August 23, 2004 12:19 pm
Column: The little-known stories behind the headlines
A lot of interesting stories have unfolded at these Olympic Games, but we're not sure you've been given all the details.
That's why we're here. We look for the story behind the story so you have something to read while eating your Cheerios.
The story you've heard: Iraq's soccer team, which had to be airlifted out of Baghdad just to ensure it got to Athens safely, storms into medal contention in perhaps the most inspirational story of the games.
The story you haven't heard: The Iraqi players use a simple but revolutionary visualization technique in each match - envisioning the soccer ball as Odai Hussein's head.
You've heard: Swimmer Gary Hall Jr. is fined $5,000 for wearing a stars-and-stripes robe instead of official Speedo gear.
You haven't heard: Swimmer Ian Crocker is also fined upon disrobing and revealing a physique that reminds us of Will Ferrell's Speedo scenes in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy."
You've heard: The U.S. men's basketball team loses twice in the preliminary round.
You haven't heard: Distraught after the second loss, Allen Iverson attempts to throw himself off the Queen Mary II into Piraeus Harbor. He misses.
You've heard: Carly Patterson wins gold in women's all-around gymnastics competition, the first American to do so since Mary Lou Retton in 1984. You haven't heard: Runner-up Svetlana Khorkina loses critical points when she turns sideways on the balance beam and disappears from the view of judges.
You've heard: A Swiss team defeats an American duo in beach volleyball.
You haven't heard: The River Styx freezes over.
You've heard: American gymnast Paul Hamm barrels into the judges' tables when he crash-lands during the vault competition, yet he still goes on to defeat two South Koreans for the all-around gold medal. After an investigation, three judges are suspended.
You haven't heard: The suspended judges are identified as Mike Tyson, Martha Stewart and New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, who all agree Hamm did a nice job of taking a fall.
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