Charles Hartley, a free-lance writer based in New Jersey, has written more than a thousand published sports articles. He earned Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Journalism. In addition, he was awarded his Bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University where he majored in English and Communications.
Cancel dinner plans. Get somebody to babysit the kids. Tell your date you’re busy. Clear the living room of any distractions. If the dog is barking, tell him or her to stop. If someone in the room starts talking, tell them it’s not a time for that.
Get everybody to be quiet. Focus on your flat screen. If anyone in the room suggests changing the channel, order them to their bedrooms for the night.
Feel your adrenaline start to race. Notice your sweaty palms. Visualize what you are about to see. Remind yourself of why you’re acting this way – because you are about to witness one of the greatest moments in the history of the Olympic Games.
Have a pen and yellow notepad with you. Start writing how you feel. Let it flow. Unleash anything that comes to mind. Draw sketches of swimming pools or Gold Medals or the map of Baltimore.
If the phone rings, let it ring and go to voicemail. Even if you see on caller ID it’s someone important, it can wait. I assure you whatever it is it’s not as important as what you’re doing.
Listen to Bob Costas tell you about countries that begin with the letters S and T such as Sweden and Thailand. Athletes from those countries will appear through the Olympic Stadium tunnel and start walking on the track.
Listen to Bob Costas tell you about countries that begin with the letters C and D such as Canada and Denmark. Athletes from those countries will appear through the Olympic Stadium tunnel and start walking on the track. Costas will share with you gee whiz historical fact about Canada and Denmark. This will be mildly interesting, a prelude like cheese and crackers before a steak with A1 Sauce.
Fix your eyes on the tunnel. Focus. Clear your mind.
Breathe in and out. Make sure air gets into your lungs.
Anticipate.
Here come the countries beginning with the letter E. In Portuguese, the language of Rio de Janeiro, the United States begins with the letter E, Estados Unidos.
When will the guy appear?
Think about this guy while you wait.
The best. The greatest. The dude.
When you think Olympics, you think of him.
When you think of American sports heroes, you think of him.
When you think of a guy who wins and wins and wins and wins and wins and wins and wins, you think of him.
Remember the 100 meter butterfly Gold in 2008 when he out-touched Milorad Cavic of Serbia by 1/100th of a second to win his 7th Gold Medal?
Yes, you remember. Remember the other 17 times you saw him win a Gold Medal at the Olympics?
Focus. Look. There’s the American flag, Old Glory adorned with red and white stripes, navy blue with white stars. America.
Holding the flag is Mr. America.
You know who he is.
It’s Michael Phelps. He’s the first one out for the U.S. team of some 550 athletes.
Never before have you seen Phelps carry the flag in front of the United States contingent at the Olympics games. He’s never even been to this kick off, even though this is his fifth time in the Olympics. He was resting for his races in other years.
But this year is different.
The situation is different.
His life is different.
Gold Medals don’t matter anymore. They would be nice but he doesn’t need more to prove he’s the greatest Olympian of all time.
There he is. The whole world watches and wonder what it’s like to accomplish what he has. Everybody knows who Michael Phelps is.
Contemplate that he is the most famous – and accomplished — flag bearer in the history of flag bearers at any Olympic Games — ever.
Take in this historic site. Treasure it.
You will probably never see it again. This is supposedly his last Olympics.
Witness history. Be mesmerized by the man.
He is like no other.
Experience the best scene ever at an Opening Ceremonies at an Olympic Games.
Celebrate him — celebrate America.
This article was written by and courtesy of Charles Hartley.
Druggie carries our U.S. flag. Nothing to be proud of!
Talk about coming full circle.
Funny poetic article. Unfortunately sad that such a character as M.P. will be the flag bearer. Could they have gotten an athlete without a DUI? Or without other controversial background? Carrying the US flag is more than about sport, it is about character. There are more athletes to select from who have a more clean character record.
Look at this article. Read it. Remind yourself to read it again later. Use a post-it note.
Oh look, a post-it. What does it say? Read the article again.
Start reading a sentence. Do you see a period? You can stop reading that sentence now. Read another sentence.
You are Mr. Reading. Or Ms. Reading. Let the words go into your eyes. Remember this moment.
Hang on, the phone is ringing. Oh wait, I said to let it ring. Remind yourself to check voicemail later. Use a post-it note.
Think of a guy who reads and reads and reads. That is you.
Just got a voicemail from my journalism professor. Opinions can be different.
That is why America is great.
Daaaav, Beautifully written. Love it. You understand.
Good piece Charles. Post it note: Read it again after the old Goat gets a good whipping from King Chad. Then it will be even funnier!
imagine u sitting in the corner of your kitchen eating crows after rio ended is x1000 funnier.
The Olympics are not only about Phelps. plenty of other great athletes out there
Sure, but write an article about them and see if anyone reads it. You look at this site and Phelps articles move the needle. Same with the Olympic reporting, he’s one of the main attractions.
What about attending a wedding?
Skip it, you can catch the next one 🙂
I know i am biased being a swim fan, but I am appalled at some of the comments being made about how there are better options to carry the flag. There aren’t. The olympics are not meant to be about making political statements or social statements (like some at ESPN and yahoo sports suggested). It’s a time to celebrate sport. There is nobody better in our lifetime or anyone else’s lifetime in these olympic games than Michael Phelps, and we’re lucky enough to have him in one more olympics. Phelps, while deserving the past olympics to carry the flag given his accolades, has never been able to really enjoy the opening games because he always had the 400 im the… Read more »
The last time was Gary Hall Sr in 1976, a swimmer I mean because in those days it was rare for a swimmer to do three Olympics.
Sorry, but I disagree. Could there have been a newer athlete with a clean record that could also participate as the flag-bearer? Mr Phelps will get (and has gotten) enough of the front page for his athletic prowess, but unfortunately, some of his behaviors (DUI, etc) still make a case for a different choice for flagbearer.
Carrying the flag is more than just sport performance.
An honorable thing, would be for him to pass the flag to (or share the flag with) a lesser known olympic hopeful first-timer, to share the greatness and to share the experience with someone who may not have as much press as M.P..
I thought the article about not ever knowing Phelps was a bit off, but this is just really weird.