A Bronze Medal. In synchronized swimming, ping-pong, or trampolining such honors would have been acceptable. But this was not some obscure sport invented on a foreign continent; it was basketball. You know, hoops, round ball, Jordan, Wooden, Naismith—an American game. Since the United States started using NBA players in the Olympics in 1992, the “Dream Teams” have won nothing but gold. That is, until this year. What happened?

With the inauguration of George W. Bush for a second term, the volatility of the presidential election is behind us.  But a question remains unanswered: who would Jesus have voted for?  Since both parties invoked His name with great regularity throughout the campaign, it is a logical question.  In speeches on issues ranging from taxes to the war in Iraq, it seemed that every member of the Trinity was cited to buttress the candidates’ positions.  

The plane was, as usual, crowded.  An early morning direct flight to Chicago, people stood single file waiting to take their seats.  Putting my bag in the overhead bin, the man in the aisle seat on my row stood to allow me to squeeze past him as I made my way to the window.  Engaged in a conversation with an attractive flight attendant, he barely noticed me.