Dept. of Irony: Team USA, Sponsored by BP

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Teams receive no federal funding. I understand they need to raise money and can't be too choosy about the sources.

But ... the 2012 and 2016 U.S. teams are sponsored by BP? Really?

BP is already deploying team members to the Gulf Coast on public relations trips.

As Karen Dalton Beninato tweeted, "Hence this year's 50 Yard Oil Slide."

And Robert Loerzel tweeted, "New event: The Junk Shot."

Video: Veteran Olympic Journalist on the "Greyjing" Games

ESPN on the Most Polluted Olympics Ever

While China maintains the air quality in Beijing will be acceptable for the Summer Games in August, extensive environmental concerns persist. The New York Times reports, "Independent scientists who have sampled Beijing’s air have said levels of ozone and particulate matter from diesel engines remain five times as high as maximum standards set by the World Health Organization.

But a Beijing environmental official urged the reporter, "Just tell everybody they don't have to worry." OK? Everybody just calm down. China says there's nothing to worry about. (Of course, China also says this never happened.)

ESPN's "Outside the Lines" reported this week that concerns about poor performance in the polluted air are running so high, Olympic officials have taken the unusual step of informing athletes that the games are about the "spirit of competition," not breaking records.

Here's a snippet: