Get Out and Support The United States Olympic Team

From an Olympic fan standpoint, it seems like we are stuck in a period of forever.  The successful Winter Olympics held in Canada last year seems like it took place an eternity ago (of course this years' long winter doesn't help), and the 2012 Summer Olympic games planned to be held in London, England in 2012 feels like its going to take place eons from now.

USOC: Symbol of greatness



I'm a huge supporter of the International Olympic games. And I can't hide my bias; I'm fanatical about our United States Olympic Athletes.  There is something incredible about the notion that some athletes will spend a good part of their lifetime training, practicing, and conditioning their minds and bodies for that one chance at Olympic gold.  Some will sacrifice endless hours as a youth, winning local and regional competitions to even begin the first steps for the trials to even be considered a candidate for Olympic level qualification! 

And once you weed out the best from the best,  you have the core group; those who are talented (and sometimes lucky) enough to make the team. Then comes that special moment of jubilation and stress that they all have been preparing for - their whole lives to compete against the greatest athletes from every country in the world.  The drama is unparalleled; there is nothing else like it in global athletic completion on the face of the Earth!

Television, particularly NBC as of late (ABC in previous years), has brought us some dramatic moments from venues all over the world, and provided us with moments that drove us to excitement, disappointment, anger, and joy.  It's not only the competitive nature of the games themselves that we are inspired by, but the stories of athletes overcoming real-life challenges - from rising up from an unlucky upbringing, to coming back from an injury such as where a doctor told the athlete, "You'll never [insert sport] again."

So the Olympics is about much more than winning, its also about the determination of the human spirit, and of course from my perspective - the American spirit.  And that is worth, spending time contemplating.  We are often so busy trying overcome our own adversities particularly in this current era of great uncertainty.  Yet somewhere, right now - a U.S. Olympic athlete is training their hearts out, pushing their limits to focus on their next step of achievement, and their break-out moment.  We in the public may never have the opportunity to grace the Olympic stage, but we can take from their example - that with hard work and dedication - we can rise above our station and circumstances to be better, dream more, and achieve more.

As a rule, I do not ask people for money.  In fact, if I found my cupboard bare, and needed a cup of sugar to complete a recipe, I would rather trudge in six feet of snow to the store in a blizzard before bothering my neighbor for a favor.  But in this case, I will suggest how you can help our Olympic athletes, and reap some benefits in the process.

The United States Olympic Committee requires funding to support athletes, and much of it is collected through corporate sponsorships, and individual contributers.  The USOC sent me a recent fundraising letter, and there is a line that speaks volumes: "Being competitive at the world level in an international sport is not easy, nor is it cheap." This is undenyably true given the immense undertaking to provide and maintain the venues and facilities for the dozens of summer and winter sports that our athletes train and compete in.

Several times a year, I receive a little packet from the Olympic Committee which requests a small donation, starting at a minimum of $20.  Now I know times are tough so parting with $20 for some may seem like a lot since money doesn't fall from the sky in times like these.  But I have to say that the benefits are twenty-fold.  First, you are being patriotic by supporting the United States Olympic Team and its athletes.  If that isn't enough, for every $20 you send, the USOC will send you some stylish Olympic Wear or Olympic logo'd products that you'll ever find (for the value).

For my meager $20 donation they offer Team USA logo'd clothing including spring jackets, fleece pullovers, shorts, hats (of all varieties), scarfs, long sleeved t-shirts and short sleeved t-shirts.  I've also seen Team USA backpacks, bags, blankets, and other products offered.  Since I own some of these products, and have for several years - I can tell you first hand that they are pretty well made, wash well, and last a long time.  Obviously, they are not $90 quality but you'll certainly feel like a million dollars when you sport the Team USA logo walking down the street.

It's funny.  I was an outside event, standing in line for a drink when I happened upon a man wearing a Team USA winter hat.  I asked him where he got that, and he let me in on the best kept secret of all time:  he directed me to the website and told me about the $20 deal to pick up clothing like his and much more!  From that point on, I guess you can say that I'm a regular shopper!  I just can't keep my wife from stealing my Olympic-wear!

Well, let me provide you with the information, and you can judge for yourself.  I almost feel guilty directing you to give something to get something.  But the USOC wants you wear Team USA wear and publicly support the athletes and our team - it serves to promote the games, and when you pass a big time Corporate honcho, and he sees you wearing clothing supporting our Olympic athletes, he just might be inclined to take it the extra step and give Team USA a boost via a Corporate initiative.  And heck, it just makes you feel good to promote Team USA.

