We know the history how in Ancient Greece
athletes and warriors from the city states came together for competition. What was
nice it that it called for a truce in wars during the games. Great idea.
That is the hope of the Olympic Games, the
give a time of respite from wars and politics to be about human endeavor,
dedication and endurance. It still works for some. For example gold medalist Wilfred
Bungei called for his fellow Kenyans to use the London Olympics to reduce ethic
tension and increase unity in his country. We know what he means when a
national anthem is sung or played when the contestants receive their medals;
national pride swells.
I’m not sure the reporters of the Olympics
get this, they tend to focus on the negatives that take place rather than the
positives, but then that the way news sells today. Scandal: U.S. uniforms made
in China; wild living in the Olympic village; Romney sticks foot in mouth over
security…
For 15 days the world will compete, but at
the same time unity is being produced and the human spirit is fanned.
- - - - -
Now to the more absurd; a
psychological pondering on how dogs might do if allowed to compete in the
Olympics against humans. We obviously have to omit those games that require an
opposable thumb; but there are games where they might compete. How about races
including greyhounds? Their huge lungs enable them to run up to 45 mph for a 20
meter race. It could even beat a cheetah at that distance. Results: 100 meter
race could be done by a greyhound in 5.02 seconds; humans lag at a high of 9.58
seconds. In a 200 meter race Usain Bolt (current record holder) would be beaten
by a greyhound going at 10.35 seconds to his 19.19 seconds. Michael Johnson
record 400 meter 43.18 seconds would be demolished by super dog at 21.10
seconds. Even at 800 meters dog beats human 1 minute 50 seconds to 43.18
seconds. Skipping a few we get to the 10,000 meter race where record holder
Kenensia Bekele is trounced by his 26 minutes 18 second by the greyhounds 13
minutes 9 seconds. For the marathon dogs might have to switch to the Siberian
Huskies.
But never fear fellow human
beings, we would likely dominate field events.
Well in the long jump (comparing the dogs dock jump) human best 29 feet
14 inches, Malinois dog named Vhoebe did 31 feet 5 inches. Close.
Stanley Coren, PhD clearly
is into dogs. His books: Born to Bark, The Modern Dog, Why Do Dogs Have
Wet Noses? The Pawprints of History, How Dogs Think, How To Speak Dog, Why We
Love the Dogs We Do, What Do Dogs Know? The Intelligence of Dogs, Why Does My
Dog Act That Way? Understanding Dogs for Dummies, Sleep Thieves, The
Left-hander Syndrome
He's messing with our human heads.
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