Who's got a full-blown case of Olympic fever?

Rob Grizzly Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 06:11 PM EST

Gymnastics. I always watch Gymnastics. Follow the sport all year long. Love. It. And Tae Kwon Do.

Laura Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 03:53 PM EST

I love Olympic back stories as well, and I still tear up when I see Derek Redmond's video where his father carries him across the finish line!

There is going to be a new Olympic film coming out in August called "let it out". It's a feature length film of back stories and memories of the greatest Olympic moments. So if you're into those, that should be right up your alley!

Angie Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 12:33 PM EST

I DVRed every minute of the Olympic Trials and watched it all. Perhaps the best moments were watching Bob Costas trying to figure out what Bella Karoli was saying during the gymnastics coverage. Priceless.

wildecat Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 12:08 PM EST

I will never, ever forget the '96 Olympics since I watched almost every minute of them from a hospital bed. (6 months pregnant + kidney stone = youdontwannaknow) When Kerri Strug nailed the one-legged vault, I immediately called my husband and he answered the phone going "Can you believe that?! Can you believe that?!?!" It was pretty awesome.

Rich Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 11:26 AM EST

It's too bad that today's generation doesn't know what a botch job NBC does of the Olympics. When they were on ABC, the sports were allowed to speak for themselves. Now, if the athlete isn't American, or doesn't have a compelling "human interest story," chances are you'll never hear of them. NBC tries to pre-sell each story, instead of letting it unfold. Olga Korbutt would have never become an Olympic hero in this country had NBC covered the '72 Olympics. Long story short, no Olympic fever in our house.

jaime Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 11:11 AM EST

THANK GOD FOR DVR! IM SO EXCITED I CANT WAIT FOR 08.08.08!!!!!!!!

I HAVE THE FEVER. . .THE MALE GYMNIST ARE HOT AND BEAUTIFUL AND A PLEASURE FOR THE EYES TO WATCH. . .SAME FOR SWIMMING AND DIVING. . .LOL AM I WATCHING iT FOR THE WRONG REASONS>?

LB Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 10:55 AM EST

THAT CLIP STILL BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES.

Anna Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 10:35 AM EST

I think I watched every single minute of summer Olympic coverage in 2004, and I am so excited for this August. I live in Philadelphia, and my aunt surprised me with tickets for the trials last week. We got to see the second night of the women's all around finals, and it was incredible in person! And Gretchen, while it wasn't Shawn Johnson, someone definitely did whip themselves off the uneven bars and landed flat on her back...

Ronnie Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 10:34 AM EST

Ok, that is so freaking funny that you mentioned this, cause for some reason this past weekend I didn't leave the house, and watched the Olympic Trials like I was on crack or something. And I so got chills watching the Visa Commercial you posted everytime they aired it this weekend. I remember watching that moment live. Goosebumps!!!!

Donkey Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 09:53 AM EST

Can't wait for The Olympics! I get totally hooked!

JL Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 08:37 AM EST

I've been watching old youtube clips of the Magnificent Seven from the '96 games! Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Kerri Strug, etc on the beam, bars, floor... completely have the fever now!!

Stef Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 08:24 AM EST

I sure do have the fever. I stayed in and watched the trials each night and was so excited, though it looks like we still must suffer through Al Trautwig.

NanCeE* Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 08:00 AM EST

Sorry, Gretchen, I won't be watching the Olympics this year. I kept track of the Mt. Everest summiters this year (a friend of mine climbed it several years ago), and all their stories about China have turned me off. The picture of the dead nun on the mountain was especially lovely. There's a story that's not being told. Also, I read Game of Shadows, and I defy anyone to read that book and look at the Olympics or professional baseball the same way again.

erik Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 02:25 AM EST

I seriously have Olympic fever! It was a dream of mine to be an olympian as a kid but alas I just never quite got serious enough about gymnastics to make it there. Summer Olympics definitely trump winter in my opinion. My roommate is dreading 8-8-08 when I force him to watch every sport featured.

Sarah C Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 10:27 PM EST

Can we get a support group started? It's going to be a completely unproductive summer between Wimbledon and the Olympics. My favorite event has to be swimming (go Aaron Peirsol!), but gymnastics is great as well. I'm still bummed about Raj not making the fo'-real men's team.

