Netflix Scores w/Olympic Doc "The Redeem Team"

Telling it like it is: this blogger has very little interest in the NBA. 

Curiosity in this area is consistently so low, I was oblivious to the 2008 Olympic basketball competition and its professional players for its entire two-year lead up to Beijing, the Games that inspired launch of this site.

Not once in China -- nor during three Olympiads and two years since -- has the five-ringed hoops competition of Beijing crossed my mind until this weekend while reading the Oct. 6 New York Times review of the new documentary "The Redeem Team" now streaming on Netflix. 

Screening the film -- combined with recent enjoyment of HBO's excellent drama-comedy series "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" -- might have finally sparked more curiosity about the NBA and its reach within the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). I definitely have a lot to learn.

Like the next person,1992's Dream Team did pique my interest, as did the '96 version, though most Atlanta team members came to my attention only through attending the unveiling of an oil painting by Bart Forbes held in a Buckhead gallery (now a Men's Wearhouse) a few weeks before the Games. 

Since that event, I've paid money only once or twice to see star players, specifically a "retiring" Michael Jordan in the late '90s, and a couple of stars from the OKC Thunder in town just after Rio 2016. And though it was personally thrilling to work with the Atlanta Hawks through PR client Philips Arena from 1999 to 2002, and exciting to stand courtside during LA's Olympic bid press events at Staples Center in 2017, professional hoops just haven't captivated me. 

Around town in Atlanta, it's fun to spot Charles Barkley dining at Nan, pass the Dominique Wilkins sculpture downtown, or read about Magic Johnson's or Shaquille O'Neal's business interests in town. Lots of Midtown residents remain eager for Shaq to fulfill his promise to rebuild the popular Ponce Krispy Kreme he owns, which was gutted by fire 18 months ago. 

Each of these NBA touch points were dusted off as "The Redeem Team" got rolling with its streaming recap of Team USA's historic dominance of Olympic basketball shut down at Athens 2004, where an unprepared assemblage of U.S. players lost a playoff round to the ultimate gold medalists from Argentina. 

Viewers learn of "Coach K" Mike Krzyzewski's recruitment to rebuild Team USA starting in 2006, as well as the public perceptions and private personas of most of the stars who signed on for the Road to Beijing, with first-time Olympian Kobe Bryant joining returning Athens 2004 Bronze Medalists LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Boozer on the quest. 

Things sort of plod along during two years of prep, but filmmaker Jon Weinbach's team does a masterful job translating tensions of the court for viewers of the doc. Consider this writer now eager to view this director's treatment of previous Olympic matters via "The Nagano Tapes" or "The Other Dream Team" populating Weinbach's IMDB profile. 

I enjoyed the last 20-30 minutes of "The Redeem Team" for the crescendo of drama it delivers. Bryant's on-court action and pre- and post-Games interview footage really drew me in and helped me "get it" how much he evolved as a player and person before his tragic death. 

Munich '72 Olympian Doug Collins' visit to the team -- to share his vantage as a would-be-gold medalist robbed by history -- juxtaposed with Coach K inviting wounded or blinded soldiers as another teambuilding action, poignantly hammered home one of the bottom lines for the 2008 U.S. squad: You had better not f*ck this up, not so much because gold is on the line, but because untold millions of patriotic fans are drawing inspiration from the team factor above any individual glory for its players. 

One of the journalists tapped for commentary eventually states of "The Redeem Team" players that, "... they're the biggest, greatest team arguably in the history of the Olympics." For some viewers this may ring true. 

For all of this film's strengths, it did not establish for this viewer enough inspiration to earn GOAT status. Not even close. 

This is no scrappy "Miracle" team of Lake Placid nor Soviet gold medal basketball team of 1972 (for better or worse, "the greatest" hoop dreamers for some Olympic fans on the other side of the world). I won't be alone in thinking of other top teams that rallied at the Games -- off the top of my head, how about the "Magnificent Seven" gymnasts, the 1996 and 2000 women's soccer teams and/or the undefeated-since-1996 U.S. women's basketball teams?

The NBA-infused 2008 team's only "Goliath" was overcoming self and pride for the sake of the team, which they did admirably. Watching this team get their act together is a fun ride. 

Image credits: Coach K in Beijing via UPI; '96 team painting by Bart Forbes, Redeem Team photo w/Statue of Liberty via USA Basketball, "The Redeem Team" promo still via Netflix and IMDB. 

Munich Olympic History 50 Years In The Making

Fifty years ago this month, two big events shaped my lifetime of Olympic memories. 

First and foremost, my parents wrapped up their European honeymoon in Munich, and this blogger arrived on the scene at an Oklahoma City hospital nine months later. 

