The Olympic torch was lit by Muhammad Ali in a very emotional moment.  Ali was also given a replacement gold medal for his boxing victory at the 1960 Summer Olympics.  Ali had supposedly thrown his previous gold medal into the Ohio River after being refused entry into a restaurant.  The United States would dominate the medal count, winning 44 gold medals (Russia was second with 26) and 101 total medals, beating second place Germany who finished with 65.  However, it was the Canadians who stole the show in the two biggest events of the Olympics.

The men’s 100-meter race, which is widely considered the main event at any Summer Olympics, was won by Donovan Bailey in a world record time of 9.84 seconds.  Bailey would also lead Canada to gold in the men’s 4 x 100 meter relay.

Here is a clip of the Opening Ceremonies.

Notable Birthdays

Craig Muni: NHL – Born July 19^TH 1962 (age 49) in Toronto, Ontario

Vitali Klitschko: Boxing – Born July 19^TH 1971 (age 40) in Belovodsk, Soviet Union

Rick Ankiel: MLB – Born July 19^TH 1979 (age 32) in Fort Pierce, Florida

President Obama came out to what seemed to be a mixture of cheers and boos.  We are still trying to figure out if the boos were a response to the continued recession or his Chicago White Sox jacket.

A lefty, like Mr. T, Obama hurled in a short-hop to the Cardinals Albert Pujos, who was behind the plate.  Not a bad effort, and one that should save him from embarrassment.  Thankfully he refrained from following in Mr. T’s footsteps and steered clear of singing “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” during the seventh inning stretch.  That could have cost his a second term.