The Winter Olympics

NOTE: No "Word History" for this article

So the 2014 Winter Olympics, held in Sochi, Russia, have ended without any terrorist incident, as the biggest problem was the warmer than expected temperatures wreaking havoc with ice and snow conditions for some events. From comments made on television, Russia did a really good job. The great thing is, athletes from all over the world come together to compete in front of large television audiences, as well as the live audiences at the various event venues. They have given much time in training to perfect their skills and in using those skills in various competitions leading up to their being selected for their Olympic teams. Some have their dreams shattered early on, others enjoy the ultimate triumph of winning a gold medal. All can be proud for just having been chosen to participate.

For about two weeks the world comes together briefly to compete and to show national pride, but hopefully not so much national pride as to get in the way of showing respect for the achievement other nations' athletes. Yes, we want our own athletes to win, but there is no shame in giving credit to athletes from other countries, in spite of the broken hearts felt when others triumph over us. No nation will go into decline because their athletes didn't win a ski, skating, snowboarding, hockey, sledding or curling match. All participants have tremendous athletic abilities, which I appreciate, seeing that I've never even tried ice skating, not that I'm about to try at my this point in my life, as I have enough physical ailments and I don't need to shorten any time I have left on this earth, if I can help it. I'll miss the games, but their absence makes me appreciate them more when they return.

ABC Wide World of Sports debuted in the early 1960s when I was a kid, mainly televising track and field, swimming and winter sporting events. I watched it often and their introductory segment became famous for the saying, "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat," which brought the comedic paraphrase, "The thrill of victory and the agony of da feet," a saying which will become pertinent again in just two years, as the Summer Olympics will occupy center stage.

The Olympics gives small nations the chance to compete and to excel. A special mention here for the Jamaican bobsled team. I'm not a weather historian, but when was the last time it snowed in Jamaica? Maybe like the Ice Age? The triumphs of countries like Norway and the Netherlands should not make any American fear that Norwegian ski troops will soon be invading the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, or that Dutch skaters may come skating across the Atlantic to reclaim Manhattan, although they may drink a "Manhattan." * Perhaps the likes of Lush Limbaugh and other spewers of hate have had nightmares about Canadian hockey players occupying parts of our northern states, but no, I think the nation is safe and we can be proud of all of our Olympic athletes, and they don't have to have a medal for us to be proud of them, but to those who won medals, a special ovation and pat on the back for a job well done. Now... about that Manhattan ... where are those Dutch skaters?

* For those unaware, a "Manhattan" is a cocktail typically of whiskey, sweet vermouth, angostura bitters, and a cherry, but there are variations.