So Sarah’s theory is that the Olympics are just a diversion planned by the world leaders every four years to distract Americans from overbearing government regimes, bad economies, war and other distasteful world issues.

Maybe so, but I say it’s not an entirely bad thing for the majority of the world’s people to turn its attention to something positive?a competition where respect for your opponent is obvious, athletes participate for pride and playing by the rules is mandatory (besides a few strikingly young looking Chinese gymnasts . . . I bet they do have proper government paperwork. But really, if children can compete at that level and win, I say let them in).

The problem with most conflicts between the world’s nations is, as opposed to the Olympic Games, the leaders make their own set of rules and regulations as they go, or just disregard them altogether.

I wonder how the NBC family decides what sports to cover. Is swimming really that popular in the U.S.? Really, I’ll admit the Phelps storyline is historic and interesting, but swimming is not always the most exciting competition to watch. I want to see the table tennis, the trampolining.

Do they show sports popular in America, or those that American athletes have the greatest chance of winning?or whatever they feel like at the moment? They have interruped close vollyball games for slightly less exciting women’s backstroke heats.

Wish the Major Leagues of baseball would take an Olympic break. And MLB players participating in the games wouldn’t exactly mean a totally dominant U.S. dream team either, Japan, Venezuela, many countries would field very strong teams if the pros were involved. How about the U.S. – Dominican Republic matchup?

The baseball competition is pretty intense this year, with the U.S. and China involved in a hard-hitting game.

Maybe the Olympics are just preparing the citizens of the U.S. and China for a larger, more deadly showdown between those nations someday. There does seem to be a lot of focus on those two countries’ athletes?but that’s understandable, since Chinese and American athletes are dominating in the medal count.

And what’s with the McDonald’s commercial with athletes pitching a piece of fried chicken on a biscuit for breakfast?

Maybe it’s really not what you eat, but more what you burn.

Mr. Phelps is evidence of that?eating about five times the amount what the average American does, and obviously not struggling with obesity.

Peace,

Bracken Mayo, Editor in Chief