Our columnist believes the medals the U.S. team earned in Mexico had a lot to do with a new feeling of unity.

My wife Beezie Madden and I have just returned from Guadalajara, and as I reflect back on the week at the Pan American Games, I think I am most pleased with our team spirit. Team spirit is such an intangible thing and hard to create or define, but I think the net effect shows clearly in our team’s results.