Politics and the Olympic Dream:
Reflections Of A Sports
And Political Junkie

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER

Regular readers of my column know my love of politics. They are probably aware of much about me from my stories or advocacy positions taken. You’ve met my family, some friends, but some personal stuff never seems to come up.

I’m somewhat of a sports nut — at least I used to be. Leave me alone with a big TV and a Sunday afternoon Giants football game — especially when they’re good (like this year?) and I’m happy. I enjoy watching all types of sporting events — almost anything but golf.

I no longer have the time to indulge myself in just sitting and watching so I sit in my home office, at my computer, working while perfectly positioned to watch the big screen in the den. I don’t get to see all that I like, but sports certainly dominate my TV watching time.

I’ve moved from fanatic to casual watcher — but I’m a serious casual watcher.

Except, every four years the Summer Olympics gets to turn me back from serious casual to fanatic viewer. To me, the Olympics are clearly the world’s premiere sporting events deserving of every minute I can steal away from whatever else is in my life for those few weeks of Olympic pleasure.

It’s here, it’s now and I haven’t prepared. I’ve checked no schedules; done no advanced preparation. I’ve only warned Lil... this is my time.

1960 Rome

I remember that I first watched the Olympics with my dad when I was a kid in 1960.

I remember Avery Brundage the American who took over as the head of the Olympic governing body (IOC). Brundage was from the old school — back then I didn’t know there was anything else — he advocated strict amateurism in international sports, and the absolute separation of politics and sports. And that was my introduction to the Olympics.

I grew up across the street from Queens College and my fourth floor bedroom window overlooked the track which disappeared long ago. Back then, dad and I would watch the QC track meets and track and field became one of my favorites.

We watched the 1960 Rome games and I remember little about it but marvelous athletic competition and some national pride. I was introduced to the decathlon by a wonder named Rafer Johnson. I marveled at the fastest woman in the world, Wilma Rudolph. And had my first encounter with amateur boxing when a young American named Cassius Clay captured my imagination.

No politics; no incidents; just sport.

1964 Tokyo

It was my first recollection of Western involvement in the Far East. Although the Olympics weren’t political, it seemed to me to be one giant political statement that this western power – the United States – and its allies were traveling to post-war Japan for sport.

My assumption is that due to the time difference, this Olympics got less TV play than the others. Or perhaps, I just remember less.

American discus thrower Al Oerter shocked the world in Tokyo in 1964. Injured, he had to remove his neck brace to hurl an Olympic record and capture his third consecutive gold in the event. Swimmer Donald Schollander introduced me to his sport, capturing four Golds in freestyle swimming. Jesse Owens, in 1936, was the previous American to win that many.

1968 Mexico City

I was in college in 1968 — involved in the civil rights movement with the campus chapters of C.O.R.E. and S.N.C.C. The movement had infiltrated sports in the US and black athletes were considering a boycott of the Olympic Games. The boycott never occurred but the most profound American political statement made at the Olympics was made on the victory platform of the 200 meter championship as American Gold medallist Tommie Smith and Bronze medallist John Carlos raised their fists before the world in the black power salute as the National Anthem played.

Avery Brundage’s dream of an Olympics without politics was dead. The world’s greatest sports event had become the focus of international politics.

The other unforgettable event was the greatest moment in Olympic history for a person from Queens. Jamaica High School’s Bob Beamon, the owner of one of the most memorable singular moments in Olympic history, uncorked an Olympic long jump of 29 feet, 2 1/2 inches — almost 22 inches longer than any human had ever jumped. His Olympic record — which still stands today — is the longest standing Olympic record in history.

1972 Munich

Yes, there was Olga Kobut the delightful little Russian who turned me onto gymnastics. And there was Mark Spitz, the American swimming sensation who won seven Golds in seven races. But the young Russian and the American swimming phenomenon’s triumphs were lost in the most tragic moments of Olympic history.

