Overheard: Going for the gold

The bar patrons chatted amicably over the music while two TVs soundlessly showed the Orioles working hard to cement their last-place standing in the American League East. The Olympic swimming airing on three other screens seemed to be a more entertaining option.

A few minutes later, in a scene that would've made a great commercial for beer, jeans or pickup trucks, the music was turned down and the TV volume turned up. Everyone took a break from their cocktails, and the bar grew quiet. Michael Phelps was about to swim.

Oh, sure, it was close for a couple meters. But this was the butterfly, Phelps' specialty, and by the...