myopiclunacy.com

Thanks again to NBC for their tape delay strategy. They sat there on the set of the Today show, where all the news and even the cultural exchange pieces are more watered down than the soda at Magic Johnson’s theaters (allegedly), and talked about “tonight’s closing ceremonies” when they were either happening behind them at the time (8pm local time) or they had pre-taped the entire Today show. God help them if Joe Biden had punched Barack Obama in the mean time - their transitions to and from the news desk would have been way too cheery. Or maybe they taped a “sad” transition too.

Anyways … on to the show - almost a reverse of the Hong Kong handover!

Beckham sets ball rolling towards London 2012

BEIJING, Aug 24 (Reuters) - China unveiled an extravagant farewell to the Olympics on Sunday and David Beckham, the world’s most famous soccer player, said hello by kicking a ball to start the countdown to London 2012.

The appearance of Beckham on top of a red double-decker bus that unfolded into a hedge-clipped silhouette of London sent 91,000 fans into a frenzy in the futuristic Bird’s Nest stadium.

A grinning Beckham kicked the ball off the top of the bus into the hands of a delighted Games volunteer.

The London segment was woven into a spectacular closing ceremony that wrapped up a $43 billion Games designed to showcase China’s might, modernity and sporting prowess.

… as well as their authoritarian rule, communist culture of cheating, and their opposition to free press and protest.

A ring of fireworks exploded round the rim of the stadium. Two giant drums were hoisted into the sky with two pairs of suspended drummers thumping out a hypnotic beat.

The stadium was turned into a kaleidscope of glittering colours with 200 acrobats taking giant leaps and somersaulting across a stage on spring-heeled stilts.

Launching a huge party to wrap up the greatest sporting show on earth, thousands of athletes poured in from all four corners of the stadium, blowing kisses and waving flags.

The towering figure of Chinese basketball player Yao Ming was seen grinning from ear to ear.

Beckham, brought up in east London, hailed Beijing’s success but told Reuters before the ceremony: “I’m sure we will be better than them, without a doubt.”

From what I understand, while the organization was crisp and the visuals were stunning (in some cases, unbelievable - literally), the place was dead. There was no party atmosphere that you might have found in Barcelona or Sydney. So in that respect, I’m sure the world’s new financial capital will excel. It’s hard to party with secret police everywhere and the threat of being sent for “re-education’ at a labor camp more apparent than the smog.

Britain’s eight-minute chance to tell the world what the London Games would offer the world in 2012 featured guitarist Jimmy Page, who launched into the riff from “Whole Lotta Love”.

He was joined in the Led Zeppelin classic by TV talent show winner and chart-topping singer Leona Lewis.

Queen Elizabeth also sanctioned a choral version of “God Save The Queen” backed by lush string arrangements.

otherwise known to me using the lyrics of ol’ Samuel Francis Smith:

My country tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim’s pride!
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring!

USA! USA! USA! … err … I mean … Come On, London!

Even though I was glad to see the Jamaican sprinters, our men’s and women’s basketball teams and our women’s soccer team (despite adversity) win gold , as well as Misty May (yum), I’m hope to never have watch another soccer game or basketball game on NBC. I mean, does it really hurt to have the score up in the corner all the time? That was 1997 technology, for pete’e sake!

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