Olympics are Over... Is the World Cup Here Yet?

Today were the closing ceremonies of the Olympics in London. For one more time, people from all over the world witnessed an over budgeted stage play that is highly overrated and not worth anyone's time. Then after watching Avatar simultaneously they watched the closing ceremonies.

This Olympiad has had some found memories and events that will be remembered forever. We've seen the last of Michael Phelps with him taking a bit more gold on the way out of the pool. We've seen a Flying Squirrel named Gabby Douglas as she won the Gold in the All Around in Gymnastics. Usain Bolt proved to the world he was the best sprinter around, now and forever. We've seen the Queen jump out of an airplane for no apparent reason except to promote the next 007 film entitled Skyfall premiering in London October 26, 2012.

As for what I take most out of this... USA WON THE MOST MEDALS AND GOLD. USA, USA, USA!!! 46 gold medals and 104 total medals. SUCK IT, CHINA!!! A good showing by the host nation of Great Britain who managed the third most Gold Medals with 29 and 4th most in overall medals with 65. It was important that they turn out a fine Olympic performance and they did just that.

Now the Olympics close with the next site being Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Don't skip over them, London. I know we all want to get a tan in Rio but we have to go through freezing Russia first.

P.S. Only 667 days, 17 hours until the World Cup.

Bolt Wins 6th Career Gold in WR Fashion

What else be can be said about Usain Bolt?

The sprinter last night proved again why he and the Jamaican squad are the fastest at this Olympiad. The 4 x 100 M final featured the Jamaican team with Bolt positioned as the Anchor leg in the race. What was also fun to see was the US team competing alongside them in the final. They really impressed me with their performance and they might've won that race... if Bolt wasn't there and still "might've." It was basically neck and neck when the last leg came around with Usain Bolt vs. Ryan Bailey. No contest. Bolt broke away and won the race (and gold) for Jamaica and help set a new World Record in the event with a time of 36.84.

Did we even have to hold the race? Yes, there's always a chance of Jamaica losing, someone tripping, or Charlie Sheen being rehired for "Two and a Half Men." But at the end of the day the fastest man on Earth is not going to blow it in a final. Maybe the team trials for first place but nowhere else.

Bolt leaves this Olympiad with 3 gold medals and a total of 6 career gold. He swept the same three events he swept in Beijing. He's is no doubt the greatest sprinter of all time and could hold that title forever considering the rate sprinters go through their prime. He has reigned the track supreme these last two Olympics and we will never forget the performances he ran. I hope he doesn't stop running but if he doesn't come back, may he find something else to dominant in.

P.S. Not futbol, though. That Man U dream has to die.

Bolts Wins 200 M and Ashton Eaton Wins Decathlon

Usain Bolt earned a place in track and field history by winning the 100 M for the 2nd time in his career. Yesterday Bolt cemented his name further in Olympic history as did one other athlete.

The other event that Bolt was good at was the 200 M. He ran the semifinal the day before and he looked like he was training. Of course running alongside him for the final was his rival Yohan Blake. Got to make it interesting at least. It didn't make any difference. Bolt still won the race with a 19.32 while Blake came in 2nd with a 19.44. Another Jamaican came in third to claim silver named Warren Weir. Bottom line: Usain Bolt is the only man to get 2 golds in each of the 100 M and 200 M.

Meanwhile, arguably the biggest collective event at the Olympics was happening with the Decathlon taking ten events and being graded on all of them. Events like the 100 M, the Pole Vault, courting a Kardashian (that's the toughest FYI). The man who came through it all was Ashton Eaton from the USA. Eaton finished with 8,869 points while 2nd place (also an American) scored 198 less. He seemed like he had it sealed by the last event.

An amazing day in the Olympics as two athletes grab headlines... along with the over covered win of the US Women's Soccer team over Japan for the Gold Medal (WORLD CUP OR NOTHING, OK!!!) Probably a bigger day for Bolt historically but respect has to be given to Eaton for going through all those grueling events. The Decathlon in the Olympics is likely the most prestigious event to win and he won it.

Congrats to both Bolt and Eaton. They are Kings of the track for this Olympiad.

P.S. Is Bruce Jenner still competing? Someone tell him it's over, please.

Third Gold for May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings

The last two Olympics in Beach Volleyball have been all about two American Athletes: Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings. They won the last two gold medals in this event and were looking for a third straight to finish their career together. Their Gold medal match was yesterday and they went up against another American Duo, Jennifer Kessy and April Ross. The match was simple and it went the way of Misty and Kerri. They won it in two sets 21-16, 21-16 and won Gold for the third straight time.

Congrats to these storied Olympians for cementing their place as the best team in Women's Beach Volleyball history. 3 Gold Medals is unheard of in this sport, especially when you factor in that they never lost in the Olympics and only dropped one set ever in Olympic history (this Olympiad). It's a pity all careers have to come to an end but this was certainly such a ending to remember. Way to finish on top.

Andy Murray Wins Gold for Great Britain

About a month ago, Andy Murray failed to win Wimbeldon as Roger Federer claimed his 17th Grand Slam title. It was the 4th final that Murray had lost and this one most likely hurt the most considering it was Wimbledon. Murray, however, would get some redemption.

