Open Mic: Summer Olympics. Does Anyone Really Care?

It's that time again. When people wake up at all hours of the night or wait to hear on the morning news what has already happened that day.

It's time for the Summer Olympics. This time it's in China, where human rights are no longer worried about and where the overpopulation has overtaken the country.

So do people actually care about the USA or their respected home country in this year's games? I'd say people in other countries really do care, but here in the US, we could really care less. We do, however, care about our local or state-wide sports team who's most recent win doesn't change a generation or lives forever. The win just gives you joy until the next game when you will chew them up and spit them out when they disappoint you.

But should you care about the Olympics? Yes.

These games should mean something to you as an American. These games are the true meaning of sports. They are generally done by amateur, legitimate (not drug infested) athletes who do it for the love of the sport and the love of the country.

Yeah sure there's the few bad eggs (normally in Track & Field) who do cheat or the "Dream Team" who are NBA players who should roll over any countries respective teams. But for the most part these athletes are "true" athletes.

This year's games are again in a place where we can't watch the event live, unless we stay up all night to watch. And really who is going to stay up till 4:00 a.m. to watch the prelims of Equestrian riding or Belgium vs. France in basketball?

However, I do believe that you should support your country, American or not in all their events. Pull for the gold and long to hear your home national anthem.

But what is the best event? Or what event do you want to win gold in so badly?

Personally, my favorite event is the diving. I always like sports where I could never do in my wildest dreams. I couldn't imagine standing up there on a stone platform 10 meters over the water, jump out and do some crazy flip and twist and land perfectly perpendicular with the water to where not to splash and where the water when hit from that height and speed feels like landing on the pavement. It's so cool to watch.

Honestly, I don't know of any real great divers, that's another reason why the Olympics are so cool. You never hear about these athletes until the next games come. Did you actually follow the Paul Hamm broken hand, torn shoulder story until a week ago when he dropped out? No. You only know the big names.

I am a very cut and dry person. I like actual answers like math and science. But when it comes to the Olympics, I really enjoy the judged sports like diving and gymnastics. It really gives everyone a true shot at making it and winning. Who would have ever thought that little Paul Hamm would have won the all-around Gold in Athens? That's why those types of sports appeal to me more.

When it comes to basketball in the Olympics, I really have a tough time watching. Yeah sure it's cool to see LeBron dunk on some small Italian guard, but there isn't the flare and flash like the NBA has. Maybe there is true winners in the Olympics though, and not fixed games like in the NBA (but that's another article).

So all and all I really think the Olympics are must see television and people here in the United States should pay a little more attention to our countries events and really root them for the Gold this year. It's our one and only true national sports.