You had U.S. wrestler Rulon Gardner, who felled the mighty unbeaten Russian Alexander Karelin. From a sporting perspective, the Games were good, not great. No world records were set in track and field but a dozen were broken in the pool. We have not covered up any tests. Certainly a factor.
Kids are in school, football is under way.
Certainly a factor. In the past, you could avoid hearing results on TV and radio. The United States also desperately needs a rival, not that we're suggesting it find a new Cold War villain to replace the Soviet Union. There's another hidden factor, which no one wants to admit. Jones' story was big because it was fresh.