Shame On US

I am not a sports fan. While I understand and can appreciate the effort, sportsmanship and dedication that goes into prepping for and playing a sport, I attended the various games my children and students played in out of love for the kids, not love for the sport. 

I would much rather visit with the other folks in the stands than pay attention to the action on the field or court. Of course, that didn't happen often because no one there wanted to carry on a decent, non-game related conversation with me. They were all too busy yelling their throats sore. They were far too intent on telling the kids how to play and the refs how to call to want to converse with me. And even before my three brain injuries, I wasn't very good at concentrating on a book in the midst of bedlam, so I often contented myself with examining the attire and attitude of my fellow "sports fans" or daydreaming about some frivolous,  non-sporty thing or other.

The Olympics, however, is a whole other story. I am a die hard Olympics fan and make any needed sacrifice to watch every televised minute of the games and all the associated commentary. As much as I detest "combat" sports such as boxing, I will go without sleep to watch each contest with the intensity of the most avid ringside fan.

Having spent five years in a wheelchair, raising a paraplegic son and being myself disabled, I have an even more fervent love for the Paralympics. I have been reading good things about how Bejing was handling the Paralympics, how the opening ceremonies would have the grandeur and flair in keeping with the amazing opening of the Olympics just past. I was excited about many of the athletes, and was sure I would be inspired beyond measure by their performances and perseverance. 

I fully expected and was happily anticipating to park myself in front of the tube for the duration and began a search for viewing times. I found nothing. Expanding my search, I began to fear the worst, and my fears were confirmed this afternoon when I read a New York Times article by Alan Schwartz entitled Where Americans Can Watch The Paralympics. NOT on TV! The only way we can see the 2008 Paralympic Games is online. 

To say "Shame on US" is not enough! We have hundreds of TV channels and not one airs these games. If such a shutout were targeting a gender or a race, there would be no end of flack, including law suits. Considering the trash that can be seen on TV 24/7, to ignore something so significant of these Olympic games for the handicapped is an outrage!

So, here is where you can see the games online:

http://universalsports.com started with the opening ceremony and aired this morning at 8a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Of course, I didn't know that then. See the schedule below. 

You can also visit the International Paralympic Committee site, join their mailing list and watch the games on their special site.

I'm sure all kinds of clips will show up on uTube and other video sites, but there really should be television coverage nation wide in the United States. Sadly, we haven't treated our handicapped athletes well in other areas, either, but I've said enough. Time to go watch reruns of the Opening Ceremonies...

Oh, I did find out that at 2:30 Eastern, NBC will air a 90 minute program of "athlete features and highlights." Better than nothing, but not much!

LIVE COVERAGE ON http://universalsports.com:

Date, time (ET) Event
Sat 9/6 8:00am Opening ceremony
Sun 9/7 5:00am Swimming
Mon 9/8 5:0:00am Track & field
Wed 9/10 5:00am Swimming
Thu 9/11 5:00am Swimming

8:30am Men’s basketball (USA vs. Australia)
Fri 9/12 5:00am Track & field

9:30am Women’s basketball (quarterfinal)
Sat 9/13 5:00am Track & field

10:00am Women’s basketball (semifinal)
Sun 9/14 5:00am Track & field

10:30am Men’s basketball (semifinal)
Mon 9/15 5:00am Swimming

9:30am Women’s basketball (final)
Tue 9/16 8:00am Rugby (final)
Wed 9/17 8:00am Closing ceremony

And my day was like this...

• 09:07 State Farm just called. It seems there was a third car involved in the accident of 7/31/08. 
  
• 13:02 I got a lot of pesky little paperwork things done. had been putting them off. 
  
• 13:16 Fixing links & graphics on MT's site. http:orlandobraininjurysupport.org 
  
• 16:15 Had a good phone visit with MT. The web site isn't working well on aol. I hate aol! 
  
• 19:19 Worked on MT's site but had one glitch after another. Headache now. Try later.