Last C all Metro-Detroit's Premiere Guide to Restaurants, Caterers and Specialty Shops Olympic Thoughts I hope someone took lots of pictures of Iranian flag-bearer Arash Miresmaeili during the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics in HARRY Athens. KIRS BAUM With the exception of photographing his Columnist weigh-in on Sunday morning, those are the only official photographs that could have been taken of the reigning judo champion. Miresmaeili purposely failed to make weight in the under-66 kg (145- pound) division because, if he quali- fied, he would have been forced to compete against an Israeli, Udi Vaks. "Even though I trained for months, and even though I am in good shape, I refused to compete against the Israeli opponent in order to express my sym- pathy with the suffering of the occu- pied Palestinian people, and the occu- pied Iraqi people," he said, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. "I do not regret my decision." Iran has forbidden any contact with Israeli citizens since the Islamic revo- lution began 25 years ago. As of press time, the International Judo Federation is still deciding on what sanctions, if any, should be meted out to Iran. Miresmaeili still might be awarded the $115,000 offered by the Iranian Olympic Committee to any gold medal winner. He might use the money in search of just one Israeli occupier of Iraq. Iranian President Mohammed Khatami was positively giddy with the news. "The move by the world judo champion in protest to the massacre of the Palestinian people by the Zionist regime will be recorded in the history of Iranian glories," he said, according to IRNA. Vaks felt bad for Miresmaeili. "I know that it was not up to him, because this decision was made for him," he told the Jerusalem Post. 'As a sportsman to another sportsman, I understand him." Harry Kirsbaum's e-mail address is hkirsbaum@thejewishnews.com Ironically, Vaks was defeated in the second round by Algerian Amax Meridja — a Muslim. I understand that politics will never be separated from the Olympics, but I'll never understand how a country can send a team, then refuse to com- pete against another team for any rea- son. If Israel is such a menace, why doesn't Iran just boycott the Olympics? The Dreaming Team The United State's basketball "more- like-a-nightmare-than-a-dream" team took a drubbing against Puerto Rico on Sunday, losing in a first-round bas- ketball game, 92-73, sending the crowd onto a frenzy, and sending poor Coach Larry Brown into depression. "I'm humiliated," said Brown. "I had a job to do as a coach, to get us to understand how we're supposed to play as a team and act as a team, and I don't think we did that." Most of the star NBA players reject- ed the offer to join the U.S. Olympic team, leaving Coach Brown with a roster of 12 highly paid, extremely young individuals with no concept of teamwork." The team might still take the gold medal (they only have to finish in fourth place in their six-team group to make the quarter-finals), but it could all be so much easier. Why not allow an entire NBA team to enter the Olympics? Since the NBA is a league filled with the best players in the world, one can also assume that the worst NBA team could probably beat any other team in the world. Why can't the U.S. Olympic Committee offer the job to an NBA team — start with the championship team, then work down? The 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons and the second-place Los Angeles Lakers would probably pass because their season lasted the longest, but it might be an incentive to some other NBA team. What better way could there be for a team on the way up to get some early practice and a great chance of bringing home a gold medal? The international game is different, but even a lousy NBA team, whose teammates already play together, shouldn't have a problem adjusting. ❑ " Lebanese Garden Healthy Middle Eastern Cuisine 43259 Woodward Ave Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 (Just N. of Square Lake — west side) Dine- ► n, Carry-Out, Catering, Meeting Area 248.253.9300 safes unlimited No need for a safety deposit box! Keep your valuables safely stored, right at home, with no monthly fee. M. 1,8 Wall Safes Floor Safes Jewelry Safes 248-738-1500 3375 Orchard Lake Rd., North of Pontiac Trail Keego Harbor Bloom• REGISTERED ELECTROLOGISTS Come and let us remove your unwanted hair problem and improve your appearance. Near 12 Mile Rd. between Evergreen & Southfield Ask for Debby at 248.559.1969 (Appointment Only) NEED TO GET ORGANIZED? Hire a professional vial specializing In: Helping You! STAR TRAX EVENT PRODUCTIONS The Greatest Interactive Entertainment in the Country is in your Back Yard! 248.263.6300 • Home & Office Organizing • Time Management • Clutter Control • Downsizing • Packrats • Moving JULIE SIKORA Metro Tasks L.L.0 (248) 324-9700 3. Fax (248) 553-6920 MEMBER OF www.metrotasks.com nap° Bonded • Insured • References u•on Re uest S 8/20 2004 69