Sensitive and sensible.Perhaps the two don’t go together when those who follow sport want to offer their opinion on Bermudians competing overseas.It was that way towards the end of the Olympics.Patriotism is one thing, perspective another. There was plenty of the former and much less of the other.Despite comprehensive coverage of the London Games by Royal Gazette sports reporter Stephen Wright over the entire 15 days, it appears a single word raised the ire of those who commented on this newspaper’s website.Forget the fact that he went overboard to allow every athlete, every coach and every official the opportunity to give their viewpoint on a single or several events.That’s his job and we wouldn’t have it any other way.But in an analysis of Bermudians’ overall performance of the Games he used the word ‘satisfactory’. A heinous crime, according to the dozens who commented on the web.How dare he have the temerity to suggest our Olympians were nothing short of national heroes!The sensible would have understood his point. The sensitive clearly didn’t.Some might consider it fair comment, this writer included. Indeed it was a description the athletes might have used themselves.Long jumper Tyrone Smith went much further. He described his own showing as totally unsatisfactory.As immensely talented as both are, triathletes Flora Duffy and Tyler Butterfield might have concurred. Both experienced incidents out of their control, and it’s fair to say they weren’t satisfied with the repercussions.Equestrian Jill Terceira won’t have been satisfied by the fact she missed out on the final of the showjumping competition by a single point, nor long jumper Aranxta King who was denied a place in the final having leapt the same distance as the girl from Belarus. She was eliminated by the countback system.Of course, Wright’s report was an account of Bermuda’s performance as a whole. And he made much of the fact that many were unfortunate by the way events panned out.In his opinion it was ‘satisfactory’ but it wasn’t ‘spectacular’.Was it so outrageous that he be attacked with such poisonous invective by those too cowardly to reveal their names?The trouble with a few Bermudians is that they can never accept the negative whether it is self-imposed or dictated by outside forces.The vitriol spouted by those who posted their comments on the Gazette site was a classic case of the sensitivity of those who can’t take any form of criticism.They churn out the same old line. ‘We’re a small country, we can’t expect to compete with countries populated by thousands and thousands of people.’But isn’t that a given?We all realise the huge disadvantages Bermuda faces when competing overseas.We all know we’re punching very much above our weight.Yet it’s never conceded that we are still more fortunate from those athletes who reside in much bigger countries. Do we really believe that nations such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Haiti, Suriname and a bundle of Third World countries, have access to suitable facilities or are funded any more than Bermudians?For our size, what we achieve borders on the unbelievable.But that doesn’t mean that we’re immune to criticism.Like those in others countries, our athletes have to take their licks.They perform with pride. If they didn’t think they could compete on the international stage, they wouldn’t be there in the first place. And when they get there, they want to be as competitive as everyone else.An Olympic medal is not much more than a dream. And if that dream comes true it will be a day Bermuda will never forget.In Grenada, Kirani James won the 400 metres, his country’s first-ever Olympic medal, and their Premier declared a half-day national holiday.Maybe the day will come we’ll do likewise.While the policy of this newspaper allows readers to post their opinions either online or through the Letters to the Editor section without revealing their name, I’ve always been against those who choose to attack or berate others under the cloak of anonymity.Admittedly, in certain cases it may not not be possible for a varietyof reasons, much like a reporter unable to reveal his or her source.But for the majority that isn’t the case. They hide behind their pseudonyms.It’s the right of those who want the cover of nom de plumes but in my book most of them lack fortitude.They don’t have the courage of their convictions. In some cases they’re frightened of jeopardising job security or letting family or friends know how they stand on certain issues, wary of those who might think less of them.Most of those on the website are anxious to have their penny’s worth but aren’t prepared to say who they are.I admire the likes of Eva Hodgson and Pat Ferguson, regular contributors to Page Four of this newspaper, because they speak their mind regardless of who they might offend.I might not agree with their opinion but I salute their openness.Those who were so vehement in their abuse of reporter Wright might have taken exception to his overview, but they should respect his right to offer an opinion.* * * *At the end of the London Games, news agencies Associated Press and Reuters published their most ‘quotable quotes’ from the Olympics.But they failed to pick up this gem from Bermuda Premier Paula Cox:”This is my first Olympics as the Premier, however I am already thinking of ways to identify what more I can do from the position as Premier to give our athletes more support in preparation for Rio. (Sports) Minister Glenn Blakeney and I have had a lengthy discussion as to the possibilities and we will follow through. We recognise that greatness does not just happen overnight. There are building blocks that must be put in place.”So after a few days attending the Games, the first she’s ever attended, the penny finally dropped.Sports success comes only after the appropriate investment.Why weren’t the building blocks put in place years ago, before the recession hit?No, madam Premier, greatness does not just happen overnight.And it hasn’t in the last 20 years or more, neither under the governance of the PLP nor the UBP, because there’s been little financial assistance.Truth is that apart from fawning over cricket and football, Government have never deemed other sports worthy of consideration, and certainly not those represented in London.Sure there’ll be a lot of talk before the election but let’s see how the discussions develop before the next Games in Rio.My guess is they won’t develop at all.ADRIAN ROBSON