Expectations and Subverting the Olympic Narrative

by Ben Howard

My two favorite stories at the Olympics so far are Aly Raisman and Michael Phelps. Don't worry, this isn't going to be an ode to "America's Underdog Gymnast" and "The Greatest Olympian Ever." I'll leave those articles to people who cover sports for a living. Raisman and Phelps are my favorite stories because they undermined the corporately approved narrative of the Olympics. I love me some subversion.

Every time the Olympics come around, we the viewing public get a new batch of corporately approved stars. Almost every commercial during the Games is based around some athlete who was expected to win, expected to become a star, expected to become the love of the entire United States population.

However, much to the dismay of BP and Proctor & Gamble and other corporate sponsors, the Olympics are comprised of actual sports which don't necessarily go according to plans. These expectations drive the narrative of the Olympics.

That's why I love Raisman and Phelps. Raisman was an afterthought. The 3rd member of Team USA. And Phelps? Phelps was boring and played out. His story was old. Ryan Lochte and his diamond-studded grill were far more interesting than Phelps and his brooding greatness.

Then the events happened. Raisman went from afterthought to a 2-time gold medalist, who just missed a bronze in the all-around finals. After a rough start in the 400 IM, Phelps made it his personal mission to make Ryan Lochte into a footnote on the way to becoming the most decorated Olympian in history (Zeus excepted).

Expectations are a powerful thing and they can drastically affect the way we respond to the world. It's not simply limited to the emotional aspect of sports either. Historically, the Jewish people expected a Messiah who would be a physical conqueror and king. When they received a different interpretation of the conqueror and king, they crucified him.

This extends to the modern church as well. If you expect that the world ends in a fiery inferno, then you'll act with that goal in mind and God's creation becomes a sinking ship we need to escape. If you expect God to embrace everyone no matter what, then you'll find that there's a thin line between acceptance and apathy.

I'm not saying which one is right or wrong. I certainly have my opinions and expectations. Everyone does. I want to see how things play out and I'm going to assume we're all wrong to one degree or another. That's the way predicting the future works. (Though I'm still holding out hope for that Chicago-Miami World Series in 2015, you promised Back to the Future II).

It'll all make sense. Just be patient. And have faith that all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.

Peace,
Ben


When Ben isn't gleefully rooting for subversive athletes, he likes to wax rhapsodic about James Harden's pharaoh beard. You can follow him on Twitter @BenHoward87.

The Vatican Olympic Team and Why God Will Be Watching in London

by Ben Howard

On Friday night, my friends and I will be huddled around our televisions along with millions upon millions around the world to watch the Opening Ceremonies of the London Olympic Games. Most will have their eyes on Phelps and Lochte, maybe they'll try and catch a glimpse of Usain Bolt, or they may simply stare off into the distance pondering the all important question of whether David Beckham will or will not light the torch. But my eyes will be locked on the single athlete representing one of the world's smallest sovereign states: Tommaso Guarrazzi of Vatican City. That's right boys and girls, God finally has a home team.

For years, God, much like an NBA fan in Missouri, has been without a team to call his own. Many have tried to claim the deity's favor from The Los Angeles Angels (too redundant) to the New Orleans Saints (not saintly enough) to the Holy Cross Crusaders (ixnay on the usadescray), but none have worthy of being the Almighty's favorite.

Instead God has chosen to root for his favorite players from Josh Hamilton to Tim Tebow to every single player who ever pointed up to the sky after they did something special. But now God's behind Tommaso Guarrazzi and Team Vatican City. Take notice world!

Now all this may sound totally ridiculous and that's because it is. Tommaso Guarrazi is a member of the Vatican Olympic Team, but it's a fictional Olympic Team portrayed in the recently released Italian movie 100 Meters to Paradise. (You can read the Vatican newspapers review here).

But is it so ridiculous to think that God is sports fan? I'm not saying he has a vested interest in one team winning over another, and I'm pretty sure he had less to do with the Braves winning in extra innings than my prayers would indicate, but I think there are aspects he can enjoy.

At their essence, sports, especially the Olympics, are a showcase for the physicality of God's creation. They show us the agility, speed, strength, stamina and athleticism of humanity in its peak physical form and while that's something we don't often hold to be spiritual maybe it should be. We are so quick to spiritualize the world that we forget we inhabit a physical existence and sports are a way to celebrate the depth of humanities physical gifts.

So when you watch the Olympics in the next few weeks maybe God will be watching along with you. I wonder if he's rooting for Lochte or Phelps?

Peace,

Ben

When he isn't writing about fictional Vatican Olympians, Ben attempts to divine God's rooting interests for gambling purposes. You can follow his misadventures on Twitter @BenHoward87.  

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