Top-5 Must See Events at the Olympics

(This will be my last post for the week. I'll be gone until August 3rd, but you can keep checkin' in here for other posts by the other guys here).

I am on the fence about these 2008 Olympic Games. It's hard to put behind everything that is going on in China and focus on the sports that will be showcased. We don't know what protesters will do, how they will do it, or what will happen. I haven't done much research on this topic, so my opinion probably doesn't matter, but I do know that even though the IOC has all the confidence in the world in China and Beijing, they will be trembling every day hoping nothing goes wrong.

So whether you like the Games or not, here are my top-5 must see events.

5- Opening Ceremonies, August 8 (NBC, 8 PM)

You'll probably think I'm stupid for making the Opening Ceremonies one of the top-5 events, but I'm a sucker for them for reasons I don't even know. Anyway, National Stadium (aka the "Bird's Nest) will host it as 205 countries and their athletes march in the Parade of Nations. Per Olympic tradition, Greece will go first and China last.

4- Misty May and Kerri Walsh attempt to defend their gold medal, August 12 (NBC, 8 PM)

This is must see TV for reasons I shouldn't have to explain. Please leave if you don't know what I am talking about. These two won the gold at Athens and look to defend it in Beijing. They are unstoppable and will win the gold again, barring some freak injury or something.

3- Women's gymnastics all-around title, August 14 (NBC, 8 PM)

Attempting to follow in Carly Patterson and Mary Lou Retton's footsteps, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin will go for gold in the Women's all-around championship. And for me, it is just weird because Johnson is only about two years older than me and she'll be competing in the Olympics. But that's getting off topic. This will be a little bit different than past Olympics because the scoring will be different. It will be challenging because this year there are many girls that could and can win this.

2- Michael Phelps begins his quest for 8 gold's (NBC, 8 PM)

We talk about Roger Federer or Tiger Woods being the most dominant athlete at the moment. But we completely forget about what Mr. Phelps is doing in the sport of swimming. Phelps is looking to break Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in one Olympics and could also break the record for most career golds. It will be tough but if anyone can do it it would be Phelps.

1- World's fastest man (NBC, 8 PM)

One of the biggest rivalries right now is the 100 meter mens battle between American Tyson Gay, and Jamaicans Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt. This is my number one must see event because even though the competition only lasts 10 seconds, it could be the most significant 10 seconds in the Games. The winner of this battle will come out as the fastest man, world record or not. We know these three have been breaking each others records, so this event should be great to watch.

Must See Events at Olympics [FYI Sports Fans - Forum]