Beijing Olympics Day 1- Michael Phelps is One Up

Hello everyone, I’ll be your resident journalist for all coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics because none of us could afford the flight to China (my little brother told all his friends we were going, so now we have to disappear for 2 weeks somewhere).

The People’s Republic of China has promised the world “the greatest Olympics ever,” and right off the bat, the Opening Ceremony did not disappoint. With a firework show spanning practically half the city of Beijing to make a spectacular debut of the Birds Nest Stadium, it made the 4^th of July look like a practice run. And this stadium! Tons of steel rods shaped like an extravagant, towering bird’s nest symbolize the theme of China’s Olympics. “Go Green!” The Opening Ceremony showcased 2008 Thai Chi Martial Artists performing around Children to show that by harmonizing with our environment, we can avoid placing the burden of our ways on the next generation.

Here’s a link to Youtube video of the Opening Ceremony, I’d hurry because it won’t be up for long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1nmR8Ndj7g

In other news, the Men’s Gymnastics team is off to a good start, with Raj Bhavsar being a last minute addition to the team after the Hamm brother’s bowed out of this Olympics. Team USA maintained average scores of 15.4, short of the magic 15.6 that was predicted they would have to maintain in order to beat world Gymnastics powers Russia and China, we are still in it to win it.

But the Primetime event of the evening that I took off work to see, Swimming Superstar Michael Phelps clenched his first gold medal in the 400 Individual Medley on his way to winning an unheard of 8 Gold Medals in one Olympics! That would knock off current record holder Mark Spitz’s consecutive 7 Gold Medal’s in one Olympics and pretty much make Michael Phelps the greatest Olympian of all time. Rival’s hoped to close the gap on Phelps in the breast stroke section of the 400IM, Phelps’ weakest stroke, and for a moment I was tripping out because Laszlo Cseh of Hungary nearly caught him. But as the freestyle leg of the race got underway, Phelps’ showcased his beautiful flip-turns and put an astonishing full body lengths distance between himself and Cseh, not only winning Gold but smashing another world record that he himself set in 2004 in Athens. He’s going to do it. He. Could. Go. All. The. Way!

Dana Torres, the famous 41 year old mom who is making all these little college kids taste foam, swam the 4x100meter relay and finished second place to win a silver medal. The Anchor of the US Relay team pretty much got screwed by her teammates before her who just didn’t put out or set up the race for Dana. By the time it was Dana’s turn to dive, the Netherlands was already two body lengths ahead of her, and she still managed to make up 2 places despite the time lost, swimming the second fastest relay split of the morning. Personally, I’d take my teammates out back and put some kick back in their stroke and make them cry, but she’ll be swimming in the 100Freestyle later this week, and we expect great things from her from that.

Oh we are so going to war with China though! Nothing said “low-blow” more though than when China cut the American National Anthem short in the medal ceremony. President Bush was in attendance for the event when Michael Phelps was receiving his medal. Everyone kind of looked at each other funny when they started the Anthem a course off, but Michael Phelps busted out a hilarious grin when they completely cut the music in the middle! President Bush stood up and started clapping and waving, probably trying to avoid a war with China, and Phelps just laughed it off. He’s going to get to hear it seven more times during these games anyway, but man imagine if it were a first time Olympian who’d trained their entire life for that moment! I would refuse to leave the podium until they played my Anthem again and did it right! Leave it to China to cut the Anthem right before “for the Land of the Free.” Freaking Commies!

That’s it for tonight’s Olympic Snapshot, I’ve got 14 more days coming. You guys will know who won gold in Table Tennis and Trampoline by the time these Games are over.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics are being broadcasted in Primetime on NBC channel 4. For official coverage, go to www.nbcolympics.com where you can see streaming live video of most of the events.

Oh and for the video's on NBC's website, when it asks you what cable company you subscribe to, just lie and say you do and pick a random one and they won't check, but they won't let you watch streaming live if you click Local Broadcasting. Punks.