Rock on ...

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Aug 17, 2004 | by Brad Rock Deseret Morning News

Business as usual

Much has been made this week of ancient Greek Olympians, who performed naked. How uncouth.

Many historians believe their actors did, too.

Maybe we haven't changed all that much.

Here it is, centuries later, and so do ours.

The far right

Speaking of nudity, there's this remark from Olympic swimmer Haley Cope, who posed for Playboy: "I'm a freak. I vote Republican, I worship Martha Stewart, and I don't mind being naked."

I'm sure George and Laura Bush will be happy to hear that.

Give me an 'n'

As long as we're on the subject of nudity, there's the University of Florida cheerleading squad, which attended a camp with T-shirts that read, "10 Reasons to Cheer Naked."

Let me guess: Because the ancient Greeks did?

Role reversal

Allen Iverson, following Puerto Rico's 19-point basketball win over Team USA: "They play the game the way it's supposed to be played."

Sorry I have to bring this up, but didn't it used to be the other way around?

Season of giving

Wrestler Rulon Gardner has asked Dremiel Byers -- whom he defeated to qualify for the Olympics -- to be his practice partner in Athens.

The incentive: If Gardner wins gold, he'll give his USOC and USA Wrestling paychecks -- a total of about $40,000 -- to Byers. If he finishes second or third, he'll split the reward money.

Talk about generosity. This from someone who, two weeks ago, was still trying to raise cash for family members to go to Athens.

Super size it

Gardner was in the Olympic press room last week, explaining that American wrestlers are better-conditioned "because a lot of European guys drink and smoke."

He then headed for McDonald's for burgers and fries.

"See, we're not in the (Athlete's) Village yet, and we're just dying for McDonald's," he told reporters.

Which brings up an interesting philosophical question: Which is less likely to get you a gold medal, a pack of cigarettes or a couple of Big Macs?

Say cheese

Good old T.O.

Always good for a quote.

Eagles receiver Terrell Owens made waves recently after venturing a guess as to the sexual orientation of former teammate Jeff Garcia, in Playboy magazine.

Asked if Garcia is gay, Owens replied, "Like my boy tells me: 'If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it is a rat.' "

And if it sounds like a rat, well, it might be Terrell Owens . . .

Outdoor 'tag

Greg Ostertag on the bond between he and new teammate Brad Miller: "I like to drive a truck, listen to my country music and go huntin' and fishin.' I think I'll get along real well with Brad. I can see us really going at it in practice every day, then going out and killing something to eat."

Great, 'Tag, but did you ever consider using some of that aggression on the court?

E-mail: rock@desnews.com