DIFFERENT TIMES
It’s funny how some of the Olympic events I faithfully watched as a child — boxing, the decathlon in track and field — have over time become insignificant to many American viewers.
But winning the decathlon is still an incredibly difficult feat, and Bryan Clay of the U.S. deserves major props for becoming the first American to do so since 1996.
Track and field has serious issues by U.S. standards (we just don’t seem to be as good now that most the dopers are out of the sport or living in a cell) but anyone who stands on top of the 10-discipline event has trained at an amazingly high level.
Bill Toomey won the decathlon in 1968 and my mother baby-sat his niece and nephew for years. I know that means nothing to anyone, but it got me thinking about this event.
