Jack and I have been watching the Olympics. At the risk of sounding like an old fuddy-duddy, I will admit that it occurred to me to ask why it is that the male beach volleyball players are fairly covered up, and the female competitors are wearing the skimpiest possible outfits. I guess it’s one way to generate interest in the sport. I hope they wear plenty of sunscreen.
We think it’s interesting that our “girls-next door” champion gymnasts manage to lead reasonably normal lives, while the Chinese girls are often taken from their families at age 3 to begin training for the Olympics. We heard that they may see their families only once a year! With all of that sacrifice, they faced very steep competition from the USA team.
It was certainly gratifying to see a nice guy like Mike Phelps achieve so much greatness. Lots of us can relate to being the “odd man out” in school. It turns out that those physical traits for which he was ridiculed are exactly the ones that helped him become the athlete he is. He is also a wonderful role model for all of those young people who have attention deficits and other learning disabilities. He was fortunate to have great support from his mother and sisters.
Jack started teaching high school in 1959 and has seen many brilliant students go nowhere. Conversely, a fair number who had to struggle to grasp the material but worked hard became successful. He always said that determination was the greatest attribute a person could have. Cicero said, “It is the character of a brave and resolute man not to be ruffled by adversity and not to desert his post.”
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