Summer Olympics

Four years ago when it was announced that London would be hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics, I was there. From the excitement and anticipation that was exuded back then, I can only image what the city feels like today.

Tonight, the Olympics begin, and the world gets to watch and cheer their country's representatives on as they achieve unfathomable feats, to us average humans. For years these athletes have been training tirelessly while we have been, well, not. They put in 10% luck, 20% skill, 15% concentrated power of will, 5% pleasure, 50% pain, and give us 100% reason to "Remember The[ir] Name."  There's something about watching an athlete from your country take the gold that makes you proud, makes you stand up and cheer, makes you cry, makes you feel like you're a part of that accomplishment.

Even though it's the athletes who will be walking in tonight's opening ceremonies, we're playing along at home too, chanting "We Will Rock You" to psych out the competition. And even though the games are taking place in London, as soon as we see the red, white and blue uniforms clustered together tonight, America is ready to "Run this town" for the next two weeks.

After the torch is officially lit at the arena, it's go time. Hey now, you're an "All Star," get your game on, go play, because all that glitters is gold, right? And in the blink of an eye, literally in some sports, there will be a winner and a loser.

To the losers, I say "Dream On," use this as inspiration and motivation to come back in four years and show the world that you were robbed of that medal. You get knocked down, but you get up again, they're never gonna keep you down. "Tubthumping."

There will be individual winners in some sports, where those athletes can boast that they truly are "The World's Greatest." And there will be athletes that win as a team, who can collectively say, "We are the Champions," as their country sings along.

So get ready, World, and let the games begin with the "Olympic Fanfare and Theme Song!"

Let's go U.S.A.!