Second, not long after their USA flight home, the Games of the XXth Olympiad opened in the Bavarian capital, presenting one of the most memorable and talked about Summer Games, at once creating five-ringed legacies across a spectrum from international tragedy and response to best in class positive results for long-term use of Olympic-built venues. 

This short film from the IOC and Munich Tourism vividly portrays Munich at 50. 

Later this week I'll be heading to Munich for my fourth visit since 2009 (fifth if you count my "baby on board" status as mom returned stateside in 1972), and this time two big Olympic history events will unfold during the visit. 

Starting Friday, the International Society of Olympic Historians (ISOH.org) hosts three days of annual General Assembly meetings during which members from across Europe and around the globe will convene to discuss the organization's progress since 2021 and outlook for 2023 to Paris 2024. 

Programmed events include two formal member presentations related to study of Munich's Games, and less formally attendees have an opportunity to visit the Pinakothek der Moderne museum exhibition titled "The Olympic City of Munich" on view through early January (I hope to also peek at the adjacent exhibit "Designing for the Olympics" open through Oct. 3). 

On a more somber note, Sept. 5 marks the 50th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Israeli quarters at Munich Olympic Village address 31 Connollystrasse, steps away from the hotel where many ISOH attendees will stay. As reported by The New York Times and other news outlets, the German government will host memorial services for the anniversary with some Israeli Olympic family survivors' attendance in doubt. 

There are actually two memorial events scheduled Monday, and I applied for media credentials for both, with the first taking place at the relatively new (dedicated in 2017) memorial site just north of the Olympiapark. 

Named the Erinnerungsort Olympia-Attentat (place of remembrance of the Olympic attack), the modest venue built into a berm in the woods provides a quiet place to reflect, read history or view a continuous loop of video details educating passersby about September 1972. 

ISOH plans a wreath-laying presentation as part of its Saturday agenda, with invited dignitaries and media -- and an array of security measures -- anticipated for the Bavarian Government-hosted formal ceremony two days later. 

The second memorial will take place at Furstenfeldbruck, now a decommissioned German air base, where nine Israeli Olympians and one German police officer, along with most of the terrorists, perished in a botched rescue during the early hours of Sept. 6. With a long chart of A-list attendees expected, it's no surprise the media background check procedures are extensive. 

Gearing up for the anniversary, earlier this summer I reread excerpts from Simon Reeve's thorough book about the Munich Massacre. A recent downsizing/cleanup project also yielded my Mankato State University journalism history class paper about the Times' cover stories from Munich in the week following the attack. And thanks to a combination of streaming services, I viewed for the first time, or rewatched, three provocative films about the massacre. 

Each movie provides thoroughly researched and recreated portrayals of Sept. 5-6, 1972, with brief summaries and where to stream summarized here:

"One Day In September" (currently free via Tubi), the 1999 Oscar winner for best documentary, includes a dramatic tour of 31 Connollystrasse with a surviving Israeli Olympic athlete who literally ran for his life to create a diversion that may have helped save other teammates. Director Kevin Macdonald also landed a rare interview with one of the only surviving Palestinian terrorists as well as the widows and surviving adult children of at least two of the Israeli team members. 

Narrated by Michael Douglas and chillingly set to music by Led Zeppelin, Charles Wright, Deep Purple, Craig Armstrong, Philip Glass and Moby, there's not a dry eye in the house at the touching end of this thorough work of nonfiction. Like Macdonald's later documentary "Whitney" there is a doozy of a tragic reveal during penultimate scenes. 

"Munich" (for rental via Prime Video and Red Box) is Steven Spielberg's Oscar-nominated and stirring drama on Israel's response to the terrorist attacks set to a Grammy-winning score by John Williams. In an unpublished review scribed for an Atlanta newspaper, I wrote in Dec. 2005 that ... 

Through 'Munich' the creator of fiction greats 'E.T.' and 'Jaws' presents his take on nonfiction events at the Summer Games in Germany during which 11 Israeli Olympians died at the hands of Black September terrorists. For those who did not see this tragedy unfold in real time, it was the decade's 9/11 -- 'Munich' is an excellent film that could get people talking around the water cooler. After opening with actual news footage, Spielberg later portrays the events of Sept. 5-6 mostly with historic accuracy and in gruesome detail unveiled through flashback dreams of an Israeli intelligence agent (Eric Bana) chosen to lead a secret hit squad to take down surviving planners of the Munich attack. 

Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush gives and outstanding performance as Bana's primary government contact as the team assassinates Black September members in Rome, Paris, Athens and other landmark cities. With each successful hit the proverb about "first digging two graves before seeking revenge" becomes more apt, and the film succeeds for inspiring questions about retribution.

