Olympics--I Think Not!

         The games of the XXIX Olympiad are upon us.  As we go through the next few weeks, all the eyes of the world are on the athletes of almost two hundred countries in Beijing, China.  We each have our favorite sport--basketball, swimming, gymnastics, water polo, boxing, fencing or track and field.  More than forty sports are now part of the summer Olympic games.  For these few days, the world comes together in relative harmony as our best athletes compete in these games.

         And what of the millions of boys and girls who play these various sports, yet do not make it to the Olympics?  There are as many interesting, poignant, and funny stories for each of these persons as will come out of the Olympics during these seventeen days.  Most may never be told.  Save one ... mine.

         High school.  You remember those days, as do I.  I was painfully shy, had few friends, and kept to myself for the most part.  And I loved to run.  With a physique like mine ... wait, that's not the right word.  Physique implies form, a shape that starts wider at the top, tapers at the waist and flares a bit down below.  While straight is a shape, my rail-like build was much better suited for running than field events.

         Distance running fit my solitary nature well.  I lettered both in track as a two-miler and cross country my Freshman year.  A proud accomplishment, to be sure, I will tell you these achievements garnered no appeal with the ladies.  Apparently, track and field was not considered the glamour sport in the late 60s among high school girls.

         Sophomore year would see a change in my chosen sport.  Over the winter, our school received a new track and field coach, emphasis on the field.  Some of you may not realize the difference between 'track' and 'field' events.  All running contests comprise the track events, including sprints, middle and long distance runs, hurdles and relays.  Field events consist of the throwing (including the discus) and jumping events.

         Coach Hanson decided he should see if each boy was placed in the 'right' event.  Over the next two afternoons, we would try out for each track AND field event.  Tipping the scales at 97 pounds in the locker room, I headed outside for my try outs.  My first event was the discus, which was held behind the school library. 

         An assistant coach gave us a quick class on the proper technique for throwing the discus, and I was up.  Cradling the disc in my small hand, I rocked my arm back and forth, then twirled once, twice, three times ... and a half ... and threw that little black disc through the library window!

         I was later told by the librarian, who was heading to her desk, the discus skidded across her desk and into a bookcase about ten feet away.  Though scared, Mrs. Gerrish was not hurt by my errant throw.

         I was not allowed to throw the javelin.

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