Fourth-Place Medal

I think that if the IOC does award the Games to Chicago, one of the provisions must be that baseball has to come back as an Olympic sport. Chicago is a sports town, there is no doubt about that. But if you asked people which sport they most closely associate with the city, my guess is that a lot of them would say baseball.

So let's say that Chicago does earn the right to host the 2016 Summer Games; as it stands right now, there would be no baseball in two of the Windy City's most famous venues, Wrigley Field and U.S. Cellular Field. I'm sure organizers would find a way to utilize both venues, but still, who wants to see archery at Wrigley?

I present to you the top three reasons why there should be Olympic Baseball at Wrigley:

Wrigleyville would turn into the United Nations
Imagine the people who would flood to Wrigleyville if there was an Olympic Baseball game going on. People from all over the world would flock to be a part of this unforgettable experience. Wrigleyville would become THE place to be during the Games.

Gold Medal Winners could sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"
As an added bonus to winning a gold medal, athletes could earn the right to lead the crowd during the seventh-inning stretch. Gold-medalists from other countries, could try to sing if they want, or they could just hold out the microphone, like Harry Caray used to do.

Olympic Rooftop Parties
How many people can say they sat on a rooftop and watched an Olympic Baseball game?  If Olympic Baseball comes to Wrigley in 2016, it will be something that fans will remember for the rest of their lives.

Photo via Getty Images

In my mind, Michael Phelps gave the U.S. Olympic team two important gifts during his time in Beijing. His historic performance in the pool gave the team eight gold medals, creating a legacy that American athletes will attempt to live up to for years to come. His presence at these Games also seemed to unify the Olympians in a way that had not been seen before.

When the NBC cameras panned into the crowd and showed American athletes during one of his races, it was like watching a large group of high school students cheering at a pep rally. You'd see LeBron James sitting next to various other U.S. Olympians as everyone watched closely to see what would happen. At every Olympics you always see shots of teammates sitting together in the stands. In Beijing, you saw hundreds of members of the American delegation supporting each other.

It didn't matter what sport or background you came from, when you entered the Water Cube or the Bird's Nest to cheer for Phelps or any other American athlete that was there,  Team U.S.A.'s spirit was present. Sure, that was the original intent of the Olympics, but I don't remember ever seeing so many members of the U.S. delegation that unified. Phelps' transcendent ability and the emotional reaction it had on other people is something the USOC can take great pride in. 

Photo via Getty Images   

A few links to keep your day going ...

The Chicago Olympic Committee is going to have quite a dilemma on their hands if they actually land the 2016 Games. As Maggie pointed out, most Chicagoans would probably like to see Michael Jordan light the torch at the Opening Ceremony. He represents the city, and is a two-time gold medalist. After reading this story though, I realized that the USOC may push for another choice as time gets closer ... Michael Phelps. [AP]  

Coca-Cola and Adidas were the biggest sponsorship winners at the Beijing Games. [Market Watch] 

Chinese gymnast He Kexin isn't bothered by all the controversy. [AP]

Argentina's Manu Ginobili is going to have surgery on the heel he re-injured at the Olympics ... somewhere Gregg Popovich is not smiling. [AP]

Sydney Olympic organizers admit that their Opening Ceremony musical performance was pre-recorded. [AP]

Photo via Getty Images

Meet the artist formerly known as Bruce Jenner. Before he was a reality-tv star, Jenner was a gold medal winning decathlete. He appeared in a variety of different commercials and showed up on the front of a Wheaties box.

Jenner was the All-American boy.

Now he is just another crazy looking Hollywood type, looking to revitalize his career on a reality show. With that in mind I've made a list of the top three American athletes (excluding Misty May-Treanor who has already committed to Dancing with the Stars) from this year's Olympics who I think have a chance to follow in Jenner's footsteps.

Amanda Beard: Is there any doubt that Beard will be on the Surreal Life in about two years? She's already appeared in Playboy, and her Olympic career appears to be over, isn't a spot on a bad reality show on VH-1 the logical next step ...

Carmelo Anthony: His wife La La hosts the Flavor Flav specials on VH-1, so Carmelo is obviously familiar with the reality-tv world. He has made some mistakes in his past, but still continues to have success, as evidenced by his gold medal in Beijing. He could teach kids about the rights and wrongs in life. Carmelo would be perfect for a show like Snoop Dogg's Fatherhood.

Jennie Finch: The softball pitcher has built up a legion of fans during her time on the U.S. national team and I think she would be an ideal choice for a show about motherhood and raising young athletes. Doesn't she seem like the ultimate soccer mom? Since softball won't be an Olympic sport for at least another eight years, she'll have some extra time on her hands. If Tori Spelling can get a reality show about raising children, I'm sure there's room for Jennie.