"21 Hours at Munich" (currently free via Tubi) provided William Holden his other (not "Network") starring role of 1976 as the German response chief thrust onto the world stage in this made for TV movie of American Broadcasting Corporation. 

The inclusion of seldom-seen, once live ABC News footage and authentic scenes filmed in the actual spaces or vehicles of the attack/rescue attempt -- including one of the helicopters flown as part of the athlete and police airlift -- slightly make up for the regrettably dry script that attempted, but did not achieve, the drama in real life tension of three years before. Shirley Knight's supporting role as an Olympic Village staff member is also noteworthy. 

These are just three of more than a dozen films released since the attack, and more are likely to follow. 

Just today, the International Olympic Committee today issued a press release to publicize the new production titled "72 - A Gathering of Champions" (streaming free via Olympic Channel) featuring the 2022 Germany return of 10 Munich medalists including Olga Korbut and Mark Spitz as well as Kip Keino entering their fields of play for the first time in decades. 

The trailer gave me all the best Olympic chills and brought to mind another German term ... verklempt.

Image credits: First two photos by Nicholas Wolaver taken at Munich Olympiapark in July 2022; image of 31 Connollystrasse entry door and memorial via this site which credits "dpa"; Olympiapark Memorial photo via this link; image of Furstenfeldbruck on 6 Sept. 1972 via Polizeiarchiv Munchen; film posters via IMDB; Time magazine cover by Michael Grecco; 72 - A Gathering of Champions image via IOC. Photo below by Nicholas Wolaver in July 2022. 

From Trading to Swap Our Places

Earlier this month experiencing the Atlanta debut of "Trading Places: The Musical" inspired a post. 

Almost every day since, mass media reports provided regular reminders of another tune with a people swapping theme, thanks to Netflix, as Kate Bush enjoys new love for "Running Up That Hill." 

For anyone recently under a rock, the new season of "Stranger Things" includes an apparently crucial scene set to Bush's 1985 lyrics on a repeating loop of the running part. The catchier part of the song, for this blogger, is ...  

"And if I only could, I'd make a deal with God, and I'd get Him to swap our places."

My limited experience with "Stranger Things" and its otherworldly elements made me think a different, lesser known Bush song might be more apt ("Hello Earth" with its murder of calm, anyone?).  

But it's satisfying to see "Running Up That Hill" ascending the Billboard charts (as high as No. 4 as of this post). Go, Kate!

It took no Google search to know when this tune enjoyed one of its earlier renaissances. For those at London Olympic Stadium for the 2012 Closing Ceremony, few have forgotten the evening's premiere of an updated version timed to debut on the world's stage. 

Sadly, the reclusive performer was not there in person (trust me, many were looking for her -- in the YouTube video below featuring this segment of the ceremony, you might spot me on the lookout from my upgraded seat near the cauldron). The next day she said the occasion was brilliant! (It would have been more so with a surprise live appearance.)

More recently, Bush granted a rare interview about the "Stranger Things" phenomenon with a BBC reporter, according to Rolling Stone. 

Growing up in Oklahoma during Bush's 1980s heyday, her works seldom got air time on pop stations, so personal fluency with her works only started in my college years (1991-1995). I do recall strong emotions when "This Woman's Work" perfectly complemented the hospital climax of "She's Having A Baby" (which the "Stranger Things" fan set might enjoy for different dose of nostalgia). 

My first and only purchase from her catalog is "Hounds of Love" which was part of this writer's 1999 soundtrack for the first year of agency work at The Headline Group -- must have played that CD a thousand or more times, now back in rotation during urban drives, thanks to recent coverage. 

One hopes the current resurgence would inspire some additional live performances like the 2014 residency in London. I'd get on a plane for such sensations. 

Photo via EMI

Alliance Theatre and Kenny Leon Deliver Fresh Laughs Through 'Trading Places: The Musical!"

The evening of June 3 provided a fun opportunity to experience "Trading Places: The Musical!" now in previews at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. 

Like "The Prom" which earlier enjoyed its world debut on the same stage -- later to make it to Broadway, the Tony Awards and the big screen -- the fresh take on the 1983 film starring Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis is, in my view and the eyes of others, very likely to make it to the Great White Way as well. 

"Trading Places: The Musical!" is a very funny, crowd-pleasing comedy directed by Kenny Leon (Tony winner for "A Raisin In The Sun") with writing from Thomas Lennon ("Reno 9-1-1"). 

Music and lyrics were composed by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, and whether or not you've screened the source material, from the opening number portraying the City of Brotherly Love, laughs abound. 

