Keller @ Large: A Plan For Both Sides In Boston 2024 Olympics Fight

BOSTON (CBS) - I've been feeling a bit down about all the bad blood over this Boston Olympics thing. Even for those of us who've been a little skeptical of the whole scheme from day one, it is sad something once synonomous with peace is instead the exact opposite.

But instead of crying about it, let's do something about it.

I think I've figured out a way to make both Athens and Sparta feel much better, about themselves and each other.

My plan is simple. All that's needed is for both sides to get what they want.

Critics of Boston 2024 say there is no way we can scrape up enough private money to meet all the fancy specifications laid down by the Olympic bureaucracy, and instead huge amounts of public money could be siphoned away from the 10,000 or so higher public priorities.

They are absolutely right.

The brass at Boston 2024 has always claimed they are in this to stage an affordable event through a process that provides real benefit to the community whether or not we get the games.

This is a laudable goal.

So I suggest Boston 2024 take up their critics' blueprint, figure out how much they can raise privately, and make the IOC a take-it-or-leave-it offer.

One of the world's great cities is showing you a path to survival, where you value the event's history and setting over more lavish perks from some other place. This is what you've claimed to stand for; now's your chance to quiet the skeptics by putting your kleptomania on hold.

If they cave, we win.

If they don't, we win.

Seems like a win-win to me.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.