Olympiads

The Olympics serve a single purpose in my household: giving my television a reason to exist during the Summer.

I enjoy me some sports. Human beings engulfed in the euphoria of victory and the anguish of defeat cover the spectrum of human emotions. Watching an underdog battle a favorite is quite possibly the best form of entertainment available to the human species (in my opinion, of course).
Olympic competition, from what NBC has allowed me to see, seems to completely do away with that underdog miracle we often see in American sports. In every Olympic competition there are always top 3 teams/competitors, known by experts who follow somewhat obscure sports while the rest of us watch the NBA, NFL, MLB, and European club soccer (this one might just be me). The top 3 gymnasts, divers, swimmers, etc. always end up in the top 3 positions. There is the occasional exception, but it's never anything like "Japan wins gold in Men's Olympic Basketball." Where's the dark horse in this race? The "upset" exists in the top ranked athlete or athletes not receiving a gold medal, and that's just not enough.
I want to see all expectations and predictions thrown out the window. I want to witness ESPN analysts implode when the NY Giants get to the Superbowl. But I want this translated into Olympic language. Olympics, you've been around forever, why cant you give me the 2004 Red Sox?
When one of your biggest stories is "Michael Phelps fails to make other swimmers reconsider profession," something is up. And where's the upset in Phelps receiving a silver medal when the gold goes to another American or the French (a perennial contender in swimming comps)?It's not that surprising.
Don't get me wrong, most competitions still retain some entertainment value. I just can't bring myself to feeling for athletes who make their way to a place on the podium. Unlike those who come in 2nd place in the NBA Finals (for example), Olympians that end up in 2nd place go back home with a spiffy silver medal. Okay, a Conference Championship is cool but it's not anywhere near being the second best at a sport in the entire world. Yes, a Superbowl victory makes your team the cream of the crop in the sport of football, but football isn't played anywhere else on this planet.
Maybe I've become too accustomed to the drama American sports and European club soccer provide me with throughout most of the year. I'm spoiled.

- Alex