Incidentally, GamesBids.com reports that Philly was an Olympic bid candidate at least four times, and the lyrics to the first song performed by everyday Philadelphians aptly ring out any local's likely thick-accented response after losing the bids, with a flipping of the bird punctuated by the shouted directive "Screw Youse!" 

This and 15 other songs also provide a clever new take on "Trading Places" while remaining true to the cinematic source material. 

The tweaks work well, and audience members responded with generous applause for the female version of Murphy's Billy Ray Valentine -- now Billie -- especially through her solos with lyrics at once soulful and silly. 

I also loved the recreation of Aykroyd's Louis Winthorpe III, especially while he's negotiating the pawn shop price of his $6,000 gold timepiece. His lyrical lamentations that follow have their own Swiss wristwatch-like precision and an apt nod to Gstaad.

Another tweak that resonates is Curtis' streetwalker Ophelia replaced with an equally energetic character named Phil Lopez, described by an ArtsATL.org critic and Lennon as "a gay man ... who performs in drag at a piano bar." Some of the funniest scenes involve Phil's gender reveals -- one including a spicy dance number choreographed with a janitorial floor buffing machine -- that are reminiscent of laughs in "Some Like It Hot."

One portly, self-proclaimed bad guy -- this production's answer to King George III in "Hamilton" -- nearly steals the show as the henchman Mr. Beeks, while all of the main characters and performers also have great, likeable parts and surprising one-liners even when their dastardly deeds take shape. If there is anything I would recommend for revisions to the production, it would be simply to add another Beeks number toward the end of the show (according to Lennon's interview with ArtsATL, there was a conscious decision not to go gorilla as in the film, but some other modernized on-stage explanation of his demise might be fun for this foe of everyone). 

Even when some songs seem to be at their most serious there are clever Easter eggs for chuckles that keep things very light. When Winthorpe and his fiancee discover they enjoy love over money, for instance, they admit they won't object to still "having some" funds aplenty. Many in the audience were at their most gleeful as one confused character repeatedly belted out "What the fuck is going on?!" (answer: musical hilarity). 

In an after-intermission scene there is a clever set and lighting design that is creative, comical and realistic for its well-timed passenger choreography to portray rumbles and tunnels along the track. 

By the show's margin call conclusion, fans nearly cheered for an encore while exclaiming (Don Ameche-style) "Turn those machines back on! Turn those machines back on!"

While describing this musical to a friend, I mentioned that "Avenue Q" and "Book of Mormon" (and perhaps even "The Prom") remain on their own, higher plains for crass lyrical laughs. "Trading Places: The Musical" has many strengths that resonate with a similar F-bomb count.  

"We are doing a musical comedy ... that allows one to express themselves through dance, through singing, through words," said Leon, in a radio interview with WABE's Lois Reitzes. "At the beginning of the musical we have two older white men sitting at a table that is probably two-feet wide and they won't let anyone around that table [and] their business."

Leon continued: "At the end of the play what you see is a table that is 20-feet long headed by a black woman [who] invites everybody to be at that table. We're trying to say, 'we've just got to make the table bigger in our country [and] the table should include everyone.' It's a very loving musical that I am excited to bring into the world."

The bottom line is anyone in Atlanta during June may treat themselves to an early edition of this gem likely destined to make it rain plenty of green on Broadway. 

Photos by Greg Mooney via Alliance Theatre

Never Promised A Rose Garden, 600+ Team USA Olympians & Paralympians Visit One At White House

Continuing a decades-long tradition, The White House formally hosted Team USA’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes of Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 on Wednesday morning. 

The gathering was a well-organized, grand celebration of America's best, delivering fun memories for all on the scene. 

Approaching 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. on foot, positive vibes channeled with sounds of a military marching band (playing a five-ringed John Williams medley) and sights of aptly-branded "Chariots for Hire" buses from which arriving athletes descended. 

When the musicians performed "One Moment In Time" as media waited by the West Wing, I was beaming, sensing the day might be enough of a consolation prize for missing two pandemic Olympiads.

For this blogger, this third time visit was a charmer in terms of stepping "on campus" (lingo of those employed there) at the Executive Residence. 

Previously, I posted from the October visit following Rio 2016 hosted by the Obamas and the comparatively muted festivities of April following PyeongChang 2018 with many of the Clown Car (err, Insane Clown Posse?) cabinet members of that era in attendance. 

All three events took place on overcast days, with 2016's gathering in one of the ballrooms and 2018's remarks delivered under the North Portico. 

The May 5 ceremony, held on the South Lawn of the Executive Residence, was perhaps the first in history to include competitors of both summer and winter Olympiads together with over 600 uniformed athletes filling a temporary grandstand. 

