"There Is No Rivalry With China, America Stands Alone......."

By Johnathan Phillips Rogers

For a rivalry to exist, two teams or in this case countries, must view each other as equals, or at least as worthy adversaries.

China certainly views itself as a rival to America in many areas. But America and Americans do not view any country as our rival, especially not in athletics.

America has dominated and defined the Olympics since they were reborn at the turn of the century. During that time more than a few countries have fancied themselves as rivals or challengers to America.

Nazi Germany was probably the first country to foolishly view themselves as rivals to America. Great Britain briefly entertained similar notions. Then came the Soviet Union, who in all honesty were worthy challengers, along with the entire Eastern Bloc. Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union various countries here and there have attempted to challenge America in various sports, with varying degrees of success: Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica, UK, Germany, South Korea, and others.

Now, with China's headlong plunge into mass-scale industrialization, and their keen awareness of their nation's ancient, sophisticated civilization, their leaders have attempted to fashion their athletes as rivals to American athletes. They have used every resource at their disposal to prepare for this world-wide competition, especially against America.

But only the Chinese share this view.

To Americans, the Olympics are still the time to showcase our national prowess in the pursuit of gold and glory. To us, there is no rival. All opponents are merely obstacles on the path to gold. As a result of our historical dominance in the Olympics, and our leadership in most areas outside of athletics, it is only natural that other countries view us as the standard, as the team to beat. It comes with the territory.

Compared to the Chinese and the Soviets before them, we spend a paltry amount of money and time on the development and training of our Olympic athletes. Yet we still produce the legends of the sport, whether in swimming, boxing, track and field or gymnastics. And while certain sports have eluded our pursuit of excellence and gold, it is assumed that they too will submit.

Yet in our wealth of riches and Olympic glory, perhaps we have become presumptuous and lazy. "Gold" and "American" seem to be the same word when the subject is the Olympics. It is certainly viewed by Americans as the natural order of things.

But as we are seeing with our Olympic basketball team, sometimes the bitter taste of defeat is exactly what is needed to awaken the sleeping dragon.

And this dragon is not Chinese.

Therefore we welcome the challenge, from China or any other would-be, self-proclaimed "rival."

As our gridiron warriors like to say, "Bring it."