I am sure by now all of us have had our fill of the endless coverage of the Beijing Olympics. No matter how much one loves sports, there is only so much a person can
take. It's easy to be cynical about the Olympics, whether it's too much Bob Costas, or the way media outlets sensationalize any and every little thing. It's easy to lose sight of what makes the Olympics great.

For starters, the Olympics are a wonderful way to showcase nations and cultures. Some of the best diplomacy is achieved by getting real people together to support a common goal. This year was no exception as the world paid a visit to the mysterious and often misunderstood nation of China. Can it be that only 35 years ago Richard Nixon made his historic trip that laid the ground work for revolutionary change? Sure, it's easy to blame China for a dismal record on pollution, human rights and for our current economic woes. However behind that kind of easy scapegoat-ing is a remarkable country with amazing people, history, culture, and national pride.

I grew up a sports fan in Pittsburgh during the glory days of the Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers. I remember fondly my childhood heroes spent their entire careers in one place, lived in the community and retired there. Today things have changed and the modern professional athlete seems to be consumed with two things: money and fame.

What makes the Olympics great are all those athletes from all over the world with no money and little or no fame, but who have spent years devoted to their sport because they love it. Faces and smiles don't lie, and over those two weeks I saw many genuine smiles — not only on the select few who "took the gold" — but on the faces of those who compete for the love of the game, and the love of country.

Mark Stevens