Channel surfing

I don’t understand the Olympics television broadcasts.

A friend called this afternoon. “We’re going to watch the men’s basketball game between Spain and the U.S.,” she says. “Meet us at 9:30 so we can get a table. Game starts at 10:30.”

When I get there a bit before 10, the bar is packed. People are milling about outside, eying tables. Rosi and MinJung are at a table, but it’s practically on the sidewalk. The air conditioner is leaking onto the back of Rosi’s chair. The men’s tennis doubles final is on.

People start getting antsy around 10:35. Tennis has been replaced by badminton. The match is just starting: China vs. Indonesia.

The bar manager begins to flip through the channels. Tennis again. The news. A Yankees/Royals game. Rhythmic gymnastics. Cricket. Rugby. Olympic soccer. More cricket. Badminton again.

No basketball. People are not happy.

One guy walks up to the manager. “We reserved a table specifically for the basketball game, and if you aren’t going to show it, we’re going to leave. We aren’t sitting around watching badminton all night.”

An American man pulls the waitress aside and asks her to turn on the basketball game. When she says she can’t, that it’s not on, he points to the TV. “Can you change it then?” he asks. “I’ll watch tennis. I’ll watch cricket. Anything but fucking badminton.”

I’m thinking the same thing. So is Rosi. It’s 10:50.

“A few more minutes,” she says, pointing to the scoreboard in the corner of the screen. “They must play to 21. They’re at 20 now.

“If it’s not over by 11, we’ll leave.”

The badminton protests have been heard. The channel changes again. Tennis. Match point.

Roger Federer’s celebrations are cut short, and basketball finally appears . . . just in time for the second half.