The Beijing Olympics are only 2 weeks away. Who's excited?

I haven't read any of the pre-Olympic stories (Sports Illustrated, etc.) but I have kept my eyes on the Olympics trials for Swimming and Track & Field and I've been watching the Golden Gala meets in Europe. I know there's going to be problems with this events—pollution, censorship, drugs, terrorism?—but I don't care. I'm excited to see it as I've been for any games.

This will be the first Olympics where I've had a DVR. Between that and the blanket coverage that NBC is planning, I will finally be able to see everything I want and not have to stay up crazy hours to do it.

There's going to be a huge battle at the top of the medal table between the US and China. China has had a plan called Project 119 or something like that to win 119 gold medals including many in events like rowing where they are not exactly traditional powers. I know it will be close, but I hope we crush them. Athletes of free will should always be victorious over athletes driven by state-sponsored programs al la the former Soviet Union and East Germany. It's really only sports that gets my nationalistic fervor. I can't really explain it, but I always want the USA to win. If not the USA, then Australia. If not Australia, then Holland. I'd support Samoa, but they'll never win anything.