The Olympics are upon us again, and I really enjoy getting to watch relatively obscure sports on TV. I mean, when was the last time you saw a decent water polo match on TV? And how many people were relieved that the sport is actually much more horse-friendly than it initially sounds? I'm guessing quite a few. And womens saber! What percentage of Americans woke up Saturday morning knowing that this was an Olympic event? 2%? .0002%? Good times.
Yet as I've observed the various events unfolding over the past couple of days a fundamental paradox of the American experience was brought right to the surface (and it has nothing to do with Coke's numerous attempts to make me feel like a philanthropist for using its product). Here it is: America is unequivocally the greatest superpower in the world, and has been for some time now. Nevertheless, Americans are always drawn to root for the underdog. How else do you explain the legion of supporters that the Cubs have managed to gather for themselves over their past century of losing? This is America. We like to confront third world dictators with shock and awe campaigns, while still fancying ourselves to be the scrappy little band of ruffians who somehow managed to upend the British Empire in 1781. Is the guy from Azerbaijan who never even saw a swimming pool until he was 16 really on the same level as Michael Phelps? Of course not, but we like to pretend that he is so that we don't have to cheer for him instead. So I guess I have to say "go USA - and go everyone else too."
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