I am officially into the Olympics. My TIVO is almost fried because it has been recording nonstop. Last night we had a thirty minute power outage on my entire street, which could have very well been caused by my maxed-out TIVO unit.
One of my favorite parts of the Olympics so far was been learning new sports. There are so many sports in the Olympics that are not part of normal American culture. Through my non-stop Olympic watching and channel surfing, I have officially found my new favorite Olympic sport - HANDBALL.
Now you might be thinking of handball as the racquetball-like sport played solely with your hands. However, Olympic handball is a much different sport. Here is a picture of the official handball court:
This sport is amazing. I was glued to the TV as soon as I first saw the sport on MSNBC at 2:30am on Friday night. Handball is a sport combining basketball, baseball, and hockey. It is like basketball because your movement is limited (only three steps) unless you are dribbling. It is like baseball because you can throw the ball as hard as you can to obtain goals. Finally, it is like hockey in its extreme physicality, penalties, and goalie. Handball requires a lot of strength, hand-eye coordination, agility. Check out this youtube clip about handball to get a feel for the game:
On top of simply liking the sport, I think I have the tools and athletic history to be pretty good at handball. I am a big, physical, athletic guy that can run pretty fast and throw a ball pretty hard. I did some research and learned that America is not represented in this year’s Olympics in the sport of handball (men or women). When I found out that information, a light bulb went off in my mind - here is my chance to be an Olympian. My Olympic dream can finally come true with handball.
I love to play basketball, but I will never be good enough to make the NBA-filled rosters of Team USA. I love to swim, but cannot even come close to competing against professionals like Michael Phelps. With handball, I do not have to be in the best in the world to get in the Olympics. I just have to show up especially if there is nobody else in America playing this sport. Will I get destroyed and completely humbled in the actual Olympic games? No doubt, but I will be able to say that I was an Olympian. I can see it now!
USA Handball 2012 - London, England. Tryouts will be held soon.
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Are there any new Olympic sports that you are getting into?
This Game Sounds Amazing.. It’s Allmost like combinig the best aspects of every sport and putting it all into one.. I’ll be at the tryouts lol
Interesting… Do they not have dodgeball? Looks pretty close.
awesome that looks like its lots of fun ill have to watch it sometime and yeah kade ill be at tryouts too! hA Ha
Didnt see that one…but looks like I can take a shot at that handball too…so when are we leaving for try outs….i figured if played tennis…i can do this…lol…if i would have stuck to it….playing the big leagues in tennis would be awesome…..
that looks sweet! ill see you all at try outs.. ive already started my training.. good luck to all and thanks brian for the introduction to the sport
Kade & Kolton - I’m smelling our first attempt at handball on our Arlington trip next week.
that’s funny cause a few of us at the soccer feild always play that game after we play our soccer games its sooo fun. but l get a little to competitive :[
ha ha emalee yeah ive probly played it i cant remember
Brian, does Michael Phelpps remind you of “Josh Dude”? Dad and I think he does, especially when he smiles and laughs. And he even sounds like him. Just wondered what you thought.
Mom - I can definitely see that.
“With handball, I do not have to be in the best in the world to get in the Olympics.” You might be underestimating the challenge …
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=olympianpart2
For further info see
http://teamhandballnews.com/news.php
Duuuuuude!! I am MAKING Coach Bryant let us play that!!!!!!!
Brian, this is a quote from your dad: “ROAD TRIP??? DO WE NEED TO START MAKING PLANS FOR LONDON?????” Thought you would enjoy that.
Dad and I also think that Michael Phelps looks a little like you. (What do you think?) Hope he wins 2 MORE gold medals tonight. GO MICHAEL!!!
Mom - you know what’s crazy?!? Ben (the other youth minister I work with) was at the house tonight while he was on TV and he said that I looked like him too. I am not sure if I see that one…but two people in one night is pretty convincing.
haha…well i guess i can make it to London in 2012 of course ill have to deny offers for team USA in tennis and basketball but handball is so much more appealing!!! lol
Brian, I was just talking to my family about the fact that I could be in the Olympics on a handball team. Let’s put one together and start makin plans to London.
I am an elementary schoolteacher in Australia and have just started up European Handball in my school. The students have gone bananas over it! Its end-to-end action, throwing a ball at a target, intercepts, physicality all combine to make it a great sport!
verry nice photos.