Beijing Olympics Recap and Highlights

The Republic of China just put on a 40 billion dollar two week propaganda blitz and what a show it was. From the wow-inducing opening ceremony to the majestic closing ceremony, the Beijing Olympics scored in terms of sheer athleticism, controversy, and heart.

Here are my Beijing Olympics unforgettable moments.

"W" - first sitting U.S. President to attend the Olympic Games - an uncharacteristically cool move on his part, although I did catch him looking at his watch and seeming a bit bored a couple of times.

Swimming in general - I lost track of how many new world records were set at the Beijing Olympics.

Michael Phelps in particular - the preternaturally gifted swimmer makes good on his goal - 8 gold medals in 2008. Now on the cover of Sports Illustrated and destined to earn millions in product endorsement deals, this sweet, down-to-Earth young man knows how to treat his mamma.

The Bird's Nest and the Water Cube - impressive architecture.

The opening ceremony - I've still got it on the DVR and will need to watch it again - it was so awe-inspiringly magnificent that I couldn't absorb it all in one sitting.

Jason Lezak's stunning men's swimming 4x100m relay team finish helped Phelps get one of his gold medals.

BMX - a thrilling new event - fans were stoked.

Irving Saladino won the gold medal for the men's long jump - Panama's first Olympic medal in 60 years and their first ever Olympic gold medal ever

Redeem Team - U.S. men's basketball ruled!

China's Gymnasts - the pressure had to be unbelievable, but the women's team won their first ever Olympic gold medal y brought home the gold for China where it mattered.

The Visa commercials narrated by Morgan Freeman - I just love his voice and they were always up-to-date - I mean right after Phelps won his 8^th gold medal there was the familiar voice of Morgan Freeman congratulating him on behalf of Visa.

Cuba's Angel Matos is banned from taekwondo for life after attacking the referee who disqualified him for taking too long to return to the match after his injury.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica set a world record in the 100m while slowing down, tapping his chest and looking around to announce that yes, he is THE MAN! Not just a one hit wonder, Bolt went on to break even more records.

Did you see Roger Federer's tears at the medal ceremony when he won the gold for men's doubles tennis? Awwwww! You've gotta be happy for him -he's been in a slump this year prompting Rafael Nadal to take his spot at #1 (as well as the men's singles gold medal). I'm looking forward to the U.S. Open.

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor defended their 2004 beach volleyball goal by capturing the gold in 2008. Misty May-Treanor is set to appear on Dancing with the Stars.

Liu Xiang's injury kept this national hero from defending his 2004 Olympic gold in the hurdles as a collective sigh from 3 billion Chinese was heard.

In one of the biggest upsets in the history of softball, The United States women's softball team lost to Japan (3-1 -final score). There is buzz that perhaps softball might return to the Summer Olympics in the future now that Japan has showed that it's not just an American thing. Stay tuned.

U.S.- the U.S. men's and women's track and field 4x100 relay teams both had a case of the droppsies and couldn't hold on the baton.

I literally gasped as Alicia Sacramone fell of the balance beam. I shrieked when she missed a tumbling pass. Some think she cost the American team the gold in team gymnastics. I don't think it's that simple - the U.S. was already at a disadvantage with two of their members out due to injury.

Yes, Beijing looked beautiful, but many locals suffered severe financial hardship as water was rerouted and workers were sent home to ensure the Olympics looked great and were air pollution free.

The Chinese reneged on the free press access promise, but were we surprised.

The BFF Award goes to Nastia Luikin and Shawn Johnson. Nastia took the all-around gold in women's gymnastics, the team got silver, and Shawn got her gold in on the balance beam (normally Nastia's area to shine). They went into the Olympics good friends and ended the Olympics good friends - each genuinely happy for the success of the other.

The Worst Sport Ever Award goes to Ara Abrahamian, the Swedish wrestler who was so upset that he won the bronze medal that he took it off during the medal ceremony, dropped it, and stormed off. Say it with me now - what an ungrateful loser! And I mean that literally - that hissy fit caused the IOC to strip him of his medal.

The Milli-Vanilli Award goes to Lin Miaoke, the adorable little girl who lip-synched "Ode to the Motherland" because the powers that be thought that Yang Peiyi, whose voice we all heard, was not pretty enough.

The Olympic Tear-Jerker Moment goes to the U.S. men's volleyball team who beat defending champion Brazil for their coach, Hugh McCutcheon, whose father-in-law was stabbed to death in Beijing.

The U.S won the overall medal count with 110, but the Olympic hosts bested the U.S in number of gold medals (and their previous record in Athens) with 51.

Thank you People's Republic of China (and all the athletes) for an amazingly entertaining two weeks. I wonder if London is feeling any pressure -they've got the Summer Olympics in 2012.