I don't view the Olympics as war. In the events I care about, I want to see the best competition regardless of who is playing. The other day I found myself rooting for some Cuban sprinter. Why? Not because I'm a Communist sympathizer, but because I figured one gold medal in Cuba would make the poor people there happier than the 94th gold medal to fly under the American radar.
So Karan's assertion that "we should all be rooting for the United States in every sport or every event" sounds a little too hard-core, a little too patriotic. It's just sports.
Personally I have a hard time trying to muster up my nationalistic juices on the men's high dive. I keep hoping somebody will bust out a belly flop or do something really unconventional. When it comes to watching sports on TV, it's a matter of entertainment. I wouldn't watch if I wasn't entertained, although my tolerence for Bob Costas' sappy commentary is begining to reach a breaking point. But that's another story...
As for the US men's basketball, all I said was a beat down was a healthy ego check. I like the fire it lit under us, we're playing better now, motivation helps and for the first time since pros were allowed to compete, Olympic basketball has actually blossomed into a legitimately competetive sport.
Compare that to the circus of American domination exhibited in the past and
I think the product has improved.
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