Thursday, August 21, 2008
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Thursday, August 21, 2008 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | Photo Gallery |
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My friend Mike and my friend Mark at the Olympics • Yes, that’s still an old picture of me up there. My youngest granddaughter Remy thinks she looks like me in that picture and asked me to use it “always.” She’ll forget soon and then you’ll have to look at the “real me” again. • Have you been watching the Olympics? I think many, many of us around the world are watching. We were talking about sportsmanship, etc. in Sunday School last week and the bronze medal winner who laid his medal down and walked off in a huff came up. That was not sportsmanship and he was stripped of his medal. As he should have been. Then, there was “Lightning” Bolt -- the 6’5” runner from Jamaica. He may truly be the “fastest man in the world.” He was a joy to watch, winning the 100 meters. While he was way ahead, he began slowing down and thumped his chest, I think, in the sheer joy of the moment. Many of the commentators, etc. came down hard on him -- many saying he could have broken the world record a couple hundredths of a second faster. Come on, he broke the world record. He was happy. Give him a break. Apparently, he was told not to be happy anymore during a race; as in the 200 meter he didn’t smile or celebrate as he ran away with that race also, still slowing down after he knew he’d won. It was a joy for me to watch him run. Now, I have to find out where to watch track meets, etc. to see him again. I’m going to be really sad when the Olympics are over. I won’t get to see my friend Mike anymore. I’ve gotten used to Mike coming to my living room every night with his infectious grin and his mom Debbie. Michael Phelps is being called the greatest athlete of all time. Mark Entwistle, our Scottish columnist, thinks maybe that Jessie Owens and Carl Lewis ought to be up there somewhere. He’s not taking anything away from my friend Mike, just saying, well... who’s to say who is the “greatest.” (Muhammad Ali?) Mark is very excited that Chris Hoy from Edinburgh got a third gold medal in cycling and that the Brits are third on the medal table behind the USA and the Chinese. I’ve worried when the Chinese don’t do as well as expected. I’m afraid there are more repercussions than just disappointment. The Chinese athletes have been a joy to watch. I’ve enjoyed (and even rooted for) athletes from all over the world. Maybe the politicians could take a cue from the Olympians? Think sportsmanship will ever enter into the world of politics? Nah, I don’t either... |
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