Here is where you can go to decide for yourself:  here is one of several links.  I suggest you are best to call them at (888) 222-2313.

Good Luck Team USA!

Random Selection: http://www.randsel.blogspot.com/

Chapter 84.7: Olympics Fever

Lately, I've been extremely busy. Not just at work, but in my personal life, too. Important things have been back-burnered or tended to in dribs and drabs. I recently completed a piece that I'd only been able to write at random moments — not the way I like to write.

There have been some evenings after I've gotten one of the babies to sleep to find the other one not quite there yet, and I spend another 15-30 minutes trying to get her to sleep too.

And in the background, we've kept the Winter Olympics playing.

I've always enjoyed the winter games. There's something more accessible, more intimate than in the summer games. Indeed, now that there's no baseball in the summer games, I feel even more removed from them. I simply can't relate to men and women who can sprint faster than a stiff breeze. But I've skiied down a hill or two. I've sledded down hills. I've even fallen on my butt while trying to skate. The winter games seem more real to me.

After the tragic death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, I feared that something worse might happen and I thought I might avoid the entire games. But my wife tuned into the opening ceremonies, and we've had them running ever since.

I haven't regretted it. Too soon, the games will be over, and I'll be happy to welcome spring training and baseball. But for now, I am enjoying the games as they offer a small sense of greatness in an otherwise stressful winter.

I'm going for gold for the rest of 2010.

Follow the Olympics even closer

Following Team USA in the Winter Olympics, but want to know even more?

Check out http://teamusanews.org/ to get access to the latest info and will receive exclusive updates throughout the games.

Colbert Makes the Olympic Speed Skating Team!

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Skate Expectations - Speedskating Race - Shani Davis
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Chapter 76.1: A Contrast in Humanitarian Crises

Clearly, all the world is aware of the two natural catastrophes that befell countries in Asia recently. Cyclone Nargis ravaged Myanmar/ Burma days before a massive earthquake rocked the Sichuan region of China.

Neither Myanmar, which has been under military rule for the better part of forty-five years, nor China, the last Communist power in the world, is known for being the bastion of humanitarian work. Indeed, protests against Chinese treatment of Tibet have seemingly called into question the legitimacy of this summer's Beijing Olympic games. And that's not even the half of the atrocities that have been laid at the feet of numerous Chinese strongmen.

But this quote in a New York Times article reflects one important difference between the emergency response in China and that of the military junta government in Myanmar:

“I am Grandpa Wen Jiabao,” the prime minister said as he watched two children being pulled from the rubble, according to Xinhua, the official state news agency. “Hold on, kids! You’ll definitely be rescued.”

The difference is a level of humanity. A matter of respect. But a question lingers: Is it real?

Of course, it's a comment from a politician. And politicians, in general, lie through their teeth. The article goes on to describe terrible acts of dehumanization in which parents are not allowed to view the bodies of their children. These are accusations by the people, not ironclad facts, but one fact remains clear: the people of China are devastated. I can only imagine how bad it is in Myanmar, where bodies may lie festering in the Irrawaddy delta; or perhaps worse, they may have been removed by a government that fears what might happen if the people were allowed to know the truth. They might rise up and topple them.

Neither of those nations deserve praise for their response to these humanitarian relief efforts. Indeed, for the country of Myanmar/Burma it may be the beginning of the end of military rule. Surely, no one can be so insulted without striking back. If I were a survivor in the Irrawaddy delta, I'd consider the actions of the Burmese leaders to be dehumanizing. And like a ghost, I'd arise.

I'm proud that this country neither deserves nor desires such revolution. I'm no fan of the Bush administration. I don't trust many of the words that come out of the White House; for that matter, I take the statements coming out of Democratic-controlled Congress with several grains of salt. But at least here we have a media that is generally able (albeit not always willing) to root out the bullshit and find the truth. They, like the government, need to be prodded but not eradicated.

In the wake of the Katrina tragedy, the Bush administration was raked over the coals for responding too slowly, for allowing too many people -- too many African Americans, especially --to be left vulnerable and powerless. It was a life-changing time for many in the United States; those fools who didn't recognize what 9/11 meant for this nation I hope recognized what Katrina meant and still means. But President Bush took his criticism and I believe he is well aware that his legacy will reflect his lack of leadership during the Katrina debacle. I respect that he's willing to be criticized and possibly vilified by American history; he's not going to try to rewrite it.

This isn't Myanmar; this isn't China.