Watching the Olypmics in a Foreign Country

The Olympics started at 6 something this morning.  We've taped it and are waiting for my in-laws to arrive before we start watching.  I love the Olympics and will watch as much as I can.  I boycotted the Beijing Games because it's a travesty that a government that abuses human rights as much as it does has no business hosting the games.

Anyway, we wait and get ready to watch.  I've been trying to prepare the kids with history of the games and talking about American accomplishments.  I figure they will hear enough about Aussie accomplishments from the tv and their friends I need to do my part to remind that the still are Americans. It's still odd to me to see all the Green and Gold stuff around.  I keep expecting to walk into Woolies and see GO USA everywhere.  I'm not anti Australia, please don't think that.  I just want to remember the good parts of America so I'm using this as a way of doing that. So far this is the knowledge that I've been able to impart to my kids.

1. The Soviets cheated in the 1972 games in Basketball and every American is or should be still pissed.  When we watch Men's Basketball we all remember the lying cheaters and point out how they deserve to loose.  It doesn't matter if the Soviet Union doesn't exist.  Soviets, Russians, whatever...they LOOSE!

2.  Less humorlessly, in 1972 11 Israeli athletes were kidnapped and brutally murdered.  Sadly, this is the 40th anniversary of that horror.  Since the IOC is apparently made up of bunch of cowardly anti-Semites so they refuse acknowledge that horrific event.  Well my family does talk about what happened and WE REMEMBER!

3.  Americans rock at the Summer Games.  We can't ski for crap so we are down a few pegs in the Winter Games but the Summer.  Oh yea, that's for us! 

4. We will watch Gymnastics but it's not the only sport happening.  If you watch just Bob Costas and the NBC feed it's mostly Gymnastics.  I HATE when they broadcast Gymnastics warm ups and training when their are medal events occurring in other sports.  Ok, maybe they aren't all glamorous but someone has worked hard to try and earn a medal, I would like to see it.  Also Rhythmic Gymnastics?  Get serious.  That's just stupid.  Sorry.  It's not a sport.  No.

5. I like a fair fight.  I love watching diving, boxing, pretty much everything but I despise events that are decided by judges.  Everyone has heard the joke about the East German judge deliberately low-balling Americans to knock them out.  Know why everyone knows it?  BECAUSE THEY DID IT.  They would cheat some hard working kid just to prove a point.  I hate that.  Since there is no longer an East Germany we usually sit and play "Spot the new East German Judge"  just so we can know who to boo.  Mature?  No.  But it does make for entertaining moments. 

So that's what I covered so far.  I wish my Aussie friends the best of luck and I fully expect you guys to kick the crap out of us in Swimming 'cause you people are fish.  Good racing.  Good luck to all the athletes, no matter where you are from.  Unless you play basketball for the Russians.  Sorry, nothing personally but I hope you come in last.

An Update for the Basketball Problem

Since so many people responded to my plea for help about the young boy on Tessi's basketball team I felt I should post a bit of an update.

I did send an email to my friends whose girls on the team.  Both reacted not only kinder than I anticipated but exactly in kind with the Aussie "fair go" feeling that I have come to love.  Both moms responded that I shouldn't approach the little boys mum, she should enjoy her happiness as long as possible.  Were there ways they could help?  Since it was obvious this was a case of a child needing some extra help, rather than extra parenting, both ladies jumped on board full force asking how best to help out.

They humble me.

We had our first practice session this morning and it was great.  Instead of this glaring "US" vs "THEM" feeling it was about what it should be - teaching all the kids to do as well as they could on the team.  We decided to teach the kids to stick their hands out in a "low 5" position when he come by trying to bang into them.  This way he gets his sensory fix (the need for contact to get his bearings) and the other kids are a part of helping with that without getting body checked into the ground.  To help with

To help with the frustration caused by changing baskets we are going to have 1 parent stand at the end underneath the basket holding a red card.  If the child gets the ball and starts charging down the court and no red card, they are to turn around and head for the other basket.  That's really for all the kids, not our AS kid.

We talked about rules about subbing on the court.  Every child has to come out at least 2 times to let a team mate play and if they whine, cry or ignore the coach they are off for 2 rotations.

We are going to practice in the uniforms so all the kids can see their team mates and learn to recognize them and then not steal the ball from their own team.

At the end of today's practice the mom of the little boy gushed with all the effort put into making this work for the kids.

It's the best I've felt in a long time about working with kids with extra needs.

This feeling isn't permanent, there will be many tales of woe with this team.  There's nothing easy about any aspect of life on the Spectrum.  However, it least there is hope.  Some days the worst part about living on the Spectrum is that there is no hope.  Well, not today.  Not with the 6 and 7 year old Screen Shots.

I'm so proud to be a part of this group.  Thank you.