Overlooking Rio de Janeiro is an iconic, 98-foot tall mountaintop statue of Christ, his arms spread wide.
The host city of the Summer Games needs divine intervention to salvage this long-running global event that has clearly jumped the shark like your favorite TV series.
The Rio mess is another exhibit in why the Olympics has outlived its purpose and usefulness.
There are threats of virus-carrying mosquitoes, high-powered pollution and runaway sewage. Don't drink the water _ seriously. Or swim in it or row in it, either, lest you turn into "The Creature from the Black Lagoon."
Human body parts washed ashore near a beach volleyball venue. It all sounds like something out of a ghastly horror movie.
Is Stephen King lighting the torch?
Then there's the very real concern of a worldwide predator: ISIS. After the senseless violence and death in Orlando and most recently, Nice, France, you wonder if Brazil can protect athletes and fans on this sprawling international stage.
Rio is having enough trouble combating crime in its streets. Some athletes had property stolen from their hotel rooms after they had been evacuated by a fire alarm. Visitors were met at the Rio airport by police who couldn't guarantee their safety, brandishing a sign that read, "Welcome to Hell."
So hold your breath _ and your nose _ for the next couple of weeks.
You can understand why some athletes decided not to go to Rio.
Golden State star Steph Curry was as much worried about being bitten by a Zika-carrying mosquito as he was being carried off by one. Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy passed. You couldn't blame Spieth and McIIroy if they couldn't have stopped giggling through their backswings about the thought of golf, like horse dancing, actually being an Olympic sport.
Opening Ceremonies are set for Friday.
Let the Games begin.
But here's an idea for the U.S. to consider: Let the Games end.
With apologies to every noble, hard-working athlete from Simone Biles to Michael Phelps to the Unknown Synchronized Swimmer ... do we really need the Olympics anymore?
We don't need the Games in their current state, that's for certain.
Would you really miss it, with NFL training camps now open?
I'm as patriotic as the next guy or gal, but the Olympics just don't seem relevant anymore _ even with a four-year build-up. I've covered my share of Summer and Winter Olympics, and there's nothing better than watching the heart-tugging dreams come true for our amateur athletes (not the pros ... sorry, NBA stars).
But the thrill of competition and the triumph of the human spirit _ the original Olympic mission statement, however corny _ have been long lost, buried by corruption and scandal.
This just in: Another Russian athlete has been sent home from Rio for doping _ the one that grew a third bicep _ joining the entire track and field team. Even the East Germans and Barry Bonds reportedly were in awe.
Sure, previous Olympics have had their problems and recovered to stage memorable events. Only now, as Rio reminds us, the Games are increasingly becoming more trouble than their worth _ and grow costlier every time.
Few Olympics ever make financial sense for the host cities. When the Games leave these towns, they are then stuck with arenas and stadiums that turn into expensive white elephants.
The time has come for the United States to take a stand and stop participating in this big-time scam under these conditions _ winter or summer.
All sports evolve, but the Olympics seem stuck in a time warp, repeating the same mistakes.
The good ol' USA has the clout to demand change from the top to the bottom. Weed out the usual suspects. Bring in some bright minds with new ideas. Downsize or streamline these massive, unruly five-ring circuses _ whatever it takes.
Now that would fit the definition of going for the gold, for heaven's sake.
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