Olympic Foolishness

Everyday on TV and in the newspapers, we see the glowing faces of those who have carried the Olympic torch for even a few yards, or even touched it. It is a "defining moment" in their lives, never to be forgotten, something to tell their grandchildren about in their dotage. We see crowds of thousands cheering wildly as the torch bearers run past. I don't know if there was this much joy when the war ended in 1945. I gape in wonder. Am I the only party pooper?

There was a time when the Olympics were for amateurs. Jim Thorpe was stripped of his 1912 gold medals when it was learned that he had played two years of semi-pro baseball. How times change! Big money has taken over; medal winners can expect big bucks for endorsing commercial products. We have witnessed the obscenity of the USA basketball "Dream Team" winning gold at Barcelona in 1992. These millionaires didn't join the other athletes in the Olympic Village, opting instead for a luxury hotel. Showing no shame, subsequent dream teams won again in 1996, 2000 & 2008. The Olympic spirit indeed.

For my part, I find the games boring and irrelevant. Sorry, sport fans.