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Show Maybe Soviets couldn't handle good life hluh By MARCELLA WALKER I am loving the Olympics, how about you? The Olympics are one of the best things we have to bring out the patriotism in all of us Americans. You cannot help ' but get . goosebumps as they play the National Anthem after one or some of our athletes have won the gold. As you watch them stand there withjoy on their face, their mouth's forming the words of the song, their hand over their heart, it provides a real thrill. In case anyone is interested I have my own theory as to why the Soviets did not come to the games. I bet they knew that once those kids got over here and saw how much better life is here than it is over there that they would have tried to defect to the U.S. and th leaders didn't dare chance it I mean, look at the evidence. There have been other Soviet athletes do it when they were here as well as dancers and others. What would have happened if they had lost their entire Olympic team? Wouldn't that have been neat? There was a lot of talk that without the Soviet Bloc countries in running events the most. Ik and basketball are pretty J also: ' We are less familiar witU cycling, horsemanship shooting, etc. m ThatmaybebecauBewewati what the television people likfll broadcast. They seem to get S excited over the gy : 8wunrning and running eveii Howard Cosell is the boxing expert and will probablyk calling those bouts for telei 100 years from now. I rmak him in connection withboxingfm very long time. Seems like km Since the U.S. is doing quitewt so far in the Olympics I donthinl any of us really miss the Som , that much. Not even the athletes. In conclusion I can only say m thing. My husband took lit Varsity Scouts and went to h Uinjtas and left me without a Though it has been a bit of e problem it has at least kept met home and so I have been able to set and enjoy the Olympics. To him,I say thanks, for that In the meantime, may the Hi Olympians bring home all thegot they can. The economy needs it the Olympics the quality, of competition would not be up to snuff. When the U.S. or any other country for that matter breaks a world record then it shows that the boycotting athetes are not missed. After a couple of full days of the Olympics and a fistful of medals for the United States I feel pretty good. The opening ceremonies were great and the events I have seen have been very exciting. There is an inconsistency that must needs exist in the games, I guess. A swimmer can go out there and swim one race and get the medal. A boxer must fight several , people before, he gets his medal. A relay swim team takes about seven minutes to swim a race and get a medal. The basketball team must play several days in order to get a medal. It would seem that certain sports are the ones to choose to specialize in if you plan to be an Olympic star someday. They said ' on the television during the Olympic broadcast the other night that many of the Olympic athletes go into it hoping to make a good showing, get the attention of movie producers, etc., and be able to enter the world of big bucks when the Olympics are over. And that often happens. Bruce Jenner, Peggy Fleming, Mark Spitz, and many others have gone to the big time in one way or another because of their prowess in tne Olympics. However, some . events are obscure. Do you recall the name of the winner in the horse events from the last Olympics we participated , in? Do you recall the name of the winner in the rifle shooting events this year? I don't recall them giving such attention to : the cycling events before this year. That may be because the U.S. has not done well in those events until this year: Americans seem to love the gymnastics, swimming and |