Something in the Air

We Dixons have an Olympic history. Well, one particular Dixon anyway. My Dad's cousin Fred was a decathlete who made the team for the 1980 boycotted games, and then he competed in the 1984 LA games. It's our family's claim to fame.

So I always enjoy a good Olympic yarn and Something in the Air was right in line. In fact, as someone concerned with issues of race and justice, I doubly enjoyed it, as the main narrative of the book conflates the racial tensions of the late 1960's with the Mexico City Olympics of 1968. They are all there: Beamon's long jump record, the gloved fists of Smith and Carlos, the Fosbury flop, George Foreman before his grill and on and on.

The most interesting story of all? The tale of Puma v. Adidas. Did you know that the companies of Puma and Adidas trace their lineage to two brothers, brothers who once worked together in shoe-making bliss before descending into sibling hatred and rivalry? It's true. And in 1968, the battle was on in Mexico City, with each company sending agents, pallets full of new shoes and envelopes full of bribing money. The sordid underbellly of the Olympics.

All in all, Hoffer's a good storyteller (he ought to be, the brother teaches, or used to teach, writing at Harvard after all). Full marks for Something in the Air.