Olympic Politics
[Guest post by DRJ]
Chris Rudge, CEO and Secretary General of the Canadian Olympic Committee, explains how the IOC thinks:
“This is a world that is driven by 115 very unique and special people, who look at the world as the IOC members and then there’s world royalty, and then there’s heads of state and then there’s major corporate leaders and then there’s the rest of you riff raff, and so they’re accountable only to themselves,” he said, “There are lot of quid pro-quo exchange favors there and these decisions can become very, very personal. The merit of the bid is important, but the world politics is important.”
Rudge remarked that if he were American, he would find the final tally “insulting” but U.S. IOC member Anita De Frantz says while the vote was “shocking” she disagrees.
“I think the best explanation is that a number of members wanted to go to a different part of the world,” De Frantz said. “
President Obama’s concession speech was very gracious, and I join him in congratulating Brazil and Rio de Janeiro. It should be a festive Olympics.
— DRJ
I just posted this over at Volokh, so why not here too.
As a Chicagoan, (north side) I was torn about our Olympic bid. There is no doubt it would be pretty cool to host an international event and showcase the city for the world. As far as disruptions go, we put up with 80 home baseballs games, football, two weeks of Taste Of Chicago, Jazz Fest, Marathons, numerous neighborhood festivals, etc., every summer so two weeks of Olympic events would be tolerable. While I am not a fan of Obama, I thought he did his best and did the right thing by going and supporting our effort. The one thing that stopped me was Daley: He and his cronies put a happy face on the numbers. I just don’t trust him when it comes to large scale financial commitments (ex. Parking meters and Millennium Park). My guess is that we dodged a bullet.
One final thought. Most of the IOC members must be Cub fans. They just can’t help seeing a Chicago team getting blown out in the first round of the playoffs.
BT (78b929) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:16 pmThere is an extraordinary amount of corruption within the IOC – criminal corruption that should be investigated.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:19 pmWhy anyone would think that the Mandarins of the IOC would forego Rio for Chicago needs extensive professional help.
AD - RtR/OS! (3d0577) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:23 pmAD, I’m thinking that the IOC was thinking: “Hmm, Chicago hookers … or Brazilian hookers ….”
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:28 pmNo Copacabana Beach on Chi-town’s east-side, or butt-floss bikini’s either.
AD - RtR/OS! (3d0577) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:30 pmYeah, who on earth or at least in the non-U.S. would ever want to go to Chicago?? Seriously. These IOC people fancy themselves akin to if not above U.N. swanks. Both groups have more in common with Roman Polanski than with the rest of us…
Peg C. (48175e) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:48 pm“There is an extraordinary amount of corruption within chicago [the IOC] – criminal corruption that should be investigated.”
I believe o and mickey only went to Copenhagen when they figured chicago had a lock. o is notorious for voting “present” so he can never be on the losing side. That is why he is voting “present” on the surge in Afghanistan.
Jim (582155) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:58 pmRudge’s comments are interesting.
I also congratulate Brazil, even though I wanted Chicago to get it. The happiness of the Brazilians is fun to see.
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 4:01 pmThe International Olympic Committee are obviously racist. I blame the policies of the previous administration for this crushing blow to Pres. Obama’s already-dwindling prestige.
Bummer for the Cook County machine hacks who bought up all that now worthless future Olympic Park real estate. HAR!
furious (71af32) — 10/2/2009 @ 4:03 pmThe only people who stood to benefit from Olympic largesse in Chicago was the corrupt Machine and all the scum who wallow in it – every day. This is a victory against those who rob and cheat the honest Illinois citizens everyday here, and also a victory for the true reformers who want to come in and clean both houses of the quisling politicos who only exist to do Daley’s bidding. Our state has become a worldwide embarrassment, and anyone who doesn’t think that played a part in this decision should know that I have an awesome bridge to sell them in the Mojave Desert.
Dmac (5ddc52) — 10/2/2009 @ 4:50 pmThe IOC sounds a lot like the U.N. Hopefully Obama learns his lesson and realizes he can’t trust anyone there.
