I have always pegged the decline of America to 9/11. It changed our soul, the animating principle, from can-do optimism to uncertainty and fear. Other nations see it. We are no longer resolute, we cannot be relied upon. We were in unsuccessful war for twenty years in Afghanistan. We humiliated ourselves and endangered our democracy with a clown. Our handling of COVID-19 in 2020 was a horror for the world to see.
Under such an opening paragraph the following is hardly worthy, but i.m.o., it is of a piece, it is on a world stage.
From the Tokyo Olympics: France stuns Team USA, rallies for 83-76 victory in men's basketball, the Americans first Olympics loss since 2004; and, Biles-led U.S. finish stunning 2nd in qualifying in women's gymnastics. "Stunning bad" or "stunning good"?, I know so little about women's gymnastics. Emphatically "stunning bad."
TOKYO -- The trouble started early. A step out of bounds on floor exercise here. An extra hop on vault there.
Over the course of two hours Sunday, the mistakes kept piling up, chipping away at the aura USA Gymnastics has built over the past decade.
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For 11 years, the Americans flirted with [perfection], at least from a competitive standpoint, flying all over the globe, then flying back home with their suitcases stuffed with gold.
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...the Americans found themselves looking up at another name on the scoreboard in the team standings for the first time since the 2010 world championships.
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The Russian Olympic Committee team pulled off a stunner in qualifying, posting a top score of 171.629, more than a full point ahead of the U.S. total of 170.562.
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While Biles topped the all-around with a total of 57.731...She stepped all the way off the mat following a tumbling pass on her floor exercise, then basically did the same on vault. She responded with a solid set on uneven bars, but a spectacular beam routine ended with her taking three major steps backward following her dismount...
