Commentary by Kevin P. Smith
The Summer Olympics this year serve as a showcase forthe national pride we see on display every four years. In the coming weeks, many will watch the Olympics on TV but without the extra money for pay-perview events, there is no hope for complete coverage. NBC nixed the idea of broadcasting all the Olympic events over the intemet. Thorough coverage offers us more than the spectacle of professional NEA players beating a foreign team of amateur athletes. It spotlights other sports that may offer more drama and Lgs emotion and are not necessarily the sport of choice for Americans. Since America is a country of many different nationalities; (I can trace my roots to Ireland as both my parents were born there), it follows that other Americans will use the Olympics as well to celebrate their heritage.
Though the Olympics had their origins as far back as the 14th Century B.C., these games had become ignored before its modem day revival in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The Irish have had a presence since John Plus Poland put his mark on thse Athens games winning a pair of gold medals in Single and Doubles Tennis. It wasn't until France-1924 that Ireland first competed at the Olympics as an independent country. At the following games in Amsterdam, Dc Pat O'Callaghan became the first winner of a gold medal for independent Ireland. Expected to be a non-factor in the Hammer Throw, O'Callaghan was included on the team to gain valuable experience. He returned to the following Olympics in Los Angeles and repeated his gold medal winning performance. The win was even more historic because within an hour, another Irish athlete captured another gold medal. Robert Morton Newburgh Tisdall scored gold in the 400-meter Hurdles. Tisdall won the race in world record time of 51.7 seconds but failed to clear the final hurdle, therefore he was not recognized for the record under the rules at that time.
Modern day wins by Irish athletes include the silver medal by boxer Wayne McCullough in 1992 and three gold medals and one bronze medal for swimmer Michelle Smith in '96. Much of the hope for an Irish Olympic medalist in Sydney seems to rest with Sonia O'Sullivan in the 5000 meters.
Even with slim hopes in competition versus many countries with advanced development programs, Irish athletes will show their grit and undoubtedly surprise a few opponents. Otherwise our attention might quickly turn to World Cup qualifying of the Irish National Team. (also due to get under way in early September.) Either way, we will find ourselves screaming and rooting for athletes competing under the tri-colors.
Other sports items of note Irish boxers made a big return to the New York area with a recent exhibition at Yonkers Raceway. The fight card originally scheduled for Gaelic Park (the first outdoor boxing exhibition in NY since Muhammad Ali beat Ken Norton in Yankee Stadium in 1976) was moved to Yonkers. The main event on the card featured lightweight Martin O'Malley fighting John Scalzi. Other noted Irish boxers included John Lowey, Colm Beane, and Joe "The Irish Terror" Hughes,
Golf champion Tiger Woods paid a visit to Waterville, County Keny prior to his record breaking win at the British Open. Woods was on hand to unveil a life sized bronze sculpture of golfer Payne Stewart, who was killed in a plane crash over the U.S. last year. The golfer's widow, Tracy Stewart, attended the ceremony, as did past British Open winner Mark O'Meara. Stewart, a regular to Waterville where he practiced for the British Open on two occasions with Woods would have been Waterville's honorary captain this year.