Patrick in Des Moines (3913e7) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:03 pmHey, just consider the fact the IOC based its decision upon your wishes. The U.S. is considered inhospitable by the rest of the civilized world, period. Scoff as you will because your spittle falls on your own shirt and scoffs only go so far.
Larry Reilly (45c8f2) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:05 pmThe U.S. inhospitable? Yup, as in Bush etc. uber alles.
THEY know. You might not. But THEY KNOW.
They know that you don’t want them here, for the Olympics or whatever. They might be swarthy. Or French. So they’re not coming. Not that it would mean any jobs, or anything for us.
Good fools.
They know.
They know why you’re so anti-Obama. And they know why you don’t know. And you don’t.
But hey, email Anne Appelbaum again and get her to ‘splain herself, so Patterico signify. “I AM PATTERICO, AND THEY ANSWER MY HOWLS. THEREFORE I AM.”
He needs a fix.
The U.S. is considered inhospitable by the rest of the civilized world, period.
This ridiculousness always makes me laugh: If we are indeed so inhospitable to the rest of the civilized world, why on earth do you think so many people risk continue to risk life and limb to arrive on our shores? Why is the United States of America the goal for those attempting to escape totalitarianism, oppression and any other thing that prevents them from experiencing personal and societal freedoms?
Are you nuts?
Dana (863a65) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:14 pm“The U.S. is considered inhospitable by the rest of the civilized world, period.”
Larry – Did they announce that? Really? Do you have a link?
Was it two for one at Happy Hour today Larry? Talk about freaking projection!
daleyrocks (718861) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:18 pmdaleyrocks, Larry got it straight from Roman’s lips.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:28 pmLarry – If Europe is so inhospitable to the “Right” in the US then why do they keep electing more and more Conservative governments in their own countries? France, Germany, Czhec Republic, Poland and many others all have gone rightwards since Bush’s election.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:42 pmHave Blue, never happened … at least not in Larry’s world.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:47 pmMawy hit the MadDog 20/20 early today …
JD (b279d0) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:50 pmMaybe now Obama will reconsider his support for the idiot hanging out in Brazil’s Honduran embassy.
Kevin Murphy (805c5b) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:56 pmNow, ask yourself: Where would you rather be in August 2016? Chicago or Rio?
Kevin Murphy (805c5b) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:57 pmAre you nuts?
Answer – yes. Yes he is.
Dmac (5ddc52) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:59 pmI suppose there’s a very outside chance that by 2016 the Olympics won’t be totally gay. I’m not betting money.
happyfeet (6b707a) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:02 pmactually its 81 home games each year. and thats per team, remember y’all have two teams up there.
chas (d753bf) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:29 pmA video from the crowd after the choice of Rio was announced.
Apogee (e2dc9b) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:37 pmYou folks rooted for America to lose. For very selfish, small, ideologically inbred, and ultimately anti-American reasons. (e.g. you lost and elections have consequences, your denials notwithstanding.)
Larry Reilly (45c8f2) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:55 pmYou won’t admit it aloud. But you did. You rooted for the U.S. to lose this bid for the Olympics. Period.
And, to the extent there are some syapses and axions connected to your reptilian brain stems, you know it.
So, as Americans you’re losers.
That especially includes those of you who can’t come up with anything here in reply other than the drive-by brief, ad hominem attacks that you hope might be seen as clever.
That means you dailyrox, jade and SPickeR.
You want your America back don’t you. Well, go vote cache-archival in that Facebook poll about how best to off the target of your hate. (That l’il flap stirred your loins, dint it?) You guys feed the mindset that put up that chump-ass attack on the office of president. But of course you feel so, so very much above it all……while loving it. That’s the beauty of your perch. To you, at least.
Larry Reilly, America does not bid on the Olympics. Your comment is the usual incoherent confused looney nonsense you write.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:04 pmAmerica lost nothing. Chicago lost, and Barcky really lost. But simple little facts are foreign concepts to asshats like yourself. Step away from the box of wine …
JD (848a9f) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:13 pmThe U.S. is considered inhospitable by the rest of the civilized world, period. Scoff as you will because your spittle falls on your own shirt and scoffs only go so far.
