The current Monday Artday challenge is “winter games”.
I am not a fan of the Olympics. I never have been. I have watched a total of fifteen minutes of the 2010 Winter Olympics. I watch the highlights in the morning on The Today Show before I go to work. According to NBC’s Today Show, there has been no other important or life-changing news in the world except the Winter Olympics. NBC has presented the Olympics less as a sporting event and more as a dramatic television series, playing up stories of injuries and hopes and family loss and aspirations, aiming right for America’s heartstrings.
One story this week caught my attention, but for the wrong reason. Twenty-three year old Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer lost his bid for a gold medal in the 10,000 meter competition. Kramer was instructed by his long-time coach Gerard Kemkers to cross over into the wrong lane in his seventeenth lap. Kemkers held up and waved a hand-written sign and frantically guided Kramer to an incorrect inside lane. Despite skating the course in a world record 12 minutes 54 seconds, Kramer was disqualified. South Korea’s Lee Seung-Hoon, who was in second place, took the gold.
Kramer threw what is commonly called “a shit fit”, for which he later apologized. A truly memorable Olympic moment.
Josh, I think this might be your most current story/illustration EVER! Great job. And I totally agree with your assessment of the media’s Olympic coverage. Ugh, so freakin’ pompous and overblown.
Hi Josh
Like the movement in this one – love your propogate one.
Thanks for the kind comments on my blog.
Oh Josh!! I am shocked that you only watched a bit of the games….I have been watching these for years and they always make me want to take something new up…like snowboarding this year….or maybe one day the skeleton….lol….
Imagine how many years this poor guy trained for …and then to be disqualified…wow…that is a huge blow….
Wonderful work on this piece…you are always creating history and I love your stories that go along with you wonderful illos…
Oh Josh How can you NOT love the Winter Olympics? Can’t beat Curling for real sports excitement!!