The Olympic Spirit

This last weekend saw the 2018 Winter Olympics kick off in Pyeongchang, South Korea.  And with them, I thought that I'd continue my 'State of Cordcutting' that I started last week with the Super Bowl.  And also because, the Olympics are one of the few sporting events that I actually care about, especially the Winter ones as I'm a skier.

I watch the Olympics because I enjoy watching people do things at their peak.  These are athletes who have trained hard, committed their entire existence to this one skill and are now using that skill at a level that at the edge of human capability.

Add to that the feeling of togetherness and internationalism that pervades much of the event.  Even though these athletes are competing against each other, most of them (not all) recognize that their competitors are more kindred spirits rather than enemies.  They have all worked hard at the same skill.  They understand each other's pain.  Something that we more baseline humans could stand to do better as well.

Despite all of that, I'm unlikely to watch any of it.  And that has to do with another spirit of competition: International Broadcast Rights.

Almost Superb Streaming

Last night, the Super Bowl happened.  Two teams.  One of them won.  There were commercials.  And I did not watch any of it.  Partly because I write this early on Sunday afternoons, but more because I don't care.

Maybe that makes me un-American.  I like to think that it makes me a new American.  One who better things to do than watch a contrived sporting contest (practice guitar, cook dinner, do the dishes, clean the bathrooms, write this blog).  And, if ESPN's subscriber loss is any indication, I'm not alone.

With all of that in mind, the advent of the Super Bowl seems a good time to take a look at the state of cord cutting and how technology has changes what and how we consume entertainment.  Buckle up, mes amigos.