Bud Greenspan on the Olympics

Greenspan's documentaries on the Olympics, "Tales of Hope and Glory," focusing on incredible athletic journeys by individuals, stories of success and "failure", are engaging and focused on what is best about the Olympics. This is sports at its best -- the individual discipline, focus, dedication. Very moving  series of films.

American football and basketball players look pretty spoiled compared to these athletes. No, it's not the jocks' fault. It's what the culture gets fed by the media and in turns decides what is important.

But the Greek Olympic ideal is alive and well in these stories! How can I care about the  current NBA finals with athletes like this in the world? American mainstream sports are turning into a corporate entertainment scam.

The Olympics offer the real thing.