Silent E Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 09:54 PM EST

Watched the gymnasts last night with my 9 year old daughter, then watched her leap around the living room doing her own floor exercise. Then, I got to show her the awesome scar on my knee I got when I was 9 trying to be Nadia Comaneci on the balance beam. Only, my balance beam was the brick wall around the tennis court at the park in my hometown. Good Times! Love the Olympics!

Jessica Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 08:49 PM EST

I started watching on Sunday just to see my friend from high school dive (go Chris Colwill!!!) but i got sucked into watching everyone dive and then the gymnastics too! it was awesome! obviously I need something to replace football until August

brittney Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 05:27 PM EST

im so pumped for the olympics!! i watched all of the gymastics trials men and women and cant wait for august!

Crystal Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 05:09 PM EST

I've got a fever, you better believe it! It won't be full blown until Opening Ceremonies, but I have the NBC scheduling link already in my computer boomarks bar. I'm sure all mac users know this is valuable real estate!

Also, Gretchen have you seen the "Sports Night" episode 'April is the Cruelest Month'?

K Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 05:08 PM EST

I too am a huge Olympics junkie. Between the inspirational profiles of the athletes and the medal ceremonies, I'm basically a blubbering idiot for 2 weeks.

Vicky Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 04:48 PM EST

I definitely caught some gymnastics and diving this weekend. I so LOVE the Olympics!

Snarf Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 04:46 PM EST

All the political BS has really marred it for me. I prefer the Winter Olympics as well (although I might watch the Mens diving - I'm shallow - sue me)

Jeff Angelo Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 04:35 PM EST

Gretchen--Thanks for allowing me to face my Olympic fear!

http://gprr.blogspot.com/2008/06/olympic-fearfest.html

Deb in Chicago Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 04:31 PM EST

I didn't watch the trials but I did see a great Olympics commercial over the weekend that got me jazzed for 8-8-08. It is the only time of year that I read the sports section. I like the back stories, too.

Martha Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 04:31 PM EST

I watched a bit of the gymnastics trials (including Chellsie Memmel's complete nailage of her floor routine) but the new scoring system has me a bit deflated. Somehow a perfect 17 isn't quite the same as a perfect 10.

Raven_Moon Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 04:28 PM EST

I don't really get excited about the Olympics until they are officially on. I do like the gymnastics events & swimming, but I'm really more into the winter games.

tess Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 04:25 PM EST

All about the gymnastics. I will never root for anyone like I did for Shannon Miller though. Those were the days.

C Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 04:06 PM EST

Yup, got the fever now after watching the gymnastics trials. I'm a bit disappointed Carly Patterson won't be back, but it was amazing seeing her performance last time. I'm sure this year will have its moments too.

right there with you Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 03:58 PM EST

Sent the hubby to the basement to watch NASCAR while I watched the trials. I am an Olympic addict. I cannot wait for August!

Nat X Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 03:58 PM EST

I WISH I had Olympic fever. But I just don't have the patience for it anymore. I absolutely hate all the interruptions for ads, jumping around from sport to sport, focusing only on a couple of people in each sport. It just seemed more engaging when I was younger. I would LOVE to be excited about the Olympics again! Having attended Olympic events in person (ATL 1996), it's a bummer to watch it on tv.

jes Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 03:50 PM EST

Yup. I invested time in both the diving and the gymnastic trials. Next week the swimming trials are being held here in Omaha and I plan on going to as many sessions as I can!

Megan Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 03:46 PM EST

Gretchen... I totally watched the trials all weekend too. Love the inspirational sports stories! I can't wait gymnastics during the Olympics. USA women are amazing. Track & field and swimming trials next weekend... I know what I'll be doing :)

V Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 03:33 PM EST

Jesus, that Kerri Strug moment STILL makes me misty. So powerful.

GatorGal Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 03:33 PM EST

Gretchen! Thank god I'm not the only one. I'll watch whatever they've got on. I get suckered into those inspirational stories and Morgan Freeman just adds to the drama. Come August, I'll root for anyone with a good story be they Romanian pole vaulters, Argentian fencers or South African trampoline athletes. Go USA!

Tenna Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 03:27 PM EST

I watched a little of the gymnastics trials last night and Chellsie Memmel absolutely killed it on the floor. She was amazing.