Swimming is pretty cool

Why on Earth should you be interested in swimming?

You have some American pride buried within you somewhere. The U.S. has 11 of the 32 major man's and woman's olympic swimming records. Phelps contributes to 8 of them. Our American athletes are kicking worldwide ass. These guys are some of the hardest working athletes on Earth, and they're doing it to honor their country (and maybe for a little personal glory). We ought to be watching the carnage wide eyed with handfuls of popcorn. Who wouldn't want to watch a cocky French foursome eat our bubbles?

What these athletes do is simply amazing. It's easy to marvel at a man throwing a baseball over 100 miles an hour. It's fun to watch 300 pound men fight over a strangely shaped piece of pigskin. It's equally awe inspiring to watch a man fly through the air, as streamlined as a missile, and enter water without an ounce of friction. If you spend even the smallest moment analyzing their strokes you'll be amazed. The immense power in their dolphin kicks. The agility in a flip turn. The flexibility in a backstroke start. You can't do this stuff. I can't do this stuff. These subtle displays are far more stimulating to me than watching a 7 footer put a ball in a 10 foot high circle.

If you're a woman, the buff shirtless 6 packing men can't hurt.
If you're a man, watching shirtless women that could kick your ass might not hurt.
Hey, sex sells, right?

The difference between gold and silver in last year's Olympics was .01 seconds in the 100 butterfly. This sport is gripping. This sport is exciting. Big swim meets are twice as loud as football games. All the fans do is scream. Go to a swim meet, you'll be sucked into the intensity like a little girl gets sucked into Hannah Montana. Swim meets are not boring on TV and they're not boring in person. You don't have to know anything about swimming to be impressed. I love baseball... but boy is it more fun to watch swimming.

Plus you've got a global charismatic icon in Phelps, controversy over technology, and 41 year old stud Dana Torres. What's not to like?

If you've paid any attention to the sport you can back me up on this stuff. If you haven't, you don't know what your missing. Luckily for you, it's not too hard to figure out what you're missing. Turn on the tv and take a look. Maybe you'll get lucky. If not, grab a friend and mosey on over to your local high school or college meet. You won't regret it!