Men’s Gymnastics/Happy Birthday TWC!

FYI, THERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST!

If someone had told me when I woke up yesterday morning that by the time I went to sleep I would care passionately about men’s gymnastics, I would have told that person, “You sir or madam, are cuckoo for coco puffs,” and yet, there I was last night, living and dying with our scrappy little men’s team. (They really are scrappy and they really are little, FYI. I’m not just saying that to make fun of them. In this particular case it’s actually true.)

Watching the male gymnasts highlighted two of my favorite Olympic phenomena.

1. I love how I can sit down to watch a sport that I literally know nothing about and two hours later feel totally engaged with the sport. About four hours ago I couldn’t have named a single male gymnast in the entire world. Now I know at least a few. Let’s see….there’s Raj, and um….that kid who looks like a Staal brother, and Zach Parise, and don’t forget the delicate looking guy who apparently spent the entire year screwing up so badly that he BARELY qualified to go to Beijing, but then when called upon to save the day he KICKED ASS on the pommel horse to ward off the Germans and clinch the bronze! I’m like a men’s gymnastics EXPERT now. Just as a comparison, it took me several WEEKS of watching hockey before I became an expert.

2. I love it when teams and individuals are super pumped to win a medal, even if it is a bronze. The American team was apparently slated to go down without a whimper after Paul Hamm broke his hand and had to withdraw. But wait! Rather than wither and die, they used moxie and team spirit to capture the bronze, and they were pleased as punch to do so. Usually there is at least one team on the podium who is sour and pissy because they didn’t win the gold. I love it when the bronze and the silver medalists are entirely psyched.

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So, there I was, writing a goofy little post about men’s gymnastics, when I decided to pop over to Top Shelf to see if Heather had anything to say about the men’s gymnastics…and what do I find? OH, JUST THE NICEST THING EVER! (Heather is the best, but you knew that already.)

I totally forgot, but Heather totally remembered- today is the one year anniversary of The Willful Caboose! I know! It’s crazy! TWC is one! That’s like eleven in blog years. (How weird is it that I started a hockey blog on August 12th?)

Writing this blog has been one of the most unexpectedly rewarding things I have ever done. Of the many, many enjoyable things about writing TWC, by far the best has been the opportunity to interact with other people who love hockey, the Sabres, and Buffalo. I have made some incredible friends in the last year and I am so grateful for the experience. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who has contributed to TWC’s first year.

Happy Birthday!

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT UPDATE!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! Look at this HILARIOUS photo that the fabulous Grrreg sent to me! I had to post it here because I think it’s so impossibly cute! Crunchy has a CAKE! The gymnasts are lined up and singing!

Very, very hilariously awesome.