1.   The big fellow was Jim Thorpe,the greatest American athlete of modern times.

2.   American athletes sometimes think they have pressure placed on them.

3.   American athletes and fans seldom saw Kratochvilova compete.

4.   American athletes are learning from the Kenyans now.

5.   American athletes go as far as you can without crossing the line.

6.   American athletes shone at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, beating Russia and China in the overall medal count.

7.   American networks broadcasting to American viewers are always going to focus on American athletes.

8.   And earlier, eight American athletes had carried the tattered flag from the World Trade Center for the national anthem.

9.   And how are we supposed to become interested in the top American athletes when the network devotes so little coverage to the trials?

10.   And the unforgettable performances hardly were limited to American athletes.