Who loves the Winter Olympics?

I love the Winter Olympics. The frigid pageantry, the heady mixture of patriotism and vicarious adrenaline, the parade of white-knuckle sports I only have to pay attention to once every four years. The summer games can't compare. The uniforms aren't as cool, the backdrops not as spectacular. The Summer Olympics lack the danger and speed of downhill or luge. They're too sprawling, too unfocused, too overwhelming.

The Winter Olympics can turn speed skating -- which has all the natural charisma of paint drying -- into high drama. The winter games are silly -- one of my all-time favorite television spectacles was seeing the rock band Kiss slide out on a moveable stage onto the ice at the Salt Lake closing ceremonies. High comedy and a great show.

So yeah, I'll be watching tonight and for the next two weeks.