Hundreds of invited guests including family members of attending sportspersons -- as well as several dozen White House correspondents or visiting Olympic media -- also enjoyed remarks by President Joe Biden, first lady and five-time bobsleigh medalist Elana Meyers Taylor. 

Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff also attended, receiving with the Bidens a set of special uniforms and shoes presented by the Olympians and Paralympians. A brief clip featuring the national anthem performed live is here:

“The Bidens are a big sports family, and we love watching the Olympics,” said President Biden after brief remarks by the first lady, who led the Team USA delegation in Japan. “Jill came home from Tokyo, all she could do was talk about you all constantly. You think I'm kidding – I'm not!”

Though he was playing for laughs, Biden was serious about his Games-time fandom. Similar to the FLOTUS, as vice president, Biden led a Team USA delegation to Vancouver 2010 (my first of several converging paths with Joe). 

On Wednesday the president also expressed appreciation for the uniting spirit the athletes provide, citing 18 U.S. military veterans among the 2020 and 2022 competitors. He also noted the challenges of COVID-19 navigated on the journeys to Tokyo and Beijing. 

“The pandemic made training and competing especially difficult and draining, but you did it,” said Biden. “You all did it, and we were in awe not just of your incredible athleticism but your endurance and your state of mind -- but most of all your character.  You all have such incredible character.”

“As a team … we’ve been through a lot,” said Meyers Taylor. “We came together, and we persevered, and we hope we’ve made this country proud.”

As she spoke, I reminisced about meeting Meyers Taylor in Sochi, her second stop along the journey to become the most decorated Black Winter Olympian and the most decorated female Olympic bobsledder. 

Opting to maintain a celebratory tone for the occasion, during their South Lawn remarks, the president and first lady did not mention Olympians of other nations—such as the unresolved Russian doping controversies of Beijing 2022 that prevented medal presentations for the figure skating team competition—nor world events such as the Russo-Ukrainian War. 

Also unmentioned: Team USA’s two-time women’s Olympic basketball champion and WNBA center Brittney Griner, who was detained for allegedly possessing vape pen cartridges with hashish oil upon arrival at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on Feb. 17. 

In an interview with USA Today published Monday, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said the organization supports efforts to hasten Griner’s return stateside. 

Speaking of the national Gannett newspaper, I wound up spending most of the ceremony in proximity to legendary sports columnist Christine Brennan—a fellow May 14 birthday celebrant—and she kindly swapped Games-time stories of 1984 to present while newsgathering for her column and also introducing other reporters and Olympic figure skating champion Sarah Hughes (thanks, Christine!).

In a media scrum at a White House visit countdown event on Monday, Hirshland also called for sporting sanctions of Russia, according to the Washington Post Olympic reporter Les Carpenter, who was also reporting from the South Lawn. 

No basketball athletes from USA attended Wednesday’s South Lawn event, according to a list distributed to media by The White House Press Office. Also absent: Shaun White, Mikaela Shiffrin, Simone Biles, soccer stars and A-listers of track and field. 

The festive mood and camaraderie, however, seemed to bestow many with all the feels. 

Over in the Rose Garden, tables were stacked with healthy snacks, and some athletes posted selfies or other photos and videos including an impromptu dance from ground floor rooms of the Executive Mansion, revealing some interiors illuminated in red and blue. 

After the president’s South Lawn remarks, the Bidens and the vice president remained with the athletes for several minutes to shake hands, share congratulatory messages and pose for photos. 

We spotted White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki uncharacteristically fangirling with a few Olympic stars (believe it, I was also star-struck, but then again, "When in Rome ..." or "When on The White House campus" applies, yes?).  

Soon after Wednesday’s gathering, pole vault champion Katie Nageotte shared videos online, captioned with the message, “White House visit with Team USA! Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity!”

In some ways, the post-event wind-down created the most impactful and funny moments of the experience. 

In addition to brief intros with Hughes and Olympic beach volleyball champion April Ross, Olympians Katie Ledecky, Reggie Jagers III, monobob champion Kaillie Humphries and figure skating medalist Vincent Zhou each worked the rope line with reporters. 

The nicest surprise was a brief reunion with Olympic diver Katrina Young. 

A few days after her Olympic debut in Rio, we first met in a crowd of wishful fans vying to talk our way into the men's basketball final with only our Games credentials. Equally ticketless, she made it to the game. Sadly, I did not. 

Months later, recalling that brief introduction, we got acquainted at the Team USA Gala for 2016 Olympians in Washington the night before each of our first visits to The White House. We both got in the building that time, but by earning her Olympian status, only Young got to sit in the rooms where it happens. It was fun to reconnect in person after occasional Facebook Messenger or Instagram messages during the pandemic. 

