4. The Phelps/Lochte rivalry
It's Michael Phelps' last Olympics (or so he's said), so he's going to try and go out with more than a few more gold medals. If you didn't watch the weeklong Olympic swimming trials a month ago, you may not be aware of the "rivalry" between him and Ryan Lochte. But they are going head-to-head in a number of contests, with Lochte trying to grab the gold for himself. Be prepared to hear a lot about this duel in the pool.
Find out all about the Phelps/Lochte rivalry:
3. You'll know who they are on "Dancing With the Stars"
Long past are the days when Summer Sanders had to rely on "Figure It Out" to further her fame, and Brian Boitano stayed in the spotlight because of "South Park." Now, American gold medalists inevitably end up on "Dancing With the Stars" or sometimes "Celebrity Apprentice," so you might as well get to know them now.
Watch Apolo Anton Ohno perform on "Dancing With the Stars:"
2. More scantily clad guys than in "Magic Mike," plus girls in bikinis
The tiny suits the men wear for diving and swimming leave little to the imagination, and there are abs to spare on most of these guys. Channing Tatum looks doughy by comparison. And while it's hard to argue with the entertainment value of "Magic Mike," it's even more impressive to watch these hard-bodied athletes push themselves to the limit. And who will judge you for checking out women in bikinis bouncing around on the beach when there's an Olympic gold medal for beach volleyball at stake? No one, that's who.
Check out the "Magic Mike" movie trailer:
1. Nothing else is on
Not entirely true, but NBC is completely monopolized by sporting events, and shows like "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dance Moms" took two weeks off in order to avoid the ratings competition. So you might as well watch the ridiculous vaults and twisting dives instead of whining about not missing out on "Suits" and Abby Lee Miller.
Watch the clip from "Dance Moms:"
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