Post cards from 2004

Washington, April 3: The 14-year-old Freddy Adu comes in as a substitute, raising speculation that this is a publicity gimmick. Talented and mature, Adu will help D.C. United win the Major League Soccer title seven months later

Liege Belgium, July 3: Like the Beatles or the Stones on tour, Lance Armstrong draws a huge crowd around his team van as he turns in a strong time trial in the prologue to the Tour de France

Waterloo Belgium, July 4: After a soggy day at the Tour, I watch on TV as Greece wins the European soccer championship over host Portugal, a huge upset. Is this a harbinger that Greece will pull off a successful Summer Games?

Besancon France, July 24: Armstrong goes last and aces the time trial to clinch his sixth straight title, a record

Athens, Aug 2: My wife and I nudge each other and whisper, 8216;8216;Look where we are.8217;8217; It is midnight and we are watching an open-air movie in Italian under a full golden moon, directly below the Parthenon

Athens, Aug 14: As the baking sun eases off, Michael Phelps wins the first of the six gold medals, for a total of eight, he will win at these Games

Ancient Olympia, Aug 18: Exactly as they did 2,000 years ago, people sit on the hillside and watch Olympic athletes compete on the hot, dusty floor of the hot, dusty bowl. We all feel humbled

Athens, Aug 20: The 8216;old ladies8217; of American soccer barely hold off young and talented Brazil, 2-1, for a gold medal, the last time the old-timers will be together

Athens, Aug 23: Paul Hamm grittily wins a silver medal in the high bar, despite the international gymnastic federation8217;s brazen attempt to guilt-trip him into surrendering his previous all-around gold, after they botched the scoring

Flushing Meadows, Sept 11: On this poignant date, Svetlana Kuznetsova beats Elena Dementieva, both of Russia, in the U.S. Open tennis final, after which both thoughtful young women make a plea for an end to violence in their stricken country, in the US and everywhere

Flushing Meadows, Sept 12: In a victory for classic tennis style, Roger Federer wins the men8217;s title

Boston, Oct 16: Reviled as scandalously liberal by red-state America, historic and beautiful Boston is jammed with tourists. Gloom in Fenway as the Sox go three games down to the Yanks. But Johnny Damon stands in front of his locker and calmly says, 8216;8216;Unless I8217;m mistaken, we8217;ve won four straight before.8217;8217;

Bronx, Oct 20: The Sox do indeed win their fourth straight, taking a big lead and toppling their ancient foes to win the pennant

New York, December: Leaked transcripts implicate Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi even further in the BALCO scandal. Marion Jones is tarnished, too. A reminder that athletes are the cutting edge of our pharmaceutical society

And on that cynical note, may I change hats and wish everybody a happy new year.

The New York Times