The RIGHT way to watch the Olympics

I have been watching the Olympics since 1960. A member of the Men's 1600 Meter Relay(TRACK) team was a neighbor so it was a really big deal. I was 14 and since that Rome Olympics I have been a devout fan.

There is a RIGHT way and a WRONG way to watch the Olympics.

First let me state without reservation.......

I WANT THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC TEAM TO WIN EVERY EVENT.

BUT THE RIGHT WAY TO WATCH THE OLYMPICS, IF YOU ARE AN AMERICAN DIE HARD ROOTER IS...

DO NOT EXPECT ONE MEDAL

NOT

ONE

MEDAL

NO GOLD

NO SILVER

NO BRONZE

NOT ONE

NADA

BLANKO

ZIP

If you watch the Olympic games with that idea then you will have a great visual and emotion experience.

IF, on the other hand you THINK the UNITED STATES should win every medal....then you will be one of the many moaners and groaners who report after it's over....."it was ok....it wasn't that great."

IF you think Michael Phelps should win 8 GOLD MEDALS and he only wins 5 you will be one of those moaners and groaners who report after it's over....."he was ok...he didn't do that good."

GOD FORBID THAT THE UNITED STATES MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM LOSES THE GOLD MEDAL TO CHINA OR ??????????????

THE ENTIRE OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE WILL BE A MAJOR BUMMER FOR MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS....

AND THAT'S A CRYING SHAME!

Not one of the basketball players needs to be doing this.....they are all multi-millionaires and should probably be resting and getting ready for the next NBA season.....but they are in Beijing trying to collect Gold for the USA.

I think back to how the press and the public reacted when the team didn't win Gold in Athens

it was ugly....and I felt horrible for all those players who committed their summer to the endeavor.

THE PRESS expects TOO MUCH

THE GENERAL PUBLIC expects TOO MUCH

BECAUSE THE PRESS HAS BUILT EACH AND EVERY EVENT INTO A

DO OR DIE EXPERIENCE FOR THE USA ATHLETE

AND

THAT

IS

FLAT

WRONG

I can't change the press and I sure as hell can't change the general public but you can have a great experience if

you simply think the United States will NOT win even one medal.....

NO GOLD

NO SILVER

NO BRONZE

NADA

ZIP

IF YOU DO THIS ONE SIMPLE MIND TRICK.....I PROMISE YOU THAT THE BEIJING OLYMPICS WILL BE THE GREATEST OLYMPICS YOU HAVE EVER WATCHED.....

IF you don't watch the Olympics then you are just plain silly!

IF YOU ONLY WATCH EVENTS THAT YOU KNOW THE UNITED STATES MIGHT WIN THEN YOU AREN'T REALLY WATCHING THE OLYMPICS

There are more ways to watch the games then ever before.....more channels, both TV and on-line......and of course DVR players and TIVO make it a whole new ballgame.

You can wake up in the middle of the night (Beijing is 15 hours ahead) and catch a little weightlifting or rowing or badminton....or wrestling.....or????????????????

ANYWAY YOU DO IT.....DON'T NATIONALIZE THE EXPERIENCE

RELATE TO THE ATHLETE

AND TO THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS ENDEAVOR.

IT'S THE GREATEST WORLD EVENT AND THERE'S NOT EVEN A CLOSE SECOND.....

ENJOY IT AND

GO AMERICA!

I didn't say I was rooting for OUR athletes.....I'm just starting right this minute with the mind set that AMERICA will get blanked in ever event.

NO MEDALS

NOT

ONE

NADA

ZIP

Let the games begin!

wait a sec....

.......Is that smog on the track? Where are the runners.....I can't see em.....

I thought China fixed all of their internal problems....but that is truly another story....

I'll be making some statements regarding global political issues during the next two weeks....even though....

I should just shut up and enjoy the events.....but seriously this is CHINA and they have a lot of things to explain.

How cool would it be if Tibet could win a medal......but I don't think levitation is an event.....yet!

Michael Timothy McAlevey