Barbara Lynn Casey, High school science teacher, Kirkland

---

"Totally! Yes, I do. This is a great opportunity for people who have trained extensively for a sport to compete with the best -- because they are the best! Gymnastics is my favorite event because it requires a lot of agility and flexibility, and bodaciousness, to actually do a routine. And it's beautiful to watch."

Debbie Sergeant, Accountant assistant, Kirkland

---

"Somewhat. My kids are caught up in it so I get caught up in it. I like gymnastics -- it's so pretty. I enjoy watching the graceful movements. But I was definitely more into the basketball play-offs than I am the Olympics. Basketball is an adrenaline-high game. There's basketball in the Olympics, but it's not like rooting for your home team."

Chad Curdy, College student and personal trainer, Kirkland

---

"Not exactly, basically it's because of my time schedule -- I'm working a lot. But I make time for the weightlifting and the wrestling because they're related to what I do and to the sports I participated in in high school. And I like the sprints, because of the faster pace, the instant gratification -- unlike the marathon where you have to sit around and wait. I just wish I had more time to watch it all."

Terry Swaine, Computer systems consultant, Kirkland

---

"No. I've been turned off by the Olympics since 1972. I regard it as a display of national chauvinism. I think the Olympic spirit has become debased. It's become over-commercialized and over-politicized. I just won't watch the TV and, as far as the actual results go, I'll read whichever I'm interested in in the newspaper. The 1,500- and 5,000-meter races are my two favorites -- they used to be my events."

Karl Kooistra, High school senior, Kirkland

---

"No. I think the Olympics have been kind of over-commercialized this year. There are the 'Official Game Shows' -- Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy -- and there's probably even an 'Official Breakfast Cereal'. It turns me off. I get sick of hearing 'Official Sponsor of the Olympics'. But I'll still watch the events I'm interested in, like track-and-field and basketball -- I like watching the Dream Team play. And I like volleyball and swimming, too."

Andrew Bay, Financial advisor, Seattle

---

"Sure. I'll be watching rowing because I participated in rowing in high school and college. They are probably about 20 different medal races but they definitely don't get prime-time viewing... I'm Canadian and I'll be rooting for both the U.S. and Canadian teams."

Copyright © 1996 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

If you'd like to comment on this Q, you can e-mail JA Editorial Page Editor Craig Groshart by clicking here. Please be sure to include the following in your message:

Thanks for stopping by and reading "Today's Issue"!