The Olympics have tennis (duh) and Andy Murray wasn't going to let Great Britain down. He managed to play his way to the final where he was set up to play (well, what do you know) Roger Federer. Now Federer was looking to complete the Career Golden Slam in this final which would be the cherry on top of the icing on the cake the size of the Alps. Andy Murray, however, was ready to take the cherry away. Murray was strong from the beginning and just didn't give the Fed a chance. Murray won the match 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 and takes the Gold Medal in tennis.

Murray does get a win on the Olympic stage and does it for Great Britain. It's wonderful to get a gold medal in any event, even in Tennis. It's ironic he won it on the same court he lost on less than a month ago. Would he have liked to have won Wimbledon? Sure he would have. But to me there is nothing like getting a gold medal and to be able to look back at your life and say that I was a gold medal Olympian... Nah, still not better than a Grand Slam title. I tried, Murray.

Usain Bolt: Still the Fastest Man Alive

Last night in London was perhaps the biggest single event in the Olympics: the 100 M dash. The event that basically decides who is fastest once again had an interesting final. Usain Bolt was there and among the other finalists was his main threat, upstart, and training partner, Yohan Blake. In fact, Blake was the World Champion of the event going in and had been a thorn in Usain's side for a while now. It seemed that he finally got the thorn out. Usain Bolt set an Olympic record on the way to a win and a gold medal as he ran a 9.63. Bolt claims gold becoming only the 2nd man to claim gold in the 100 m with the other being Carl Lewis.

If there was a movie role for the part of Flash of the Justice League, you would still have to favor Usain Bolt for the part. Bolt's throne was being contested and he stepped up to defend it well. Yohan Blake did finish 2nd so he's considered the 2nd fastest in the world. Bronze went to Justin Gatlin of the US. Still, the island of Jamaica has to feel on top as they still have Usain Bolt as the fastest man along with another Jamaican next to him. That nation has to be very proud of those two.

Congrats to Usain Bolt on still being he fastest man in the world. Can you spare some speed for the 49ers?

Phelps Takes Gold in Last Career Olympic Event

As the 1st week of the Olympics comes to a close, so does the magnificent career of Michael Phelps. He just finished his last individual event a day before with a gold and now looked to finish his Olympic Career in the 4 X 100 M Medley Relay with his teammates. The team around him was Matt Grevers, Brendan Hansen and Nathan Adrian and Phelps ran the third with his Butterfly stroke he swims so well. The US were in 2nd at the time but they were in first when Phelps was done with his leg. Nathan Adrian then entered the water and secured the lead for the Americans for good. The US take gold by almost two seconds leaving Japan with Silver and Australia with Bronze. Michael Phelps gets his 18th gold and 22nd overall medal in his last Olympic Event ever.

The swimmer with the golden stroke goes out with a win and atop of the podium. Phelps has had no regrets (apparently) during his Olympic career and how could anyone with all those medals. It's just hard to believe that the ride is over so quickly. It seemed like just yesterday he was winning golds at Sydney in '04... and then I was hearing about his achievements for the first time in '08 (I wasn't that aware at the time, okay). The point is that one of the greatest individual athletic careers is over and I feel like it was very brief. Perhaps that's the nature of the Olympics: barely comes around and then gone before you know it.

Congrats to Michael Phelps on a magnificent career. I wish him a great life after swimming and hopes he finds something he loves doing... provided that he doesn't take after his idol, Michael Jordan (the original Favre).

Douglas Takes Gold in Women's All-Around

A couple days ago, the US women's gymnastics team won gold for the first time in the event since 1996. On that team was Gabby Douglas, a 16 year old African American who was standing on top of the world with 4 others from her country. Last night she stood alone at the top.

The Women's All Around in Gymnastics was last night in London which is supposedly Gymnastic's biggest prize. It had been won by an American the last two times and Gabby sought to be the third. She went through the Vault, the Uneven Bars, the Beam, and then lastly was the Floor. After a fine performance, Gabby waited for the others to go to see if she would take the gold. All that remained was Victoria Komova of Russia. After what looked like a great Floor Performace, the whole stadium waited for her score to see who to crown. Both her and Gabby looked on to see that Komova had just come up short. Though her score was better than Gabby's on the floor, she came up short overall with a 61.973 while Gabby got a 62.232 overall. Gabby Douglas, known as "The Flying Squirrel," flies away with gold in the Women's All-Around.

First, congratulations to Gabby Douglas on winning the Gold. It's truly a dream come true for her and any gymnast. She actually tweeted about it writing "WOW such an AMAZING experience! Thank you all for your support, love and prayers love you all!!! #oncloud9 <3." While I am happy that her dream came true, I couldn't help but feel sorrow for Komova. Gymnastics is one of those sports where you don't have a very long time in your prime and to simply get into the Olympics is a combination of skills and age. You train and work so hard for the biggest moment in your life (at a young age, mind you) I can't help but feel sorry for anyone when they fall just short of getting gold. It's just one of the toughest things to imagine.

