Podcast First Look: The 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics

It's been almost exactly 40 years to the day since one of the most important Summer Olympics in the history of the modern Games. The Summer Olympics were coming off two less-than-ideal previous editions and very few cities even wanted to host. 1976 in Montreal was a financial disaster and the 1980 games in Moscow were boycotted. So, a retaliatory boycott of sorts led by the Soviets created an air of uncertainty around the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, and questions as to whether it might create an economic disaster for the city of L.A. hovered over the Games. However, the Los Angeles Summer Games changed everything about the Olympics as we knew them. The technology, the presentation, the broadcast, and the corporate sponsorships transformed the Olympic games into the ones we're familiar with today.But let's not forget the events. The 84 Summer Games gave us some astonishing sporting moments, drama, and history-making athletes and performances. This is one of my very first sporting memories, and it may be for you, too. The LA Olympics also led to one of the most disastrous marketing campaigns of all time (I'm sure you remember if you were old enough then) and the Los Angeles Summer Games even inspired the creation of one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 1980s.Enjoy this early and ad-free first look!-Jamie