One of the six or seven excellent things about ones glamor profession is that, in the opinion dodge, one is encouraged to, in fact paid to, have opinions.
They are welcome even when they differ with the opinions of ones boss, because, lets face it, they fill a hole on the page. Take up the column inches. The paper comes out every day, and somebody has to have an angle.
Last week, my own personal boss, Sal Rodriguez, opined about one of his, well, several pet peeves: First, no one cares about the Olympics except tyrannical governments in pursuit of legitimacy. Second, Los Angeles is only hosting the 2028 Olympics because no other city was dumb enough to want it, with Budapest, Hamburg and Rome withdrawing.
So the following is where I disagree, sort of, with Sal about the upcoming Olympics, hosted by Los Angeles in 2028. Two cheers for L.A. Oly!
It was especially in those simpler, Wide World of Sports televised days of my youth that the Olympics seemed so cool. The first summer games I remember was Tokyo in 1964. Fewer than 20 years after the War. My grandfather had just returned from a trip to Japan with a tiny Sony transistor radio, the first Id seen, and I was fascinated by its miniaturizing Japanese minimalism. The very idea that nations were gathering there to play sports just decades after trying to blow each other up was so optimism-inspiring.
The Mexico City games in 68 were rather the opposite kind of a political awakening. Yes, athletically, it was totally cool when Bob Beamon went 29 feet, 2.39 inches in the long jump, beating the previous world record by almost two feet. Its still an Oly record. But when the government of President Gustavo Daz Ordaz ordered the military occupation of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma, and then killed hundreds of protesters well, as they had been chanting before getting shot: No queremos olimpiadas, queremos revolucin! Then Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the gold and bronze medalists in the mens 200-meter race, raised their black-gloved fists on the podium, and I was so proud to be an American, where weve got opinions, plus get to say what they are.
Yeah, all these summer and winters later, Sal is right to be wary about the upcoming 28 L.A. games. These days, its like China has taken them over, and bludgeoned all the fun out of them with totalitarian boots. I hated the fake snow at the recent idiotic pandemic Beijing monstrosity. The Olympics were no fun at all to watch. Something dour about all those young athletes, unable to mingle together, no fishbowls full of free condoms in the common rooms.
But I do have very fond memories of Los Angeles 84. We did what we said wed do Oly on the cheap! Southern California already had the facilities no need for a Birds Nest stadium boondoggle. The gleeful aesthetic colors by designer Deborah Sussman, with her husband, architect Paul Prejza, were all we needed to touch Southern California up. The games made money, tens of millions of dollars of which were given back to youth programs over the years. I had snapped up some tickets; had begun seeing someone who danced in the opening ceremonies; our first real date was in the Coliseum, for the end of the inaugural Oly womens marathon, gorgeously won by Joan Benoit of Maine. We married the next summer, and 37 years later, we are happily still married.
Will the 28 games here stir the same joy? Doubtful. Its a high bar, though. So if the athletes have fun, and we dont go broke, thats good enough. And, you know what? The real reason Im still glad well host the Olympics again: Were better at throwing this world party than Budapest, Hamburg or Rome.
Larry Wilson is on the Southern California News Group editorial board. lwilson@scng.com.
