Michael Phelps Breaking Records and Making Americans Love the Olympics

I would say I am a typical American sports fan. I love football—that is, the American kind—baseball, and table tennis, but over the last week, Michael Phelps forced me and most Americans to care about swimming.

Can it really be a sport if you have to wait 30 minutes after eating (something Americans do well)? Plus, I just don't get the showering after you get out of the pool, I mean, you are already wet...well, except for the ladies doing it, but that's a whole other topic.

But at last Michael Phelps has watered my taste buds. He has captured hearts and the heart of the world over with his dominance over these games. We all thought the Chinese politics were going to tarnish these Olympics, but I can safely say Michael Phelps is on the tongues of most Americans—we care about swimming!

I literally watch most of his swims (not all—sorry, I have a job) and I would find myself scrabbling to find the remote to see him completely dominate in the water. He did it in such a dramatic way!!

I know what you are thinking—Michael Phelps is one man. Just a side note—the Baltimore Ravens had a scrimmage the day Phelps went for the record and pretty much everyone stayed after the game to see him race, it was his hometown. 

Ok, you are saying Americans care about swimming, hooray, the Olympics are over then, no Americans are tuning into them now. But Michael Phelps has brought out our patriotism.  I actually heard people talking about water polo! 

When I was a child, the Olympics were gymnastics, basketball, and ice skating (for the winter), and that was it. That’s all people talked about, but volleyball, swimming, even water polo—it’s great! 

If I had to say one negative about the Olympics, I would ask that the IOC don't add snowboarding or skateboarding to it. I know they're trying to get kids excited, get a real X games feel, but you are the Olympics, that's why we have the X games.

But overall, an 8.5 for the Olympics so far! Bravo!