A quartet of Olympic cyclists arriving in China from the United States has apologized for showing up at the Beijing airport wearing smog masks.

Why? I don't mean why wear the masks -- it's obvious that China grades its air pollution on the curve, and what's considered passing there is passing-out quality here.

I mean, why apologize at all? The air IS terrible. If they're going to apologize, issue one of those grudging apologies like this: "I am sorry that your air is so crappy that I have to wear a mask.''

President George Bush is reported to be planning to speak out about his ``deep concern'' about China's human rights before he too heads to the Olympics. As he steps off Air Force One in Bejing, maybe he should be wearing his own smog mask, if only as a sign of solidarity with this country's athletes.

If China doesn't yank his visa, too.