The 2026 Winter Olympics officially start today, which means it's time for your biennial reminder that without the Olympics, there would be no Booster Gold.

From Dan Jurgens' introduction to Booster Gold: The Big Fall:

While watching the 1984 Olympics, which took place in Los Angeles, I heard one of the announcers talk about the city as the perfect setting for athletes to display their skills and parlay their successes into massive endorsement deals. I was already toying around with notions of a character that might play in that type of arena, but suddenly, the more recognizable aspects of Booster began to take shape. Within a couple of days, those loose ideas galvanized into the concept of a time-traveler who'd come from the future to leverage his knowledge of the past and be a hero.

It's a good thing we don't give endorsement deals to second-place finishers because "Booster Silver" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Enjoy your Olympics, everybody.

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Watching the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, I'm seeing commercials with Olympic athletes who, according to disclaimers at the bottom of the screen, don't even use the products they're endorsing.

Why do I feel I've seen this all before?

Booster Gold #2 (1986)

In my "Secret Origin of Booster Gold" interview with Dan Jurgens, Booster's creator describes his inspiration this way:

Much of Booster was inspired by the '84 Olympics when I saw an athlete described as having an endorsement contract without ever having won a medal. Many of the BG ideas were already in place but that sort of galvanized it.

The years might roll by, but Booster Gold and the forces of commercial opportunism and social insecurity that drive him and his misadventures are as relevant as ever.

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Given Booster's reputation with the ladies, Booster Gold must have made up half the audience at that first performance of Romeo and Juliet.

Last week's poll question: How does Booster Gold impress a date on Valentine's Day? (38 votes)

DC is obviously having a hard time figuring out what to do with Booster Gold. Do you have any ideas that could help them out?

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I think "downhill" is the best way to summarize Booster's experiences in the New 52.

Last week's poll question: In which individual Winter Olympic event would Booster Gold most be most likely win a Gold Medal? (44 votes)

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and Valentine's Day is all about the romance. What's Booster's secret to winning the heart of his Valentine's Day date?

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Before the game this past Sunday, all the talking heads wanted to discuss Peyton Manning's legacy. Sure, Peyton had a bad game, but at least he wasn't gambling on the Seahawks. If Booster Gold can bounce back, I think there may be hope for this Peyton Manning guy.

Last week's poll question: If Booster Gold had become an NFL quarterback instead of a super hero, would he be better than Peyton Manning? (39 votes)

Two years ago, I asked which Olympic summer games event Booster Gold would be best in. Now that winter is here, I ask again.

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