Sports for people who don't like sports

That is exactly it.  A lot of the sports are individual.  A lot of little girls took gymnastics, and most of us have been in a pool at some point or played beer league softball.  With the exception of golf and tennis all of the major publicity sports during the rest of the time are true team sports.  If it was all dressage or shooting or field hockey we wouldn't hear so much about it.  This gives the ordinary person some type of perspective into just how phenomenal these athletes are. 

Most people have no desire to be part of the jock culture that surrounds sports away from the olympics.  Or what they think it is anyway.

Lately the pool I swim at is been packed with people who obviously are not regulars or swimmers. I think it is the Oly/Phelps effect and while many of those swimming today probably wont do it again all year long maybe a few will stick to it and I think it is cool

All I know about gymnastics is whether or not they "stick the landing."

I'm such a poseur.  I'll watch and the guy nails the landing, and I'll say, "Wow, he really stuck that landing."  And inside, I'm so like, "sheesh, I have no idea wtf I am talking about." 

Don't forget how much trajectory they were off and weren't parallel together, etc. on the "synchronized diving".  WTF?  When did "synchronized diving" become an Olympic sport?  Seriously!  What's next, synchronized 400 meter dash or synchronized 100 meter butterfly?

I pretend I'm the female announcer from synchronized diving.  I compliment every moment and include a "but..."

as for gymnastics, my guess is that the judges don't even know how to score it - I envision them tossing special dice and occasionally accidentally getting Yahtzee 

I found myself doing the same thing during diving last night.

"Did you see how he came out of his pike too early causing him to under-rotate and cause that splash because he didn't hit vertical?"  

you "stick" the landing in diving, you die.

just saying...

It's because the womens professional tour makes them wear the small ones.  Better ratings.  Seriously.  I assume they wear them at the Olympics because they are use to it. 

AND...I don't mind or think it's unfair at all.

Ha!  So true!  I also noticed a markedly large increase in the "peleton" of the local bike shop group rides after the Tour....

I have said this before, I just love SPORT.  Even if I don't know what they are about.  I got caught up in the Scott games (throwing some big pole) or using a big pole to get across a river....

I wasted half a night when I turned on ESPN and saw Hurling (Irish game).  Odd, but they run around swinging big clubs and have no pads - GOT to be a good game!!!!!!