Blame it on Rio

He is President of the United States. The leader of the free world as most would call him, Barack Obama has a lot on his plate; healthcare at home, and too many global hot spots to mention.

One issue that’s considered a side dish, however, is the next site of the 31st Olympiad. It’s not a matter of life or death, but one of national pride. Who wouldn’t want to host this celebration of friendly global jousting? Obama’s hometown of Chicago is in the running for the 2016 host city with Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro.

Ever the multitasker, Obama is heading to Copenhagen Thursday in an attempt to throw his weight of persuasion toward the International Olympic Committee to choose his old stomping grounds. Members are scheduled to vote on the site Friday.

The debate is raging whether this action is needed given the president’s busy schedule. The discussion, however, is moot. If Obama has time to honor the 2009 Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers and last year’s World Series victors Philadelphia Phillies, then he could hop on Air Force One to Northern Europe for some overseas arm twisting.

That isn’t the issue. As in the restaurant business, it’s location, location and location. Of the past 29 host cities, the United States has hosted the Olympics four times, St. Louis (1904), Los Angeles (1932 and 1984) and Atlanta (1996). In addition, the Tokyo Games were held in 1964, and Barcelona, Spain in 1992.

Yes, having the games in Chicago in the peak of the summertime would be an inspiring spectacle. In the midst of economical, domestic gloom news that surrounds us, this could definitely be a national pick-me-up.

That being said, what about Rio? The Olympics have never reached the sunny shores of South America. In fact, that continent, along with Africa, is untouched territory for the Games of the Olympiad.

We’ve been talking about change for quite some time. Change in our government; a change in the way things are done in America and the world. Why not give Rio a chance? It’s change in a big way. It will provide an open window for the world to witness the greatness of the grand celebration; for instance The Carnival and scores of sandy beaches that are the envy of the Earth.

And Brazil is no stranger to world domination. Their five World Cup trophies are proof of their success in global competition (also, the Brazilians are hosting the 2014 World Cup, the first time in more than 30 years). The Olympiad, and the world, will be well served to play in such a unique city.

A visit from the popular U.S. president will raise antennas with the committee, but in essence, Obama will be a head cheerleader for good ‘ol America to invite the world to play during the last year of his (election-willing) second term. But maybe he should do the right thing and let Rio play in the Olympic sandbox this time around.

Just another commute

This morning when I got off my exit on the way to work, about to cruise through the green light without a care, I noticed someone backing their car up near the grassy divider.

She rolled her window down and apologized, I guess, for her awkward appearance.

“I’m a mess. Could you tell me where (undetectable) is at?”

“I think it’s over there, (pointing to the west as a Ford F150 slows up behind my Impala) that way, you should be going the right way,”

The car rolled back into drive and skirted along toward Parma. Sitting at the red light, I thought to myself about how I could have done such a thing to a nice woman.

I had no clue what I was talking about.

But the lady didn’t appear to be danger or of grave concern. I just hope she made it to her destination.

She might have been sitting idle at the Acme parking lot, cursing me out. “That man doesn’t know what he was talking about.” But if all went well, she could have written it off as a random act of kindness.

It feels a bit odd to be involved in a stranger’s life. This could have been the start of something special for her. Or maybe she was just running an errand, paying a bill, going to an interview (oh, that would be terrible if my directions complicated things) or on her way to see her lawyer.

At least, the guy in front of me was cool. Or appeared to be. Road rage is the most useless act of aggression. He was correct not to partake.

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