Usually have a lot of things to say. Just no mood to blog. =x
25 years old.
NUS graduate.
Now earning a living as someone who has to speak properly, spell properly, write properly.
No I'm not working for Sesame street!
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Sunday, August 22, 2004
Meddling with medals.
I read the press daily with disgust. Yup. The Athens expedition and the medal issue.
Momma said I should read newspapers and I agree, so despite the disgust I still choke myself in a mission to digest our government's ideas.
What's the deal? When Ronald Susilo, our import from Indonesia was drawn to face the best from China and the world, the odds against him was high and nobody mentioned a silverware. But when he stunned the sporting community by winning, the press immediately hailed him a hero and came up with some crap like "susilo's road to a medal", depicting how he must first win the 2nd round (which he should win comfortably blah blah blah), and then the quarters (blah blah blah), semis blah blah blah, and LISTEN! If he reaches the semis, he will get two, that's right, TWO chances of winning a medal! That's like OMG!! WOW~! If he wins the semis, he will be assured of at least a silver! And if he loses he can still fight for the bronze.
Yup. Singaporeans read this kinda stuff everyday.
Ronny lost to Boonsak the Thai 22year old law student with youthful good looks. Someone from the heavens isn't very fair in my opinion.
So it's up to Li Jiawei in a hope that she wins a medal for Singapore. But wait! What about Zhang Xueling? The other table tennis representative in Greece. Well who cares, she's not as good. And she lost. So there.
Ooh Li Jiawei won, and is into the semis! That's like OMG!! WOW~! She will get two chances of winning a medal for Singapore. Yeah! TWO chances! Singapore might finally get another medal!
Aren't we all sick of the number 44.
Or the number 1960.
And the numbers:
1,000,000
500,000
250,000
If you have no idea what these numbers are, just flip to any page of any local press, and you will see it. Or tune in to any local radio station, where Olympic sports updates are in every 30minutes telling us what's 44, 1960, and those numbers with the many zeroes.
Of course I'm exaggerating, but hey, the media started it first.
Oh I forgot to mention those paddlers are imports from China. I admit, I cheered for Susilo and Jiawei. Obviously?? They had my country's flag on their jerseys. Sure they weren't born in this country. You can't even say that they grew up here. One doesn't speak mandarin well, the other doesn't speak english well.
And get this: They are in a relationship. Love really transcends all boundaries.
I sidetrack again.
What about our local Swimmers? Nah there's nothing to say. They're condemned. They didn't even meet their personal bests. And Poh Seng Song? Thanks for the participation. Who else have I missed out? It's ok I guess nobody really cares.
You always hear "winning isn't everything". True. But a medal is better than no medal, any idiot will tell you that. But in our nation's desperate search for this medal, we've overlooked the glory and honour of representing the country in this sports meeting of peaceful propotions. I'm not an Olympian, I'll never experience the pain and agony of travelling there and missing out narrowly on a victory, but I feel that the press has overdone its brainwashing (or is it like this all the time?) this term. See it's so simple working for the government. When the Olympics is over, all they do is:
- write brave words. eg: "You are all winners. You've done us proud, medal or no medal."
- come up with a musical montage, capturing moments of Singaporeans in action, with Susilo and Jiawei taking up 80% of the video.
- Do this for one month from the time they touch down at Changi Airport.
- Do this every time there's a badminton or table tennis meet in the region.
- Do this in Beijing 2008, where you will be reminded of all those numerals (subject to change) I've mentioned above.
Perhaps I've spoken too soon. Jiawei plays in the 3rd-4th match later today and who knows? It's never ending though, in man's quest for excellence. If she gets a bronze, Singapore will still not have gotten a silver to match 1960, and when will Singapore's first Olympics Gold medal materialise?
Tay Cheng Koon mentioned in today's article:
And as Li jiawei tries one last time to win a medal in Athens, let us rally behind her.
If we do that, how can we lose, whatever happens?
I say let's rally for the moment, and not for the medal.
triggering Mr Ng HS |
I read the press daily with disgust. Yup. The Athens expedition and the medal issue.
Momma said I should read newspapers and I agree, so despite the disgust I still choke myself in a mission to digest our government's ideas.
What's the deal? When Ronald Susilo, our import from Indonesia was drawn to face the best from China and the world, the odds against him was high and nobody mentioned a silverware. But when he stunned the sporting community by winning, the press immediately hailed him a hero and came up with some crap like "susilo's road to a medal", depicting how he must first win the 2nd round (which he should win comfortably blah blah blah), and then the quarters (blah blah blah), semis blah blah blah, and LISTEN! If he reaches the semis, he will get two, that's right, TWO chances of winning a medal! That's like OMG!! WOW~! If he wins the semis, he will be assured of at least a silver! And if he loses he can still fight for the bronze.
Yup. Singaporeans read this kinda stuff everyday.
Ronny lost to Boonsak the Thai 22year old law student with youthful good looks. Someone from the heavens isn't very fair in my opinion.
So it's up to Li Jiawei in a hope that she wins a medal for Singapore. But wait! What about Zhang Xueling? The other table tennis representative in Greece. Well who cares, she's not as good. And she lost. So there.
Ooh Li Jiawei won, and is into the semis! That's like OMG!! WOW~! She will get two chances of winning a medal for Singapore. Yeah! TWO chances! Singapore might finally get another medal!
Aren't we all sick of the number 44.
Or the number 1960.
And the numbers:
1,000,000
500,000
250,000
If you have no idea what these numbers are, just flip to any page of any local press, and you will see it. Or tune in to any local radio station, where Olympic sports updates are in every 30minutes telling us what's 44, 1960, and those numbers with the many zeroes.
Of course I'm exaggerating, but hey, the media started it first.
Oh I forgot to mention those paddlers are imports from China. I admit, I cheered for Susilo and Jiawei. Obviously?? They had my country's flag on their jerseys. Sure they weren't born in this country. You can't even say that they grew up here. One doesn't speak mandarin well, the other doesn't speak english well.
And get this: They are in a relationship. Love really transcends all boundaries.
I sidetrack again.
What about our local Swimmers? Nah there's nothing to say. They're condemned. They didn't even meet their personal bests. And Poh Seng Song? Thanks for the participation. Who else have I missed out? It's ok I guess nobody really cares.
You always hear "winning isn't everything". True. But a medal is better than no medal, any idiot will tell you that. But in our nation's desperate search for this medal, we've overlooked the glory and honour of representing the country in this sports meeting of peaceful propotions. I'm not an Olympian, I'll never experience the pain and agony of travelling there and missing out narrowly on a victory, but I feel that the press has overdone its brainwashing (or is it like this all the time?) this term. See it's so simple working for the government. When the Olympics is over, all they do is:
- write brave words. eg: "You are all winners. You've done us proud, medal or no medal."
- come up with a musical montage, capturing moments of Singaporeans in action, with Susilo and Jiawei taking up 80% of the video.
- Do this for one month from the time they touch down at Changi Airport.
- Do this every time there's a badminton or table tennis meet in the region.
- Do this in Beijing 2008, where you will be reminded of all those numerals (subject to change) I've mentioned above.
Perhaps I've spoken too soon. Jiawei plays in the 3rd-4th match later today and who knows? It's never ending though, in man's quest for excellence. If she gets a bronze, Singapore will still not have gotten a silver to match 1960, and when will Singapore's first Olympics Gold medal materialise?
Tay Cheng Koon mentioned in today's article:
And as Li jiawei tries one last time to win a medal in Athens, let us rally behind her.
If we do that, how can we lose, whatever happens?
I say let's rally for the moment, and not for the medal.
triggering Mr Ng HS |