Features: There were well-crafted features on individual athletes. They were sympathetic, constructive and informative. I especially liked one on Dominique Dawes.

Lesson learned: It seemed to me that the media folk learned something. The first equestrian note I saw started with film clips from Mr. Ed, and was followed by other uncouth commentaries about horses. The next session was markedly sober and serious, with relevant comment and NO jocular references.

Continuity: There are many sports in the modern-day Olympic Games and it is hard to cover them all, even in two-week-long programming. But the network can try to be even-handed. The concentration on gymnastics and swimming may reflect ease of photography, not entirely audience interest. The resulting snippet presentation of many other important events was pathetically piece-meal. Pronunciation: I date back to when American announcers, commentators, etc. routinely made fun of foreign names. That day is gone. The Olympic commentators must have had phonetic charts in front of them for all names. It was a gracious and overdue change.

Judgement: The little American champion gymnast carried to her gold medal ceremony by her beaming coach brings up many questions. As someone who has won only the most modest of national awards in my field, I believe that had the little girl NOT gone into the lists despite her horrendous injuries, she would have regretted it the rest of her life.

BUT, as the snarling Alpha-mother she-wolf of all time, I might have pinned that coach to the mat to keep the little one from doing what she did -- medals or no.

Pins: I have a Pepsi Cola pin from 1984 that I will trade to get back my press center reporter-at-the-keyboard pin that I inadvertently traded for it.

No, you may NOT have my Botswana pin, not for anything!!