Dwight Stones was the best high jumper in America during the 1970s but he was never at his best in Olympic competition. He was expected to take a gold medal in 1972 in Munich, but he could manage only a bronze. The Montreal games in 1976 were his last chance at the Olympic record books. But Stones let his tongue beat him. The Canadians were sensitive about accommodations in Montreal, and with good cause. The various Olympic venues cost them $1.5 billion and revenues were not nearly high enough to cover the cost. When the games began, the roof on the stadium where track and field events were held was not finished, and if it rained, the field got wet. So when Stones, now a world record holder in the high jump, complained that his performance might be affected should it rain, matters were bad enough. But...