A prostitute is better than your wife: 10 lessons these Olympics taught me
As we farewell the spectacle that has been the 2012 Olympics and begin to enter the withdrawal phase (what else will curb my 1am insomnia), it is now the time to reflect on what we have learnt from London’s greatest attraction.
1. Celebrity always sells
Yes, you can win Gold for your country, avoid talking yourself up via social networking sites and walk with your head held high knowing you have the respect of your country. Sadly though, it wont get you airtime or trending on Twitter.
Struggling to win Gold and attention? Then latch onto your nearest NBA player! Stephanie Rice and her recent sightings with (married) Kobe Bryant have been the topic of much discussion, and sadly the office water cooler chat has thrived on this “friendship” more than Sally Pearson’s Wonder Woman effort. Shame on us all.
2. Walk/Jog/Run: Bolt is the best
Or more to the point, Usain Bolt is the greatest Olympian to date. Becoming the only man ever to successfully defend both the 100- and 200-meter titles at an Olympics.
Not enough for Bolt, he also ran in a third Gold medal with a convincing win alongside his Jamaican teammates in the 400-meter relay dash breaking a world record.
An entertainer if ever we have seen one, Bolt brings the excitement and flare a once remarkable Muhammad Ali first had us witness.
3. Don’t speak too soon
If only James Magnussen had a time machine, or even better, a Gold Medal. But alas, this 21-year old is now known for is ego after having talked himself up months into the games only to misfire when the opportunity beckoned.
To be fair he is the 100-metre freestyle world champion, but talk is cheap when you can only come up with a bronze. On a brighter note, one of the top related search terms when googling Magnussen’s is: “Does James Magnussen have a girlfriend?”
Nice work Jimmy – just less talk and more action in Rio please.
4. Team USA is better than the 1992 Dream Team
Oh yes, she did. Sorry to disappoint, but we have to be fair and look at the facts.
In 1992 Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were on the way out. Johnson hadn’t played in that season of the NBA. Michael Jordan was emerging as top dog. But the 2012 version of Team USA are all fighting fit and not one is on the brink of retirement.

I’m not disrespecting Bird or Johnson at all, but the original Dream Team was a debuting team filled with the hopes and dreams of all Americans. Heck, even the rest of the world rooted for them!
Their Gold medal and domination will always be remembered in history. But todays team is simply electric, faster and more explosive. Don’t hate me for saying it, it’s too late. I just did.
5. A prostitue is better than your wife
For the sake of only £150, now disqualified 100 metre former world champ Kim Collins could have done the deed with a London call girl and still gotten back to the Olympic village without anyone noticing his absence.
Instead Collins took the gamble to spend the night with his wife in a nearby hotel costing him his place in the heats and what would have been his 5th time representing Saint Kitts and Nevis at the Olympics.
6. Don’t leave Kiwis in charge of the BBQ
As Kiwis fled the scene of their Olympic fan headquarters in London, the shouts of “Too much weights, not enough speed work” could be heard in the distance. Congregating to talk about all things Black and White, this BBQ soon turned into a fiery blaze when the barbecue gas cylinders exploded. London firefighters soon rushed to the scene to put the blaze out, and all was “Beached Az” in no time.
7. You don’t need a country to compete
The Olympics are never short on heartwarming tales full of characters that showcase strength and courage. Refugee Guor Marial is this games story.
Wearing neutral colours, he competed in the marathon representing the world as an invited runner under the IOC’s flag.
Born in Sudan, kidnapped and forced into slave labour eventually escaping and then learning English from Sesame Street, Marile’s now independent country South Sudan does not yet have an Olympic committee.
Marial sat and watched the opening ceremony on the TV as he did not have a passport, but eventually paperwork was rushed through and got the chance to live his dream.
8. We are only Aus Zealand when the Aussies are losing
Just like Australia latched on to New Zealand in the FIFA 2010 World Cup, the shifty Aussies did it again.
Back in 2010, newspapers coined the term “Australasia” when things were not going as planned for the Socceroos, and by crikey they have again gone with that same plan. Faking a friendship with the Kiwis, the Aussies merged the Trans Tasman medal tally and “Aus Zealand” was born.
Needless to say now Australia finished with more Gold, Aus Zealand is no where to be found in the headlines, disappearing as quickly as the Australian swimming teams’ credibility.
9. Glitter and sequins still in fashion
Gymnastic fashion that is. No you were not watching a repeat of Flashdance or Kylie’s ‘Locomotion’ video clip. Where every other sporting uniform has evolved through time, Gymnastics has stood still. Then there are the scrunchies. Like a cockroach surviving a nuclear explosion, the elastic hair tie best know for its 1980′s dominance just does not want to die. We wish it would.
10. Great Britain are sooks
This is a well-known fact, but this time I am being literal. It appears the people at The Wall Street Journal did some research and came to the conclusion that Team GB have led the way in the 2012 crying medals. The US winners only balled their eyes out 17% at this year’s Games, but Team GB came home strong with 37.5% of the athletes blubbering.
For the record China cried the least with only 7%. I have already made my own conclusion that Australia cried the most when awarded Silver.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
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August 13th 2012 @ 8:50am
rl said | August 13th 2012 @ 8:50am | Report comment
I think that should be “bawled” (unless I missed some double entendre?), and yes based on the extremely large sample provided, the Aussies are excellent at bawling over silver. Gold is soooo 80′s anyway.
Ewing, Robinson, The Mailman and Sir Charles versus Chandler and Kevin Love? Sure, the current team might be prettier, but the 92 team will always be better.
Great read BTW.
August 13th 2012 @ 4:12pm
HayloHaylz said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
Nice pick up on the “Bawled”, the downfall of having to sub my own copy!
