The Sports Rant

Please let it be noted, one more time, that I watched the Olympics largely in protest, as most men do. But that's not to say there weren't things that should be noted. Here's ten of them, as a bonus...

1. I'm sick of people saying our Olympic basketball team is a disgrace because all they won was a bronze medal. They lost, mostly because we sent a team that was missing some our best players and the rest fot he team was ill-conceived to win in the international game. That's not their fault. Winning a bronze is not a disgrace. I had to hear Pepi Sanchez, a former Temple guard, explaining that international players no longer respect the NBA. Hell, no one does here either. That's not the point. This U.S. team, featuring no legitimate point guards and lacking anything resembling a consistent outside shooter still won the bronze. Name another country who could afford to leave five of its best players at home, as we did (Shaq, Garnett, McGrady, Kidd and Bryant, and that's off the top of my head) and still win a bronze. The rest of the world is capable of playing with our best. We're still the measuring stick.

2. One question -- is it just me, or did the Olympic torch resemble a giant cigarette?

3. 103 medals for the U.S.A. That's more than John Kerry received in Vietnam.

4. Nothing is more useless than that stupid extra gymnastics session where the gymnasts "thank" the crowd with performances. Somehow this only happens for sports that draw ratings, like gymnastics and figure skating. No one ever asks the archers to do a performance.

5. The men's marathon thing is ridiculous. As noted in the Washington Post, they spent $1.5 billion on security, and a defrocked priest in a kilt interferes with the ending of the final event.

6. Maybe Paul Hamm should give his medal to the Brazilian marathoner.

7. U.S. women's softball is so dominant, the Olympics may eliminate the sport. This is similar to why the French quit fighting wars.

8. Watching the closing ceremonies would have interfered with my desire to watch Terminator 2: Judgement Day for the 25th time.

9. The Jaguars just cut Hugh Douglas, which means he might be picked up by the Eagles, to pick up for N. D. Kalu. No, this has nothing to do with the Olympics, but I was falling asleep and needed to talk about something interesting. Ummmm... football.

10. The 2008 Olympics will be in Beijing. I won't be there.