The Summer Olympics are more glamorous than their counterpart every four winters. And of all the competitions being held in Rio de Janeiro over the next two weeks, none are more familiar than basketball, gymnastics, swimming, and track and field.

After all the discussions about crime, poverty, pollution, corruption and the Zika virus, it’s now time to shift our attention to the actual games at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Serena Williams turns 35 in September, which is hard enough to believe by itself. But part of her birthday celebration could include capturing the modern record for major championships if she wins the U.S. Open earlier that month.

LeBron James isn’t an Alpha, a Kappa, an Omega or a Sigma. But his tale of rising and falling and rising yet again reads like a classic Greek drama that fraternity brothers might study in college.

Superstar Kevin Durant was sniffling, getting teary-eyed and speaking with a cracked voice toward the end of his acceptance speech in 2014 after winning the NBA MVP award.

The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, greatly enhanced by Michael Jordan’s return after a two-year hiatus, won an NBA record 72 games en route to three consecutive titles.

It’s never too late to make amends, even 69 years after the fact. The Philadelphia City Council proved as much on March 31, when it unanimously passed a resolution honoring Jackie Robinson and officially apologizing for the treatment he endured while visiting in 1947, the year he broke Major League Baseball’s color…

Those who dislike Cam Newton have their reasons. His bright-white smile—as flawless as the Carolina Panthers’ 13-0 record—is a good place to start.

“I don’t want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments.” —Arthur Ashe

It’s the mentality in football: Playing hurt. Playing in pain. Playing with a concussion. NFL star Emmitt Smith recently said that he did it. His peers did it. And others will continue to do it. It’s part of the sport.

Are the outliers “in?”

Most folks have made up their minds about quarterback Jameis Winston, having read and heard enough about misbehavior and alleged misdeeds by the Heisman Trophy winner from Florida State University. They have been inundated by reports of the silly stuff—stolen crab legs and soda, obscenities screamed in public, BB-gun…

If the number seven represents completion, Tiger Woods has about 18 months until his roller coaster comes to an end.

Where was Public Enemy when we needed them?

Saturday’s long-awaited Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao bout is a fight of differences. Of excess and access. Of past and present. Of crime and punishment (or lack thereof).

(The Root) — Everything in life is relative, and sports are no different.

(The Root) — With all due respect to President Obama, Mitt Romney is no Jeremy Lin.

(The Root) — Allen Pinkett, a former star halfback and current radio analyst for Notre Dame, was sincere Wednesday when he said the Fighting Irish need "a few bad citizens" on their roster in order to succeed at the highest levels of college football.

(The Root) — It's official: The NFL's regular officials won't be in action when the season kicks off on Wednesday. Hard as it is to believe, the world's richest and most powerful sports league will entrust its product to officials who aren't even at the top level in college!

(The Root) — I'm glad that troubled Dallas Cowboys star receiver Dez Bryant realizes the error of his ways. I'm glad that he wants to make some changes. And I'm glad that people are in place to help him.