I Still Haven't Seen A Pole Vaulter ...

The Olympics are nearing an end. Sad but true.

But they're not over yet:

* It looks like Michael Phelps winning that eighth gold medal to close the swimming competitions was like a summer solstice with the gradual decline that follows. It seems like just three days ago the kids were on summer vacation. That's because it was three days ago.

* The track and field competitions going on throughout the American daytime is screwing up the excitement live action like the swimming races. You can't escape the spoilers, but I don't get faulting NBC for airing it taped. What else are they supposed to do?

* Volleyball is live late at night. Two gold medals. Seeing it live really does make a difference. It's not like knowing already that the Americans dropped the baton in the relay. Or that Jeremy Wariner came in second in 400 meters.

* Bob Costas after both the men and the women dropped the baton in their relay events: "... And the Americans have laid a big egg in the Bird's Nest." Ouch.

* I love the woman (Mechelle Harris) who picked up the baton and refused not to finish the race -- like she did back in '04 when the same thing happened.

* The best part of the men's 400 meters -- or sprinting overall, for that matter -- was the American tonight who literally laid his body horizontal for the bronze (David Neville). He said, "Sometimes we have to sacrifice our body and mind and spirit for what we really want. In a split-second, I said 'I have to dive in order to get a medal.'''



* What are they chasing the Jamaicans with back in the Carribbean? Those folks look like they're running from something.

* They're saying some of the Chinese gymnasts might lose their gold medals because their ages were falsified by the government. Apparently you have to be 16. That means more hardware for us, but I have to say ... no matter how young those girls are, they were better.

* "Shawn Johnson" sounds a lot more Mary Lou Retton than "Nastia Liuken." But know this: You don't see Americans jumping over to the Russian or Chinese side to represent a country like the people who proudly adopt America as their new home.

* What's up with the Chinese divers? It's like they've got some superpower to keep water from splashing. Or that they only weigh 50 pounds.

* Watching BMX racing with guys and girls furiously pedaling kids bicycles -- as entertaining as it might be -- makes me laugh.

* That commericial with Marvin Gay singing the national anthem at a Laker's game decades ago played in concert with modern images of our basketball players practicing for gold was well done.

* I think I understand why you can't have coaches help you during the game in beach volleyball. Would it really be in the spirit of the sport to have a fat, bald guy with a whistle yelling at you as you enjoyed your day at the beach?

* Misty May and Keri Walsh must be the last two people on Earth who support President Bush. They took the time after winning the gold medal to thank the president "for all that you do" and "for your inspiration." Haven't heard that associated with the guy in a while.

* The men won, too ... but "Dalhausser?" Everytime they said "Dalhausser," I felt like I needed to perform the Heinlich on somebody. How about "Rogers and ... Smith?" Or "Jones?" Or "Davis?" That would have helped me ... for reasons I can't quite explanin.

* Do those two really need their names on the back of their jerseys? There's only two of them. I like how the Brazilian guys had "BRA" on their chests and backs of their jerseys. And apparently one of them has a life-sized poster of Karch Kiraly and asked the volleyball legend, "How do you win the Olympics?"

* Overall, the Olympics in Beijing have been a breeze. At least Wikipedia (which I consulted to see exactly what sports remain through Sunday) thinks so:

A variety of concerns over the games have been expressed by various entities; including allegations that China violated its pledge to allow open media access,^[96] various alleged human rights violations,^[97][98][99] air pollution in both the city of Beijing and in neighbouring areas,^[100][101] proposed boycotts,^[102][103] warnings of the possibility that the Beijing Olympics could be targeted by terrorist groups,^[104] foiled sabotage attempt, potentially violent disruption from pro-Tibetan protesters,^[105] religious persecutions,^[106] the banning of ethnic Tibetans from working in Beijing for the duration of the games,^[107] criticisms of policies mandating the electronic surveillance of internationally owned hotels,^{[108][109][110]} displacement of residents,^[111] ticket adversities,^[112] manhandling of foreign journalists,^[113][114] dubious protest zones,^[115] as well as alleged harassment, house arrests, forced disappearances, imprisonment, and torture of dissidents and protest applicants.^{[116][117][118][119][120][121][122]}