Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Only four more years

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000 | 10:57 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

Australia has long been a special country for me and thousands of other Americans. The Aussies who served with the British Commonwealth Division in Korea reminded me of Americans who live in the West. Australian infantrymen knew how to climb mountains and fight with the world's best troops.

Twenty-five years later, when visiting that country, the Australian lifestyle and attitude about life reminded me of rural America several decades earlier. The past two weeks of television and newspaper coverage from Down Under has shown me that most of the qualities that have attracted me to the Aussies still exist.

The aboriginal people of Australia have always been of great interest to me. In many respects the treatment of them by the Europeans settling in their country reminds me of our own treatment of Native Americans. The only difference is that Australia is a younger country than the United States.

Millions of Americans must have joined Australians cheering Cathy Freeman on to victory and the 400 meters gold medal. Cathy, an Aborigine, was easy to cheer because of her warm personality and the heavy load we all knew she carried. What we were seeing again was a minority person reaching the hearts of countrymen through sports. Doesn't this remind you of Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens and Joe Louis?

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics despite the loss of sleep and knowing they are at least 18 hours delayed. The treatment of Romania's 16-year-old Andreea Raducan did upset me when they took away her all-around individual gymnastics gold medal. She had taken two cold pills from the team doctor and failed a drug test. The over-the-counter pills contained pseudoephedrine, which doesn't enhance physical performance but can lower it. Good heavens, punish the doctor but don't beat up on this child athlete.

Some sportswriters have been critical of the amount of time and effort NBC has dedicated to giving personal background stories about athletes. This shouldn't bother NBC too much because sportswriters are seldom completely happy about anything except possibly a ninth-inning brawl during a World Series game.

I have enjoyed the personal stories about athletes who were filmed in their homes prior to the Sydney Games. It's interesting to view and understand the hardships the competitors have overcome on their way to Australia. Also, being able to identify American athletes with their towns and schools makes viewing more exciting for me. At my age the so-called "over the hill" athletes tasting success also grabs me. Baseball coach Tommy Lasorda's success was especially sweet.

Only four more years and we can watch the Summer Olympics in Athens. They should be even more exciting because of a shorter tape delay and the opportunity of watching some events as they happen. In the meantime I'm looking forward to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Those events will be in our living rooms the moment they happen.