Cheering For Own Country Should Be Top Priority

To the editors:

If “rooting for the underdog” (Sports, “Olympics Squad Not My Dream Team,” May 14) is an excuse to root against USA Basketball, why isn’t it an excuse to root against ALL American athletes in the Olympics (aside from hockey players, weightlifters, and marathoners) ? Not only that, but Croatia and other nations have NBA players as well. My point is simply that the “underdog” contention only works when your team is not in the running for the title. I am a Sox fan, so I’ll root for the Marlins in the World Series against the Evil Empire. But if the Sox were playing the Marlins, I would be in delirium rooting for Boston. So when you watch the World Cup and see France against the Central African Republic, root for the little guy. But when you watch the Olympics in Athens this summer, do what billions of other sports fans around the world will do: root for your country.

ANDREW KALLOCH ’06

May 15, 2004