Leave it to the French to Add Drama

I was tired last night. So tired I was no longer enthusiastic about watching the Olympics. I even said, "I just want this relay to be over so I can go to sleep." That was before the race. After the 4x100 free style relay I was literally jumping up and down yelling. If you didn't watch the race, then you missed out. I'm still pretty pumped about it.

First, let me set the scene. The American B team relay set a new world record in the semi-final heat. The French however, also had their B team swim. Both teams wanted to let their best swimmers rest up for the final. The world record holding Frenchman, Alain Bernard, added to the intrigue by talking trash before hand. When asked what he thought about the American team, he commented, "The Americans? We are going to smash them. That's what we came here to do." I mean its ok to be cocky, but you better be ready to back up strong words like that. Especially when the US B team broke the world relay record. Even the announcers seemed convinced that there was no team that could possibly compete with the French. They were just too good.

So here's a quick recap. Phelps led off for the US and broke the American record and was just one hundredth of a second from the world record without having the best split in the pool, that honor went to Australia, who set the new 100 free world record. (The world record can only be set on the first leg of the race or in an individual event.) Then, the Weber-Gale swam a great second split keeping pace. Cullins then had the slowest split on the American team, a tenth of a second slower than Phelps. But that was enough for the French to take a commanding lead. By the time the anchors hit the water, Bernard had a good lead on Lezak, and coming off the turn into the final 50 meters Bernard had almost a full body length on Lezak. Lezak, a seasoned 32 year old athlete, said the momentarily gave up hope. But then he dismissed those thoughts and dug deep. Really deep. He started to muscle back. And all of a sudden the announcers that had written him off, saying he was swimming for silver, started to change their minds. Lezak gained and gained and at the end Lezak and Bernard were separated by just a finger tip. Lezak finished 8 hundredths of a second ahead with the fastest split in relay history, 46.06 seconds.

And the crowd went wild, his teammates went wild, my brother and I went wild, everyone I talked to today said they went wild. We're talking about a swimming relay race at 11:30 at night. And yet, most of the people I know were watching it and cheering. The American underdog team broke the world record by over 4 seconds. In fact, the top 4 teams all broke the world record set only the night before. Imagine breaking a world record and not even medaling. This is what makes the Olympics special, the vast majority of the time, no one cares about swimming. But last night, it brought us together. So many people were glued to the TV routing on a few swimmers most people had never heard of before. We watched an impossible comeback and we cheered. We were united. This race was truly what the Olympics are about.

Olympic Obsession

So, I'm not quite at the level of that girl in the AT&T commercial; but, I have realized that I'm pretty obsessed with the Olympics and Michael Phelps. Last night while walking to meet some friends out at the bar, I walked by a different bar and saw all eyes turned to the race on TV. Assuming that, it must be the 400 Individual Medley, Michael Phelps first final. Come on, there's no other reason that a bar full of guys is watching swimming. Oh, I love the Olympics. I dart into the bar, ask about the race, and my suspicions were correct. Someone asks the order of strokes. And I'm off on a tangent and commentary about the race, Phelps and swimming in general. Someone comments that I need to come and be their swimming announcer for the Olympics. Then the race is over, Phelps has dominated by finishing two and a half seconds in front of the silver medalist, and I'm out the door on my way to meet up with my friends somewhere else.

And then I realize, I'm a little obsessed. I just spent a few minutes explaining to strangers that Phelps has a longer wingspan than his height. That he's racing against one of his close friends and great swimmer in the 400 IM, that he has freakish ankles that help him kick better, and that his turn are where he gains his real advantage. And I did not for one second feel awkward or weird about it.

When I get to the next bar, my eyes are glued to the TV. I probably should have stayed home and just watched the Olympics since I'm that anti-social. With Mixed Martial Arts on the other TV, I am surprised when I'm not the only person watching swimming. Did I mention, I love the Olympics. When else is it possible to not only watch swimming on TV, but watch it at the bar. I am in heaven. My biggest problem is the lack of underwater camera use. I think the underwater camera should be used for more than just highlights at the end of the race.

Also, there's other random sports on in between swimming. When does anyone ever watch mens gymnastics? But all of a sudden its on and I'm watching. And I realize something else. While I'm sure that it takes a lot of strength and agility, but it just doesn't look that hard. And its kind of boring. Wow, you can hold onto some rings, I can see why no one really watches this sport. I'm sure its hard and all, but I'm sorry, its just not exciting and doesn't really look that cool. And somehow, I still watched it last night at the bar. That's what the Olympics is all about, getting excited about random competition between countries. And with the burgeoning US-China rivalry, this storyline is worth watching no matter the event.

Its Time to Start Getting Excited

The end of summer is generally a time of anticipation for sports fans. NFL training camps start up. College football is almost here and the preseason rankings and speculation come out. And the playoff race in baseball is heating up. But this year we sports fans have an extra treat. In just a few day the Olympics are going to begin.

Eight is a lucky number in China, so the Opening Ceremony will take place on 8/8/08 at 8:08 pm. Hmmm.....the number 8 is also significant to Americans this Olypmics. Or at least one American swimmer who is vying to win 8 gold medals in one games for the first time in history. Michael Phelps, in case you haven't heard, is the swimming prodigy for Maryland, who actually has a shot at doing this. He has freakishly long arms, with huge hands and feet. He's broken what seems like every possible world record and he just keeps getting better. And man, is he fun to watch swim. I'd check it out if I were you. In a concession to the Americans, the major swim races will be held in the morning so they can be broadcast live in prime time in the US. So you won't have to hear the announcer disclaim that this event is on a 12 hour time delay, which is sure to happen during pretty much every other telecast.

I love to watch swimming but the Summer Games are really just all around great. Track and field, gymnastics, I even find myself watching pieces of cycling during the Olympics. Most of the time I'll just flip through those other random sports, but something about competing on the world stage against not just other athletes but other countries is enthralling to me.

So while training camp is going on (and I plan on going soon) and people are talking about whether or not the recent arrests will effect UGA's chances as the number one ranked school for preseason college football, I will probably find myself watching Judo, or synchronized swimming. Not that I won't be keeping up with everything else going on. It'll just be on the back burner. I'll still know that the Ravens are injury plagued already, but still are only saying good things about Harbaurgh. Or that Maryland managed to get 4 points in the USA Today poll. But the Olympics only happen every 4 years. So right now I'll stick to watching the rhythmic gymnastics and the medal count. And hoping and dreaming that a 8 gold medals really is possible. It's going to be fun.