Part of its allure, which transcended our disinterest in basketball or obliviousness about football, was the symbolism of it - what it stood for: the nationalism, the passion of each athlete, their singular goals which rose above the pursuits of fame or fortune or glory. Olympians are defined by their pursuit for greatness. Great Olympic moments are characterized by acts of great talent and sportsmanship.
Which is why it was particularly annoying to watch the 100 meter dash with the Jamaican sprinter, aptly named "Bolt." Usain Bolt.
In case you didn't see it, without breaking a sweat, Bolt (in gilded shoes) glided past his opponents, looking around at the end to make sure he was in a class of his own, then slowing down before reaching the finish line and indulging in some premature celebratory gestures. It was like a cheetah had entered the race only to jog lightly then swagger across the finish line at the end after having glanced back to make sure he had left his exhausted competitors in the dust.
He beat the world record (one he set) effortlessly. But he could have beaten the world record by almost a second more had he not decelerated to gloat...but that wasn't his goal. He had no interest in elevating the sport and setting new benchmarks for greatness. He just wanted the gold medal and to make everyone in his country go wild.
Bolt is undeniably great, even incredible. He has a talent that makes the rest in his class seem like members of a different species...a much slower species.
Maybe it is the ease with which he does it that makes him value his talent so little, but his own personal goals are as terrestrial as they come.
He wants to be The Man of Jamaica.
Ironically, if he had the grace to match his talent, Usain Bolt could be a phenom, an inspiration, a hero of international proportions.
He could be The Man of the World.
Check out this little gem for the best description of the race: http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=3538723.
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