Ryan Lochte Wins Men's 400m Individual Medley

It would have been a lot more interesting without NBC's tape delay --- the all day tape delay, seriously. I'd been reading about Phelps' collapse since morning time. But nothing really illustrates how bad it was than watching the race itself. See: "It's Ryan Lochte's time in 400 IM."

And here's Bill Plaschke, at the Los Angeles Times, "London Olympics: Without burning desire, Michael Phelps flames out":

LONDON — The torch wasn't exactly passed. The torch was fumbled and dropped and floating alongside the thrashing Michael Phelps before Ryan Lochte cradled it in his giant grip and sprinted to the wall.

Lochte became the best swimmer in the United States on Saturday night, but it didn't happen the way it was supposed to happen. He didn't steal the title in a dramatic duel with one of the greatest of Olympians. He casually picked it off the weary flotsam of a shrugging hero who seems less interested and more confused with every lap.

Ryan Lochte shined, but the bigger story was Michael Phelps' sinking.

Keep reading. It's a brutal commentary.