Yookeroo - Look, pal (and FYI, I don’t remember seeing you anywhere before), did you recall me saying one word about Michael Phelps? Whether he’s the greatest of all time, whether the number of events in swimming should count against him, whether this Lochte character has a legit beef, etc? No. I knew that once this Olympiad was done, he’d have the record for most medals. He’d have to fall down a manhole not to break the record. It was a done deal.
What wasn’t a done deal was the talk about how China was this great power and they kicked our butts in '08 and nothing can stop them and our days on the top were over etc. And this Olympiad put an end that. Nail in the coffin, badda-bing, turn out the lights, goodnight and drive home safely.
That’s what I find thrilling, the big score that settles the issue and shuts everyone the hell up. Evander Holyfield clobbering Buster Douglas and Mike Tyson. John Elway winning the Super Bowl. France stomping Brazil to win the World Cup. The Boston Red Sox going down 0-3 in the 'ALCS and then becoming unstoppable. The New York Rangers crushing the second most annoying curse in sports. Heck, add Rory McElroy winning the PGA Championship in record fashion. It’s over, it’s done, we’re finally free to get on with our lives.
We’re the best. You may or may not like it. You may or may not want to make a big deal out of it. You may or may not think it’s deserved. But regardless of what you think it’s a fact now.
Will we still be the best in Rio? Don’t know, don’t care. It’s all about amazing achievements, anyone, anywhere, for me now.
ekedolphin - Thanks for having my back here. I’d just like to add that there was a reason “You don’t win the silver, you lose the gold” was probably the most reviled Olympic commercial ever. A silver is a smaller achievement; it’s still an achievement. It’s not a “loss” of any kind.
As for the vandalism, well, I ask the same thing I always do: Who the hell are YOU to judge? You didn’t sacrifice your childhood in training. You didn’t whip yourself into shape and learn a complex physical skill under a demanding coach. You didn’t get in front of millions and pour your heart and soul into a contest where only the three best get anything. Your opinion means nothing. (Admittedly not as bad as the cases involving military service, but nearly as bad.)