The back pages of the New York tabloids never disappoint - or, in some cases, the front pages. The covers of the Daily News this morning on Lindsey Jacobellis's stunt in the snowboard cross: "Fool's Gold'' on the front, "Slope Dope'' on the back.

A quick scan of the papers show reaction to be split pretty evenly between ranking this among the biggest goofs in sports history, and forgiving it because those snowboarders are pretty radical and freewheeling and put a big emphasis on flair and exuberance.

I can go along with the latter - as long as we get that same reaction the next time someone dances in the end zone, gazes at a home run or flexes and struts downcourt after a huge dunk. The funny thing is (and that's not being said sarcastically at all), no one can recall any of those exhortations actually costing a team the game, much less a championship.

So it might be just a matter of Lindsey getting her timing down: close the deal, then shake it like a Polaroid picture. T.O. and Barry and Shaq can give her lessons, and she should be ready to get it right four years from now.

Until then, she can head to the medals stand and receive her gold in Unfulfilled Hype, right next to Bode and Anton. They might have to make room for the Canadian men's hockey team the way it played against Switzerland (!) today, against the backup goalie, no less.