Personally, I'm more in awe of their play, their ability to cover the court and the speed they can hit the ball into the sand. Their husbands, wedding rings and birthing plans do not interest me.

To be fair, nor does what Michael Phelps has for breakfast. It is part of what has happened to the games, the multimedia-advertising spree. I don't like that at all but I tend to sit with a crossword puzzle so I can ignore the fluff.

Women's gymnastics, to me, are a sport that demonstrates what's wrong with how we treat girls in this world. Yes, it is awesome what they can do with bodies. And I'll eat my hat if all those competitors are really 16 years old. Too young, too much pressure.

Maybe I'm just jealous because I have never been able to do a handstand unless I was in three feet of water.

The Olympics are a brief escape from the reality of the world today - Georgia being attacked by Russia, the poverty behind the walls China built to hide less than perfection, the ridiculous notion that offshore drilling could do anything to help the current gas prices at the pumps. In a few weeks, school will be starting. The Presidential race will kick into high gear. My heart starts to race just thinking about the growing possibility of a McCain presidency. The conventions will take place, VP's picked and the discussion will be far from civil.

I'll be ready when the shit starts to fly. But for now? I'm going to take a brief pause in reality and watch the best athletes in the world compete.