KP's Olympic Wrap Up

Nobody pays for my opinion but I am free to share it despite. I've had more requests than usual (that would be one request) for an Olympic wrap up in my own cynical and jaded, yet insightful viewpoint. To calm the maddening crowd, here you go...

Most inspiring
I was moved by the Brazilian marathoner, Vanderlei De Lima, who was attacked by a defrocked Irish priest during the race. Lima had every right to be angry and/or disappointed with the situation, as he was leading the race at the time of the attack. Lima, however, chose to "play airplane" as he ran the last 20 meters of the race and accepted his his 3rd place finish with smiles and playfulness. What a contrast to, say, Paul Hamm (see Most Disappointing).

Watching Fani Halkia, a Greek athlete, win the 400 meter hurdles was very touching. I have always appreciated smaller countries winning big races, but a win like this is even more moving when the winning athlete represents the host country. Halkia won the 400 meter hurdles and celebrated with a stadium packed with Greek fans. It was a nice moment.

Unfortunately, the fact that Greece has had some track athletes involved with illegal performance enhancing substances did taint Halkia's win in my mind. Fair or unfair, that certainly came to mind.


Most overrated
I've decided I don't like this topic, but I'm gonna go with it anyways. I think overrated is the wrong term...perhaps, blown out of proportion is better. That said...here's my opinion, and I know how unpopular it will be with many people.

Yes, the softball team dominated in a huge way. However, is this an amazing feat or does it represent the fact that the rest of the world doesn't put much time, effort, or money into softball? Why doesn't anybody take into account that they had no formidable competition?

This isn't the USA softball team's fault but wouldn't the gold mean much more if the team had some tough games and overcame some adversity...but they didn't have to, it was a cake walk. Unfortunately for the softball team, their biggest news day will come when they lose a medal round game in some future Olympic games. That will be the big story, because, for at least one day, they will have some semblance of competition.

Most disappointing
Paul Hamm...hands down...not so much because he kept the gold but because he hasn't shown any empathy for Yang Tae-young of South Korea. Hamm could have at least feigned some concern or some willingness to cooperate and consider the right thing. Upon watching Hamm in interviews, he was smug and reeked of selfishness and...oh wait, isn't this what we've come to expect from US athletes?

That's all I have for today, kids. Coming next...If you have to wear makeup, could it actually be a sport?