The stories behind the glory …

Although my addiction to Wii Sports Resort has turned me into a wicked table tennis champ, I’ve never been what anyone would consider athletically gifted. I am, however, one hell of a cheerleader. And I’m a sucker for just about any sport, so long as there’s good-spirited competition and a human-interest angle to sink my teeth into.

Which means that the 2010 Winter Olympics are just about my favorite contest on TV since The Amazing Race . I love it all … figure skating, snowboarding, bobsledding, speed skating, the luge and its even more-insane cousin the skeleton, skiing and, yup, even curling (although I still don’t know what the point of this particular “sport” is).

Each Olympian has proven they’re one of the best athletes in the world, and the commentators do an excellent job filling us in on the sacrifices and triumphs these participants have made to get to the pinnacle of sporting perfection. Thanks to these plentiful backstories, I feel justified in cheering for the underdogs, hoping harder for the athletes overcoming the greatest struggles. Every unexpected conquest seems a victory for anyone who’s ever beaten the odds.

Competitions run through February 28, a lot of them televised locally on NBC and USA.

How about you … are you a fan of the Olympics? Take a second to cast your vote in our latest poll. (You’ll find it over there on the right side of the screen, under my picture and the ad.)

Do you have a favorite story behind the glory? I want to know what it is! Leave a comment and get the conversation started …