Olympics, Week Two: Doesn’t Anyone Have Spirit of the Games?

Just a thought about the inability of our (men) tennis players to get up for the Olympics:

If they are having so much difficulty, maybe they should decline the invitation and let the NCAA champion and other top amateurs take their places. Then we could also dump the ego-and-commercial-driven Dream Team in favor of the excitement of youth. Then toss Carl Lewis along with his fashion fetish and sneaker-promoting news conferences.

Then we’ll get the Olympic spotlight back on those who really care about and personify the event: people such as Gail Devers, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Shannon Miller, Pablo Morales and their likes. People who have trained and sacrificed for the Olympics and in many cases overcome substantial obstacles.

Somehow, I’m not sensing that Prince Charles, or even St. Magic and Father Jordan, convey that spirit. Do you think a tear is going to come to any American’s eye when they accept the gold? Anyway, Michael will probably announce that he can’t accept the gold unless the Nike logo is engraved on it.

ART ANOORIAN

Van Nuys