Look, I get the appeal of seeing the best of the best compete. I really do. Watching pros go head-to-head is exciting. But here's the thing — the Olympics were never meant to be just another pro league. They were supposed to be about something bigger.
I've been to Games in different countries, and what always struck me was the diversity. The carpenter from Kenya, the student from Brazil, the teacher from Japan. That's the Olympic spirit. Once you let pros in everywhere, you price out the amateur who trained in their backyard. You kill the underdog story. And you hand the medals to the richest countries with the best-funded sports systems.
The NBA players and NHL stars already dominate. Let's keep some events for the true amateurs. That's what makes the Olympics unique.
02:45 AM