There was also a renewal of Olympic joy—severely depleted by the pandemic's many challenges—in the form of a few pin trades, including the hot design du jour given to White House visitors by the USOPC in patriotic, high-quality cloissone (see photo). 

If only the designers at pin manufacturer HONAV could get the Olympic rings on these Team USA designs! 

And finally, the day provided a return visit to the James Brady Press Briefing Room, the theater/workroom for many of the nation's best reporters and publicists/political advisers-turned-press secretaries. I have a lot of respect for Psaki restoring professionalism and decency to this hallowed ground, and was hoping to shake her hand and tell her so. 

As it turned out, the Team USA visit delayed the afternoon's scheduled briefing, creating a short window for me to instead strike a pose, all in good fun. My caption on social channels was, "Psaki was at lunch, so ..." 

Quoting Nageotte again, "Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity!"

Looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, here's hoping this horseplay avoided inspiring placement of my name on future no-entry lists, and that additional Olympic reporters may enjoy Team USA visit to The White House down the road.

According to The White House Historical Association, U.S. Olympic athletes have visited the mansion as far back as 1924, with a Team USA delegation from Tokyo 1964 among the earliest-cited full-team ceremonies hosted by a sitting president. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt hosted members of the U.S. Olympic team of London at his “Summer White House” home on the north shore of Long Island, N.Y. 

Earlier in the week I was hopeful the team at Keep The Flame Alive might be able to attend on the heels of their first in-person Games reporting from Beijing. Though there are no promises of a rose garden, in conversation we concured next time is a must!

Photos by Nicholas Wolaver. Portions of this post were first published by Around The Rings on May 5. 

Beijing Welcomes Few

In a few hours, the XXIV Winter Olympic Games officially open in Beijing. 

I hope it is a great success, and suspect it will be on several fronts, though its high points will likely be drowned out by an array of tethered topics in the news.

One perplexing topic is Russia's president attending the Opening Ceremony at which his nation's athletes may only compete under the Olympic Committee (ROC) banner. 

Maybe if viewers look closely enough they'll see the testicles or spines of various IOC members (opting not to enforce doping-related bans nor acknowledge human rights issues during host nation selection) in the back pockets or VIP gift bags of Vladimir Putin and PRC President Xi Jinping. 

Of the two cities that presented final bids to the IOC, my vote was for Almaty. How cool it would have been -- very nice! -- to visit a new corner of the world, Kazakhstan. I'd like to think some of the recent protests in that nation preventable had the city been on its home stretch in Games preparation. 

I was also passionate about Munich's potential bid -- converted briefly from their failed 2018 quest -- regrettably withdrawn after close municipal votes showed lack of Bavarian public support due to soaring costs of hosting. 

Boo, Bavarians!

Even on the July 2015 day with Beijing secured the Games, my thought was, "Meh, potentially one Games to skip." Working and residing in China for a month in 2008 was enough for this lifetime, it then seemed.

But I started warming up to the 2022 Games after seeing some of the new venues, notably The Ice Ribbon speed skating oval (left) and the ski jump complex. It's also good to see the iconic Bird's Nest and Water Cube (now Ice Cube) getting more use as both structures are spectacular. The mascot Bing Dwen Dwen makes me smile, as did the abbreviated Olympic Torch Relay underway for just three days. 

It also made me grin to receive a Beijing Olympic media accreditation last month. Unfortunately, limited and over-priced seats on the small batches of international charter flights to China -- combined with my current client responsibilities and the nebulous complexities of the COVID clearances to get inside the Olympic bubble -- led me to stay put in Atlanta. Kudos and best wishes to the team from Keep The Flame Alive podcast for successfully navigating the system and making it to China!

Breathing easy without the stresses of travel, designing a new blog pin (at right) for this Olympiad proved relaxing and fun. 

And it's exciting to see several athletes getting their shot at Olympic glory. After her successful gold mining in PyeongChang, I enjoyed an opportunity to ask Mikaela Shiffrin her goals on her journey to Beijing. Can hardly wait to see her successes at her third Games. 

It will be fun to see what other surprises emerge from Beijing. Predictions: Sarah Brightman performs at the Opening or Closing (as in 2008); the final torchbearer will be a child (or group of kids) or a robot; and we'll all learn some new sports-centric vocabulary akin to "the twisties" of Tokyo. 

We can also look forward and continue counting the days to Milano-Cortina 2026!

Image credits: Beijing 2022's Instagram; AFP and EPA from this site.

