THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 17, 1996 TAG: 9607170546
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
LENGTH: 64 lines
With the Games of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company almost upon us, it is time to prepare for an attack of Olympic Fever.
Because the first carbonated Olympics deserve nothing less than an effervescent audience, each American is being called upon to add some fizz to the Summer Games experience.
I've done my part by cutting the Olympic rings into my front lawn. If you don't have a lawn, a poodle will do.
The symptoms of Olympic Fever take many forms.
You might have the fever if you find yourself sticking throw pillows under the shoulders of your T-shirt so that you can look like a woman swimmer.
If you've been thinking of buying your 5-year-old a javelin for his next birthday ... you may be coming down with Olympic Fever.
You've got the fever bad if you've been reading the as-told-to story of American gymnast Dominique Moceanu.
Is there really an audience for the autobiography of a 14-year-old who has never been let out of the gym?
If you pick up the book, make sure to read the chapter titled, ``The Early Years.''
Over the years, 100 to be exact, the Olympics have stood the tests. Tom Robinson and I will be attending an event that has survived two World Wars, the Cold War, terrorism, boycotts and synchronized swimming, not to mention the Triplecast.
Like Georgia's heat and humidity, the Olympics can consume you. Observers on the ground in Atlanta will be into the rings, but out of the loop when it comes to other sports news. And so, I presume, will be a lot of Americans.
While the world's attention is focused on Atlanta, Shaquille O'Neal may re-sign with the Orlando Magic for $17 million a year. But even a story like this could get swallowed up by the Olympics. Come to think of it, this might not be such a bad thing for O'Neal.
Given too much time to analyze the contract, somebody in the media may realize that $17 million works out to $1 million for each free throw Shaq made last season.
Meanwhile, for public relations purposes, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue would be wise to rule on the Michael Irvin drug case soon, while America is distracted by the Olympics.
A minimum of a four-game suspension for the Cowboys' wide receiver is a no-brainer, though it will not satisfy Cowboy Haters who wanted jail time for Irvin.
Whatever the ruling, and however bitter the fallout, they will not seem as big of a deal while Americans are collecting gold.
The Olympics are diverting enough - not to mention omnipresent - that they dwarf what usually passes for controversial news, such as Cal Ripken's switch to third base.
Ripken is said to be none too pleased with manager Davey Johnson's decision, but if there is one city where third base is not a slum, it is Balmer, Merlin.
When a fellow by the name of Brooks Robinson played third for the Orioles, it was considered a position of prestige and glamor. Ripken, if he is of a mind to, can help return the Hot Corner to its place of prominence.
In any case, all the stories that seem so big today may have to play themselves out after ceding the spotlight to the Olympics.
The fever, you see, is taking its toll. In another display of readiness for the trip to Atlanta, I've been annoying my family by walking around the house reciting the Olympic motto: ``Citius, Altius, Fortius.''
As everyone knows, this is Greek for, ``We'll return after these commercial messages.'' by CNB