Let Me See You Go Back: an Ode to Olympics Past and Present

As I'm sitting in my room on Planet Ryder taking in the nice, healthy smog outside.......

......We're just two days away from what could be one of the most controversial Olympic Games in recent memory, and not just because of swimmer Amanda Beard's PETA photos.  Just look at what we've seen happen already leading up to the 2008 Beijing Games:

-Numerous threats and attacks during the torch rallies, almost to the point where San Francisco finally had a reason to talk about something other than Barry Bonds.

-Terrorist acts that have taken the lives of policemen, leaving some of us to fear that another Munich might happen. 

-The U.S. cycling team having to go through the Beijing airport wearing masks.  At this rate, i'm expecting some wanna-be thrashers spray-painting graffiti all over the Great Wall.

  Politics and health concerns aside, there are many great things to look forward to this year's Games, and we'll get to those in a second, but right now i'd like to take the time to reminisce about Olympic Games of the past. 

(Pops in Ahmad CD)

....Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore,
but some days I sit and wish I was a kid again.....

Sorry, I had to do that to slip back into yesteryear, when we could watch the late, great Jim McKay calling the Olympics Games and the background stories as only he could tell them.  Before Eric Rudolph, commercialism, and Tonya v. Nancy took center stage (imagine if the internet was around when this soap opera was going on!).

Growing up I was a huge fan of the Olympics.  There was nothing better than the whole country getting together for two weeks out of the year to support the US and they faced the big, bad Russians, especially during the Miracle on Ice.  If you don't at least get a bit tingly watching Al Michaels scream "Do you believe in miracles?"  You have no soul. I grew up wanting to sprint like Carl Lewis (his singing's another story) and Michael Johnson, wishing I had my own pair of golden shoes.  Going to the Atlanta Games in '96 and watching history in my own hometown was without question the greatest experience of my lifetime.  I don't know what was more memorable, watching the Games and the records broken that year, or how the athletes survived that I-75 traffic and the Krystal hamburgers.

From the Magnificent Seven, the Original Dream Team, to the late Flo-Jo, the Olympics have always been a joy to watch the greatest in the world showcase their God-given talents before a worldwide audience.  We as Americans can put away petty disputes and stand together chanting "USA! USA"  Let me stop before breaking out in a "Living in America" rendition.

What was most exhilirating was just seeing people who had accomplished a lifelong dream of being in the Olympic Games get their chance to shine.  Who could forget about Greg Louganis or Keri Strug (whose amazing feat actually got my niece into gymnastics), or even the Dan/Dave commercials for the Barcelona Games in '92?  These are the people and event we remember, and in two days we are going to witness more history.

Everyone is rooting for Michael Phelps to break the record for most gold medals in swimming, unless you live in the Mark Spitz household. I'm excited about seeing if Tyson Gay can dominate in the 100m against Jamaica's Usain Bolt, or if Dara Torres can overcome Mother Nature and succeed in swimming at age 41. I'm leaving the assumptions about steroids behind until there's proof.

Say goodbye to Softball after these Games, since the IOC got tired of the US dominating so they're taking their ball and going home.  Hence the photo of Jennie Finch, so enjoy it while you can!  Also, I'm looking forward to seeing if the "Redeem Team" (as ESPN's Jemele Hill called them) can bring home the gold in US Basketball after an embarrassing finish in the 2004 Games. The men's team looks sharp and if they can figure out the point guard issue (no question it should be Chris Paul starting over Jason Kidd) then they should win out, even in the Group of Death which includes Greece and Germany.  Besides, with all of the NBA players going over to play in Europe some of these guys might as well get some practice against future teammates.

Another interesting story i'm looking to watch is the story of Becky Harmon, a South Dakota native who plays for the Russian basketball team.  Call her a Benedict Arnold if you want, I think she made the right decision in playing for a country that actually wanted her.  She's embraced them, and I don't see what the fuss is if she wants to play for them instead of the US.  Hey, money talks, and, you know the rest.

Of course I can't forget about one of my passions, volleyball.  I'm more a fan of the clear cut, no-biased-judges kinds of competition so I'm anxious to see if the ladies can keep taking charge.  I think that sport doesn't get the respect it deserves and as long as the ball doesn't get lost in the smog I think the US will be fine.

When it's all said and done, we will look back at the Beijing Games and probably wonder why so much fuss (ok, maybe that whole human rights record needs to still be worked on).  However, just take a moment to think back to Montreal, Los Angeles, Lake Placid, Sydney, and remember that once that cauldron is lit, all we're caring about is Gold, Silver and Bronze.  Leave the bureaucracy and corruption to the IOC and CNN. So I choose to remember the stars of Olympics past and of the upcoming future.

So there you have it, two days and counting, get your gas masks ready! In the meantime, think i'll go back and still try to figure out what exactly Izzy was supposed to be.