It's Olympic Week. The Games begin officially with the Opening Ceremonies on Friday although the competition in soccer or "football" as it will be officially known begins on Wednesday. Team USA will play France in their opening game.

There is going to be alot to love about these games. Michael Phelps vs Ryan Lochte in the pool....Can the so-called Dream team handle the improved hoops teams from around the world?....comeback stories like Lolo Jones in track & field....tennis as an Olympic sport at Wimbledon as most of the top stars will be there....Stevens Point's own Ben Provisor competing in wrestling...the once every four years when Americans care about track, gymnastics, swimming and even water polo. Even some of the canoe & kayak folks who have made stops here in Wausau. And now with the explosion of different ways to sample the coverage of this event, you can access tons of video & information at any time of the day or night and watch any event live if you want.

London has the most diverse population of any major city in the world so it's only fitting that the Olympics should come to a place where organizers suggest that they can raise a rooting section for any country in the world just from the local population.

There will be jubilation and there will be heartbreak...but the one thing you can count on...it will not be boring.

The calls will grow louder for the Brewers to start making deals as they have fallen farther out of the race with the weekend sweep by the Reds. Although it was encouraging to get word over the weekend that Milwaukee has made a very attractive offer to Zach Grienke. It has always been my opinion that you sign and keep Grienke...He along with Gallardo gives the team a one-two punch that any successful team needs.

A very successful summer league week for the Bucks. They went 4-1 and Tobias Harris showed that he could make a big jump in contributions this coming season.

Packer training camp begins this week. Green Bay and New England are the co-runner ups as the favorites heading into the season. The Vegas oddsmakers for some reason like San Francisco to win the Super Bowl.

The Woodchucks just keep rolling along. They are 15-2 in the second half and hold a two game lead on Madison going into the break. The All-star game is in Madison Tuesday night. The Chucks return to action Thursday as they begin a five game homestand taking on Green Bay. Get out and see the Chucks later this week as they are not home much in the final two weeks of the season.

Happy Birthday to Alison Krauss who turns 41 today...here are a couple of Union Station tunes as the songs of the day

Ghost In This House-Alison Krauss & Union Station (1999) originally done my Shenadoah...Krauss covered this and then included it on her terling live concert CD & DVD in 2002

Choctaw Hayride-Alison Krauss & Union Station (2001) Outstanding picking.from the cd "New Favorite"..featuring the incomparable Jerry Douglas on dobro