The criticism of the commercialism surrounding this Olympic
Games, and the Olympic "movement" in general, continues this
morning. In Boston, David Halbfinger calls the wealth of
advertising in Atlanta "an assault on the brain" (BOSTON GLOBE,
7/19). In Baltimore, Ken Rosenthal writes, "Welcome to the land
of the fee and the home of the depraved" (Baltimore SUN, 7/19).
In New York, Dave Anderson writes, "For all the IOC's sermons,
the arrow on the Olympic compass points to cash" (N.Y. TIMES,
7/19). In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski writes, "We are who we are,
capitalist people who love to package big moments. But as these
centennial Games begin, one can't help wonder if we are seizing
too much and squeezing too hard" (DETROIT NEWS, 7/19).
DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE: In Atlanta, Melissa Turner writes,
"Despite all the threats to its image and integrity, the Olympic
Games are held in highest esteem by the American public." USOC
Exec Dir Dick Schultz: "The Olympics are at the all-time peak of
their popularity. The Olympic ideal is still there in people's
minds." Still, the IOC's Michael Payne notes the world media
will decide the image of the Atlanta Games: "Style and Southern
hospitality" or "the worst of commercialism" (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 7/19).
DREAM TEAM VS. THE WORLD: In Philadelphia, Timothy Dwyer
writes of the Dream Team: "They are out to sell hats and shirts
and jackets and other NBA apparel to the world market" (PHILA.
INQUIRER, 7/19). Similarly, in Houston, Fran Blinebury writes
the Dream Team's aim is not to win: "The true objective here is
to open the world market to increased sales of game jerseys, t-
shirts and caps, which then translates into more revenue for the
teams and higher salaries for the players" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
7/19).
