Excuse the Interjection

Friday, Jan. 13, 2006 | 8:43 a.m.

This week's topic: Should we refer to the site of the Winter Olympics as "Turin" or "Torino"?

Jeff Haney's take: Until the time comes when we say "Deutschland" instead of Germany, "Venezia" instead of Venice and "Eire" instead of Ireland in everyday conversation, it's Turin. That's the American word for the city.

Ron Kantowski's take: I dunno, I'm sort of partial to Torino, myself. Although a 'Cuda or a Dodge Challenger with 440 cubes under the hood are nothing to sneeze at. Gotta love those American muscle cars -- and the American way of pronouncing cities with which we're not familiar.

JH: It would be one thing if a decree came down stating that we shall now refer to all foreign cities in the native tongue of their homelands. Of course, that will happen around the same time Americans adopt the metric system. This Torino push sounds suspiciously like a made-for-TV stunt. NBC-TV, that is.

RK: Yeah, the metric system. I guess you're right. It would sound strange to refer to a 450-foot home run as a 137.16-meter blast (although Mitch Williams probably wouldn't mind). I was going to make a point that when in Rome, do as the Romans, but then we would call it "Roma" and that sounds as strange as a 137.16-meter gopher ball.

JH: That's metre to you, pal. I have a feeling we're going to get snowed under by Torino-mania next month, as Bob Costas & Co. have evidently opted for the Italian pronunciation. I know television molds the hearts, souls and what's left of the minds of the American public, but that still doesn't make it correct.

RK: I don't know what's correct or incorrect. Or even if I'll be watching. Except when Bode Miller gets into the starting gate for the downhill. If he's bobbing and weaving, I'll be watching for sure. Regardless of what they call the city.

JH: If Torino becomes accepted, what's next? Do we have to call the hotel next door to Bally's the "Pah-REE"? You'd have to be really "wasted," to borrow Bode's eloquent term, to think that's kosher. Besides, who ever heard of the Shroud of Torino?

RK: OK, so I guess Turin is the winner and Torino the luger.

Ron Kantowski and Jeff Haney are not related to Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon. You can reach Jeff at 259-4041 or haney@lasvegasssun.com and Ron at 259-4088 or ron@lasvegassun.com.