More:
L.A. 28: When the Olympics slink back to town - The Pasadena Star-News
- Regan Smith: The Triumphs, Setbacks, Pressures and Emotions of Her First Olympics - Swimming World Magazine [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2021]
- Russian officials accuse United States, other countries of rigging 2020 Tokyo Olympics - CBS Sports [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2021]
- The Surprising Relief of the Tokyo Olympics - The New Yorker [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2021]
- Lacrosse Returns to Olympics in 2028but Will the Sport's Indigenous Founders Be Allowed to Play? - Foreign Policy [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2021]
- Agreement reached for NHL players to participate in 2022 Olympics in Beijing - ESPN [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2021]
- About the Olympic Games [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2021]
- Summer Olympic Games - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2021]
- Which Nashville Predators might be headed to the Olympics? - On The Forecheck [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- Team GB set to lose 4x100m Olympic silver after second positive for Ujah - The Guardian [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- Gary Woodland surprises friend Amy Bockerstette with Special Olympics USA Games selection - 'Amy, you got this' - ESPN [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- An Olympics like no other: Four alums reflect on their experiences in Tokyo - The Williams record [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- 35. Three Jazz Players After The Olympics - KSL Sports [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- Simone Biles details how Nassar's abuse impacted Tokyo Olympics: 'I never should have been left alone' - Fox News [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- From the Basement | US should boycott 2022 Olympic Games - Tulane Hullabaloo [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- Which Bruins could play at the 2022 Beijing Olympics? - NBC Sports Boston [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- Track queen Harmilan Kaur--hate, love and a burning Olympic dream - Hindustan Times [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2021]
- From the Archives, 2000: Freeman rival Perec flees the Sydney Olympics - The Age [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2021]
- Olympic Team Gold and Individual Silver Medallist Tom McEwen's Top - United States Eventing Association [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2021]
- Kobe Bryant Once Told an Olympic Gold Medalist That He Would Sometimes Just Chuck the Ball Toward the Basket and Get Surprised Whenever It Went In: It... [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2021]
- Cornelius Denies Bullying Incidents That Led To His Removal From Olympics Ceremony - Stereogum [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2021]
- Road to Canada's Olympic curling trials crowded in Ottawa tournaments - CBC.ca [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2021]
- Did Usain Bolt Ever Lose a Race at the Olympics? - EssentiallySports [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2021]
- ATEEZ Responds To Olympic Volleyball Star Kim Hee Jin Revealing She's A Fan + Naming The Song That Meant A Lot To Her At Tokyo Olympics - soompi [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2021]
- Simone Biles says burdens of Nassar abuse remained with her at Olympics - The Guardian [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2021]
- Which Capitals could play at the 2022 Beijing Olympics? - NBC Sports [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2021]
- The first Olympic womens hockey qualifying tournaments are here - The Ice Garden [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2021]
- Who is Kye Whyte? Dancing on Ice 2022 contestant and Tokyo Olympics BMX star... - The US Sun [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2021]
- Gabriel could've made Olympics but prioritised Arsenal & the long-term - Daily Cannon [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2021]
- On path to Beijing Olympics, U.S. women's hockey team makes it's home at the Super Rink in Blaine - Minneapolis Star Tribune [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2021]
- Erik Tait ready to represent North America at the Olympics of magic - Columbus Alive [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2021]
- 46 Special Olympics Teams Compete In Soccer Tournament In Owasso - News On 6 [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2021]
- Auston Matthews, Patrick Kane, and Seth Jones Named to Team USA 2022 Winter Olympic Roster - bleachernation.com [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2021]
- Two Winter Olympics Underdogs That Have Already Won - The New York Times [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2021]
- Winter Olympics 2022: Everything you need to know about Beijing Games - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2021]
- David Robertson's Journey from the Olympics to the Rays' Postseason Roster - The New York Times [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2021]
- Duhatschek notebook: Team Canada Olympic roster predictions updated, revisiting the Pavel Datsyuk trade - The Athletic [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2021]
- Olympic runner Agnes Tirop's husband arrested in her killing - CBS News [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2021]
- Olympic BMX champion reveals the life lessons she learned from her part-time job - CNBC [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2021]
- The Olympics Might Be The Biggest Thing, But They're Not The Only thing - Runner's Tribe [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2021]
- Tracking all the NHL players selected to Olympic hockey rosters - NBC Olympics [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2021]
- The LA Olympics Are Being Planned Behind Closed Doors - The Nation [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2021]
