01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, August 14, 2004

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH:

These should be the best of times for the Olympics.

The return to Athens.

The Olympics as a symbol of a new world, one full of peace and harmony.

The Olympics as the microcosm of a world where the biggest question is who can run the fastest 100.

It's not, of course. Instead, we have an Olympics that begins with the threat of terrorism, one that begins with a war in Iraq and a Middle East in turmoil. Instead, we have Greek fighter planes and NATO surveillance aircraft guarding the skies over Athens. Instead, the Greek security force supposedly numbers 70,000.

This is what the Olympics are supposed to be?

Makes you wonder if it's all worth it.

Gary Payton looked like Father Time trying to guard Tony Parker in last year's playoffs, so let's not get too carried away.

There's no truth to the rumor that the General Assembly formed a casino in the outfield during "Rhode Island Day" celebrations at Fenway Park Thursday afternoon.

Or that Buddy worked in the kitchen at Fenway instead of the kitchen at Fort Dix.

If there's a tougher job in sports than being the manager of the Red Sox it's eluding me.

The Bourne Supremacy is so bad Ben Affleck should be in it.

Unless you think endless car chases are the ultimate in film, Bunky.

One question to John Kerry: Manny Ortiz?

Kind of reminds you of Ted Kennedy's "Mike McGwire and Sammy Sooser" of a few years back, right?

Can't understand why Ricky Williams walked away from the NFL at 27? How many people do you know would go to work tomorrow if they were given millions of dollars in the prime of their lives?

When they turn on reality TV I'm out of the room.

Lost in the shuffle of the trade for Payton is the fact that the Celtics dumped Marcus Banks, Danny Ainge's first draft pick, the so-called point guard of the future.

Even if it was apparent early on last year that Banks was a long way away from being an NBA point guard.

If Pedro keeps pitching like this he can go home to the Dominican between starts, right?

Edward Wright, who wrote a wonderful little mystery novel set in '40's L.A called Clea's Moon, is back with another, While I Disappear.

The Dolphins are a car crash.

And Dave Wannstedt has a target on his back.

When did a salary become a "compensation package?"

And Kevin Millar became just another jock brat? Cowboy up? Yeah, right.

There's no truth to the rumor that Buddy wants his decision on his appeal to go to mail ballots.

Or that Sox third-base coach Dale Sveum did his best to make Rocco Baldelli look good on "Rhode Island Day" in Fenway.

Or that Jim Baron will come back with a shortstop when the Rams return from their summer trip to the Dominican Republic.

Four NFL exhibition games are two too many.

Seems to me that Kobe just won the biggest game of his career.

And if this were baseball, Carcieri would be the Yankees and the Narragansetts would be the Red Sox.

Want to know what it takes to be great? The day after winning her second straight state amateur women's golf title, 19-year-old Anna Grzebien was lifting weights at the YMCA in Wakefield.

Casey Fossum is 2-11, with an E.R.A. of over seven, just in case you miss him.

Manny Ortiz?

Rick Fox has about as much chance of playing for the Celtics this year as Marvin Barnes does.

Memo to Kellen Winslow Jr.: it's one thing when others call you "The Chosen One." It's another when you do it yourself. Can anyone say boorish?

Oops, Dale Sveum just sent someone else home.

Say what you want about Manny, but they didn't make two of him.

You know we're in The Twilight Zone, Bunky, when Adonal Foyle has a new contract for roughly enough money to feed a Third World country. Adonal Foyle?

Remember when tattoos were for sailors? Now every other suburban high school girl seems to have one. Who said things get better?

Bronson Arroyo is better than most people expected him to be.

Dave Gavitt is doing some consulting work for Boston University, as the Terriers, with a new gym opening in January, are planning their basketball future.

Did you see where Jeff Suppan is 10-6 with the Cardinals? How come we can't get pitchers like that?

The Manchurian Candidate isn't as good as the 1962 original, but compared with much of the swill in the theaters this summer it's Gone With The Wind.

It didn't take long for the Mavericks to grow disenchanted with 'Twoine, now did it?

The Sox would be better with a healthy Scott Williamson.

But how can you really be a believer until they start to play better out of Fenway Park?

There's no truth to the rumor that Buddy's appeal failed because his job as a greeter at the new casino has apparently fallen through.