WHEN Anne Donovan, the youngest of eight children from New Jersey, gathered with the U.S. women's basketball team for their first practice this week, she was continuing a proud Irish American tradition at the Olympics which has endured for a century now.Donovan is the head coach of the team. She has just under two weeks to prepare for the Beijing Olympics, which kick off August 8.But if not for an infamous but often forgotten moment in Olympic history - at the center of which was a New York runner whose parents came from Tipperary - there may not be any Olympic Games to follow.Exactly 100 years ago, Johnny Hayes was awarded the marathon gold medal, following a race which saved the modern Olympics, in the minds of many.For her part, of course, Donovan must focus on the future rather than the past. She is looking to beat the host China team as well as a tough Australian squad. Her brothers and sisters will be in China cheering her on.Not that Donovan, who attended Paramus Catholic High School, needs to prove much more in the realm of pro basketball. She is already in the Basketball Hall of Fame.She won a national championship playing for Old Dominion University, and was eventually named the top player in the nation.She began playing for the U.S. Olympics team in 1980 and won gold medals in 1984 and 1988. When she won the 2004 WNBA title, she was the first female coach to do so.Still, Donovan might never have had a chance to be an Olympics trailblazer if not for Hayes, who knew a thing about blazing trails.Given their ancient heritage, it's easy to forget that there are still people on this earth who were born before the modern Olympic games became a reality. (True, that person would have to clock in at an impressive 112 years old.)Either way, the 1908 Olympics opened on a very poor note. Twelve years earlier, Baron Pierre de Coubertin concluded his famous quest to resurrect the Olympics, and staged the first modern games in Athens.But the games never caught on with the public. Worse, the 1908 games were slated to open in Rome. However, Mount Vesuvius erupted and the games had to be shifted to London. This turned out to be a blessing. Olympic officials built the first stadium ever constructed solely for the Games. This created a more fan-friendly atmosphere. Meanwhile, one of the most anticipated events was the epic Olympic marathon run, scheduled for over 25 miles. (The first such race was held at the Athens Games, and started at a town called Marathon.)The long distance run took place on July 24. It began at Windsor Castle. As many as 75,000 fans filled the Olympic stadium, where the marathon finish line was located.Italian runner Dorando Pietri had the lead entering the stadium, but he collapsed near the finish line - only to be assisted by sympathetic Olympic officials.Then, U.S. runner Johnny Hayes, son of immigrants from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, entered the stadium. No one was helping him.Inexplicably, the fans in the stadium got caught up in the drama of the Italian's stumbling finish. U.S. officials, however, argued that there is no way Pietri should be awarded the gold medal for finishing with help.Hayes was declared the winner. It would be over 60 years before another American won marathon gold.Believe it or not, Pietri went on to become a fan favorite. Isn't it interesting that the stereotypes of both Americans (fiercely self-reliant and independent) and Europeans (so what if the guy needed two people to carry him across the finish line?) are supported by this outcome?Still, Hayes made out well. He and Pietri toured the world competing following the 1908 games. The subsequent attention, and belief that drama could happen at any Olympics event, turned the Olympics into a popular spectacle.So, Irish American Olympics stars such as Anne Donovan - not to mention soccer player Brian McBride, as well as 1980 hockey icons Jack O'Callahan and Jim Craig (whose goalie mask was adorned with shamrocks) - may never had have a chance to shine if not for Johnny Hayes and the 1908 Olympics.(Contact Tom at [email protected])