Kaido's presence makes a difference

The Olympics start in less than two weeks in Beijing.

 

I barely care.

 

The Olympics used to be a big deal. They still are, but they are a big deal that no longer grabs me.

 

I don't know why. I can remember watching the Olympics back to 1956, and heard and read a million stories about Jesse Owens and Adolph Hitler in 1936. I remember John Thomas and Valery Brumel battling it out, both jumping better than seven feet in 1960 and 1964. That was a big deal. I remember Bob Beamon broad jumping – that, I believe, is what it was called back then – an astounding 29 feet,  2½ inches in 1968. And, though it was overshadowed by the senseless murder of Israeli athletes, but Frank Shorter's marathon gold medal in 1972 in Munich was a great moment. No American who lived through it will ever forget the United States' "Do you believe in miracles?" gold medal hockey win in Lake Placid in 1980.

 

Maybe that last was just too much. Maybe nothing that came after could measure up. I did pay close attention when Remsen's Erin Hamlin's participated in the luge in 2006. This time, I am pleased to learn that Jen Kaido of West Leyden will compete for the American rowing team. Maybe having someone local to root for  will make a difference.