Live from the Olympics: Pissed-Off-Me.

I love our athletes. They worked hard to qualify for the Olympics, they trained their asses off on the way to Beijing, and they’re giving their hearts and minds and muscles over to winning the games.

But after the race, or meet, or game, every time, they’re dealing with the sharks.

The American media.

Why is the media so hard on the athletes that trained and raced and qualified to be on our American team, but “only” got silver, or bronze, or didn’t get a medal at all? Why does an adult ex-athlete ask another athlete, moments after losing a qualifying match, “do you think this is because you changed coaches last year?” or “Your family has been with you all along. Can you tell us how they felt just now [as we watched you sob into their arms]?” The guy did his best and came up short - often less than 30 seconds ago - and now he’s on international T.V.! Is making him cry into your microphone really that important?

Then to cutaway and see the tremulously toupeed Bob Costas comment “he just dropped an egg in The Bird’s Nest”… ARGH! Give him a freaking break, dude!

Obviously I’m conditioned to political reporting, where the hard questions and mean comments simply never come. Can you imagine any American other than Jon Stewart asking President Bush if he thinks he made the right call on… anything?

Why is it okay to be this harsh with our athletes and not our elected politicians? Can the media get in the game, please?!