Back in the olden days, the Olympics were a big, doggone deal. I am not talking about ancient Greece. I am talking about the Golden Age of Television. ABC Television had the Wide World of Sports program hosted by Jim McKay. Remember the “Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat”?

Every four years, we gathered around the television sets and watched heroes. Sometimes they won. Sometimes they lost. They worked hard and sacrificed their time, education and personal lives in order to attain a higher level of perfection. Run faster and jump higher. Ski faster and make all the gates.

Oh, what silly innocent children we were.

Look at what the Olympics are today.