I should not be hearing about the 2012 Olympics yet. Thanks to the fine folks in Iran, however, I got to hear about a potential boycott. And for what? Because they think the logo kinda-sorta looks like the word “Zion?” You can see the logo here and decide for yourself what it looks like. If you ask me, it looks like it says “2012,” though I was never good at those Rorschach inkblot tests.
What I really want to know is why anybody cares that Iran might not play in to Olympics. If the Americans don't play, that's news. If the Australian swimmers aren't going to show up, that's news. If Usain Bolt decides he isn't going to race, that's news. Iran boycotting the Olympics because they don't like Jewish people is not news. It's crazy. And it should not affect anyone's day-to-day existence.
The Olympics are about national pride and rooting for your country. If you have a staunch hatred for an entire group of people, then you probably should not be allowed to participate. We don't need another Munich on our hands. Since the IOC apparently has no qualms about these countries competing, however, it would be nice to see them all get lumped into the American bracket—in every sport. I want to see the United States play Iran, North Korea, and Libya in everything. Hell, it's been thirty years and people still talk about the Miracle on Ice. Why not showcase a 145-30 beat-down against Kim Jong Il's boys in basketball or watch some Iranian try to do the doggy-paddle against Michael Phelps? Let us continue to beat down our enemies in sports. And let them blame their inferiority on a logo. Until then, keep the hate-mongering off ESPN.
Iran, by the way has won a grand total of 44 medals (of any kind) in its entire Olympic history. The United States won 36 golds in Beijing alone. We have almost 2300 total medals in the Summer Games. And in case anyone was wondering, the only sport Iran qualified for in 2012 is Shooting, in which the USA has taken home gold 50 times. Go figure.
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