Then from a different perspective, someone has to always lose and it wasn't Gabby. Way to go on the win. Smile for the Wheaties Box.

Phelps More Decorated than the Queen

With the Olympics here, there have been many stories to follow that no one can keep up with. One that everyone in the world can keep up with is Michael Phelps. He is chasing the all time medal record of 18. He already secured a silver from the 4 x 100 M Freestyle relay and yesterday he participated in two events to help him get past the record. He first had to settle for Silver in the 200 M Butterfly and then went into to help team USA in the 4 x 200 M freestyle relay. He actually didn't seem to do much in that event, comparatively. He went last and but by the time his turn came around, team USA had a huge lead that Phelps couldn't lose. US take the gold in the event and Phelps takes his 19th medal in his Olympic Career officially becoming the single most decorated Olympian.

While Phelps on an individual level hasn't been his best, he still gets medals and still gets a gold. With 19 total medals and a 15th Gold Medal (Most Gold All Time), the critics will now praise Phelps as the greatest Olympian who ever competed. While I will say he is one of the best, I'm not sure he is the best ever. He's definitely the most decorated and he will certainly have more chances at medals in this Olympiad, but it's swimming... that's it. It's one sport that gives someone the opportunity to win many medals. By the number of events you have to do, the Decathlon is the greatest Olympic sport and it's champion the greatest. OK, the medal carries more weight that any swimming medal at the very least.

My point is valid, though. Michael Phelps is without a doubt the best swimmer of all time but that doesn't necessarily make him the greatest Olympian of all time.

Lochte (Not Phelps) gets First Gold for USA

The first day of the Olympic Games is over and China seems to have an early lead in both gold with 4 and total medals with 6. Meanwhile, the US watched poolside to see Michael Phelps go back into the water. Along with him was his arch rival, Ryan Lochte. Lochte had been showing Phelps up as of late and decided to do it again in the 400 m Individual Medley. Lochte managed to win the event and take gold while Phelps didn't even place finishing 4th. Thiago Pereira of Brazil took Silver and Kosuke Hagino took Bronze for Japan. This was the first event that Phelps was in and didn't take a medal since Sydney in 2000.

A sign of decline for Michael Phelps as Lochte does it again, this time in London. Sure, Phelps will have a few more shots at some medals but this 4th place finish cannot be a good sign of things to come for the 14 time gold medal winner. Lochte's training and determination pays off for himself as he becomes the USA's first gold medal winner of these 2012 games. Perhaps he will become the most popular US athlete by the time the Olympics in London conclude. Then football will return and no one will remember his name. Good for him to be on top.

THE OLYMPICS ARE HERE, GET YOUR GUNS!!!

The Summer Olympics are back and London plays host for the games this time around. Hey, I was shock to hear about it as well. Of course the games had their opening ceremony last night for the whole world to see... at their prerecorded pace outside of that timezone. I still hate the non-live factor of the whole thing. Yeah, Kobe and LeBron are waiving at us from 8 hours ago.

Anyway, I didn't really watch the opening ceremony nor did I really want to see it (if it was available via internet). I watched a bit of the country introductions; saw the US and Great Britain get introduced. That's about it. I wasn't interested in a over bloated opening ceremony. It's about the games and the athletes from all over the world. That's it. Sweet and simple.

I sit here now and I now listening to the National Anthem of the People's Republic of China. They just won gold in a Air Rifle shooting event. The first one of the Games. How did we lose this event? We are all about guns in the USA and it's a shame that we lost to China who can't even... huh? Oh, it's "Women's" Air Rifle Shooting? Still should've won.

Congrats to China for taking the first Gold and Bronze, for that matter. Yi Siling is the first Gold Medalist of the 2012 Olympic Games. That's a true honor for anybody.

P.S. What a second? How is shooting a sport divided between the sexes? IT'S SHOOTING GUNS, DOESN'T GET MORE EQUAL THAN THAT!!!

P.P.S. HOW SHOOTING GUNS A SPORT?!?!?!

Federer and Serena Win at Wimbledon

The last fortnight in England have been all about Wimbledon and more remarkable tennis. The finals in each gender category were over the last couple of days and it was a couple of repeat champions reigning supreme. The women's side had Serena Williams beating Agnieszka Radwańska 6–1, 5–7, 6–2. This gives Serena here fifth title at Wimbeldon and 14 Grand Slams overall. The Men's final featured Roger Federer facing Andy Murray of Scotland with all of the UK behind Andy Murray. The support didn't seem to help. Federer shows life still in his 30's with a win 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–4. This was Federer's 7th title at Wimbeldon (record tying) and his 17th overall Grand Slam title.

A nice couple of finals over the weekend considering that a couple of 30 year old's prove they can still compete with the twenty somethings. These two prove that greatness is not just with the youth. The amazing thing was that neither one of these winners have won a Grand Slam since 2010. The more significant victory goes to Federer as he extends that Grand Slam record he has among the guys by another notch. Hey, the way he played he might extend it again later this Summer and possibly still as the #1 ranked.

No time for either champion to rest, however, or London for that matter. They all have another fortnight to prepare for.