So much for the spirit of the Olympics

Any semblance of the Olympics as a national team competition has been dashed by the Torino games. Shani Davis wins the 1,000-meter speedskating event after forgoing his leg in a USA team pursuit race to preserve his energy for the individual racing. Without him, the USA foursome didn't medal. Skater Chad Hedrick said Davis' absence deprived the USA - and Hedrick - of a medal. The animosity between Hedrick and Davis is so thick you'd wonder whether they are on the same team. Are these games for individual or team glory?

Then there was ice dancing, which produced strange national allegiances. The female silver-medalist became a U.S. citizen late last year after special congressional legislation to make her a citizen. The female of the Azerbaijan team is a Californian who has never visited that former Soviet republic, but was granted quick citizenship to continue skating with a native. Strangely, they help provide a New Jersey angle. She and her partner train in Montclair, as do the gold-medal winning pair, who ostensibly are from Russia. Or is it the USA? What a farce!