Another $0.02 opion on the subject:
 
There are three types of sports in the Olympics:
 
Sports that have professional leagues in the US (hockey, baseball, basketball)
or recognize professionals in the US (tennis).
 
Sports that have professional leagues in other countries (volleyball, soccer).
 
Sports that have no professional leagues (track & field).
 
For the sports that have no professional leagues, all countries can send
their best athletes because
there are no professionals.
 
The sports that have leagues in other countries create a problem because you
will see professionals from those countries playing US amatuers (the Italian
volleyball team had a team salary of $4,300,000).
 
The sports with professional leagues in the US cost the US the opportunity to
send its best athleates because they are "professionals"
 
If the olympics is for amatuers then so be it!  Define what an amatuer is and
enforce the rule for all countries.  If the olympics is for the best athletes
then allow professionals to play in all sports.
 
Eric
 
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Eric Maiwald                             maiwald at dockmaster.ncsc.mil
Booz, Allen & Hamilton                Go, Go, Go, You, Red, Red, Red!!!
McLean, VA                                                      RPI '87
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