The Olympics are over, long live the Olympics. Now that the Beijing (Peking for those who get confused easily) Games are over I have to say that I have two Olympic moments. The first was the USA's come-from-behind win in the men's 4x100 freestyle relay. Forget that it kept Michael Phelps drive for eight golds alive, the win typified what relays are all about, a team putting it all together and being greater than the sum of its parts. My second Olympic moment was Usain Bolt's WR in the 200m. Yeah, the boy also won the 100m in WR time, but in the 200, we got to see him run all the way to the line and actually lean at the tape. If I was a male sprinter, I would get myself a very good agent and start picking my races well. Bolt is going to be the Federer/Woods/Lance of the next generation of sprinters with everybody else racing for second place.
I thought Sanya Richard's catching the Russians to win the women's 4x400 was also exciting and coupled with the men's victory in the same event restored a bit of US pride after the debacles in the 4x100. Did you catch Jeremy Wariner's relay split at 43.2? That is how you silence the critics. Too bad he came up short in the open 400.
What happened to Bernard Legat? The double 2007 World Champion (that's just last year) got skunked and looked bad doing it. If the USA can't even draft a ringer to do well in the distance events what are we to do? USA Track and Field won only one medal from the 800m on up and that was a bronze by Shalane Flanagan in the women's 10000m. Yikes, it's tough being a USA distance runner these days regardless of your country of origin.
I still think they should toss out race walking. Either that or add a new event, the 400m run while carrying a piano on your back. Time for this sport to go, let's face it, they are all running and just hoping not to get caught before the finish line.
Oh yeah, for the ladies, I think the men in the beach volleyball event should play with their shirts off. If the women have to play in bikinis it seems only fair.
Judged sports have to go as well. Yeah, I know gymnastics and diving are graceful and all that so let's have an exhibition for those sports and forget about the medals. It's not supposed to be about the medals anyway.
And, along those lines, I think they should stop playing the national anthem of the country who wins. It is about sport, let's try to keep the nationalistic aspect out of it. Distance runner Kenny Moore once opined that everyone should compete in white t-shirts and black shorts.
You got any thoughts out there?
Bruce
I know, we can get rid of EVERYTHING in the Olympics except Track events of exactly 400 meters. USA! USA! USA!
And sorry to interfere with your 'man crush', but the immature DOLT you unbelievably gush over as the next athletic superstar, I see as a DISRESPECTFUL punkass fraud. Go look up how much dope testing has been going on down there in Jamaica, mon... And you honestly don't think Bolt showboated his a$$ across the Finish line?! Or I guess didn't mugg for the cameras minutes, seconds before the 100 AND 200? If Michael Phelps had done even a wiff of either action, headlines would have blared around the world of the 'UGLY AMERICAN'.
For a CYCLING journalist of all people to run towards that guy with arms open & eyes CLOSED is not just shocking but almost inconceivable. I can't remember, were you one of the pathetic media who called Ricco a "breath of fresh air" at the Tour before HIS a$$ was caught?
And the only thing that will "help" Beach Volleyball is to GREATLY curtail its appearances on Primetime. One night in particular, NBC just HAD to show 40 uninterrupted minutes (40. MINUTES.) of Kerri & Misty trouncing the Brazilians. God forbid they show ANY of the Women's 800 or Men's Steeplechase until AFTER 1:00 AM. DESPITE that both events were listed as Primetime on the nbcolympics.com TV schedule I printed.
And let's talk about Lolo. Have to wonder how you'd be writing about her FAILURE if she looked like Maria Mutuola. She even said it herself - she was already envisioning the Gold medal around her neck, which means she was NOT CONCENTRATING on the task at hand, i.e., breaking Athletic Competition Rule#1.
And while I am uncomfortable with the ever increasing rush of "naturalized" citizens competing not just for the USA but ALL countries, LAGAT (with TWO "A"s) is hardly the worst example. He's been living in the USA since 1996 when he came here for college. He became a US citizen in 2004. Now let's look at Becky Hammon. She "became" a Russian "citizen" when she signed a pro contract with a Russian basketball team LAST YEAR. She has never & will never even live there year round. And what about that swimmer Cavic? The one Michael beat by 1/100 of a second. He was born & raised next to freakin DISNEYLAND. I don't think he's even BEEN to Serbia. But unlike Becky, at least his parents are from that country so he has SOME kind of tie.
And about the "nationalistic" aspect. Yeah, too bad not ALL athletic competitions can trumpet such glorious uniforms as "PREDICTOR LOTTO" or "AMERICAN BEEF" & prompt tears in the eyes of the spectators...tears of laughter.
You take away the "nationalistic" aspect of the Olympics in this day of international PROFESSIONAL sports & you take away its reason for existence. And besides, just what is the ONE thing MOST athletes gush about when competing in the Olympics? The CHANCE to REPRESENT their COUNTRY in the biggest athletic competition in the world. Go ask Kobe & LeBron.