Globalism is great--unless you expect to breathe.

• Ueberroth says the athletes are most important but his actions say something else. It was common knowledge the air quality in Beijing could harm them so that's out the window. Today's news says the Olympic committee is coming up with contingency plans, as there's no evidence the air will be breathable in time for the "games."

"With the tragedy of Munich, the financial disaster of Montreal and the Moscow boycott still fresh,

• nobody wanted to bid for the 1984 Olympics.

Los Angeles did, however, and with the Soviet Union leading a boycott of Communist nations as payback,

• it was China's refusal to join that helped make the 1984 Games a moneymaker and turn the Olympics into modern-day success.

USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth has long credited China for helping lead the resurgence of the Olympics.

• Last week, Ueberroth, who was key in staging the 1984 Games, reemphasized his belief that the games not be politicized."

AP report on ESPN.com, 3/17/08

• (Hey, let's hustle baseball players over there so they can drop dead in the bad air).

Demonstrations in London and Munich, 3/18/08, AP

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