Sports Bureau:

• Much like the two New York football teams actually play in New Jersey, the Chicago Bears QB situation is all about Indiana. For now West Lafayette (home of Purdue, Kyle “Neck Beard Ninja” Orton’s alma mater) has beaten out Bloomington (home of Bloomington South HS, Rex “Sex Cannon” Grossman’s alma mater. I can now officially wear my no. 8 Bears jersey ironically. Thank heaven the Cubs and White Sox are still in first place.
• I was just about to turn off badminton entirely, when I realized that I only found doubles badminton uncompelling. Singles is awesome, though the jury is still out on fencing. And, for all the guns we have in this country, why isn’t the shooting competition being shown in prime time? Especially when we won a gold medal because they disqualified a North Korean doper. They can make that event at least as interesting as golf.
• Water Polo? Seriously?? And devoting a whole channel (Oxygen) to equestrian events?
• Let’s have a big hand for the Romanian Constantina Tomescu Dita, the winner of the women’s marathon. She took a gamble and it paid off big time. It was amazing that the peloton (mixing sports here) wasn’t able to catch up with her. The two Chinese runners should have been used to running in those conditions, but they couldn’t reel her in.
• Note to all American sportscasters and sports pundits who are blabbing on about Michael Phelps not being one of the world’s greatest athletes by saying “B-b-but Babe Ruth!” (I actually heard this.) Sorry, hand in your press pass. 
• Women’s Beach Volleyball. I would really like these women to cover up just a bit. I realize that all of them are “fit” in the American sense, and many of them are “fit” in the English sense. They are all of them good athletes. But it does make me sort of embarrased to be watching them plying their trade, and then think, “Oh look at that [part of her anatomy]!” Not that they should have burkhas on, nor should they be covered up like the fencers (more on that below). And this proto-chauvinism goes both ways (see this article and this picture).
• Women’s Team Fencing. Watched the gold medal match between China and Ukraine. Great come-from-behind win by the upstart Ukrainians. Now, I think I enjoyed this sport even though the women were dressed like Daleks. Wouldn’t want to watch a lot more of it, but once every four years is good. That, and the fact that the Chinese lost out on another gold. Speaking of that. . . .
• Women’s Team Gymnastics. Serves them right for using 13-year-olds. Come on, on the girl’s passport apparently says “January 1, 1982″. That’s like looking at the alarm clock brinking 12:08 AM and thinking that it’s the middle of the night, even though it’s bright sunlight outside.

Television Bureau

• If Bravo ever broadcasts the Flipping Out Reunion Special, you have to drop everything you are doing to see it.
• All episodes of Law & Order are great, but I saw one yesterday that was a cut above. If only because it begins with the murder of a horse named Mr. Wickets. The one-liners are great.
• The Wife is now a big fan of Without a Trace reruns. So, we’re watching, and woman-in-distress’ boss is being questioned. “I know that guy!” say I. “What?” “I was in high school with him.” Sure enough, it was Steve Cell.
• CSI: Miami? No. Just, no.