The Summer Olympics is coming in a few days. I don't know about all of you, but I always look forward to the Olympics every two years (more so summer than winter). I love seeing medal counts, upsets, and world-record breaking performances. It's clear that the Olympics has lost its luster in the last decade or so, but I like the made-for-TV feel good stories that come along with the games, so I always end up getting sucked in.

What events, if any, are you looking forward to? For me, its taekwondo. As some of you know, I was competitive in my younger days and one of my acquaintances - Steven Lopez - will be going for his third gold medal. He's been described as the Michael Jordan of taekwondo - he hasn't lost in the last eight years. What makes the story more interesting is that his two younger siblings will be joining him in Beijing, marking the first time since the early 1900's that three siblings have been on the same Olympic team. Their eldest brother is also the national coach. I'll be rooting for them to make history.

Basketball's the only one I watched intently but I'll try to catch as much coverage as I can

I love the Olympics; the pomp, the spectacle, the world stage. It's great to see small countries have a great performance or even compete. I'm not into the medal count. I like the human interest stories that are generated and I usually cheer for the underdog.

Gymnastics and Track and Field are always exciting. I'm sure there will be some stories and achievements that will bring a tear to my eye.

I enjoy the track and field immensely!

I just hope i can see it for all the smog?

A couple of girls from my neck of the woods will be competing, one of whom is Amy Tran, who plays field hockey. I'll be following that team.

Sad to say, but I haven't followed the Olympics too closely in recent years. I admire the amateur athletes from around the world, who have dedicated their lives to this moment, but many of the events don't interest me.

I'll watch to see if Michael Phelps can win a bunch of gold medals, and the track events are enjoyable. I'm a little less inclined to watch the sports where the judging is more subjective.

I'm also disappointed that baseball and softball won't be continued in 2012.

I expected this to be a topic for another fantasy game. You've let me down, DB.

What's the world coming too?

They have to have the fantasy game for the Olympics, I believe I won the winter olympics fantasy game by picking Estonia (2 silver medals )

That makes the two of us although there is still hope that the IOC will change its mind between now and 2012.

For the summer games my main interests are baseball, basketball, soccer and to a lesser extent track and field so I will follow those events. It will also be inspiring to see athletes from Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan (in Afghanistan's case if they do indeed send a team) and other war torn nations around the globe compete.

Why isn't baseball and softball going to be continued after 2012?

The IOC voted it out in 2005, and reaffirmed the vote a year later. It was the first sport voted out by the Committee since they got rid of polo 70 years ago.

Unless it is replaced by another sport, there is a possibility that it can be reinstated for 2016. I'm not holding my breath though.

Baseball has been a medal sport since 1992 although it has appeared numerous times at the Olympics as an exhibition, including 1904 in Athens.

****Quick Trivia****

What are the only three nations to have qualifying baseball teams playing in every Olympic games since 1992?

Hmm, interesting. Thanks klydon. I wonder why they voted it out? I think it has global interest, especially from South American and Asian countries (most notably, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Japan)

Its definitely true. The IOC's decision doesn't make a lot of sense. I mean you've got: Canada, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan, the U.S.A. and Venezuela with a legit interest in the sport. That's ten countries over three continents (four if Central America is taken as a separate territorial division). Just take a look at the link under "Confederations/Member Federations" and it shows that there are 110 countries around the world that to differing extents play some form of organized baseball. Some of the more interesting are India, Iran, Kazakhstan(!), Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

What I could see happening is that if the IOC does not reinstate baseball over the next few summer games, the World Baseball Classic will become the true determination of the international champion of the sport in the same way that the World Cup is (and has been since 1930) for soccer.

http://www.ibaf.org/

USA, JAPAN, CUBA. ??

Surprise! It's Cuba, Japan and.....Italy.

This may have contributed to the banishment of baseball from the Olympics. The qualifying requirements were such that only two countries from the Americas could make it while Europe, Asia and Africa would also have a representative or two.

Also, only recently did the US Olympic committee open the doors to non-amateurs, but still the team comprises only minor league players. Obviously, players under major league contracts are in the middle of their seasons, and the dream of playing in and winning the World Series overshadows an Olympic gold medal.

It was remarkable that Tommy Lasorda's young team in 2000 won the Gold. A few future major leaguers played for him, including Ben Sheets, Roy Oswalt and CC Sabathia. Brad Wilkerson, Adam Everett and Doug Mientkiewicz were among the offensive standouts, and the only recognizable name on the team that year was recently retired catcher, Pat Borders, who at 37 brought along the young pitching staff nicely.

Are you sure you're talking about Doug "I can't hit my weight in the Majors" Mientkiewicz?

That's the guy. I remember watching him as a Double A star in the Twins' system, and he was projected to be the next Will Clark. He could tear it up in the minors, but never materialized.

Likewise, Wilkerson, who had some productive major league seasons, never reached the level that some expected.

I like the sprinting.

Powell,Bolt and Gay et al

- Don't think I wasn't looking...

I actually found a game at cnnsi.com, but I found it too late and I didn't feel like registering.

I'll watch the weightlifting and track events. I'd also like to see some of the women's swimming. I'm kind of burned out on gymnastics though.

Watching the opening ceremony right now....

Nice to hear a good old fashioned Chinese pipe band blasting away in the background

Team Great Britain look awesome in their white suits

Team US look very dapper in their white caps also

Yeah?? It says it's airing "Live" here tonight at 7:30PM ET -- 7.5 hrs from now! It's almost Midnight in Beijing now...!

4.5 hours long, too... ouch. Not sure if I'll catch all of that!

And damn ESPN for not having Fantasy Olympics!

yesterday there was a special report on a sports channel in here about your relatives DB. I cracked laughing when I saw that and none of my friends understood.

Phelps have won his 1st Gold out of a possible 8 in swimming..

The murder of the volleyball coach's father-in-law and the vicious attack on the victim's wife in China has dampened the Olympic mood.

I'm watching the US women's gymnastics team and they are making one mistake after the other. One missed the uneven parallel bar completely. Another fell over on her dismount. Madonne!

Yea I seen that to. Tomorrow is another day.

Double Madonne. The girls really looked tight and rattled. The big controversy is the age of two Chinese gymnasts. They look like little kids. Bela Karoli is hot about it.

That 4x100 relay was one of the most exciting sporting events I've ever seen. Unbelievable.

UK wins its first womens gold in swimming for 20 years?

Awesome

I lied

It's not 20 years....its 48 years