Marysville viewers enjoy ceremony, mixed on events

The 2004 Summer Olympics opened with a tradition-filled ceremony that kicked off the next few weeks' events for area sports fans.

At the Eagle's Nest bar in Marysville a blues band was playing. But some of the customers were absorbed in the televised images from Athens, and they seemed pretty upbeat about the beginning of the games.

"I like that they did the history of the Olympics," Fred Farley said. "I think it was done very tastefully."

Farley said he isn't much of a fan of newer sports such as tennis and beach volleyball. But he was looking forward to watching the traditional events, like track and field and decathlon.

"There is some interest in it, the Olympics are only four years," Farley said. "But I'm not going to watch Olympic baseball - it's not an Olympic sport."

He said he's also not a big fan of NBA players in the games either.

He said the Olympics should be strictly running, jumping and older-type Olympic events, such as those he watched as a child.

Katie Farley, Fred's wife, said she thought the makeup was outstanding - people were made up to look like statues. She planned on watching a lot of the swimming events, especially swimmer Mike Phelps' quest to win a record eight medals.

Andrew Banales of Beale Air Force Base said he would probably be watching a lot of the Olympic Games, especially basketball and soccer.

Banales said he thought the Greek mythology and symbolism was interesting.

Jason Giese of Marysville enjoyed the ceremonies' story of how the Olympics began.

"I think they picked a good place to do it this year, it being where everything started," Giese said. He planned to watch a variety of sports.

Appeal-Democrat reporter John Dickey can be reached at 749-4711. You may e-mail him at jdickey@appeal-democrat.com