Hello and welcome the Lifetime Karan-tee’s Olympic coverage of the UNLYMPICS. Believe me folks, I, as much as anyone else here love the Olympic games. Just think of it. Years ago, in 1896 when the first modern games were brought back to life to pay respect to ancient Greek tradition and bring to light an era of at least two weeks where the World could be at peace with each other and could compete, not as enemies and foes firing bullets at one another, but as competitors and athletes alike trying to bring different kind of glory back to their countries. This was the meaning……this was the message, just like how it was in Ancient Greece. They literally stopped fighting their wars and came together just to compete in the name of sport and unity.

But I digress and am straying off of my main point here. My main point is….. I liked the classics. What happened to watching Olympians go head to head for medals in sports that pertain to track and field, swimming and other related events? Why are we being “blessed” with the chance to watch Badminton and Table Tennis. Furthermore, why don’t they just include actual Tennis? (more…)

Picture this in your mind… You are sitting, no lounging (that’s a better term to use) with white sand in between your toes. To the right of you is your frappe (metrio xoris gala of course see my frappe article for further information), to your left your significant other/eastern European honey that you met last night a one of Katerini’s Las Vegas-esque super clubs. Thumping house music playing in the background coming from the beach bar that has been serving you for the better part of the day, hand and foot. This, my friends is the ultimate relaxation for us Greeks outside of the Motherland. Pure Bliss. So you aren’t in Greece this summer? Sucks for you! I’m just kidding (actually I’m not). I’m not there either, and I am longing for a trip to the homeland… sigh… However, all is not lost for the summer my faithful followers! There are plenty of spots on the East Coast to relax in the sun and have a good time during the summer, and I am Karantee-ing satisfaction. I’ll count down the top 3 reasonable destinations for you Philly area folk right here!

It’s 2012 and if there is anything on the minds of the entire world it’s Greece. Unfortunately, like I have said in previous articles, it is all for the wrong reasons. We have gone from being a country that was the envy of all the world to a nation in which is the punch line for every pun in every satire show all over the world. This has to stop. How do we do it? DOUBLE OR NOTHING. Yes I said it, double or nothing. Let’s put all the money that Greece owes down on the game this Friday in the Euro Cup 2012 quarter final against Germany. As you all have figured out by this point, I love making lists of all of my thoughts, so I am going to continue to do the same on this one. Greece beating Russia 1-0 on Saturday – We actually won a game, and it was the first one that we have won since our 2004 championship run. This one was a special one nonetheless. The Russians, who were unbeaten for 16 straight matches fell on a hungry and angry Greek side. The Greeks had their backs against the wall as they were looking elimination right in the eye before the opening whistle if they were to suffer defeat. They came out angry and hungry and looked like a different team, then Karagounis scored a late 1st half goal. Familiar? I think so. Russia losses and so does the Communist Party – After Greece beat Russia, the country faced another tough backs-against-the-wall situation. An election this past Sunday. You would think that this is a no-brainer for the people who created the system, but it is more complicated than that. Either way the Communist Party, SYRIZA, almost beat out the Democratic Party, NEA DEMOKRATIA in Sunday’s election. Can you guys see the parallel with this? Greece = Democracy, Russia = Former Commies? 1-0 Democracy folks. Just saying….. ETSI PIDANE AUTOI POU SAS XROSTANE ­– Direct translation = This is how we ***** those who we owe….. Greece vs. Germany. This has been the main focus and the basis of stability for the global world markets. Now it’s turning to soccer. There are few things that need to be added as we dive head first into this.

The German team is comprised of players who aren’t German. ALL OF THEM. It should be called the United Nations German National Soccer team, and Kofi Annan should be their head coach. Greece is full of actual Greek blood minus our coach, but who’s counting. Pride baby.

It all seems like a distant memory. The improbable, unthinkable and downright impossible happened in 2004. As the ball gracefully was headed off of Angelos Charisteas head, Greece and Greeks around the world watching for a split second were in disbelief. This disbelief wasn’t a negative disbelief, but was rather a shock to our brains. For that split second, we all experienced it……noise all around us, but for some reason we all heard silence. That second went into slow motion, the ball stood still in the air. It was almost like a scene out of a Hollywood film. All of a sudden the noise came back and silence quickly faded; the realization of the ball that seemed to be stuck in the air for an hour, slipped past the goalie and an entire nation and people celebrated as it was one of the proudest moments for Greeks around the world. The whistle blew and the celebrations began!

That was the Greece of 2004. At the peak of the world’s attention. The Olympics held again in Athens that same year for the first time since its modern inception. Our national team winning one of world soccer’s largest and most prestigious tournaments when all odds were against us. (By the way, if you would have bet on Greece in the EURO 2004, the odds were 100-1 on winning the tournament. I wish I would have taken that bet, I would not be working right now.) Greece was in the limelight and was a country that was the envy of all others.

What’s the point of having your own blog if you can’t have a little bit of self promotion??? Guess what everyone, here at the Lifetime Kara-ntee we are all about strutting your stuff! My band, the most awesome band of all time (cough cough), is announcing today the launch of our brand-spanking-new website www.Seizmosband.com! Check it out and like us!