Is it really asking too much of our U.S. media outlets to give our athletes who are representing our country in the Olympics just a little bit of a break? 

Was it really too much to delay reporting an athlete’s parents have a home in foreclosure until he or she has finished competing? 

Was it really necessary to headline a 16-year old silver medal gymnast's sit-down on the home page rather than showcase them on the podium?

Was it really too much to delay headline stories addressing the ridicule of her hairdo until a16-year old gold medal gymnast had finished competing? 

Was it really necessary to launch a frontal attack on the Serena Williams Compton-dance before this gold medalist completed her doubles competition?

And if this muck just had to be reported immediately, did it have to be on the top of the cover page? 

It’s not as if these folks have failed the drug testing or cheated—they have done nothing other than spend their lives preparing to represent our country at the Olympics.  

I’m not suggesting limiting freedom of press or speech.  I am suggesting using a little compassion in judgments regarding what is headline news and the urgency of reporting the information. These folks are representing the United States in the most prestigious sports competition in the world--they are not enemy forces.