Olympics 2008: Why I Watch

This is why I watch the Olympics: to be a part of a story. I like to play sports because it is fun. I like to watch sports because of the beauty and strategy in elite athleticism. But I LOVE to watch sports because of the chance that this one race, this one event, this moment will turn into a mini movie. I like the suspense of sitting on my couch and hoping, cheering and believing that the team I'm supporting will have a moving ending. And I say team, because it's team sports and events that get to me the most.

Last night, watching the Men's Swimming 4x100 Relay, I got to be a part of one of those great movie moment stories. All the elements were there. American Phelps attempting to achieve the biggest gold medal haul ever, but he can't do it alone. He needs his team to pull out a win in an event in which they are not favored. Add in some motivating trash talk from the French who are favored to win. (Seriously, probably the most entertaining part of the story). Then the race. The Americans do well, but towards the end, the realistic expectation is second place. Then in the.....last.....four.....strokes.....a teammate digs deeper than he or anyone else has ever done to touch gold by a few hundredth seconds. Result: joy. So much joy. On kids faces. In mothers' eyes. In my heart.

UPDATE: check out this article about Jason Lezak, the man who swam the thrilling last leg and dug deep to carry the team to a win. Here is my favorite quote:

It's happened to me all my career that people would get on my lane line and [draft] off me," Lezak said, "so I figured this was one opportunity in all my career to do that. ... I'm not going to lie. When I flipped at the 50, it really crossed my mind for a split second that there was no way. Then I changed. And I said, You know what, that's ridiculous at the Olympics. I'm here for the United States of America. I don't care how bad it hurts or whatever. ... Honestly in five seconds I was thinking all these things. I got like a supercharge and took it from there.

Ahh, I love the Olympics. I watch hours and hours of coverage to vicariously experience a moment like last night, where I get to believe against the odds, and my belief is rewarded.

You have to watch this race! It's the best story of the Olympics (for a U.S. citizen), and the Olympics have only just begun. Catch the thrilling last seconds at this blog post. Or watch the entire race on youtube.

Oh, and below are my two favorite moments of the race, make sure you click through:

One, the teammates hoping and rooting and realizing they can win.Two, the teammates' no-fricking-way faces realizing they won.