The Games of the Summer Olympiad are under way in London and soccer fans are no doubt enjoying all the action. American fans in particular have a gold medal bid by the Women’s National Team to enjoy, and the men’s tournament has already a featured a major surprise with the elimination of Spain from medal contention after just two matches.

We’re guessing that many soccer fans have a bit of Olympic Fever or a least are interested in some of the other sports. So we are asking:

What other events of the Summer Olympics (if any) have you been watching thus far at the Olympics?

Robert Ziegler: An easier question to ask in my house is what sport haven’t we been watching. The Olympics are notable in my home because it’s really the only time the ladies in the house will watch sports. So I’ve been viewing things like women’s gymnastics, synchronized diving and fencing that in all honesty I would never follow at any other time of the year. Additionally, my 10-year old son seems to have a great love for the obscure (no idea where this came from, no really…) so apparently the Italian water polo team is going to be a major point of interest. We’ll see if the novelty wears off quickly, but so far we’ve been all over the Olympics in the Ziegler house.

J.R. Eskilson: I enjoy all the events. I was even excited to watched archery over the weekend. But I'd have to say my favorite events are track and field. There is something about those competitions that always keep my eyes glued to the screen. That said, I'm amazed by all of these athletes who devote four years of their life to basically one moment.

 Caroline Yort: I watch every single event from archery, skeet (go USA - gold!), kayak (Davidson college student this morning), to equestrian, but my favorites are volleyball, swimming, gymnastics, and track and field.  Of those, the most nerve-wracking to watch is gymnastics. I love it and hate it all at the same time. I'm right there with Aly Raisman's parents, and I don't even have a child competing (though I was a gymnast in my pre-teen years).  I know a college soccer parent who does almost the same thing every time her child touches the ball.  Her daughter even tweeted about it last night (Mary, you know it's you!).  

It also seems that every year at least one gymnast gets robbed by the judges.  Last night it was Jordyn Wieber's turn. Only allowing two from each country to compete in the all-around seems like a dumb rule when the reigning world champion gets eliminated, but the same goes for the Olympic trials in swimming (only two from the USA qualify).  It just goes to show what the Olympics are all about - working your whole life to be perfect for one moment.

Robert Ziegler’s Final Word: OK, Caroline clearly has the Fever worse than I do, but she’s touched a nerve here. NBC needs to get over its obsession with the parents of these athletes. I know from soccer how important parents are in building young careers, but when they get to the competitive stage, I want to see the players, not their parents. It was amusing to see Mr. and Mrs. Raisman twisting and turning in their seats along with her incessant pleas for Aly to “come on,” but I bet it wouldn’t be much fun sitting by them in the arena. Perhaps Mrs. R. is going to replace Michael Phelps’ mother as the new spotlight queen. Please NBC, enough of the parents already.

But the Olympics, including the soccer, are outstanding viewing.

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