Split Decision on Ken Burns' Film "Muhammad Ali"

When PBS premiered the three-part documentary "Hemingway" from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick in April, the network also teased "Muhammad Ali" set to debut Sept. 19. 

The trailer brought to mind another network's slogan: "Must See TV." 

Reminders also arrived printed on monthly statements from Bank of America, the lead corporate funder of the boxing legend project reportedly in the works for more than five years. Here's a trailer for those who haven't seen it: 

Pretty much anything Ali -- among the most admired Olympians and individuals of all time by this blogger and billions of others -- captivates my attention, and I marked my calendar to request media access to a preview screener. 

The series was worth the wait and well worth the eight hours of advance viewing time this past week, and I encourage anyone interested in history, sports, race relations, faith and understanding, inspirational narratives, the Olympics and professional boxing and/or Ali to make time for the broadcast or streaming of "Muhammad Ali."

As with other documentary deep dives for which Burns is known, this film co-directed with his daughter Sarah Burns and her husband David McMahon takes viewers on a thoroughly detailed journey of the legendary boxer's life. It's organized into four two-hour episodes titled:

• "Round One: The Greatest" (1942 to 1964) on the boxer's upbringing and initial ascent to stardom
• "Round Two: What's My Name?" (1964 to 1970) framing the fighter's professional feats and struggles to defend his beliefs including his faith-based name change
• "Round Three: The Rivalry" (1970 to 1974) showcasing legendary bouts with Joe Frazier, and 
• "Round Four: The Spell Remains" (1974 to 2016) detailing the peaks, valleys, challenges and opportunities experienced by the champ in his later years.

Many narratives about Ali rely on his Olympic successes of 1960 and 1996 as "bookends" and the new documentary also employs this format. Therefore, it was not surprising that most of the boxer's Rome 1960 feats were already packaged and revealed only 35 minutes into Episode One. 

The film delivers surprises including new-to-my-eyes images from the 1960 Olympic trials at San Francisco's Cow Palace, footage of ABC's Jim McKay in his first Olympic broadcast gig (foreshadowing The Champ's later "Wide World of Sports" clips), and celebrities or fellow Olympians with whom Ali connected as he became the unofficial Olympic Village "mayor." 

Also pleasing through all four episodes was an original score by Jahlil Beats and soundtrack selections from Beyonce, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Ray Charles and The Rolling Stones, among others. Narration by Keith David -- whose voice some may recognize for the question "Is it the frank or the beans?" in "There's Something About Mary" -- also caught my attention. 

In addition to Games-related moments or players, I was looking for more details about Atlanta's role in Ali's return to fighting after his ban for conscientious objection (a timeline detail first learned through the city's Civil Rights Tour a few years ago).

The film delivered the city's first major cameo about an hour and 40 minutes into Episode Two, with grainy Channel 2 footage of interviews with local yokels, Ali's weigh-in and fight with Jerry Quarry at Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, and Coretta Scott King's post-bout presentation of a Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Award (spoiler alert: she appears again in footage from July 19, 1996). 

In a five-ringed sense, "Muhammad Ali" ultimately includes Olympians Ali, his final Rome opponent (1956 and 1964 Olympic bronze medalist Zbigniew Pietrzykowki of Poland), Wilma Rudolph, Rafer Johnson, boxers Frazier (1964 Tokyo), George Foreman (Mexico City 1968) and Leon Spinks (Montreal 1976). Nods are also given for Dr. Tommie Smith and John Carlos as well as Michael Johnson. 

Later, in the footage of Ali lighting the Olympic Cauldron in Atlanta, Evander Holyfield (Los Angeles 1984) and Olympic swimming champion Janet Evans also appear without commentary, as did brief reference to Jesse Owens. Off-camera contributions also are credited to Bob Costas, Dick Ebersol, the USOPC and IOC. International Society of Olympic Historians (ISOH) was not engaged, according to Burns' spokesperson. A full list of historian and other expert contributors appears in the "Muhammad Ali" press release and IMDB page.

By the time the teenage Cassius Clay enjoyed a congratulatory Olympic champion parade through downtown Louisville, he already had 100 other boxing wins under his belt. This stat sets up an easy segue for Burns & Co. to next unfurl about seven hours of non-Olympic history before the Games' return in Episode Four. 

This documentary taught me a lot about Ali while reminding me of -- or filling in a few blanks during -- the arcs of his career that earned the respect and adulation of millions (and later billions) juxtaposed with loathing condemnation of others. I knew of Ali's biggest fights and had seen footage from some of them but did not know the detailed back-stories for each bout, and some of them are fascinating. 

