Feb. 22, 1980: Americans 4, Soviets 3.

Enjoy.

​Gil LeBreton's Feb. 28 column in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was 1,235 words. Not a one of them was "Nazi" or "Hitler" or "effyouhosers."

Why then did seemingly the entire country of Canada show up with fire and pitchforks, demanding an apology if not a lynching of LeBreton for his clever - albeit controversial - analogy comparing the superfluous spirit and unbridled jingoism of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Games to Berlin 1936? Because the whole world has grown over-sensitive, wholly oblivious to common sense yet simultaneously in detailed tune with the smallest speck of political incorrectness.

Honestly, I'm offended that we're so easily offended.

In short, Gil's column said Canada didn't exactly welcome the world. The Olympic spirit was somehow lost amidst all the maple leafs. Fair enough. Having covered 15 Olympics, he oughta know.

By all accounts the Vancouver Games were a disaster (dead luger, no snow, Opening Ceremonies malfunctions, etc.). So when Canadians partied in the streets and called theirs the greatest Olympics ever, LeBreton took - that's right - offense. I read his column the Sunday it came out. Insightful, I thought. My takeaway was that Canada's hockey triumph and chauvinistic propaganda diluted a supposedly world event. No biggie, but I got his point.

Others didn't see it the same.

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I was playing catch on a lazy Friday afternoon, warming up for a chilly practice as a sophomore second baseman on Duncanville High School's baseball team when our coach came running out of the field house:

"We did it! We beat the Russians!!"

Was an upset last night when the U.S. beat Canada, 5-3, eh? But hardly a miracle.

So where were you 30 years ago today - Feb. 22, 1980 - when the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team pulled off what many experts still consider the greatest upset in sports history?

I remember not knowing a dang thing about hockey - some things never change - but rushing home that night to watch U.S.A. 4, U.S.S.R. 3 from Lake Placid, N.Y. on tape delay. It was amazing. Couple weeks before the Russians had dominated the same American team something like, 10-4.

When ABC's Al Michaels capped the shocker with "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!", you would have thought it captured the gold medal. It was just a semifinal, but the Americans beat Finland over the weekend to take tournament.

Other than the Dallas Blackhawks and Fort Worth Texans dropping the gloves at Fair Park Coliseum now and then, hockey was basically a rumor around these parts back then. But the only time I can remember being as shocked at a sporting event outcome was in 1990 when Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson.

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​If you don't want to see the fatal luge accident of 21-year-old Republic of Georgia Olympic athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili during a training run in Vancouver last week, don't click here.

I watched it. Not for morbid entertainment, of course, but for education. As in, what went wrong?

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​Look, I took time Friday afternoon to build a snowman and go sled-bounding down a hill. Done with winter.

<Checks watch.> How long 'til Spring Break?

I actually turned on the TV Sunday afternoon to see which was more boring: The Winter Olympics or Daytona 500. Auto racing was on hold because of a pothole and NBC's Olympics were actually showing Biathlon - dudes cross-country skiing for miles and every once in a while stopping to shoot a rifle.

Who does this?

Hockey. Curling. Figure skating. Meh. It all seems so pointless after a party-filled NBA weekend that sets the table for the 30-game run to the playoffs.

But if you insist I squak about the Winter Olympics, here's my preview ...

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​Was chatting up Michael Johnson the other day about the relative impact of the looming Super Bowl XLV in comparison to what he's seen happen to Olympic cities. Economic impact, enduring legacies, improved infastructures and whatnot.

Johnson, a five-time gold medalist and Dallas' most decorated Olympian, had two interesting points.

1. Dallas, once and for all, can prove to the world it's not Dallas.

2. Dallas, in theory, is capable of some day hosting an Olympics.

He's serious, on both accounts.

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Toldja Michael Phelps wasn't perfect.

Well, didn't I? Actually, I warned that he was overrated. But still.

In other news, Richie Whitt = Jeff Spicoli as well. 

As usual, I didn’t make time to watch the Olympics last night. But I heard we have another “home-grown” golden girl.

What Carly Patterson did for Allen, Nastia Liukin will apparently do for Parker.

Which prompts two responses on this gloriously "chilly" Friday:

*You go, girl.

*Where the hell is Parker? Oh, there it is. -- Richie Whitt

I know, I know. But hear me out.

Michael Phelps, the U.S. Olympic golden boy, isn’t overrated athletically. He’s amazing, of course. In Beijing he’s 5-for-5. As in gold medals and world records. We’re all impressed down here on Earth. Inspired even.

Best swimmer ever? Fine. Most decorated U.S. Olympian ever? Non-negotiable. But best Olympian ever? Hold your equestrian horses.

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Got into a teensy tiny debate last night/this morning over the Olympics.

My friend – like NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol – says there’s nothing like wrapping yourself in the flag and rooting for try-hard athletes who make proud, passionate sacrifices to represent their country. She gets all goose-bumpy and inspired watching the Olympics, the purest sports left on our planet.

I – like Mavs’ owner Mark Cuban -- say the event has deteriorated into nothing more than a giant transparent business, neatly packaged and crammed down our throats as patriotism. I get nauseated at NBC and corporate sponsors like McDonald’s incessantly dictating to us who the “heroes” are, then marketing and exploiting them for profit.

So, what do you say? -- Richie Whitt