We caught this interesting article, "10 Suggestions to boost the Olympics" in USA Today by Bruce Horovitz and Laura Petrecca. As you know, television viewing is way, way down this year - through Wednesday it was down 19% from the 1998 Nagano Games and down 33% from 2002 Salt Lake City Games!

The following are their top 10 suggestions to boost the Olympics' image. Post to let us know if you agree and/or if you have any more ideas:

1. Put more 'reality' in Olympic TV. Incorporate ideas such as: "athlete confessional rooms," outfit athletes with minicams and microphones that they wear 24/7 and set up hidden cameras in the Olympic Village to catch the late night action.

2. Let viewers have a say. Much like televised compeitions on American Idol, give official judges the last word, but give viewers a voice with text messaging and online voting.

3. Tap more tech. Rather than banking on the younger set watching TV, Olympic organizers need to move faster in distributing content through other media such as podcasting, streaming video, text messaging and ring tones.

4. Spotlight big rivalries. Remember the "Miracle on Ice?"

5. Decide more medals head-to-head.Gold, silver and bronze medals in timed events could be decided by a race of all three. The less done by the clock the better.

6. Use more and hipper music and use less and hipper talk. Make the events look more like a music video on TV. For example, when commentating on events such as snowboarding use more young, hip voices.

7. Go back to the 4-year wait. The 2-year frequency creates Olympic fatigue.

8. Be less predictable.

9. Be more extreme. Add more hardcore exciting events.

10. Rethink the Olympic mission. Have more critical decisions made by the athletes or organizers not sponsors andd/or networks.

According to NBC Universal Sports and Olympics chariman Dick Ebersol, this Thursday, "is shaping up to be the most competitive night in the history of American television."

NBC's night of women's skating - the highest-rated segment for most every Winter Olympics - will compete with Fox's American Idol, ABC's Dancing With the Stars and CBS's Survivor.

Since the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, NBC has led the prime time ratings war. What will you watch and why all the competition? Why is the Olympics losing its luster? Well, there are a number of theories to explain the drop, and here is our best shot at a top 10 list:

1. Too many television entertainment choices and tougher competitors. During the Olympics' golden era in the 60s, there were only three major networks, cable was just starting out, video cassettes weren't invented, and the Internet was a "half pipe-dream." And, to add to the fury, American Idol is pounding the Olympics in the ratings war by a 2 to 1 ratio and Survivor, Lost and Dancing with the Stars are all putting the hurt on.
2. No Iron Curtain. The Olympics' golden era occurred during the battles between the East vs. the West - the eastern bloc countries of the Soviet Union and the teams/athletes representing the West. Remember, the issues throughout two consecutive Olympic games? The 1980 Moscow games, were boycotted by most of the Western countries and most of the Soviet/Communist countries returned the favor and boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles games.
3. It is a smaller world today. Today we see international competition almost daily and are not as unique as they were years ago.
4. Lack of an Amateur Spirit. Where are the mythical amateur athletes? We need more agony and triumph! No Michele Kwan (although Sasha Cohen and Kwan's replacement, Emily Hughes may help). No wins by Bode Miller. We loved what commentator Skip Bayless said on ESPN2's morning show Cold Pizza: "The Winter Olympics were the original American Idol: Unknown amateur comes from nowhere to become a prime-time star. Dorothy Hamill was Kelly Clarkson. Now the mutant offspring is devouring the original."
5. Significant time difference. Obviously, games that take place in the United States - or in the same time zones - tend to produce higher ratings then games held in far away places. Americans can find out results long before NBC goes on the air due to the six to nine hour time difference between Italy and the USA.
6. Pre-packaged games. Too much soap opera build-up and not enough live action. There has to be a better way to package prime-time coverage and maintain a degree of honest reporting. Prime-time reporters that talk about events that are about to happen while they already did and assume we do not know the outcome insult our intelligence.
7. Not the best athletes in the world. The Summer Olympics have more events and draw athletes from all across the world whereas most of the athletes in the winter games come from the Northern Hemisphere.
8. Unpopular winter sports. Winter Olympic sports are less known and played than those of the Summer Olympics. Rules are not as familiar to families and kids and these sports aren't as competitively played - even for fun - on a recreational level.
9. NBC is not the top network. NBC is the number three network fourth behind Fox in the 18-49 age group. Viewers follow leaders.
10. Performance enhancing drugs and pro athletes. Accusations and charges that athletes used performance-enhancing drugs, or that many Olympians are professionals has affected the purists.

