Notes from the Newsroom

"50 Strippers and a pound of blow"

It's doubtful Robin Williams will be invited to carry the torch for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.  The actor/comedian proved Brazilians aren't as laid back as the tourist brochures would lead us to believe. 

Appearing on the "Late Show with David Letterman" Williams speculated Rio won the right to host the 2016 Games because it sent "50 strippers and a pound of blow" to compete with Chicago's entourage that included President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey.  The comments have been played and replayed on Brazilian television.

Rio's Olympic Committee responded by saying its lawyers are reviewing whether they can take legal action against Williams.

"America's Mayor" goes to Brazil for Olympics

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is going to try to work his crime fighting magic on one of the most violent cities in the world: Rio de Janeiro.  The government of Brazil is hiring Giuliani's consulting firm to give security advice in the build-up to the 2016 Summer Olympics.

As Mayor from 1994 to 2002, Giuliani oversaw a dramatic drop in crime in the Big Apple by focusing on so-called "quality of life" issues such as broken windows, vandalism, and graffiti.  He earned a reputation for zealousness by also targeting jaywalkers and horn honkers.  In Rio, Giuliani is expected to offer advice on cleaning-up massive slums, diffusing a gang and drug war and bringing down a murder rate that tops 5,000 killings per year.

There's also a theory that Giuliani's willingness to take on such a high-profile project may mean he has decided against running for New York Governor or the US Senate.