Larry, that must be why half of the citizens of France would move here if they could.
Maybe that’s why they consider us inhospitable.
Larry, when was the last time you were in France ? The change is amazing.
Mike K (2cf494) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:14 pmOh dear, it’s Bush’s fault we didn’t get the Olympics. Didn’t see that coming!
Jesse Jackson tells The Associated Press that Chicago had the right combination to host the 2016 Olympic Games, with buildings and transportation. And the civil rights leader says Chicago sent the “A-Team” with visits to Copenhagen from President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.
But he believes that the Bush administration had poor relations with the IOC and remnants of that era remain.
Dana (863a65) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:15 pmThat’s really goofy, Mr. Reilly. These weren’t to be America’s Olympics. The dirty socialist little president man and his Chicago street trash friends, it was their Olympics what these were to be.
And a convenient event for which dirty socialist propagandists at CNN and NPR and CBS and Newsweek and the rest could produce lots of hagiography and legacy nonsense about our dipshit dirty socialist president what is enthusiastically presiding over the precipitous and scary fast decline of our little country.
We dodged a bullet.
happyfeet (6b707a) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:18 pmHey,
Dr T (324d86) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:19 pmcould we get a little ban love for Larry? It seems he’s crossed the line from troll to full on raving loony.
Larry – That “lil flap” as you call it was a juvenile prank committed by a juvenile. Investigated by the Secret Service and they have stated that the reponsible juvenile will not be prosecuted as it stands now. Of course the political left in this country with their usual paranoid ravings thought they had discovered the right wing plot of the century.
The same people who were advertising on late night TV for assassins (remember “assassins wanted” posters) and marching in the street with mock up of Bush’s severed head on a spear are now lecturing us on proper political decorum.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:19 pmWow, Larry, did you forget your meds today?
Frankly, this country needs to host the 2016 Olympic games about as much as a person needs a third arm growing out of the back of his/her head. Big time sports don’t make money for the communities. Washington, D.C., didn’t have money to maintain the city schools and libraries, but the city council managed to scrape up a few hundred million for a stadium for a mediocre baseball team. The residents in the DFW area are on the hook for close to a billion dollars for the monument to Jerry Jones’ ego. Chicago would have had to fork out a lot of money for infrastructure development to support the games at a time when a lot of money and jobs are fleeing the rust belt.
The residents avoided big tax hikes (for the time being) and the hassle that comes from hosting the games.
Also, shouldn’t the President be focused on more pressing issues such as the economy, national security, Iran, all of the executive branch vacancies, etc.? It might be more valuable in the long run to take care of the duties as President rather than jet off to Europe to try to secure a monument to his already gargantuan ego.
So, Larry, do you know how to focus on the big picture, or are you too consumed with trolling?
SomeOtherSteve (bde158) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:22 pm“That especially includes those of you who can’t come up with anything here in reply other than the drive-by brief, ad hominem attacks that you hope might be seen as clever.”
Larry – I believe you are talking to yourself again. Your entire comment consists of juvenile ad hominem attacks. I think you need another shot before you pass out head down on your keyboard.
daleyrocks (d057d3) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:31 pm“I suppose there’s a very outside chance that by 2016 the Olympics won’t be totally gay.”
feets – I am totally down with that rhythmic gymnastics stuff with the ribbons what they make look like circles. I think they should merge it with something like dodgeball to make it coed and a bloodsport kind of thing though. That would not be totally gay I don’t think.
daleyrocks (d057d3) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:36 pmAfter reading President Obama’s presentation to the IOC selection committee, I have had a revelation. Its not that Obama hates America’s past. No it’s that he hates White America’s past. America with him leading it is fine, but heretofore, it wasn’t reflective of the rest of the world. We didn’t reflect our diversity. Why? Because we had white presidents.
richardb (592499) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:39 pmTip for Obama, Brazil reflects Brazil and not the rest of the world.
Ice dancing would be more interesting if there were unmarked sandy spots on the ice, and if they had random obstacles pop up at inopportune moments, like a piano falling from the ceiling, or a trip wire suddenly popping up while the ice dancer tries a triple sow cow toe loop pirouette.
