Healthcare Matters

Given all the media exposure, a growing list of Olympic sports have become popular fodder for mocking, but synchronized swimming actually deserves it. Sure, you’ve got rhythmic gymnastics making a challenge, but what those athletes can do with a hula hoop, rubber ball and a piece of ribbon is far more imaginative than the two or three ideas that I know I have.

Esther Williams first introduced Americans to the entertainment value, but these sports are actually huge in Eastern Europe –providing evidence that what used to go on behind the iron curtain should have stayed there. But I digress.

Did you know that men are lobbying hard –and apparently with some success– to compete at the Olympic level in these “sports”? I know, I would be showing my age were I to point out that I simply don’t want to live long enough to see that happen, so I just won’t.

But can you imagine?

Where does it end? Why not sanction baby beauty pageants or bring back live pigeon shooting? The point is, if the IOC can drop golf, lacrosse, polo, cricket, croquet, softball, hand ball, power boating and tug of war, should men’s synchronized swimming be given a realistic chance?

I know what you’re thinking. It’s those nose clips. They simply have to go. Not that they look any better on the women…

I’m just trying to do a public service here. Forget for a moment about the prospect of men participating in these sports. Let’s assume it ultimately comes to pass. But the sport would do itself a long term favor (e.g. the judges could give higher marks for near death routines) if everyone would just lose those nose clips.

Have a great weekend,

—Tom Finn