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.

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).

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.