- Bobsledder Humphries left Canada over alleged abuse. The move might cost her an Olympics. - Yahoo! Voices [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2021]
- Fictional detective Olympics: The oldest, the best, the most murdery - Mashable [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2021]
- Simone Biles Reflects On Withdrawal From Tokyo Olympics - ELLE.com [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2021]
- An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Bring the Olympics Home - The National Herald [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2021]
- Pensacola Race for Inclusion aims to end discrimination against people with disabilities - Pensacola News Journal [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2021]
- 100 Days to the Beijing Winter Olympics - NBC Bay Area [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2021]
- Will this be Shaun White's last Winter Olympics? Maybe. Or maybe not. - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2021]
- Protestors disrupt flame lighting for Beijing Winter Games - Associated Press [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2021]
- Curious Alaska: Will Anchorage try to host the Winter Olympics again? - Anchorage Daily News [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2021]
- All US Winter Olympic hopefuls must be fully vaccinated by Dec. 1 if they want to compete in Beijing - The Boston Globe [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2021]
- 2022 Republican primaries: Who will take gold in the Misogyny Olympics? - Salon [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2021]
- 7 questions with Olympian Allyson Felix about entrepreneurship, pay equity and the future - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2021]
- Chambers: Highlands Ranch native Troy Terry is red hot for Anaheim Ducks. He might don red, white and blue in upcoming Olympics - The Denver Post [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2021]
- Augmented reality project brings Olympics birthplace to life - The Indian Express [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2021]
- The popularity of curling; how the Winter Olympics bring attention to the niche sport - The Denver Channel [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2021]
- Nine years later, the U.S. has another Olympic gold - MARCA.com [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2021]
- How to watch the U.S. Olympic Team Curling Trials - NBC Olympics [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2021]
- UND great Bill Reichart, captain of the 1964 US Olympic team, dies at age 86 - Grand Forks Herald [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2021]
- 'It feels so surreal' - Olympic silver medallist Mallory Franklin looks back at Tokyo and adds medals to collection - Eurosport.com [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2021]
- Special Olympics Inc. Partners with Smartsheet to Unlock Collaboration, Helping Them Achieve More for Athletes Across the Globe - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2021]
- Inside Shaun White's Unbelievable Ride to His 5th Winter Olympics - E! Online [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2021]
- Five Players Forcing Their Way Onto the 2022 Olympic Roster Bubble - Sports Illustrated [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2021]
- Steamboat freeskiers have chance to compete in 2022 Winter Olympics - Steamboat Pilot & Today [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2021]
- Will Covid-19 Jeopardize The NHLs 2022 Winter Olympics Participation? - Forbes [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2021]
- Covid Rules for Beijing Olympics Force Injured Athlete to Fly Home on Cargo Plane - The New York Times [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2021]
- Biden Meets With Canadas Trudeau and Mexicos Lpez Obrador - The New York Times [Last Updated On: November 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 19th, 2021]
- The International Olympic Committee Is Finally Advocating for Trans and Intersex Athletes - Jezebel [Last Updated On: November 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 19th, 2021]
- Autocrats and the Spineless Olympics Committee - The Bulwark [Last Updated On: November 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 19th, 2021]
- Chinese Hockey Team Loses Another Game in Test for Olympics - Sports Illustrated [Last Updated On: November 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 19th, 2021]
- Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia ... [Last Updated On: November 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 19th, 2021]
- Eyeing LA Olympics, ICC likely to award 2024 T20 World Cup ... [Last Updated On: November 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 19th, 2021]
- Sport climbing debut in Olympics creates spike in participation - AZ Big Media [Last Updated On: November 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 21st, 2021]
- Is Shaun White Going To The Beijing Winter Olympics 2022? - EssentiallySports [Last Updated On: November 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 21st, 2021]
- Its my own fault: Rory Sabbatini on his weird DQ, Olympic medal and Tigers comeback - Golf.com [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2021]
- Gold medalist Linoy Ashram on her Olympic whirlwind and becoming an Israeli icon - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2021]
- "It was insane" - Vincent Luis on the Brownlees and London 2012 - Tri247.com [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2021]
- Kayla Harrison next fight: Making the case for the Olympic gold medalist to sign with UFC, Bellator or PFL - CBSSports.com [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2021]
- AIBA reforms push to secure boxings Olympic future; polls in 2022, liaison officer to work with IOC - Firstpost [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2021]
- Man with Alexandria connection competes in Olympic curling trials - Echo Press [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2021]