Your thoughts?

We just can't believe how our times have changed.

American Idol is crushing the Winter Olympics in viewership ratings and Dancing with the Stars is closing in.

If you asked us 20 years ago - check that - even 10 years ago that we'd spend more time watching a reality series than the Olympics we would have said that you were crazy.

Maybe we are crazy, but it looks like a lot of you are too! Welcome aboard!

Click here to read a related story for last week's ratings battle.

What are your thoughts why this is happening?

Hey Locker Room fans, we're taking a little R&R this week following the Super Steelers great run and will be back on the air on WBGG-AM, FOX SPORTS RADIO 970AM live and local on Monday, February 20th at 7:00 a.m..

If you're heading to the Greater Pittsburgh Auto Show this weekend, February 18-19, stop by the Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge display and say "hello!" We'll be signing autographs from Noon to 3:00 p.m. and you can register to win autographed footballs and an exlusive lunch with us! Hope to see you there!

One of the most unbelievable, exciting and memorable days of our lives as we're sure it was for all of you. Steelers fans are simply the best. Enjoy this great article from the Post-Gazette's Steve Levin which recaps this glorious day!

Not that you need anything else to get you psyched for Super Sunday, but click here for a great video that was sent along to us. You gotta love playing football in February - especially STEELERS FOOTBALL!

We have freedom that's unique to our country and one that is carefully protected by some pretty brave men and women of the US Armed Forces stationed throughout the world.

Here in Detroit, we had the privilege of seeing first hand the awesome talent, dedication and bravery of these Americans through the eyes of the Coast Guard and the steps they've taken to protect the fans and citizens of Detroit this special week. We went up in an HU25 with US Coast Guard crew AMT2 Josh Dulong - Charlotte, NC (Myers High School), LT Dan Warren - Roscommon, MI (Roscommon High School), LCDR Chris Zorman - Emmaus, PA (Emmaus High School), AVT2 Jose Colon - Dunn, NC (Harnett Central High School). All are stationed at US Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, MA.

We took part in an exercise where we were "bad guys" in Ford Field's airspace while the Air National Guard "good guys" in their F16s came up beside us - 15 feet off our wings - and very convincingly pursuaded us to pull over! We're glad that they're on our side!

What a rush! Check out this video from CNN and you'll see what we mean.

Thank you men for one of the most inspiring, exhilarating, and memorable experiences we've ever had.

We'll never forget our special day with you.

May God Bless you and God Speed to all of you brave service men and women.

We salute you for you are true heroes and we appreciate all you do for all of us.

Steelers Coach Dick LeBeau in a media version of "bull in the ring!"

We heard Shaun Alexander talk about how it's, "so cool to just to be here!" Don't get us wrong, he's a great player, but it's not the first time we heard that comment from a Seahawks player. It sure sound like Seattle is content with just making it to the game. Seems to us that the Steelers are ready, confident and a whole lot hungrier, meaner and won't be denied. They're on a mission to win!

Lots of players like El are getting into the media frenzy too - he's so wired! Camera - $500, Cell phone - $200, playing on Super Bowl Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers? Priceless!

Heck, even Coach Bill Cowher is smiling - in a sea of media no less - we told you it's nuts here! It will be all business Sunday - you can be sure of that!

Photo credits; Pittsburgh Steelers/Mike Fabus

It's been crazy since we got here and it's only going to get crazier!
Today (in a few hours) we're going to have Tim Ryan from Fox Sports and Sirius Radio on the air. In addition, we have Steelers Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert and College Scout Dan Rooney Jr., who discovered Willie Parker! Joe Bendel, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Steelers' beat reporter will be on too.

On Thursday, Rod Woodson - one the greatest Steelers ever - will be on the air with us. On Friday, we'll be talking to Dr. Z - Paul Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated who has been to 38 OUT OF 39 SUPER BOWLS!

We'll have a lot more super guests throughout the week so tune it early and often!

Temperature's are a-rising - we got Super Bowl Fever!