OK, Now We Declare These Games Closed

If Randy Harvey [Feb. 25] can’t think of any Ugly American Awards, I sure can. Here it goes:

Ugly American Award: American Media

1. For coming to the rescue of Canadian pairs figure skaters and turning on them as soon as they were awarded the gold (proving that there must be something or someone to hate at all times in America).

2. For heavily favoring the Canadian men’s hockey team before the competition and all but considering it eliminated from the tournament after a first game and a meaningless loss to Sweden.

3. For all but ignoring the Croatian skier’s unprecedented four gold medals. What was her name again?

4. For scoffing at, but then embracing, and then scoffing at again, the Olympic sport of curling, which in my humble opinion requires much more talent than jumping on a skeleton sled and sliding down a hill ... but America got a gold, right?

5. For being stupid enough to print a column that claims that Wayne Gretzky blamed the media for Canada’s hockey problems. What color medal did they win? Or should I spell it colour? Then Mr. Harvey can claim that I can’t spell.

Chris Sorenson

Los Angeles

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I’d like to know what variety of “American propaganda” is helping Wayne Gretzky build his huge home here in Southern California? Seems he should think twice before opening his mouth and vilifying the United States when it’s obvious he and his family are fully enjoying the American Dream.

Trish Castro

Montebello

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Randy Harvey was duped by George Steinbrenner. Even Homer Simpson could have made George’s suggestion to “spend more for more medals.” The U.S. is now the East Germany of the 21st century--outspending everyone and winning is everything. Just like George’s Yankees, cost-effectiveness would put the U.S. at the bottom. It is nothing to be proud of.

Don Gustav

Pacific Palisades

*

Simply put, these were the most corrupt and political Olympic Games ever. From the way they were awarded to Salt Lake City, to the judges’ controversy in skating.

From the too many athletes caught using banned substances, to the ridiculous NBC coverage.

When I was a kid, the Games were a moment to rejoice, a true testimonial of honesty, joy and pure athleticism. Everybody in front of the TV witnessing the greatness of famous and unknown athletes. A milestone in everybody’s life.

All that is left is an endless soap opera of delayed tapes and corrupt officials.

Manu Appelius

Los Angeles

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Matt Stein [Viewpoint, Feb. 23] cruelly and unfairly labeled Michelle Kwan as the Greatest Choker in Sports.

As many do, he measures success by the color of a medal. He’s dead wrong.

The Olympic gods have denied a gold medal to Kwan for whatever reason, but they gave her a heart of gold along with her silver and bronze medals.

Sid Gruber

North Hollywood

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Michelle Kwan: the Chris Evert of figure skating. Beauty, skill and, above all, total class.

Robert M. Imm

Sunland

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After Michelle Kwan got knocked down to a silver medal by a Tara in 1998 and to a bronze this year by a Sarah, if a Farrah competes in the 2006 Olympic trials, Michelle should withdraw.

Craig Epstein

Los Angeles

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Is Sarah Hughes just another over-hyped athletic spoiled brat? It appears so. Apparently, Ms. Hughes was too sick with flu to take part in the closing ceremony. Maybe it was just a case of Ms. Hughes forgetting to eat her Wheaties on Sunday. Because she certainly had no problem Monday, posing and smiling as she unveiled her likeness on a box of the breakfast of champions.

Ed Balazs

Manhattan Beach

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I see where Bill Plaschke continues his drive to be the new Jim Murray. The style is clear: Alternating touching human interest stories with “hit pieces,” the formula is bound to result in the coronation of a new reigning columnist.

The difference, however, is that Plaschke’s attacks come across as mean-spirited and devoid of humor. The recent Apolo Anton Ohno slam is a perfect example. As I read the column, all I could wonder to myself is, what is the motivation behind this? Was he rejected for an interview or a pro-am golf pairing?

Slamming Ohno’s sport of short-track skating is also unfair. It is a wacky event, to be sure. However, it requires athleticism, skill and determination to excel. Compare this with the non-sport of curling--overweight people moving stones with brooms. Curling, Mr. Plaschke, was the Murray slant. Poke fun at the humor of this entry in Winter Olympics, or how snowboarding is now a world-class Olympic event. Meanwhile, Ohno handled the disappointments of his unpredictable yet athletic sport with grace and class rarely seen by professional athletes of the “We Wuz Robbed” mentality.

The only conclusion I could come up with was that the columnist was envious of the young athlete’s looks and marquee quality name. A solution: Run the next Murraylike attempt with header: Soul Plaschke.

Hale Antico

Pasadena

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Wait a minute. Am I missing something? How many members of the U.S. Olympic hockey team were born in the U.S.? I’d guess none of them. In 1980, before the professionals took over, they were all Americans. Isn’t what we had on Sunday really a glorified NHL All-Star game? Please enlighten me on this!

David Mann

Santa Barbara

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Editor’s note: Only two of the 23 players on the Team USA roster (Adam Deadmarsh and Brett Hull) were not born in the U.S.