Been meaning to write this, and just now thought of it, about 10 minutes before kickoff here at the Rose Bowl.

Anyway, if you’re a decent athlete and the Olympics is your Mt. Everest … some free advice.

Forget about track or swimming, basketball or gymnastics, unless you are really, really good. Just too much competition out there, and a hiccup at the U.S. trials can mean you did all that work for nothing.

I think what you do is focus on the sports with only a fraction of the competition.

Judo. Rowing.  Fencing. Field hockey.

Rowing might be the easiest way in, because there are scads of events, when we include canoe and kayak, and it’s almost all about hard training. I’m not sure you have to be a great hand-eye person to make the women’s eight, you know? Just somebody willing to go through the pain and suffering of serious anaerobic exercise. That’s a choice you can make.

If you’re not big and strong, then think in terms of the marginal combat sports. That’s where judo and taekwondo come in. The competitive pool is really small, and your route to the top has far fewer people standing in your way.

How tough is taekwondo? Three members of the same family were among the four people who made the U.S. taekwondo team. Is that about a tremendously gifted family? I think it’s far more likely that they have access to good coaching, serious practice partners — and not much competition.

Might want to look into fencing, too. Lots of competitive levels (epee, saber, men and women), and it’s not as if you have to be a brute. Though you have to be quick. Just get some good coaching and get busy.

For women, there’s field hockey. Not played much of anywhere anymore. If your high school has a team, get out there and practice practice practice, and then go to school on the east coast at one of those handful of schools that field teams. If you’re a decent athlete and don’t mind getting hit on the shins a lot … you’ve got a shot.

Serving as a crew member in sailing is something to look into, as well.  Gotta be quick and fairly strong, but it’s not like making the track team in the men’s 100.

Perhaps the easiest way? The helmsman for the men’s or women’s eights. You not only don’t have to be big and strong. In fact, we would prefer you be small and scrawny, because that’s less dead weight for the oarsmen to be pushing along. All you have to do is shout, “Stroke!”

Anyway, this is doable.  It’s best if you’re young and a good athlete … but even if you’re 20-something … you still have a shot.

If you pick the right sport.