This final note today, catching up to where we started, that way modern life has of sucking all the fun out of a once-every-four-years global celebration of sport.

The sports blog Deadspin took its turn today, cross-referencing current prices on precious metals exchanges with Olympic hardware. Gold medals, it turns out, are mostly silver with a gilded layer on top. Street value about $644; silver medals are about $330. Bronze -- mostly zinc and tin -- worth $5.

Or, if you look at it the right way: Priceless.