looked bored, the other half of the time she was trying to understand why she was getting cyber bullied by people sitting behind a screen who have not accomplished half of what she has at her age. Hashtag leave Gabby alone.She was a reminder of the necessary evil that media can be - build you up only to tear you down when you as much as sneeze in public and forget to cover your nose. Its all good Gabby add your gold medal to your trophy cabinet and get on with life. On a more lighter note talk about the human spirit in full force - Olympian Hamblin who lost out on her chance to win a medal to help her injured Olympian Dagostino after they got tangled in their 5000m medley. Reminder that at the end of the day of the power of "Ubuntu" - I am because we are. There is an African saying - if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together!! Mmmh lemme see what else is worth writing home about - Oh what about that Katie Ledecky girl she came to swim!!!Madam shattered her own world record and the distance she left the other swimmers with jeesh..there was a point you could think she was in training in the pool alone. And of course swimming is not complete without a mention of Phelps. Yani I think he owned a third of the total US medals. What about his adorable son and those gigantic DJ noise blocking headphones - by all means necessary we need to go support daddy!! Since we are on swimming I guess we might as well address the elephant in the room - one Ryan Lochte. Isnt it sad how good looks pale in comparison to poor character. What a sour way to end such a lovely occasion. I mean how do you break down a door because you need to use the bathroom. Which begs the question - would he break down a door "back home" in the US at McDonalds after a night of partying and cry the sky is falling? Is it a case of America being the big bully of the world?  Oh well as some reporters said after the incident "boys will be boys." (gags). Kudos to Kenya for being the highest African country on the medal board - you know Kenya leaves it all on the field when it comes to long distance running and the new found sport - javelin - Lets go Yego!!! The Kipchoge Keino documentary was a great start and how awesome that the Kenyan anthem was sung at the closing ceremony for the winning marathon race.However on another note - whats up with all the Kenyan athletes defecting to run for other countries. Yani you look at the screen and see Langat, Kiprop running for Bahrain or the US and yet their accent dripping Nandi Hills. Then under the screen you see hometown Eldoret (which is not a city in Kansas if anyone was wondering). Anyway  at the end of the day jamii lazima ikule. Meanwhile lets throw some shade on the Kenya National Olympics Committee.Where are the outfits Nike sent?Lets not be surprised if the outfits end up in a sports store in Luthuli Av a few months from now (sigh)..(the cost of corruption)...Kudos to the refugee team..one of the swimmers had swam across the Aegean sea escaping war torn Syria. How about that US womens running squad led by whats her name Felix? heh she finished running and was walking like de nada - its nothing. These Olympics were a reminder that aside from our division along political, racial, education and social lines, sports unifies us in ways that we cannot explain. We have as a world for the past three weeks forgotten the ugly head of terrorism and how it has become a part of our conversation.The Olympics is the only place you will see a North and South Korean pose for a selfie together. It has shown us the power of Ubuntu - I am because we are. Brazil has shown the world that we may not have it all together as a nation, but we sure as heck know how to welcome and entertain. So whether we left Brazil in a better or worse state as they try to re- settle and get Rio back to normal one thing is for sure Rio left us all excited and thirsty to reach for the Olympian in each of us. See you in Tokyo 2020.Okay now back to your regular viewing *flips channel to CNN for the latest in election* (yawn yawn)

Quote for later

Here is a for later quote i will come back to


“It’s not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, who comes up short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming, who does actually strive to do the deeds, who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so his place shall never be with those cold, timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” 

Theodore Roosevelt