Upsets

Isn't it funny, as we head deeply into this second week of Olympic fever, the impact of an upset can be so parochial as to not even be recognizable from country to country. Can you imagine what things must be like in Greece and Spain, countries where they upset the best in the world at their own game.

We have certainly romanticized the power of the 1980 Men's Hockey team to the point where it is no longer possible to simply reflect on that team without referencing the symbolic overthrow of the Soviet Union.

Do you think the average Russian today remembers that moment? Is it possible that just as the majority of our own countrymen couldn't tell you who beat the latest Dream Team, and why that might be important historically. They just know we lost and its time to take back what's ours. Pretty much like how Russia did with hockey, even once their country shrunk in size more than 50%.

Maybe to the Soviets, losing that hockey game was simply that. Not a powerful shot across the bow at at Communism, but just a game. Other things happen, basketball dynasties fall, but pretty much the world stays the same.

If only I could get one of those Georgian guys, thinks the Russian swim coach, our olympic prospects become that much stronger. And you see, that's just it. We focus on accumulation, not just historic upsets. As Team USA dances to the medal round you can be sure that the world's biggest audience ever will be on hand.

At least that's what NBC tells me.

Only time will tell, but for now I think people are a bit nuts.