Week One of the Beijing Olympics Part 1 (The ups)

I am so excited about the Olympics this year! I was in Beijing when they started the countdown in 2004, also the same day that they first lit the torch with Yao Ming. So needless to say, it's all very close to my heart this year. Everytime they show coverage of the games in Beijing, it makes me want to go back so bad. Literally, whenever the events are shown, I'm watching them. I've gotten so into the swimming (Michael Phelps is my new crush), the beach volleyball (way more fun than indoor), and gymnastics (who doesn't though). But seriously, what an incredible first week of the games. And we still hav emore swimming and track and field and of course the ones that I am chastised for liking....rhythmic gymnastic, syncronized swimming and trampoline. Hopefully they'll show those ones.
So in honor of such amazing athleticism, I thought that I would share my list of what I felt are the most awesomest moments for the last week of competetition (In no particular order). drum roll...

Number 1 The Opening Ceremonies

I don't care what anybody says, even with all of the scandals, the long running time and no familiar order to the parade of nations, this was by far and away the best opening ceremonies of any Olympiad. China really knew what they were doing. I don't care that some of the fireworks were CGI and I don't care that a little girl was lip syncing. No one can tell me that that was not a lavish display of artistry and innovation. And while I loved the dancers painting with their feet and hands, the 2008 drummers, the 2008 Tai Ji masters, and all of the high flying acrobats, I would have to say that the most touching moment came when the little boy from Sichuan walked in with Yao Ming. If you don't know, he was a survivor of the terrible earthquake. He was in school 20 of his 30 classmates were killed. But that's not the amazing part. He got himself out of the reckage and went back to save two of his classmates that were trapped. When asked why he did that, he said that it was because he's a class leader and a hall monitor so it was his responsibility. Wow! A close second was seeing our flag bearer Lopez Lamong who was one of the 'Lost boys of sudan'. So inspiring!

Number 2 The Number 1 ranked men's Beach Volleyball team coming back from loss.
So we have two awesome men's beach volleyball teams. The number 1 team played on Saturday and lost bad to Latvia of all people (Is there even a beach in Latvia?). Very disappointing. But they have come back to win every other game that they've played making the USA beach Volleyball record for Men and Women a near perfect at 11-1 as of yesterday. Go team!

Number 3 The USA winning the 4X100 freestyle relay

Um, for anyone who watched the heartpounding (stopping) race, how amazing was it!!! It's is the first time that I can say that I was cheering outloud for a swimming race. All I have to say to the French team is, 'Karma sucks.' Seriously, that's what happens when you talk smack! This is one that will go down in history!

Number 4 Anything that Michael Phelps touches

I have become such a die hard Phelps fan that I'm not even sure I really care about much else when it comes to our swim team. I firmly believe that not only is he going to match Mark Spitz record, he's going to surprass it and win 8. How awesome would that be?

Number 5 The hugely underdog Men's gymnastic team winning the Bronze.

Go USA! With two alternates and a lot of falls and mistakes, I'm surprised they medaled at all. So Yea! It really was awesome to see though! Mad props to them! And yippee for the Colorado hometown hero who nailed the pommel horse when we really needed him to. I can't remember his name right now, but still exciting!

Number 6 The Redeem team winning all the time especitally against China

First I have to say though, for a country that basically invented basketball and made it what it is, it's pretty sad that we have been reduced to calling them the Redeem Team. That being said, they're doing great and maybe those high paid (over paid) NBA players will realize that they are not too good for the Olympics-cause that's kind of the vibe I was getting from them.

Number 7 Blake knocking out Federer.

'Nuf said! Federer was mad.

Number 8 Siobhan getting super excited everytime we watch 'China'

She is so into the 'gynnastics' and swimming and by the way, it's not called aerobics (that's how she says Olympics), it's gynnastics. She also really enjoys trying the mimmick the synchronized diving.

Number 9 Women's gymnastics getting Silver

Sure a gold would have been better, but I think that it's to be expected that China was going to pull out all the stops in a quest for as many gold medals as possible, as any host nation would do (only difference is that most other countries would be honest about it). So yippee for those girls who trained so hard and some of them literally had only 12 seconds of performance time.

Number 1o Nastia and Shawn going 1,2 in Women's all-around

Really, I didn't mean for there to be 10, it just happened that way. But what a nail bighter. It was awesome! Siobhan was sad that she had to go to bed before it started. Way to break the Chinese streak of all gold in the gymnastics. I bet they are pissed about that.