The Olympics

Tomorrow the XXI Winter Olympiad begins in Vancouver! To me the Olympics are truly a highlight of the sports landscape. Not only do you get to see the finest athletes in the world compete on a single stage, but they do so for the love of their sport, and most importantly for the love of their country. Many athletes that have won multiple team and individual championships along with multiple individual accolades, claim that an Olympic gold medal is the greatest accomplishment of their athletic career. Take for example the 1992 US men's basketball team. This team was a who's who, of basketball with many of the members first ballot hall of famers. They blew the competition away but they were all so proud to wear that USA jersey, carry the American flag, and stand on the gold medal podium while listening to the national anthem. What an experience! Moments like that are why I love the olympics.

For example two years ago at the summer olympics in Beijing, I vividly remember watching Michael Phelps win a race by .01 seconds and me standing and yelling like a maniac at the TV. I remember watching Jason Lezak lead the US team to a stunning come from behind victory in the 4x100 relay. I remember staying up into the wee hours of the morning as Misty May and Kerri Walsh won gold. I remember Usain Bolt setting records in the 100m and 200m that may never be broken. These are just a few of the moments that vividly stick in my mind. It's exciting to pull for all my fellow country men and women to succeed on this international stage and watch the tears roll down their face as they have the US flag draped around them and the national anthem plays. It is also exciting to see the underdogs do well, or at least hear their story, i.e. the Jamaican bobsled team.

So the following is what I am looking forward to watching the next 2 weeks in Vancouver.

1. The opening and closing ceremonies.

These are always spectacular ceremonies with fire works and shows and all the other amenities to spice up the ceremony, which are all well and good. However I love watching the athletes file into the stadium dressed in the colors of their homeland. Especially the one athlete who gets to carry his country's flag, what an honor! Also it's fascinating to watch the smaller countries that may only have 1 or 2 athletes competing, and you get to hear their story, as they are truly the pride of their nation.

2. Ski Jumping.

This sport is truly fascinating to me as these skiers fly down the ramp and jump hundreds of feet and then sticking a landing. This must take incredible concentration and a lot of guts too.

3. Curling.

I'm sure many of you are familiar with this "sport" since it's inception in the olympics a few years ago. Maybe I like it because I think it is the only winter olympic sport I could ever do myself, but also I love the strategy of it. How each team places their stones to either score points or block their opponents. I still don't understand how the sweeping works but it is exciting.

4. Speed Skating.

Watching the long track skating is where I first grew to enjoy the sport, as I watched Dan Jansen and Bonnie Blair, icons of the 80's and 90's, win gold medals. Even today Shani Davis is a medal favorite in several events. However once short-track was invented, it added a whole other dimension to speed skating. It is truly chaos as the skaters battle for position in lap after lap around the oval. Plus there are always some spectacular crashes and multiple tight finishes. Also if things go as expected Apollo Anton Ohno will be the new record holder for most winter olympic medals by an American.

5. Lindsey Vonn.

America's most accomplished downhill skier, will be competing (hopefully) in all 5 downhill skiing events. She does have an injury that could prevent her from participating in some of them, but she is favored in at least 2 of the races. A couple of medals could make her the USA's greatest women's skier ever. And no I'm not looking forward to watching her merely because she was in SI's swimsuit issue this year! I just heard about that on SportsCenter.

6. Snowboard Cross and Ski Cross.

These new sports are tremendously exciting to watch, as skiers and snowboarders race not against the clock but against each other. They are going so fast through moguls, jumps, turns, etc. that a crash is just waiting to happen. I don't really understand skiing or snowboarding, but I do understand that the first one to cross the finish line wins, and that is exciting!

7. Luge, Bobsled, and Skeleton.

Watching racers climb in a sled and go flying down a sheet of ice as they race against the clock, is a blast to watch. Particularly the Skeleton where racers lie on their stomachs, face forward, about 6 inches off the ice at speeds of up to 70 mph. It is just insane, but so awesome to watch.

8. The unknown stars.

In every olympics there becomes a breakout star that no one expected, and their stories are fascinating to hear. Who knows who it will be this year, maybe an american biathlete winning the first medal ever in the sport, or the men's hockey team pulling out another "miracle" and winning gold over the favored, host Canadians, or a medalist from an African athlete (I don't believe that has ever occurred at a winter olympics), or perhaps someone we have never heard of but in 2 weeks will be a household name forever.

I hope that each of you will have the opportunity to watch some of the XXI Winter Olympiad over the next 2 weeks, as you can tell it is truly one of my favorite sporting events ever, and even though the Summer Olympics are typically much more popular because the athletes are more well known and the sports are ones that we have grown up playing and watching. However I believe that if you watch this olympics you will truly grow to love and enjoy them just as much!