The Five-Ringed Circus, Day Minus-One: Romney ain't happy, Whitlock is scared, and another Greek goes home

Ahh, Mitt Romney...

The man who, if elected President, probably will shut down football and kill many people like myself within about one term.

(You think, with the rumors that the Mormons would be running things, that they'd allow the NFL to play on Sundays in that kind of a situation?  Get real.)

Anyhow, Romney is in London, sucking up for more money.

Here's his comment about the preparations for the Olympics (which can be sourced from any number of news sites):

"You know, it's hard to know just how well it will turn out", Romney said. "There are a few things that were disconcerting, the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials — that obviously is not something which is encouraging." 

Romney ran the (rigged, corrupt, bought) 2002 Games in Salt Lake City (which I attended until I was basically almost verbally thrown out for not being rich, pretty, or corporate enough for the SLC sponsors).

There's only one problem with all this...

He's RIGHT.

And I've felt this way ever since the Games of Beijing.  It was reiterated after the riots in London last summer.

Something is going to happen here.  Someone is going to die attending or participating, and it's going to be a pre-planned event.

In short, I do predict terrorism.

Why?  The UK has been a powderkeg ever since it's creation.  And, also, I believe this to be the Games of the last gasp of the old world, just as I believed the Beijing Games to be the Games of the New Asian Century.

I truly think this is going to be a debacle, and I'm not alone in that context.

Jason Whitlock is covering the Games for FOX Sports.  His column here indicates he's not entirely pleased with the assignment, nor does he feel safe at all.

London's Orwellian Games may well make the city look, as he says, "occupied" to make the Games safe.

Good luck.

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And we have our first outright drug expulsion of the Games.  And, wouldn't you know it, it's another Greek track and field athlete!

Dimitrios Chondrokoukis tested positive for stanozolol, the same steroid Ben Johnson got nailed for 1988, and has been withdrawn from the Games.

He was the indoor world high jump champion this year, and was expected to medal in London.

Keep it up, Greece, and we'll start demanding your entire team withdraws.  That's two in two days!!

Also, two other athletes are also going home for drug violations, according to the BBC:

• Hungarian discus-thrower Zoltan Kovago has had his two-year ban upheld for failing to provide a required drug-test.  This is especially ironic, since, eight years ago, his bronze medal in the discus was upgraded to silver because a Hungarian teammate, Robert Fazekas, was disqualified for failing HIS drug test!  Kovago, had he competed, was a medal contender.
• Morocco's Mariem Alaoui Selsouli, a runner in the 1500-meter race, has also been tossed for failing a drug test.

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Now, I guess I should throw some predictions on the table:

• Lighter of the Cauldron:  To prove that these are HER Games and that SHE is still in charge, I think it'll be the 86 year-old Queen Elizabeth II -- IF she can safely pull it off.  If not, look for it to be Kate and William.  Many of the athlete names out there will probably carry the torch to the Royals in the stadium on Friday.
• Gold Medal Count Winner:  China.  US will be right there at the end, but, as usual, will drop the baton in at least one track relay in which they are favored to win.
• Total Medal Count Winner:  Gonna be a close one, but I think the USA will pull this out for another "split title", just like in Beijing.  Probably going to be a total-count similar to the 110-100 with China four years ago.
• That is, unless my next prediction comes true...  Biggest Scandal of the Games:  Barring an outright terrorist attack cancelling or postponing the Games (which I give about a coin-flip in volatile London), one of two things will come to light, in my opinion:  Either Michael Phelps will be found to be "dirty" or Usain Bolt will be found to be beyond human limits, and (in the latter case) we will finally have to visit the ethical realms of genetic engineering.  (FWIW, I think the "no tolerance" false-start policy was to try to neutralize Bolt.)
• Biggest Political Statement:  Might be opening night, Bob Costas.  And there's talk he might endanger his high-profile career in his challenge to the IOC and the planned moment of silence when the Israeli athletes enter the stadium.
• Over-under on number of medal-podium tantrums?  I'll say three. I do believe that "judging" will be a real problem in these Games.
• Over-under on the number of events delayed due to debacle?  We've already had one, so I'll put that at four.
• Over-under on the winning time for the 100m men?  If Bolt doesn't DQ on the blocks, 9.50.  If he does, 9.80 -- he's that much faster than everybody else.
• Medal for "Dream Team XX"?  Silver.  It's Gold if, like in Beijing, no team actually faces them as a team and plays defense.  I think Spain stuns the world here.