My opinion of the “Social Media Olympics” was pretty low heading into this weekend. From the epic whining of Hope Solo (who needed some press to promote her book), Ryan Lochte’s mom foreshadowing his future appearances on Maury (you ARE the father), or Michael Phelps preferring President Obama’s tweets to phone calls: I’ve found very little to love about the social media Olympics…. until I read about Samuel L. Jackson’s unorthodox contribution to the festivities.
Samuel L. Jackson saves the Olympics
It turns out Jackson, who starred in Pulp Fiction, the newer Star Wars films, the Avengers and more than 100 other movies is both active on Twitter and a big fan of the Olympics. A lot of his Olympic tweets are unsuitable for reprinting. A lot of them don’t offer any context in the form of proper nouns or hashtags. Nonetheless, I would take any one of his many Olympic tweets over anything that I’ve seen so far. Compared to Bieber, Oprah, Lil Wayne, Obama or anyone else who has sacrificed a few moments to transmit banalities about these historic “Social Media Olympics,” Samuel L. Jackson is the one person I’ve read that makes the social aspect of the games marginally compelling.
In fact, I’m calling for NBC to replace it’s announcers with Jackson, if not for the remaining week of this Olympics then definitely in 2016. I would LOVE for Hope Solo to try and slander Jackson for making the observation that the U.S. defenders could have done a better job defending the goal after France went up 2-0 in the first 15 minutes of a match. One imagines that he would be much less understanding than commentator Brandi Chastain. And how would Jackson react to criticism that Lolo Jones was being insensitive by mentioning guns in the context of target shooting? I would imagine his insight would be swift and unprintable.
Point being, with all of the hype surrounding the “Social Media Olympics,” who knew that the most compelling person to watch would be the man who saved a plane full of people from some really dastardly snakes. I’m back onboard the “Social Media Olympics” bandwagon with the caveat that I will get all of my information from @samuelljackson.
Sorry! Dog eat Dog Ping Pong match! Ball scrapes edge of the table, blind Judge blows the call! Dude won Anyway! China vs China.
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) August 3, 2012
THOSE WEIGHTS Y’ALL!!!! Kicking’ EVERYBODY’s Ass!! Homie finishes 10th! Oh well. He’s already thinkin’ Rio…I can dig it! — Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) August 3, 2012
“Really Really hurts the Feet?!” what about That AZZ?!” Okkkkkkk insult to injury… A ZERO!!! NEVAH seen That!!! — Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) August 6, 2012
That Yang is an amazing Swimmer! Grabbed the WR by the throat & KILLED it! Not so much the celebration though.
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) August 5, 2012
Men’s B balll team trying to keep us interested?! WTF?! Don’t need the DRAMA!!!
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) August 4, 2012
SERENA WINS GOLD!!!!Bizzy cleaning off the toe of her shoe afta kicking ALL that Sharapova ass! Go USA!
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) August 4, 2012
You decide what’s better?
This:
Or this:
Jim Dougherty