COLUMN: Games provide fame for athletes

Andrew Ross, Nagano Diary They have me doing all kinds of stuff, from arranging for CBS anchor Jim Nantz to driving golf balls in front of a camera, to sending video tape of Japanese drum troops and curling to New York by satellite. Plus, I've even passed behind the camera once: my television debut. But, of course, the reason why everyone is here is because of the games. And one of the perks of being an employee for CBS is that we get great tickets to many of the events. In just the first day of the games, I sat in the front row at the 5000 meter men's speed skating final and in the fifth row at the Italy versus Slovakia men's hockey game. I feel like a kid in a candy store with all the events around me. Sunday, at the hockey game, I found myself wondering how in the world I ended up going to a match where the two teams both came from the Eastern Hemisphere, and neither one had a single NHL player. Actually, I would probably watch two guys spitting into a bucket competitively if I had a free ticket, but I'd like to believe that the other 8,000 or so people in attendance aren't as easily amused as I am. The majority of the fans at the game were Japanese. I have no recollection of ever hearing a word about hockey in Japan. As a matter of fact, I cannot remember the last time I heard talk about any of the Winter Olympic sports other than hockey and figure skating anywhere or anytime other than during the actual games. Yet during these two weeks, hundreds of no-names become names. Take, for instance, Gianni Romme, a swimming instructor from the Netherlands. Before breaking the 5000 meter speed skating world record by a whopping six seconds, Romme was just a swimming instructor from the Netherlands. Tomorrow, he may be able to sign six- or seven-figure endorsement contracts. Of course, not all of the success stories of these games culminate in endorsement deals and riches. Cammi Granato is the captain of the U.S. women's hockey team. Before these Olympic games, she was best known as the sister of NHL hockey player Tony Granato. Now, because she's captain of USA's first Olympic women's hockey team, I'm sure Tony is now known as her brother to all around her in Japan. Plus, when else can I watch a few ends of curling? The Winter Olympics is the time when a lot of people who have worked their whole lives toward a single dream are praised and rewarded, or forgotten in an instant. They have the world's stage and everyone admires them for being the best at their skill. In a time when NBA players are making almost $20 million a year and are found late at night in bars, drunk and throwing others out windows, it is refreshing to see everyone rooting for someone like a Dan Jansen, the former speed skater, who all of America rallied behind in Lillehammer as he skated to gold. Sitting at the "M-Wave," I watched the skaters' countrymen wave their flags and cheer until their throats were sore. Being out there and having hundreds or even thousands of Americans waving the red, white and blue as I speed around the track becomes a wish in my frenzied head. I would love to be interviewed on a television station back home and maybe even be a guest on the Letterman show. I'd say "hi" to my mom and dad and everyone else I could think of and then share a few laughs with Dave and maybe his mom. Winning gold wouldn't be necessary. I would just love to be there and compete. Everyone looks forward to having 30 seconds of fame in their lifetime. In these two weeks, there are a whole lot of 30 seconds. For the next two weeks I will go to as many events as I can -- probably every lunch and dinner break from work I have -- and I will cheer as loudly as I can. So many people have trained for so long. For most of them, this will be their only chance to shine. And if nothing else, the Olympics are much more exciting to watch than a spitting contest.