"Outten the Light"

Yesterday the Olympic flame was extinguished, and for some reason the closing ceremonies always make me a little sad. Maybe it's the idea that all those hopes and dreams are over. All the escalating excitement has reached its zenith and is now on its quick descent. The stories of glory have been told. The "Flying Tomato" Shawn White took the gold, as did the previously controversial Apollo Anton Ohno. The disappointments have been experienced. No gold for Sasha Cohen. No medal at all for Bode Miller. Not even a competition for Michelle Kwan. And when all the judging is over and the times tabulated, USA came in second in the medal race.

So it's over - at least until 2008 when our sites are set on Beijing. Look out, China. Here we come!