JD (848a9f) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:52 pmI think they should have games where these ones can do their little hopscotch or whatever but then they have to solve a puzzle. Like a hard one where you have to think.
That would make fun tv and we could get up close and personal with the stupid ones and feel better about ourselves.
happyfeet (6b707a) — 10/2/2009 @ 8:01 pmDon Surber has a piece up that essentially says that Barry did not show due deference to the committee. He points out that Tony Blair schmoozed for three days to get it for London. Barry essentially jetted in, bashed America, and told them how awesome the USA is, now that he’s in charge. Barry is probably bewildered tonight, not comprehending why they didn’t adore him.
Gazzer (22ecdc) — 10/2/2009 @ 8:09 pmhere is a link for Gazzer’s thing … it’s a good read
happyfeet (6b707a) — 10/2/2009 @ 8:17 pmThanks ‘feet. I tried to link the other night, and I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Here’s what I do. I highlight the word or sentence. I click on link box. Another box opens so I paste the desired link in, but it never seems to work. Can you hook me up on the low down, so that I look like a grown up on this site? Thanks.
Gazzer (22ecdc) — 10/2/2009 @ 8:44 pmGaz,
Hit the link button when you’re ready to insert it, the first pop-up box is for the url.
Stashiu3 (44da70) — 10/2/2009 @ 8:55 pmType or copy/paste the url and hit enter.
The next box that comes up is the description.
Type in the text you want to use as the link.
When you hit enter it will insert the link at the end of whatever you’ve already typed as a comment.
You can then finish your comment.
If you put it in the wrong place, highlight all the html you just inserted and drag/drop it where you want it to appear.
Hope this helps.
Gazzer, if the link button isn’t working for you, it’s possible to add the link manually. Do it like this: [a href=”http://www.yourlinkhere.com”]TEXT[/a] but use the angle brackets instead of the square brackets. If you do it correctly, you should be able to see it linked in the preview, like I can see the link to my website.
SomeOtherSteve (bde158) — 10/2/2009 @ 8:57 pmi will go find what Ric wrote – don’t use the link button until after you know the code then it will work more better
brb
I’m back. Here.
just remember for the link part to put the http:// part in.
happyfeet (6b707a) — 10/2/2009 @ 8:58 pmgazzer, sorry to jump in but I recall I had trouble at first because when I would paste a link in the box I would forget to scroll all the way to the left of the link box and make sure there was only one http://. The pop-up link box already has one in it and often when you copy/paste a link into it, you grab that http:// as well. Double http:// kills the link.
I hope that makes sense.
Dana (863a65) — 10/2/2009 @ 8:59 pmFunniest Polanski line yet.
Gazzer (22ecdc) — 10/2/2009 @ 9:21 pmFunniest Polanski line yet.
Gazzer (22ecdc) — 10/2/2009 @ 9:24 pmYou did it, Gazzer! And that is a funny line.
DRJ (b008f8) — 10/2/2009 @ 9:25 pmAha, number 46 was a failure due to lack of ” mark. I do not get the second box opening up, so have to use the method described by Some other Steve and Happyfeet. Thank you to one and all, including Scott Jacobs who helped me a couple of evenings ago. Must go back to getting my *ss kicked at Trivial Pursuit by Mrs G.
Gazzer (22ecdc) — 10/2/2009 @ 9:28 pmThanks DRJ.
Gazzer (22ecdc) — 10/2/2009 @ 9:29 pm@25 Yes, I rooted against Chicago (I live nearby) and I admit it. It’s because the Olympics would likely be a net economic loss to the region. Here’s a 2005 Forbes article that looks at the economic impact of hosting the Games: http://www.forbes.com/2005/07/06/2012-olympics-bids-cz_mo_0706olympics.html?partner=my_yahoo%3fpartner=my_yahoo&referrer=
gp (cb5e61) — 10/2/2009 @ 9:34 pm@25 Here’s a bunch of articles that explain how we can oppose Chicago Olympics 2016 without hating America: http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/2016-chicago-olympics/Content?oid=1195912
gp (cb5e61) — 10/2/2009 @ 10:01 pmIt’s damn ironic how everyone here seems to get that Chicago is corrupt, yet Obama…
Ghee from what cesspool pond off politics did Obama come from again?
