The news has just been posted on the internet: FLASH: S. WANSIRU OF KENYA WINS MEN'S MARATHON GOLD MEDAL AT BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES AT 2:06:32

It is 10:00 PM (EDT) in Cortland, New York.  I have just spent the last three hours watching NBC's coverage of the men's marathon, traditionally the last event of the Olympic Games.  It's been 35 years since I ran my last competitive marathon, but I still get excited (and nervous) when I can watch this great test of endurance.  This time, I will know the Olympic course route. The race will cover ground I walked on two weeks ago.

This is going to be a difficult race.  At the start, it is already 76 degrees and the humidity is over 50%.  Even worse, it is sunny.  As the race progresses I am impressed that NBC has somehow managed to keep Bob Costas unseen and unheard.  The race is actually being called by competent announcers who respect all the athletes, thus their description is remarkably free of the painfully obvious jingoism of the previous 14 days.

What is surpising (and sad) is how few people are lined up along the marathon course.  The Chinese fans are supportive of all the athletes, but this event deserves more.  As Wansiru enters the secure area near the Bird's Nest, the cameras show just how few people are on the Olympic Green and the stadium is only half full.

As Wansiru runs the last few meters before entering the stadium, my eye catches one incredibly ridiculous American at the fence separating the athletes from the others.  This young man, in his YALE t-shirt and sun glasses, is jumping up and down pointing to himself, preening for the camera.  Wansiru, who is only 21, actually gives this foolish tourist a look of disdain.  The moment is gone in a flash. I will remember it forever.

The marathon, in spite of the modern commodified sporting envrionment, always seems to rise above it all and state simply the creed of all legitimiate athletics: "It's not the triumph, but the struggle."  But this moment last only a heartbeat.  After all, the closing ceremony is only 12 hours away and the Olympians have to be pushed aside for the staging and the lighting and marking for China's (and the IOC's) next opportunity for self promotion and advertisement.  There are bills to be paid, ratings to be achieved, target audiences to be reached.

It will all be over in less than a day.

Sadly, "no one" will watch that next great Olympic Festival, the Paralympics, starting a week from now in the same venues. Here in the United States we will have moved on . . . the baseball season is winding down and, even more importanty, we are READY for some football.