I'll admit it. I cry easily when confronted with schmaltz. I weep while watching commercials. I sometimes tear up during movies I know are terrible. And since I've become a mother, I have found myself even more susceptible to emotional outbursts when my heartstrings get tugged.
That's why my tear ducts were in overdrive during the Olympics, an event that seeks to unite everyone in the world by forcing all of us to reach for a tissue at the same time. Slate.com instituted a Sap-o-Meter to track the level of sentimentality oozing from NBC's coverage of this great athletic event. Assuming the weekend didn't skew the numbers, the sappiest day of the Olympics occurred on Sunday, Aug. 16, when commentators mentioned moms A LOT (it always comes back to the mothers, doesn't it?) and gymnast Alicia Sacramone got a little weepy after falling not once, but twice, while attempting to help the U.S. women's team win gold.
Some of the moments that made me teary:
--When gymnast Shawn Johnson's parents wept and embraced after their daughter won the gold medal on balance beam. Honestly, could kind of cry again just thinking about it.
--Seeing poor Haley Ishimatsu, a U.S. diver who did not qualify for the finals, try to regain her composure during an interview when she was clearly devastated by her elimination.
--The moment when another diver, the retiring Laura Wilkinson -- who did not medal in Beijing -- got all verklempt while reflecting on her athletic career.
--Almost every minute that involved Michael Phelps, his mother or the total class act that is Dara Torres.
--Seeing Placido Domingo (seemingly) lip synch during the closing ceremonies. But that made me cry for a different reason.
So which Olympic highlight turned you into a weepy wuss? Go ahead. It's okay to admit it.
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