The Olympics "are not as special anymore," according to
Bob Raissman of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS, who noted, "We get the
Games every two years now." With the frequency, the IOC has
turned the Olympics "into nothing more than a glorified
World Championship of (you name the sport)" (N.Y. DAILY
NEWS, 9/24). In San Jose, Mike Antonucci: "The Sydney Games
have become the no-buzz Olympics." KNBR-AM Program Dir Bob
Agnew: "There is no drama. There is no mystery. There is no
buzz" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/23). The WALL STREET JOURNAL
INTERACTIVE's David Sweet: "The buzz you hear is a nation
snoring. ... The scripted Games lull one to sleep. ... Peace
and prosperity is great for the world, but painful for the
Olympics" (WSJ.com, 9/21). In Chicago, Stephen Nidetz wrote
that the Games have gone the way of political conventions,
where the "drama and excitement ended decades ago." But
"both events have led the media into a fantasy world it
refuses to acknowledge." The sports print media continue to
pour "hundreds of thousands of dollars into an event that no
longer compels any interest" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/24). In
Pittsburgh, Chuck Finder writes the Olympics "weren't merely
Down Under, they were Downright Underwhelming," with a lack
of personalities (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/25).
