Oh, how I love the Olympics.\u00a0 They remind me of all that is good and pure and right… and so much of what is absent in every day life.\u00a0 Such a contrast…<\/p>\n
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… in the humility…<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You rarely hear an Olympic athlete claim, \u201cI am the best.<\/strong>\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Most recognize they are part of a team and together represent a nation.\u00a0 It\u2019s thus refreshing to see an athlete like the NBA\u2019s LeBron James \u2014 whose nickname at home is \u201cThe King\u201d \u2014 omit the regality and public promenades.\u00a0 He is no part of the host monarchy nor is he seemingly acting like it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n … in the individual effort…<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So much of current culture has recently surrounded this concept of not only shared sacrifice, but also, shared <\/em>success.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 What is the basis for such thinking?\u00a0 If someone else works hard and succeeds, do you and I deserve a part of that regardless of the lack of any contribution?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the Olympics, 2 kinds of persons tend to earn the greatest gold:\u00a0 those who are inherently, naturally gifted \u2014 and those who work the hardest.\u00a0 Refreshingly, those who fail to medal recognize they\u2019re not entitled to the reward of another.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n … in the national pride…<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n National pride has seemed a negative concept in recent years.\u00a0 It\u2019s almost as if there is no place for a pride absent of arrogance.\u00a0 But yet, the 2 terms are not synonymous.\u00a0 Hence, whether you are an athlete of Austrian descent, Iranian descent, or American descent, there is no need for any so-called \u2018apology tour. \u2018\u00a0 It\u2019s ok to be proud of your country \u2014 regardless of which nation it is.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n … in commitment…<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While so much about our younger generations is attractive and contagious, few seem to stay loyal for long… to a job, to a marriage, to a relationship.\u00a0 I relish the Olympic modeling of commitment.\u00a0 Authentic<\/em><\/strong> commitment.<\/em>\u00a0 There is so much wisdom and growth reserved for steadfastness.\u00a0 And so we watch the Olympic athlete, who has trained for years for essentially one moment in time. The only<\/em><\/strong> way this moment exists is due to the individual\u2019s commitment, a commitment to be maintained even on the days with no cameras, no glory, and no medallions strung around the neck.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n … and lastly, in the good stories… this one from the \u201cSporting News\u201d…<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n … Just when it seemed U.S. swimming had lost its marquee value, along came Missy Franklin.\u00a0 She won the 100-meter backstroke Monday, then reacted like you\u2019d expect a 17-year-old to.\u00a0 \u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier,\u201d she said. \u201cIt exceeded my expectations 100 billion times!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n …For all the nice stories about badminton whizzes, a truly grand Olympics must hitch itself to a star. We thought it might be [Michael] Phelps, getting a few more golds before swimming into the sunset.\u00a0 Then all eyes turned to [Ryan] Lochte after he swamped Phelps in their first race Saturday… Umm, not so fast. A French guy ran him, or swam him, down in the final leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay on Sunday…<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Enter Missy the Missile.\u00a0 She\u2019s the second-youngest swimmer on the U.S. team. She\u2019s also the most versatile and probably the most embraceable. She\u2019s down to swim seven events in London, one more than any female in Olympic history. Franklin got a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle relay Saturday. But Monday was the real coming out party for the girl who\u2019s been called the female Phelps.\u00a0 She caught Australia\u2019s Emily Seebohm in the final strokes to win in 58.33 seconds…\u00a0 \u201cIncredible,\u201d she said. \u201cI still can\u2019t believe that happened…\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She\u2019s from Centennial, Col., outside Denver. She\u2019s an honor student who will enter her senior year of high school in a few weeks. She really wants to swim in college, but London may be messing up those plans.\u00a0 The NCAA is built on the free labor of \u201camateur\u201d athletes. If Franklin took endorsement money, she\u2019d be ineligible to swim for good old State U. She\u2019s already turned down nice endorsement offers. But if Monday night is any indication, she could make enough to buy a college and make her own darned rules.\u00a0 Not that such things were on her mind. Franklin was too busy crying as the national anthem was played. About the only disappointing thing was that there was no \u201cTebowing\u201d on the medal stand.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Oh, how I love the Olympics… love that focus on what is good and pure and right.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n Oh, how I love the Olympics.\u00a0 They remind me of all that is good and pure and right… and so much of what is absent in every day life.\u00a0 Such a contrast… … in the humility… You rarely hear an Olympic athlete claim, \u201cI am the best.\u201d\u00a0 Most recognize they are part of … <\/p>\n