BLACK POWER SALUTE: Medalists John Carlos and Tommie Smith raise their fists in protest in 1968 in Mexico City. photo courtesy of johncarlos.com

The kidnapping and murder of 11 Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists had overshadowed all else at the Munich games. Avery Brundage’s final games bore witness to the vilest of world political statements and his dream and Germany’s attempt to make a post-war statement of Olympic ideals died forever along with the Israeli athletes.

1976 Montreal

The People’s Republic of China leveraged their size and growing strength and was able to deny Taiwan the name "Republic of China" at the 1976 games, forcing the smaller China not to participate.

A young Romanian, Nadia Comaneci, forever changed the face of women’s gymnastics with her stunning perfect-10 performances — a score no gymnast had ever before received.

1980 Moscow

Didn’t see them.

In December 1979, the Soviet Union marched into Afghanistan. US President Jimmy Carter announced that if the Soviet forces were not out of Afghanistan the United States would not send an Olympic team to Moscow. Other Western allies followed Carter’s lead.

The Olympics were held without the US or many other Western countries. They weren’t televised here.

I was given a souvenir tie from the 1980 Moscow Olympics. That and international politics is all I can recall.

1984 Los Angeles

Payback! I’m not sure of the stated reason, but the Russians boycotted the Los Angeles 1984 Games. Peter Ueberroth, the head of the LA Organizing Committee took center stage introducing the concept of spectacular showmanship to the games.

American gymnast Mary Lou Retton, won five medals, including gold in the all-around competition and Carl Lewis matched Jesse Owens’ 1936 feat of winning gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, the 4x100-meter relay and the long jump.

1988 Seoul

The politics of performance enhancing drugs took center stage in the Seoul Games.

Two Koreas under one flag of unity marching in the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. photo courtesy of olympics.com

Failing a drug test, Canadian Ben Johnson was sent home, stripped of his gold medal and world record in the 100 meters.

American diver Greg Louganis hit his head on the board and fell bleeding into the water. After receiving stitches, Louganis returned and went on to dominate the event, making 11 perfect dives and capturing the gold.

American sprinter Florence Griffith brought fashion and flair to the track capturing three Golds and one Silver.

1992 Barcelona

My memory of the 1992 Games is of the Dream Team. The American professional basketball superstars went to Barcelona to dazzle the world and bring home the gold.

Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, John Stockton and college star Christian Laettner ended Avery Brundage’s dream of Olympic amateurism.

The games henceforth would be open to the world’s best.

1996 Atlanta

Random bombing, terrorism — the deadly, destructive force in international politics — stands as the most significant issue of the last Olympic Games held in 1996 in Atlanta.

The tragic bombing in Centennial Olympic Park, which left one dead and many injured, struck with no clear target and brought the struggle with anonymous violence before the world. The crime is still unsolved.

The athletic performance, which stands out from the Atlanta Games, was women’s gymnast Kerry Strugs’ injured vault to secure the team Gold Medal.

2000 Sydney

Although the games have just started, to me the outstanding event has already occurred. We witnessed the opening ceremonies’ parade of athletes highlighted by the arrival of the two Koreas — North and South — marching under one united flag.

This political hope of reunification of families divided by war almost 50 years ago is perhaps truly what the Olympics is all about.

Brundage was wrong in denying politics a role in the Olympics. Politics, it seems, has dominated the Olympics since I’ve been a devotee. It is the positive political forces that can come out of future games — statements of reunification, peace and efforts for humanity. The Olympics can serve as the focal point and springboard for world good where the spirit of athletic competition may succeed in uniting where international political bodies like the United Nations have failed.

As far as outstanding performances, we can root for the two Queens athletes competing in the Sydney Games. Cyclist George Hincapie who was born in Queens in 1973 and moved at age 4 to Long Island. Sprinter Ato Bolden moved with his family from Trinidad to Jamaica, Queens in 1988 and ran track for Jamaica High School.

I love sports. I love politics. Sometimes you can’t tell them apart.

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Michael Schenkler can be reached at: MSchenkler@queenspress.com