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Some of my favorite Olympic viewing experiences are when they give background on the Olympians. We tend to view them as elite stars and forget that they are people, too.

That's pretty much what the guys on the U.S. soccer team tell us in this video.

There's no embed link so you've got to go straight to the site to watch it. It's called "Mo checks in from China."

If you want another great U.S. soccer video check out the guys modeling the outfits Team USA wore in the opening ceremonies. Video called "MNT at the Opening Ceremonies."

The U.S. gymnastics team kicks off its two-month 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park.

Gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, who are currently competing in the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing, are a few of the stars showcased on the tour.

Tickets are on sale now and cost $49.50, $39.50 and $29.50. They're available at 814-865-5555 or online at www.bjc.psu.edu.

Watch the women's team finals at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and women's individual all-around finals at 11:15 p.m. Thursday on NBC.

This was China's chance to show what it could do with the world watching. What the world saw was a lavishly excessive display that brings up questions as to whether the $40 billion (by conservative estimates) invested in the Opening Ceremonies was put to good use.

The Washington Post's Thomas Boswell rightly scolds the Chinese government for investing so much money in the spectacle, asserting: "No democracy can or should invest the money and manpower that went into this city-wide fireworks-spewing deification of national pride, athletic aspiration and Communist Party self-congratulation. Public money could never be justified for such an insanely exhilarating night. Only a People's Republic could squander so lavishly."

Boswell goes on to talk about how the ceremonies also served as a propaganda tool for the Chinese government -- a chance to fool the Chinese people into thinking their suffering and oppression is all part of the plan.

"All this, of course, celebrated the Olympics. But it was just as much spectacle to convince 1.3 billion people that they were living out a glorious collective destiny, a march into a perfectible future that justified any current hardship or lack of basic liberties."

It remains a shame that China was even given the opportunity to host these Games -- we really shouldn't have expected any more or less from that government.

Will Ferrell goes for the gold in "Old School."

Entertainment Weekly awarded gold, silver and bronze medals to the best sports movies in 17 categories. For example, in the boxing category, "Rocky" won gold, "Raging Bull" won silver and "Million Dollar Baby" won bronze.
In between watching your favorite Olympians compete in Beijing, pop in one of the medal-winning movies to keep your adrenaline going.

Fierce Olympic fashion

Olympic fever is popping up everywhere, including Bravo's reality fashion design competition "Project Runway." (Not surprising since Bravo is affiliated with Olympic station NBC.) Wednesday night, skating star Apolo Ohno was the guest judge. The challenge: Design a Team USA outfit for the opening ceremonies.