annoying (570e36) — 10/2/2009 @ 10:49 pmpnd ^of^ politics
annoying (570e36) — 10/2/2009 @ 10:51 pm“This is a world that is driven by 115 very unique and special people, who look at the world as the IOC members and then there’s world royalty, and then there’s heads of state and then there’s major corporate leaders and then there’s the rest of you riff raff, and so they’re accountable only to themselves,” he said, “There are lot of quid pro-quo exchange favors there and these decisions can become very, very personal. The merit of the bid is important, but the world politics is important.”
Is he saying that Barack Obama, former Chicago machine ward heeler and errand boy, wasn’t able to do what a bunch of Mormons in Salt Lake City were able to? That’s gonna leave a mark.
Another Chris (f29ad3) — 10/3/2009 @ 12:09 amMitt beats Barack?(!)
Icy Texan (43c637) — 10/3/2009 @ 2:05 amDid you ever stop to think that maybe the IOC just didn’t believe Obama?
I mean, look at one of the things he said about coming to Copenhagen:
“I was proud that I was able to come in and make the case in person. I believe it’s always a worthwhile endeavor to promote and boost the United States of America.”
harkin (f92f52) — 10/3/2009 @ 4:19 amRio lost out to London last time, and S America has never hosted an Olympics It’s as simple as that.
JEA (5b621d) — 10/3/2009 @ 6:37 amIt should be a festive Olympics.
Perhaps in more ways than one.
New York Times, 1994:
It is Brazil’s second largest city, after Sao Paulo, but Rio now leads the nation in negative urban indicators. It has the largest concentration of slum dwellers — one million; the highest murder rate — about one out of every 700 residents last year; and the highest kidnapping rate — about four a week.
Unwillingly, middle-class residents are becoming weapons experts.
With youth gangs from the favelas, or slums, sweeping Copacabana and Ipanema beaches looking for valuables, middle-class residents retreat behind the walls of well-guarded private clubs and condominiums.
In the last five years, Rio’s international tourism has been cut in half, to about 400,000 visitors a year. At the same time, tourism figures for Brazil as a whole are booming, as Brazilians and foreigners discover safer cities of the northeast like Fortaleza, Recife and Salvador.
The crime rate accelerates Rio’s economic decline, making the city fall further behind Sao Paulo.
The city has lost more than tourists. Twenty years ago, Rio had 101 of the nation’s 500 largest private businesses. Today it has only 65. A decade ago, Rio had half of Brazil’s stock market activity, but Rio’s exchange now accounts for only 12 percent. Of Brazil’s 35 largest banks, only one is still based in Rio.
Mark (411533) — 10/3/2009 @ 8:04 amYeah, that must be it. How could we have missed the idiotic Occam’s Razor crapola from such a brilliant mind as yours?
Dmac (5ddc52) — 10/3/2009 @ 8:05 ampolitics schmolotics. China, a major asshole of a nation, got the olympics recently. The IOC just plum doesn’t care about that. They care about the mentioned ‘favors’. I would rather they just hold them in Greece, permanently, so that records are consistent (things like swimming pools differ greatly, making records less accurate), and they can build nicer permanent buildings that are accessible to many, and avoid all this graft.
Dustin (bb61e3) — 10/3/2009 @ 8:24 amI would rather they just hold them in Greece,
Speaking of which — and to offset the disappointment of those Chicagoans who wanted, and thought they’d get, the 2012 games — does anyone believe the Olympics in Athens a few years ago gave a great boost to that city? Greece spent billions on their rather forgettable, lackluster games and ended up with not much more than a pile of unused, rusting facilities.
Mark (411533) — 10/3/2009 @ 8:45 amdidn’t they have really destructive riots just recently in Athens where they smashed and burned and smashed and burned?
happyfeet (6b707a) — 10/3/2009 @ 8:49 amdoes anyone believe the Olympics in Athens a few years ago gave a great boost to that city?
