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Friday, August 8, 2008

Olympics Day 1

The Olympics were in Atlanta 12 years ago. Damn, was it that long ago? Anyway, they were here, they were fun, our official mascot was the biggest disaster since the Edsel, everyone fled the city so there was no traffic, a stupid redneck idiot embarrassed the city, the games went on and snobby European assclowns crapped all over the city on the way out. We got some nice stadiums, a cool park, about 8 zillion in advertising dollars and a lot of good memories out of the deal so screw the eurotrash snobs. I was in college at the time, broke, working and going to school full time and had no tickets to anything. I still managed to have a good time, but I really wanted something I could keep from the Olympics to remeber it all. I decided to collect these:



Sports Illustrated published a magazine a day for the Atlanta Olympics and they were sold pretty much everywhere in the state. They were three bucks a pop so it wasn't too expensive, but damn it added up if you were broke. I got most of mine at the Quik Trip on the way to work. I'd pick up a soda and a snack and start on the hour and a half drive to my job. I went to school in Athens and I worked in Conyers, so it was normally about 40 minute commute. Unfortunately for me, the Equestrian events were held off of Highway 138, the route I took to work everyday. this was completely blocked off for non-elite working clas folks, so instead I had to drive up highway 316 to I-85, then to I-285 south, then to I-20 south to Conyers. Find a map and look it up, if you dare... Needless to say it was a hell of a long drive.

Since it's Olympics time again, I'm going to breakout my stash of ols magazines and show them off to the world. All the other issues recapped the previous day's events (SI did a great job on turnaround for these mags) but since this was the issue that cam out the day of the Opening Ceremonies, there really wasn't anything to recap. Instead there's a lot of fluff in this issue. A preview of some of the events, a very long article on the torch relay and an article on basketball payer Sheryl Swoopes. Here's some good images from this fluff issue.

This is an odd picture to be sure... This is Michelle Sawatzky, a Canadian volleyball player who happens to be a pianist. I guess she aspired to be a lounge singer too? The Canadian volleyball team came in tenth, but Michelle went on to be a singer and motivational speaker.

Here's a pic from the torch relay. I don't think anything more needs to be said.

This could very well be the best photo in all the magazines. Sheryl Swoopes playing hoops with Supreme Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Yes, Sports Illustrated got in the required "Supreme Court" pun.

4 comments:

William Noetling said...

I was living in San Diego during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but I was actually staying in L.A. during most of the games. Being in an Olympic city during the Olympics is pretty cool actually.

Those mags are pretty cool actually, I had no idea they ever did those. Definitely a cool item, and I'll bet a full set would go for a pretty penny these days on the 'bay.

Ben said...

I went to a baseball game during the '96 games, I was 15. Japan vs. Nicaragua. It was the morning of the bombing actually. We left home around 2am beacuse the game started at 10am and we heard about the bombing on the radio as we were leaving. It didn't stop us.

It was pretty cool to be there with all those millions of people. The only real lasting memory of the experience was the heat and the fact that we walked all over the city trying to get back to the car because of all the extra security.

I'd probably do it again if the games ever come back to the southeast.

Anonymous said...

Wow.... i like this post.

MMayes said...

I'm glad Justice Ginsburg is dressed like a Supreme Court Justice instead of a basketball player, swimmer or beach volleyporn player.