SPORTS August 9, 2004 Issue

'On your marks ... '

By Kim Shippey

Sometimes the tension television viewers feel seems almost to match that endured by participants in the Olympic Games. There's an off-button, but it's tough to find the path of moderation through the marathon-like stretches of what the networks call "must-see" television.

This year it will be as hard as ever during 17 days of coverage from Athens, beginning with the opening ceremony on Friday, August 13. Most viewers probably haven't considered how they're going to deal with NBC's groundbreaking—or is it eye-blearying?—1,210 hours of roundthe-clock Olympic programming, presented by 99 commentators.

But whatever our viewing habits and favorite events, maybe we have a choice. Endure another bout of Olympic overload, or enjoy a more selective search for helpful signs of such qualities as courage, calmness, and perseverance—and make these our own.