Let's all be positive

Day -676. WorldCup2018

This is my happy, positive Sunday post. I am going to look forward to Russia 2018 because I love watching open, exciting football played by the best teams in the world with no concern for defending. And I will not let any controversy get in the way of my enjoyment. Corrupt bidding process? Bah! A tournament being organized by a country and an individual, that supported illegal doping of its' athletes, including a footballer. Why should I care? At least I'll get to see Messi work his magic in Moscow. Oh, maybe not.

And I know it will be ok in the end. I'm confident that if Fifa uncover any wrongdoing they will come down hard on the Russians, and their buddy Vitaly Mutko. Just like the IOC did, or didn't. I'll only feel negative and sad that the Paralympic Committee banned all Russians from participating in Rio, something the IOC couldn't bring themselves to do. And I'll say what I'm sure a lot of people are thinking. It's was an easier decision to make when there wasn't the risk of as big of a political fallout as there would have been if the IOC made the same decision.

I won't even wonder anymore why Rio Ferdinand, English footballer, got an 8 month ban some years ago for missing a drug test and English cyclist, Lizzie Armitstead missed three tests and is competing in Rio, completely un-punished. I'm not negative. I'm just trying to understand how they both had similar excuses ("I didn't know, I couldn't be there") yet one person's poor me routine worked better than the others.

I am happy. I love watching the Olympics. I love watching the World Cup. I love the atmosphere, the competition and all the side stories. I am just not 10 years old anymore and am aware of the politics which have invaded all of what I watch.