A Great Start

The Olympics got off to a great start this weekend. I knew I loved watching them, I just forgot how intense it can be. And it is so hard to pull myself away from them.

The highlights this weekend:



USA over China
"The Redeem Team" put it on against China in the opener. When Yao Ming started the game with a three, I was worried. But once everything settled down in the second quarter, the USA took control and lead the way, finishing with a 31 point victory. Not the hardest team ever, but the home team nonetheless. Starting out on the right foot.


Men's 4X100 Relay

After the third leg, I turned and walked away, seeing as the US team was behind the world-record holding Frenchman by a half second. Nevermind that three teams were ahead of the world record by four full seconds. But when Jason Leezak made his historic comeback and won the race by .08 seconds....WOW!!! Absolutely unbelievalbe and what the Olympics are about, what competitive sports are about. It was absolutely shocking!

"By a fingertip, Michael Phelps is still on course for eight gold medals. He can thank Jason Lezak for getting him No. 2. The oldest man on the U.S. swimming team pulled off one of the great comebacks in Olympic history Monday morning, lunging to the wall just ahead of France's Alain Bernard in a race so fast it actually erased two world records. Wow!



Few sporting events live up the hype -- this one exceeded it. The 32-year-old Lezak was nearly a body length behind the massive Bernard, who not only holds the 100 free record but also announced his relay team would "smash" the Americans, as they made the final turn, but the American hugged the lane rope, drafting off the Frenchman and stunningly overtaking him on the very last stroke."



So Michael Phelps has his two hardest events out of the way (especially since the 4x100 was only 1/4 his doing), both world-records and gold medals. He may just be able to do it - the unimaginable eight golds in a single games. Here's to hoping.



Update: Watch the race here - http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0811_HD_SWB_HL_L0194

Neat Map

Check out this very cool interactive map of All-Time Medal Counts for the Olympics. I love things like this. From the New York Times.

Olympic Medal Counts Over the Years.

The Redeem Team

Here's the 2008 Olympic schedule for Team USA.

Sunday, August 10 - 10:15am. USA v. China

Tuesday, August 12 - 8:00am. USA v. Angola

Thursday, August 14 - 8:00am. USA v. Greece

Saturday, August 16 - 10:15am. USA v. Spain

Monday, August 18 - 8:00am. USA v. Germany

Wednesday, August 20 - Quarterfinals TBD

Friday, August 22 - Semifinals TBD

Sunday, August 24 - Finals TBD

Excitement Abounds

Most of my days revolve around thinking about Jack. More later, but there are other things that've gotten me excited as of late.

1. All Things NPR

• Best Shows: "Wait, Wait" , "This American Life", "All Things Considered", "All Songs Considered", and the recently discovered "Live Concerts from All Songs Considered" (podcast editions of the last two). The amazing thing to me is that that the later two actually talk about music (meaningful music that isn't Nickelback) in a very interesting way (or there's this site for a meaningful way). And the live concerts - fugedaboutit. They are amazing. And free. And amazing.

2. Impending Football

• The Colts went to training camp today. And fantasy football talk is beginning to rear its nicotine-like head. A buzz I'd rather not wait for. Although, to complain for but a moment, it's absolutely absurd that the Patriots (who are evil, and who went 18-0 last year) have, literally, statistically the easiest schedule in the NFL. A world gone wrong.
  

3. Olympic Buildup

• Just two weeks away. Watching the trials got me excited. Listening to the Olympic Fanfare and other related music (thank you John Williams) is exciting. I not-so-secretly hope that Jack is born on 8/7 so that I'll be home with him during the bulk of the Games. Here's to hoping.

4. New Music

• Along with the Free Samplers with my Paste magazine, recent ablums include: Sara Groves, William F. Gibbs, Micah Dalton, Rufus Wainwright.

And, if you read this blog, there's a decent chance you'll care when Stacey and I head to the hospital in the next month or so. If you'd like to stay up to date and keep tabs: Baby Bouse Blog.