of the track, only to make clear sailing for the fifth and last skater, Australia's Steven Bradbury. With a startled grin spreading on his face, he sailed across the finish line to get the gold medal. After the shock of the awful crash, I had to laugh at Bradbury's totally unexpected joy.

It was hilarious. Every time I watched the tape of the event, which of course was played about 92 times, I laughed again. All of a sudden, speed wasn't the issue. As Bradbury said later, ''I was the only one still standing.'' There's a lot to be said for that.

Included in the chaos on the ice was the American, Apolo Anton Ohno, who was expected to win the gold and still may win three gold medals. Ohnowon the silver medal because he had the presence of mind to pull himself up and slither across the finish line like the physcally and mentally wounded skater he was.

Consider the controversy over the medal standings of the pairs skating competiton, which the Russians had dominated for nearly a decade. The Russian pair won the gold medal, even though the pair from Canada skated better. It was about that simple. The International Olympic Committee found that the French judge was pressured and influenced in favor of the Russians, she was kicked out, and the Canadian couple received the gold medal along with the Russians. I'm not convinced this was the right solution, but maybe it was a wake-up call for the judges.

I compare the mentality of the judges