Without a Trace

Did anyone notice the Commonwealth Games kicking off in Melbourne today?  Or how about the Paralympic Games in Turin?  The World Baseball Classic?

If the answers to any or all of these questions are “No,” chances are you either don’t watch enough TV or the TV coverage is just that bad.  Call it an “Olympic Hangover” or an “I don’t care about any other sporting events because the World Cup is coming up in June” attitude if you want, but I remember when the Commonwealth Games used to be a big deal.  

If you think about it, international sports fans could’ve been in for a year to remember:

Winter Olympics
Winter Paralympics
Commonwealth Games
World Baseball Classic
World Cup of Soccer
Tour de France (it’ll actually be interesting without Lance)
Might be a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup
NHL Playoffs
And no doubt a host of other events I’m likely missing

In any case, North American coverage of these events is pathetic (save for the NHL Playoffs and golf events).  Let’s hope there is at least some coverage of the Commonwealth Games and the rest of the events get decent coverage as well.  Maybe that’s a lot to ask, but I’m really looking forward to Le Tour this year now that it’s actually a race among mortals.