I have enjoyed watching the Olympics so much this year that it almost makes me dread the day in 2014 when Michael Phelps is stripped of his eight gold medals for using baking soda (hence the bubbles).  But since I love to dwell on the negative, here are some moments with a bit less shine…

When Usain Bolt ran away with the 100 meter race in 9.69 seconds, I didn’t mind his showboating.  But things turned ugly (as they usually do) on one discussion board (which I can’t find now) where some fans accused him of “disrespecting” his competitors and others accused Americans of not being able to handle non-American success.  Someone even said that the only way we know how to relate to the rest of the world is to ride in on our high horses and act like saviors when others are suffering.  I feel pity for the Jamaican who said that, and would like to see the UN and World Bank sponsor a program to help correct such attitudes in the rest of the world.  Another commenter pointed out how strange it is that American sprinting success has taken a nose-dive in this first post-BALCO Olympics.  Well, mark my words:  Bolt is full of BS (baking soda).

On the first night of “women’s” gymnastics, I said to my wife that there weren’t any good candidates for the role of “America’s Sweetheart”, what with two girls named Shawn and Nasty.  However, the American sports press has been eager to promote the appropriately cute Shawn Johnson to that role, even though Russian-born American Nastia Liukin won the all-around contest, which is how Mary Lou became our designated cutesy.  Since Shawn finally won gold last night, the press seems to be polishing up her crown for tonight’s prime time coverage.  Other than this, NBC has enjoyed talking about Nastia’s unfair treatment at the hands of the judges (zooming in on her pained expression yesterday as she accepted the tragedy of a silver medal to go along with a bronze, another silver, and the gold for the all-around) and casting doubt on the age of 16-year-old Kexin He, who looks about 8.

Then there’s Michael Phelps and his amazing .01 second victory in the 100 meter butterfly.  I can see why the Serbian delegation filed a protest on behalf of second-place Milorad Cavic, and why they wanted to see the underwater photographs.  But this comment afterward makes no sense:

“We filed the protest but it is already over,” said Branislav Jevtic, Serbia’s chief of mission for all sports. “They examined the video and I think the case is closed. The video says (Phelps) finished first.

“In my opinion, it’s not right, but we must follow the rules. Everybody saw what happened.” 1

What’s not right? Based on further reading, I think he meant that it was close enough to be ruled a tie, and that both men should’ve received gold.  But if the touch pad and video both say that Phelps finished first…

Finally, a brief and dangerous comment about beach volleyball:  I can accept that skimpy bikinis give the women a competitive advantage (and I say that purely out of a love for the game…really!)  But shouldn’t the men be wearing Speedos and no shirts?