As I'm writing this, it's close to 5:30 Eastern time...2 1/2 hours before NBC forces the opening ceremonies marking the Games of the XXIXth Olympiad upon an uncaring America. (They were held around 8 AM Eastern this morning, but because we're dealing with 12 time zones--and the International Date Line--it's on tape delay.)

     I, for one, will not be watching this.

     No one cares about the Olympics (winter or summer) in this country any more. I mean really, who buys into this jingonistic crap being pumped out by the U.S. Olympic Committee these days??

     Ever since the revival of the Olympic movement by that French baron in 1896, it's always been politically motivated. You think it's just coincidence that Athens was selected to host the 1st Games??? Bull(bleep)!!! Same goes for the '36 Winter and Summer Games being held in Germany; political agenda, plain and simple. (The filter for FN won't let me use certain words, but you get the drift concerning '36.)

     From letting the Soviets compete starting in '48, to Tommie Smith and John Carlos' "black power" salute in Mexico City ('68 Summer), to Munich ('72 Summer), to the boycotts of '80 and '84 (both Summer), to the bombings in Atlanta ('96 Summer)...all the way to right now in Beijing ('08 Summer)...politics has reared its ugly head when it comes to the Olympic Games.

     Viewers don't need more "bells and whistles" from NBC, nor do they want 24/7 blanket coverage of EVERY fricking event!!! Besides, we've got enough sports here in the States to keep us occupied. What with preseason football, NASCAR, baseball...hell, we'll throw in soccer, too!!!...one doesn't have to deal with the "Commie-lympics" whatsoever.

     But, this is probably falling on deaf ears, I guess...

     You can't say I didn't try, anyway.