Photo via Getty Images

The King of Swimming had another big day on Thursday in New York City. Of course, there were some more television interviews, then a stop for a Q and A at J.P. Morgan and he even managed to sneak in a good 'ole fashion American lunch of a hot dog and a pretzel. At some point he found time to give out a few swimming lessons at a YMCA in the Big Apple. Obviously, Phelps' presence caused some serious excitement in the pool. It looks like a couple of the kids are just jumping around, not worrying too much about form. I guess if a 14-time gold medalist shows up at the local Y, that's understandable.

As always, put your best caption ideas down below ...

After the jump check out the winner from last night's Tiger-Phelps C-a-C. Read More >>

A few links to get you through the night

Al Roker=Ladies' man

NBC loved to boast about its record ratings throughout the Games, and there is no question that millions of Americans tuned in, but were the Olympics really the most watched sporting event in U.S. history? [LA Times]

Coach Mike Krzyzewski believes his Olympic experience has made him a better coach. [Winston Salem Journal] 

England soccer star Joe Cole wouldn't mind playing for his country at the 2012 Games in London. [Telegraph]

The Michael Phelps television tour added another stop: a guest role on Entourage. [AHN]

Portland Trail Blazers' coach and Team U.S.A. assistant Nate McMillan had a hard time not smiling while watching Spain's Rudy Fernandez play during the gold medal basketball game. Why? Fernandez will be playing for McMillan this season in the NBA. [The Oregonian] 

Photo via Getty Images

I was originally going to post this after the U.S. softball team won yet another gold medal last week, but as we all know, that didn't happen. Still, I figured this story was too good not to share, it's probably my favorite memory from the Athens Olympics. 

My main goal at the Olympics in Athens was simple. I didn't care about seeing every event, and I didn't want to see the U.S. gymnastics team like some of my friends. All I wanted was to get my picture with Jennie Finch. In 2004, Finch was at the peak of her powers. She was named the hottest female athlete in the world, in an on-line poll, defeating none other than Anna Kournikova. She also happened to be one of the starting pitchers on the U.S. Olympic Softball team, and was the host of This Week in Baseball. Finch was the total package. She was gorgeous, but she was also athletic, and she knew about sports.

I was in love.

My buddies and I (we all worked as production assistants for NBC) walked around the International Broadcast Center (IBC) hoping we would run into her at some point, so I could take a picture with her, but we had no luck. A few of my friends were fortunate enough to meet her at one of the early-round softball games. Unfortunately, I had to work that day and was unable to go. As the days went by in Athens, my chances of getting the elusive picture became slimmer and slimmer.

The only hope I had left was to make it to the gold medal game. When the day finally came, I raced out of work and jumped on a bus to the softball complex, so I could get the picture. I really don't remember much of the game, except for the fact that the U.S. won, and earned the gold medal. I had my eyes on a different prize. Read More >>

Why eight? Because eight is the new 10. Come on, the Top 10 list is so pop culture 1.0, so analog, so Letterman. Top 10 is over like Beijing, baby. Eight is the number of medals Michael Phelps won; turn eight sideways and it becomes infinity. Nothing any good is based on 10 (except the decimal system, and who uses that anyway?) So, pace yourselves, and each year achieve two of the goals listed below, and by 2012 you'll be ready for London, provided you have legal, notarized proof of age.

1. Learn the language of the host country - If you're reading this without benefit of a translator, you're way ahead of the average member of the LPGA and should only need a little help. For instance, in the Queen's English, lift means elevator, loo means bathroom, bollocks means testes, fag means cigarette, and every other word you're not sure of probably means inebriated. If you're still uncertain, try watching some Monty Python or Fawlty Towers - just about anything with John Cleese will do.

2. Find something to protest - Getting a little more challenging. Whereas China was a smorgasbord of protest options, Great Britain is a fairly progressive place with few objectionable qualities since it gave up its quest for world domination through brutal colonialization a century or so ago. Stay away from the Royal Family, except for Prince Charles who is still a pretty kickable dog. If you can't find anything, try protesting Madonna; I'm sure Londoners would be glad to be rid of her. (Note: You won't actually be allowed to protest during the Games, but you can get a lot of mileage out of this in the years and months leading up to the Opening Ceremony.)

3. Invent a new Olympic sport - It's already too late to be included in 2012, but if you start now, you might be able to build enough momentum for 2016. Recently, the IOC added trampoline, BMX and marathon open water swimming, so if you combine these three and add a team element, I think you end up with ... "Waterworld." Ahh, Kevin Costner, always so tragically ahead of his time.

A few links to keep your day going ...

The city of Miami threw a celebration earlier today for gold medalist Dwyane Wade. The Heat even raised a banner to the rafters in honor of D-Wade's Olympic achievement. [Sun-Sentinel]

Last night we found out that Michael Phelps would be hosting Saturday Night Live, today we find out that he will be a presenter at the Video Music Awards. [AP] 

Could there be Olympic cricket in 2020? [The Age]

Nastia Liukin and Bryan Clay will be on a Wheaties box soon. [Sports Biz]

The Spanish basketball team needs a new coach again. [Xinhua]

Photo via AP Images