I'm going to go on a posting frenzy tonight, since I'm in the mood to write. The great thing about blogging too is that you don't have to worry about the typical AP-style method of writing that you would use when writing a newspaper article/column. Capitalization? Punctuation? Grammar? Forget it! You can even blabber on about random thoughts in no particular order. Just let it fly!

So anyhow, I'm STILL in full Olympic withdrawal. It's been a month now (from yesterday) since the Games ended and I really miss watching handball, and volleyball, and fencing, and...all the other crazy sports that you never get a chance to see on TV (or often...at all period).

See the Olympics – they’re easily relatable. Whether you’re a multi-millionaire NBA player, or a rower who trains for four years in obscurity, the award you dream of is the same. Gold! So that instantly gives anything you watch credibility. No one cares about the volleyball world championship, but volleyball is one of the most popular Olympic sports. Why? Because everyone knows what's on the line. An Olympic medal means something.

NBC always takes some heat for running overly dramatic human-interest packages (which were noticeably reduced in length this year), but...I'll be honest with you...I love those things. I think every Games has back-stories that either remind us of our own lives, or force us to reflect upon them. Cheesy I know...but how about the German heavyweight weightlifter who took to the podium with a photo of his recently deceased wife who always longed to see him compete in an Olympics. Him winning gold...just sweet.

Or, on the flip side, Lolo Jones. Imagine training your entire life trying to make it in the Olympics (again, in relative obscurity). You compete in a sport that's over in seconds. You're leading the hurdles up until the very end, when you stumble. Suddenly a favorite for gold...a lock...goes home with nothing. And Jones, at her age, probably won't make it to London. A cruel reality, but more of a reminder of how important the Olympics are. This is a sports event where the clichés hold up...it often is "all on the line" with "only one shot".

Michael Phelps...what more can you say about him? The guy was phenomenal. A friend of mine calls me and says, "I never realized how exciting swimming is." Honestly, the relay where Ryan Lezak made that unbelievable comeback to sink that obnoxious French team...one of the most exciting moments I've EVER SEEN IN SPORTS. Dead serious. It may have been short-lived, but it was amazing.

So yea...I love the Olympics. Call me an idealist, but I still believe in sport and the Olympic spirit.

Maybe we all should.