The U.S.A has won the 2012 Summer Olympics, despite having less than one-quarter of the population of China and despite most of U.S.A. athletes financially supporting their own quest for excellence, unlike many other countries that totally support their athletes financially.
To all the apologists in the media with their columns bemoaning the U.S.A’s superiority, especially men’s and women’s basketball, as usual, you were wrong.
Where were these media when other countries used professionals in the Olympics to compete against our amateur college and high school athletes for over half a century?
As a matter of fact, the 2012 men’s Dream Team barely won gold against Spain 107 – 100 and struggled in another game, winning after trailing by 3 points with just over 5 minutes left in the game.
In the semifinals, the women’s basketball team trailed Australia at halftime and won by just 6 baskets – sounds pretty competitive to me – but then I’m not with the Associated Press.
What do they teach today’s columnists – to abhor exceptionalism – as something to be quashed because the outcome doesn’t benefit everyone equally?
Should those who excel be restrained in our brave new world, so that those who do not wish to achieve excellence still retain their self-esteem? Many Americans are growing weary of a society where mediocrity has replaced exceptionalism in many areas.
The Olympic team is a shining example of what people can accomplish when they dedicate themselves to achieve their seemingly impossible goals. And pride in one’s country is not a four letter word.
God bless the U.S.A.!