Published June 30, 2010

Jenny Thompson in better times (AP)

BROOKLINE (not BROOKLYN), Mass. — Olympic swimmer and Dover, N.H.’s own Jenny Thompson, winner of multiple gold medals, was attacked on her Vespa on Monday night. Police say the thugs tried to steal her bike!

According to a police report, “two [men] got out of the car and Thompson said to them ‘Did you know your headlights are out?'”

One of the men then said to her “your lights are out” and punched her in the face. (WBZ)

A Brookline resident and proud scooter rider myself, I have never been so afraid to ride anywhere as in the Boston area. (And I have done so in both Southern California and Naples, Italy.) In other places, people smile at you. Here, they try to kill you.

The WBUR newsroom is right on the Brookline border, and my green Buddy is parked out front. I hope.