Thank You, Television Executives and Advertiser.

I want to thank the TV and Ad execs for allowing some space between commercials for Olympic events coverage. I also want to congratulate them for adding the split screen to allow even more time for selling their products.  However, don't you think devoting the larger of the screens to product sales is a little excessive, that maybe, just maybe, some of us out in TV land might accuse you of being greedy. Say it isn't so.

Hurrah for Steve Kerr, coach of the Golden State Warriors for stating the truth about our non-existent gun laws. Congress, listen up, drop Trump's Great Wall of Foolishness, that will keep nobody out and mire us even further in irreversible national debt. Do what's right, and pass laws that outlaw automatic weapons of any kind. Stand up to the NRA for once in your cowardly lives.

Now to sports, unless defeating Republican senators and congressmen in November can be called a sport. I kinda like that idea.

Now back to sports, really: Got to give a lot of love to the aerial skiers. Unbelievable athletic moves and courage. Just a reminder, remember when we thought such antics on skis and on skate boards were just hippie passing fads? Men and women boarders and skiers in baggy trousers, making weird signs with their hands, hip hop invading the sanctity of winter sports. Well they invaded, evolved, and proved they're not a passing fad. Good on them!

NBA Saturday Night: Lot's of fine messages about brother and sisterhood, inclusiveness, free speech, fairness. NBA is no doubt the most progressive of our professional sports leagues. Commissioners Stern and Silver had it right from the start. Bravo to you two men. And bravo to the players who stand tall in the face of White House fascism.

Booker and Thompson in finals of 3 point shooting contest seemed inevitable. Congrats to Booker.
I thought that Larry Nance Jr honoring his All Star dad by imitating the dunks he used to win the dunk contest back in his day was, well, honorable.I also thought Donavan Mitchell, going retro with uniforms and 360 degree Vince Carter dunk was also an honorable way of honoring past players.
Congrats to Nance for winning, but, it my mind, it was a photo-finish.

Wish I had space or inclination to comment on more of the Olympic sports, but I have other things to do and miles and miles to go before I sleep. However, before I nod off, I suggest people should watch Merit Bjoergan in the Biathlon. She has a chance of surpassing the 13 medal record of fellow Norwegian, Ole Elnar Bjoerndalen and become the King of Biathlon, or should I say, the Queen? If you don't know what Biatholon is, look it up, it's a grueling test of physical stamina and mental control.

Oh, and lest I forget, the ski jumpers were magnificent. If they spread out any lower, they'll be below their skis.

Oh, and lest I forget, lots of luck to Erin Jackson, the first African-American woman to compete in speed skating. Take that Fox News!

Oh, and lest I forget, is there any doubt that Fox News commentator Laura Ingraham is a racist? 

In honor of speed skating, I offer this poem I wrote that is in my collection: Sweat: New and Selected Poems About Sports

Short Track Speed Skating

Like second hands,
the skaters spin around the ice
in a crouch, arms swinging
back and forth, like pendulums
until two break away:
One silver, one gold

So close to each other.
No truer alchemy exists than this:
with one frozen circle left,
metal to metal, they kiss,
setting off sparks, and fall,
as all lovers must who dare 
to be so intimate, so fast.