Some thoughts while I watch the Olympics.

-    Michael Phelps: I think PTI has a point when they say that maybe we could wait until the guy actually wins all the medals before we say that he’s “the greatest Olympian of all time!!!!!” or whatever. On the other hand, NBC got me to pay attention, so I guess they’re doing something right.
-    Women’s Gymnastics: first of all, the US team is adorable. I want to go back to high school and ask them to the prom so they can laugh in my face and turn me down. Second, it has to suck big time to get to the Olympics and get injured, like Samantha Peszek. She’s young so maybe she’ll get another chance, but maybe not. She does seem to be smiling, cheering on her teammates, and being very adult about it all, unlike Jeremy Shockey, who pouted and demanded a trade after the Giants won the Super Bowl without him. Third, how exactly are these girls – and most of them are girls, although some are older than I thought, like Alicia Sacramone, age 20 – so incredibly focused and poised? Forget about the obvious, like athletic ability. No way could I have competed in anything on this scale at that age. If you’ve been doing it your whole life, maybe that helps. It’s impressive to see. Oh, and gymnastics? Looks hard.
-    Overall: what exactly do they do when they all finish? Chellsie Memmel, age 20, has decided that this is “the last thing that she does in gymnastics.” So, what next? Chuck E. Cheese? What’s it like to go get a normal job after competing in the Olympics? Unlike Shockey, nobody at the Olympics is making big money. Maybe there’s some endorsement cash, but nothing like what professional athletes get.

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