Olympic Dreams

Happens every four years. Not really interested in the Olympics and then when they start, that is all I watch on television for two weeks, gouging my eyes on swimming and gymnastics, sports which I will not watch for five minutes over the next four years.

But I love watching men’s basketball. My dream is to see the USA Redeem Team play on television. Did I somehow miss them? And is the USA women’s fastpitch team banned from TV? Haven’t seen them, either.

Also conspicuous by their absence: the CNMI.

Ha! Just joking. How many of the two billion watching the parade of nations during the opening ceremony asked, “Hey, where’s the CNMI?”

Well, when I saw Burkina Faso in the parade of nations, I asked “Hey, where’s that?”

There are 205 “countries” participating in Beijing. The United Nations has only 192 members. That’s because places like Guam, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico are considered by Olympic Committee as “countries” but not the CNMI. This year we moved a step closer to joining the Olympic family by becoming an associate member of Oceania. The CNMI could join the Olympics in the future thru persistence and effort such as being shown now by Mike White of the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association.

No athlete from Guam, Palau, FSM, or the Marshall Islands will come close to being on the same level as world class athletes in these Olympics which begs the question: “Why bother?”

Joining the Olympic family is more than trying to win medals. With it brings increased funding and opportunity for coaches and athletes, and embraces the Army motto: Be all that you can be. Of course, hardcore critics could say “hey, why not use that money to fix the power so we can see the real athletes on television?”

No one really loses at the Olympics. If you swim in the same pool as Michael Phelps and come in 8th, you didn’t lose. He got 1st and you came in 8th place. Congratulations.

Oceania’s top athletes are a notch below the world’s elite. Mae Koime from Papua New Guinea who dominated her races on Saipan in June in the Oceania Athletic championships didn’t get out of the first heat of the 100 meters in Beijing, finishing sixth with a time of 11.68.

Palau’s Peoria Koshiba finished last in her heat in the 100 meters with a time of 13.18. For the record, Saipan’s Yvonne Bennett clocked 12.98 this summer. Cora Alicto ran 13.31 for Guam. Meanwhile, Yvonne is left at home in Kagman watching the Olympics but only if the power is on.

Jesse Tamangrow ran 11.38 which may be fast in Palau but not as fast as Tyrone Omar (10.99) who is playing baseball at Palacios Field instead of running in the Bird’s Nest.

FSM, called Micronesia at the Olympics, sent five athletes. Jack Howard carried their flag during the opening ceremony. He ran 11.03 in his 100 meters heat, finishing next to last. His time placed him 66th. But if you read his profile on Yahoo! Olympics coverage, you will see he is an accomplished world-class basketball player. Oops, Yahoo! confused him with Dwight Howard!

The Marshall Islands sent five athletes. Roman Cress who has raced on Saipan ran the 100 meters in 11.18, last in his heat and 77th overall. Guam has six athletes in Beijing, including flag-carrier Rick Blas Jr. who dropped both of his judo matches.

No big splash made by athletes from Micronesia or Oceania except for being there which is what the Olympics is all about. Most people don’t win anything but everyone has memories that are priceless, even just by watching.

I dream about seeing the Redeem Team. Hopefully, we will get the gold medal game on television. Sure hope the power is on.