What's So Bad about 4th?....Or 40th?

     Michael Phelps did a lot for U.S. diplomacy and for the Olympics when he proudly displayed the Silver Medal won in his signature event, the 200-meter Butterfly.  He was going for his third straight Gold in the event and was heavily favored.  His attitude was clear - I did my best and I am proud of the award.  Based on their interviews, Olympic athletes would not endorse Vince Lombardi's famous quote that "winning is the only thing."  There is nothing shameful about finishing second, fourth or last as long as you  have given your best effort on the day.
     The Olympics has not always been able to stay away from politics, but when things go well, you can witness real ironies.  At the Volleyball venue yesterday, Serbia played Tunisia, causing one to think how this could come off.  Former Serbian leaders are still on trial in the World Court for instigating massacres of Muslims and now here is a sporting event between the Serbs and Muslims.  No massacre ensued.  The Serbs won with superior play.  For veterans of the Cold War, the second volleyball game had Poland against Bulgaria with a Russian judge!  A big contingent kept chanting "Polska, Polska" to no avail as the Ov's prevailed over the Ski's.
     The fans have adopted some unlikely athletes.  At the Rowing event, one of the competitors in single scull is a game guy from Niger, who has been rowing for three months.  He was a swimmer, but Niger got a lottery slot in rowing, so the government told him to take up the sport.  Needless to say, it took him 30 minutes longer than anyone to finish the race.  He was roundly cheered.  At white water Canoeing today, the crowd took up the case of a Kayaker from Togo.  He actually won a medal in 2008, but missed a gate on the final run and finished out of the money.