August 13th 2012 @ 9:26am
k77sujith said | August 13th 2012 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Nice write-up Haylo, enjoyed it. My pick from this list would be the success of nomad Marial….wonder how he must’ve felt just to be out there living his dream. As for Jimmy, he’ll be back wiser and mentally stronger.
Bolt is a star both on and off the track and must say that there’s a mellow side to him as well having watched his interview on Ch 9 last evening.
As for Rice, well, blame it on social media?
It was sad to see the olympic flame being extinguished and now we have to wait 04 years…well, all good things do come to an end.
Thanks Haylo for reliving some of the moments.
August 13th 2012 @ 4:13pm
HayloHaylz said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:13pm | Report comment
Thank you for the positive feedback, I look forward to exploring The Roar!
August 13th 2012 @ 6:47pm
k77sujith said | August 13th 2012 @ 6:47pm | Report comment
I’m sure you’ll enjoy it but be prepared to face widespread criticism as well as you go along. .:)
August 13th 2012 @ 9:50am
Alfred Chan said | August 13th 2012 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Great article HayloHaylz. Another one is “Unfortunate names will always be funny.” Kim Yoo Suk in the pole vault, Vania Stambolova in the hurdles and Stephen Feck in the diving will generate laughs for years to come.
August 13th 2012 @ 4:19pm
HayloHaylz said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:19pm | Report comment
Haha, we could write a song!
August 13th 2012 @ 11:07pm
apaway said | August 13th 2012 @ 11:07pm | Report comment
…Not to mention the Chinese swimmer who everyone assumed just HAD to be on drugs because she, you know, swam so fast. Her name was pronounced Yeh She Won. Brilliant, Billy Birmingham will have afield day with that!
August 13th 2012 @ 10:44am
Chop said | August 13th 2012 @ 10:44am | Report comment
There is no way that the 2012 USA team is better than the 1992 USA basketball team. If you look at the average margins of wins in each game the 1992 team are well in front.
You’re emotive suggestion is not backed up by the facts.
Olympic Games 1992 – Men Basketball … Finals —— Gold: USA 117-CRO 85 with a 51 point average margin
Olympic Games 2012 – United States of America score: 109 – Argentina score: 83 with a 36 point average margin.
May be more appealing to you, but the original is STILL the best.
August 13th 2012 @ 12:09pm
Christo the Daddyo said | August 13th 2012 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
Chop, your statistic may say more about the opposition than the relative strengths of the US team.
I’m going to sit on the fence and say both teams were great and both dominated their opposition.
August 13th 2012 @ 4:21pm
HayloHaylz said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:21pm | Report comment
My thoughts exactly – this debate will continue for another 20 years! Both amazing.
August 13th 2012 @ 4:20pm
HayloHaylz said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:20pm | Report comment
iI was just a light hearted opinion – as for comparisons, the game has changed so much in 20 years, we could go on for days! USA the winner on the day
August 13th 2012 @ 12:12pm
Coxy said | August 13th 2012 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Was a good read.
But you are wrong on the Dream Team. And here’s why. http://espn.go.com/olympics/summer/2012/story/_/id/8201633/2012-olympics-dream-team-legacy-set-bar-olympic-quality
If you played and watched basketball for as many years as I have you would have an appreciation for this.
I think Kobe had too much Rice in his diet, as he looked sluggish, old and had no legs through this Olympics…but thats just maybe because I am a ‘Laker Hater’.
August 13th 2012 @ 4:14pm
HayloHaylz said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
Laker Hater? Lets be friends then #teamheat
August 13th 2012 @ 12:55pm
Greggy Dee said | August 13th 2012 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Larry Bird said it best when answering would the 2012 team beat the 1992 Dream team.
He said ‘They probably could. I haven’t played in 20 years and we’re all old now!’
August 13th 2012 @ 1:52pm
peeeko said | August 13th 2012 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Agree you are wrong on the dream team. Igualdala, harden, Westbrook and williams are all good but not great
August 13th 2012 @ 2:29pm
Strongy said | August 13th 2012 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
Exactly, Chandler and Love would be dominated by Ewing, Robinson, Malone and Barkley. Pau Gasol was the best bigman in the gold medal game.
August 13th 2012 @ 4:16pm
HayloHaylz said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
Got you discussing it though didn’t I?
My mind changes all the time, have you watched the Dream Team Doco? The best!
August 13th 2012 @ 2:53pm
Axelv said | August 13th 2012 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Very funny and so much truth, well done!
August 13th 2012 @ 4:15pm
HayloHaylz said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:15pm | Report comment
Was just a light hearted recap, we could go on an on an on about Dream Team comparisons but would be here all day x
August 13th 2012 @ 3:40pm
Tristan Rayner said | August 13th 2012 @ 3:40pm | Report comment
Since this has turned into a Dream Team discussion, would this 2012 team with the additions of D Wade, C Bosch, D Rose and possibly Blake Griffin elevate this team to the ’92 champs? It’d be close.
August 13th 2012 @ 4:17pm
HayloHaylz said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
I like your angle Tristan!
August 13th 2012 @ 5:39pm
rl said | August 13th 2012 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
Didn’t Shaq call out Bosh as soft? I reckon they’d still come up short in the middle Tristan. Don’t get me wrong, the 2012 version has been fun to watch. But that soft interior almost caught up with them in the final.
August 13th 2012 @ 4:04pm
Scotty in South Devon said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
Good article but i don’t agree Bolt is the best athlete ever – thats got to be reserved for Emile Zatopek. 5000, 10,000 and then just on the off chance has a go at the marathon and wins all 3 in record times. Thats greatness beyond Bolt…but there was no internet then.
August 13th 2012 @ 4:18pm
HayloHaylz said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:18pm | Report comment
This is true, “The principle of recently”. They are all fantastic regardless.