The film delves into Ali's evolving faith and its impact both personally and on the public through the Civil Rights Movement and antiwar sentiments as his star rose. Burns' eight-hour compendium also succeeds when it reveals Ali's very human choices in respect to sins of vanity and adultery, and the filmmakers are generous when reporting on Ali's generosity to charities large and small. His outrageous youthful taunts are balanced later with humble reckonings informed by age and experience. 

In an email exchange with the publicist for Mr. Burns, I asked about what, if any, biggest surprises about Ali's Olympic endeavors were revelations for the filmmakers. 

"The[re] weren't revelations but just appreciating how young [Ali] was in 1960 was extraordinary," wrote the spokesperson. "And of course the grace with which he handled the Olympics in 1996."

Indeed the scenes of Ali on July 19 a quarter-century ago are moving. In an informative promotional webinar conversation for the film held on that anniversary two months ago, Burns spoke about the film while Evans, the penultimate 1996 Olympic torchbearer, shared insights from the experience of meeting Ali in front of 3 billion people. 

"If this is a film about freedom, it is also a film about courage," said Burns. "From the start we wanted to humanize him."

Though Evans was not interviewed for "Muhammad Ali" she shared perspective on the "Conversations" episode. 

"When he was holding the torch it was for everyone," Evans said. "He was saying show up, be present, find your voice, tell your story, make a difference."

For all its greatness, Burns' documentary painted some broad strokes that left me wanting more detail. For instance, there's way more to the story of Ali's super-secret final torchbearer designation, and more time and interviews -- with Evans or Ambassador Andrew Young, who loves telling his story of time spent with Ali on July 19, 1996 -- could have easily filled in viewers with more perspective on that glorious reveal on the big night. 

I also found it hokey that only seconds into his stadium entrance footage, the soundtrack for "Muhammad Ali" swells with an ill-timed cue for "I'll Take The Long Road" by Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens (love this song, mind you, but viewers could do without the guitar distracting from the drama of the real life moment that launched billions of gasps). 

Also, how could a filmmaking team that did such a deep dive on Country music resist mentioning how Ali's semi-autobiographical 1977 feature film "The Greatest" later inspired Whitney Houston to record one of her biggest hits "The Greatest Love of All" despite objections from producer Clive Davis? Was this an oversight (I doubt it)? A recording rights or royalties issue (maybe)?

I was also hopeful the film would include Ali's later Olympic moments, like lighting the first torch of the 2002 Winter Olympic torch relay at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.
Mitt Romney was there and could have spoken with Burns about Ali's selection for this honor, which built on a tradition established with Rafer Johnson in 1984/1996. Mention of Ali's final Olympic appearance at the London Olympic Opening Ceremony in 2012 also made my wish list but did not survive editing (if ever it was considered). 

Burns & Co. seemed more interested in rushing to other conclusions, even cutting short footage from the star-studded memorial service with speeches by President Bill Clinton, Bryant Gumble, Billy Crystal and several faith leaders watched by 1 billion worldwide. Will I be the only Sept. 2021 "Muhammad Ali" viewer who thought Burns' team could or should have included more than one minute of funeral procession footage? Only time will tell. 

Zero inclusion of the IOC's presentation of a replacement Olympic medal in Atlanta was a head-scratcher, too. Was this "boring" to the production and writing team? Or filmmaker indifference? 

Perhaps a clue to the answer arrived in their spokesperson's response to a question about other documentary filmmakers (Leni Riefenstahl, Bud Greenspan) with Olympic-inspired connections. 

Q: "What aspects of your [Ali] research may inspire you to revisit the Olympic Movement through your filmmaking in the future?"

A: "There is no plan to do a film on the Olympic Movement."

Bummer -- that's a hard "no" on any potential "Ken Burns effect" treatment for Baron Pierre de Coubertin. 

But almost everyone has an Ali story or moment to share, and to their credit the Florentine Films team covers all the right bases without getting distracted by some populist options. 

This preview/review thus results with a split decision in favor of and highly recommending "Muhammad Ali" by Burns, Burns and McMahon -- definitely must-see TV even for those who may still hunger for more of The Greatest. 

Promo image via PBS; Ali image in Rome via uncredited Pinterest post; Ali with Howard Bingham and Janet Evans by "PA" via Irish News; Ali fighting Quarry in Atlanta via Joe Holloway, Jr. of AP and this WABE link; Coretta Scott King with Ali via The King Center's Twitter feed; Ali with Mitt Romney via Chris Stanford/Getty Images in Harvard Law Bulletin; Neil Liefer/Getty Images via About Photography Blog. Photos of Ken Burns by Evan Barlow, Sarah Burns by Michael Lionstar and David McMahon by Sarah Burns courtesy of PBS Pressroom.