Thursday, Lafayette, Indiana

I am ashamed to confess that I m not very interested in the Olympics in China. Part of it I suppose is the consequence of the difference in time zones - I believe when it is prime time here it’s the next day in China. So in the early evening when I am interested in watching it seems that the events featured are women’s beach volleyball - which to me seems like an ESPN 2 feature that holds no interest for me. And don’t give me this hogwash that the appeal of beautiful young women athletes in bikinis is about the sport. Uh, not!

That said, two of the athletes that have broken through the maize of coverage are two young supermen. First, of course was the amazing Michael Phelps. As hoped before the games began, he outdid the legendary Mark Spitz with 8 gold medals and world records in the pool! Then there is the new world phenomenon Usain Bolt, the Jamaican rocket who blew away the competition in the sprints. Like Phelps, it is hard to imagine any individual athlete being so much more powerful than all the other world-class performers. But like other sports icons like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, these guys are made of different stuff.

Now here is the problem. All across the world, despite all evidence to the contrary, children with little aptitude will start spending hours swimming and running in order to become the next legend. And like 90% of the competitors on American idol, they would be well advised to spend their devotion and hours pursuing such dreams as education, reading and the arts. But call me a cynic, I just don’t see American parents losing their passion for finding ways for their beloved, unique children to achieve the American dream.