Why Don't We Move Some of the Summer Games Events to the Winter?

The Winter Olympics are always fun to watch, but unless you actually do these events they can seem a bit off-standish. Aside from hockey (and even that isn't a given) and figure skating, most Americans really don't know the point of the events until they start watching and trying to figure it out. Even something as simple as speed skating requires me to ask questions.

Sure, the Summer Games have their own events like that (fencing, handball, water polo, etc), but there are many events that we all can dive right into (like swimming, track, basketball, etc).

The big difference between the two is that those niche Summer Olympic sports get lost behind to big guns. The Winter Olympics don't have anywhere near the same amount of events ... and more of them niche ... that you can feel a bit left out.

So why not do us both a favor and start moving some Summer Olympic sports to the Winter Olympics?

Sure, you'll have to only bring the indoor sports because of the weather. Also, the Summer Games isn't giving up basketball (nor would the NBA have an Olympic break like the NHL) ... and gymnastics are to Summer what figure skating is to Winter.

But how about volleyball? It is played indoors so the weather isn't an issue. Also, since beach volleyball has emerged as the go-to event in this sport, it has left the indoor tournament a bit under appreciated. So leave the beach to the Summer and bring up the indoor volleyball to the Winter.

How about wrestling? It is a somewhat popular event that would get a lot more exposure if it were part of the Winter Olympics. Same thing with weightlifting. You could even move boxing if you wanted. While more people view the Summer Games, boxing doesn't get the pub it should. And the sport would benefit greatly if they got more exposure during the Winter Games and develop some stars.

There are other sports that fit the mold. Badminton, judo, table tennis and taekwondo make sense. Remember that golf will soon be an Olympic sport and that could take even more time away from these highlighted events.

I know there's the little problem of having venues to house all these extra events. The Winter Games are typically in midsized cities or resort towns that don't have the money nor the space to build new venues ... whereas the Summer Games are typically in huge metropolises who already have a few smaller places that would work.

But, hey, you figure that out. I did the first part.

The Fallout of Michael Phelps' Bong Pic

So apparently the picture of Michael Phelps toking on a bong is real. So what does that mean?

Well, the IOC and his sponsors aren't backing down. They are sticking with the Olympian despite a big P.R. hit. His image in tarnished a bit but this isn't the worst thing ever.

Now, I've never smoked the pot nor do I condone doing it. I do subscribe to the fact that alcohol and cigarettes are legal so weed should be too (or criminalize the other two). It is 2009 and Phelps doesn't seem to be in any gruling training program right now, so let him blow off steam and enjoy the fruits of being a superstar athlete.

Think about the sacrifices he made to get to his level. The things he couldn't eat. The places he couldn't go. The things he couldn't do. The hippie lettuce he couldn't smoke.

It may have given him a bit of street cred as well. I mean, we all know that Phelps 15-minutes have been up for a while and he doesn't hold the kind of carte blanche that Lance Armstrong has (the other mega star from a sport that America rarely follows). While it may make some of the mainstream shy away from him, he may have picked up a few points from the underground.

I hope, though, that Phelps doesn't see this as him being bullet-proof. His body is his temple and moneymaker and I feel he will remember that soon. In this country, there is fine line between being a celebrity for your talents and being a celebrity because you are a train wreck.