Only those individuals who were big boosters of their city’s bid – to date, there have been no quantifiable studies that have demonstrated the hallowed “Olympic Hangover” that allegedly benefits prior host cities. If anything, if you take LA as an outlier, no host city of either the Summer or Winter Olympic Games has been able to shed massive cost overruns coupled with higher taxes years later, in order to pay off the onerous debts incurred. Montreal is still paying off the debts caused by their hosting of the 1976 Summer Games, an event I barely remember, other than Spitz’s record (back then) winning medals.
Dmac (5ddc52) — 10/3/2009 @ 9:17 amPotential violence in Rio…
AD - RtR/OS! (a1f19e) — 10/3/2009 @ 9:35 amWell, we could think of it as term-limits for IOC Cmte members?
It will be quite the buffet for the engaging hetero male.
HeavenSent (01a566) — 10/3/2009 @ 9:50 amthe hallowed “Olympic Hangover”
Mark (411533) — 10/3/2009 @ 10:05 amFinancial waste and debt and graft, corruption… and even war. Remember Sarajevo:
As a result of the high number of casualties and the wartime conditions present, makeshift cemeteries appear throughout Sarajevo and its surrounding areas. Parks, athletic fields, and other open spaces have been utilized as graveyards. One such site is the sports complex built for the 1984 Winter Olympics.
Dana (863a65) — 10/3/2009 @ 10:13 am[…] the always lively discussion over at Patterico’s, courtesy of […]
Gazzer’s Gabfest » Poor widdle Bawwy didn’t get the Owympics… (b98ad6) — 10/3/2009 @ 10:30 amThe truth is beginning to dawn on people: Despite being “smarter”, Obama is less competent than Bush and has far worse judgment.
And when it comes to shmoozing, Bush was a master and Obama is a stick-up-the-ass.
Kevin Murphy (3c3db0) — 10/3/2009 @ 10:37 amBut, but…Buuush is stuuupid;
AD - RtR/OS! (a1f19e) — 10/3/2009 @ 10:42 amand The One We Have Been Waiting For, is the complete Cosmopolitan MetroSexual!
“Montreal is still paying off the debts caused by their hosting of the 1976 Summer Games, an event I barely remember, other than Spitz’s record (back then) winning medals”
Spitz won his olympic medals at Mexico City (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) and Munich (7 gold).
harkin (f92f52) — 10/3/2009 @ 10:44 amWell, then that proves how much I did forget the Montreal games – I think I was remembering Bruce Jenner’s wins at the Decathalon event; but maybe I’m not getting that one correct, either.
Dmac (5ddc52) — 10/3/2009 @ 11:31 amRE: 72
Mark Spitz won all his medals in ’72 @ Munich, not Montreal.
JEA (5b621d) — 10/3/2009 @ 12:10 pmChris Rudge, CEO and Secretary General of the Canadian Olympic Committee, explains how the IOC thinks
And as explained by another Canadian:
steve (bd3818) — 10/3/2009 @ 12:20 pm“Well, then that proves how much I did forget the Montreal games – I think I was remembering Bruce Jenner’s wins at the Decathalon event; but maybe I’m not getting that one correct, either.”
Nope – you are right on that one. Bruce Jenner won the gold in Montreal. For some strange reason though the only visual my brain can generate is John Belushi’s Jenner parody.
harkin (f92f52) — 10/3/2009 @ 1:13 pmJEA – harkin has it right in #72. Spitz picked up four medals in Mexico City.
daleyrocks (d057d3) — 10/3/2009 @ 1:45 pmOh, yeah, I remember that one as well – wasn’t it called something like “John Belushi, US Olympic Pole Vaulter, eats Little Brown Donuts for breakfast each morning.”
Dmac (5ddc52) — 10/3/2009 @ 1:54 pmThe only things I remember about the ’76 games are that they were held in Montreal and Bruce Jenner won the decathlon gold while not winning that last distance running event. I was sitting at home, cheering him on.
The first olympics I remember watching.
John Hitchcock (3fd153) — 10/3/2009 @ 2:00 pm