- Won't hate on the Olympics because some feel it's "cool" to hate on the Olympics. It's two weeks every four years, during a dead period of summer. It makes for great television. It features likeable young Americans who come from nowhere to become household names. And it provides Rowdy Gaines a temp job every four years, when he's probably in desperate need of one.
- A few years ago I wondered if there should be a permanent host city for the Games (maybe Athens for Summer, and Toronto for Winter, etc.), because of the horror stories about cities/nations going into massive debt and infrastructure issues trying to get ready for the Games. The only time I even really think about the host city is during the opening/closing ceremonies. But I also know what a huge job creator/financial windfall it is for these cities (Tokyo an exception, obviously), so maybe it all evens out.
- Unreal how good Mike Tirico is at hosting the Games. So smooth and effortless to bounce between different sports and interview subjects, without the implicit smugness of Costas. And it's been really fascinating to listen to Michael Phelps break down the swimming events. A lot of good insight there, he's a natural on the mic.
- HAVING SAID ALL THAT, I hope the women's soccer team loses every game.
- I've only been an Indians fan since living up there in the late 90's. I *get* why they needed to change the name (or, more specifically, the logo). But man....it should have been "Spiders". Period. They went the cheap route, and it's already costing them, PR-wise, and it's about to cost them, merch-wise.
- The CDC....lolz.
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