6/22/08

T he Olympic Trials begin Friday in Eugene at Hayward Field, and right about now I'm hoping one of the participating athletes takes it upon themselves to emerge as a certifiable star over the next two weeks. Because without true stars that everyone can believe in, the sport is dead.

Consider that people who run, throw and jump at a high level have had a difficult time doing so successfully in the last decade without ending up crying, being banned, going to prison or becoming the focus of a grand jury inquiry.