Who Are the Good, Bad and the Ugly Americans of the Olympics So Far?

I would like to thank John Stockton for helping me get off the fence regarding the propriety of pro basketball stars competing in the Olympics. Stockton’s quote, “The Olympic spirit to me is to go out and beat the other teams in the world, not live with them,” was probably music to the ears of all those “patriots” who believe that gold medals and lopsided victories somehow make America superior to the rest of the world.

For those of us who view the Olympics as a celebration of youthful competition and take heart from the fact that for two weeks every four years representatives from countries around the world create an international community that symbolizes this planet’s only real hope for survival, Stockton and his Dream Team mates’ refusal to rub shoulders and break bread with the rest of the world’s finest athletes typifies the elitist and disrespectful attitude that has perpetuated the stereotype of the “ugly American.”

ROB CONAWAY

Norwalk