For someone who wasn't particularly excited about the Olympics, a great deal of time is being spent watching it every night.
The storylines in swimming have been almost as great as the competition, and the men and women have combined to give the USA a solid medal lead.
The women's gymnastics team dominated its way to the gold medal Tuesday night.
For all the talk about Zika virus, bad water, crime and assorted other deterrents, the American athletes have been on their game.
Of course, each day a few wrinkles are exposed such as a judo medal winner getting robbed or some other crime being committed.
When these games started, it seemed reasonable to tune in when someone from Arkansas was participating, but it didn't take long to get hooked. When Michael Phelps propelled himself to the 200-meter butterfly gold medal in front of South Africa's Chad le Clos, who had taunted Phelps the night before, one of the people yelling "USA, USA" was me.
The one thing that hasn't piqued my interest is the men's basketball team. The players should just go home and have their gold medals mailed to them. They appear that much better than the rest of the world.
. . .
Every August, a large crowd gathers in the Simmons Bank lobby to find out who this year's speakers are for the Little Rock Touchdown Club.
It will kick off in just 11 days with Bret Bielema, the head football coach for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, at the Embassy Suites in west Little Rock.
The club is starting its 12th year of featuring great speakers for the Monday lunch.
It was just a little more than 12 years ago when David Bazzel asked a handful of people to meet with him to discuss a touchdown club, and the very first meeting drew what was considered to be an impressive 48 people.
Membership, just $75, has grown to more than 500, and the list of speakers has grown to include nationally known former players, coaches, media and others. Members can prepay for all their lunches when they join or renew their membership, $280 for 14 meetings.
The club also serves as the Arkansas chapter for the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.
Bazzel, who sweats for months on getting speakers, has lined up some outstanding speakers this fall.
After Bielema will be, in order: Herm Edwards, ESPN analyst and former NFL head coach; Danny Wuerffel, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for Florida, who will actually speak on the Tuesday after Labor Day; Jeff Long, the Arkansas athletic director; Gary Pinkel, former Missouri head football coach; Brian "The Boz" Bosworth, former Oklahoma and Seattle Seahawks linebacker; Tyler Wilson and Casey Dick, former Razorback quarterbacks, will share the microphone; Frank Beamer, former Virginia Tech head coach; and Blake Anderson, head coach at Arkansas State.
The Southwest Conference Hall of Fame is next up, and then Steve Campbell, UCA head football coach; Ken Hamlin, former Razorback and NFL safety; Mike Perrin, the University of Texas athletic director; and Aaron Taylor, CBS analyst and a former Notre Dame guard.
There will be six former Razorbacks inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame: Quinn Grovey, Dan Hampton, Lee Mayberry, Kevin McReynolds, Cliff Powell and R.H. Sikes. Longtime Arkansas coach and administrator Bev Lewis also will be inducted.
The club also sponsors the Cliff Harris, Dan Hampton, Willie Roaf, Sully and Paul Eells awards.
"This is one of the top organizations of its type in the country," said George Makris, chairman of Simmons Bank. "We're delighted to be able to sponsor the club for another season."
For those interested in joining or for more information, go to lrtouchdown.com.
Sports on 08/11/2016