1. So, how cool is it that Missoula swimmer Katharine Berkoff won an Olympics bronze medal in Paris?
John Letasky: That’s quite the accomplishment and something not too many people have done. Way to go!
Jake Iverson: If you’re going to become an Olympic swimming medal winner, it’s gotta help to come from a town with so much water they wrote a bestselling book (and movie) about it.
Victor Flores: It’s remarkable, especially considering she’s one of the fastest women’s 100 backstroke swimmers in history and looked to be in great shape to win gold for the first half of the race.
Gavin Derkatch: Berkoff represented the United States and Montana admirably. An incredible accomplishment.
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Briar Napier: Proof that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, you’ve got a shot with hard work, talent and performing when the lights are brightest.
2. Are you counting the days down until the NFL season?
John Letasky: I don’t know if I’m counting them down, but I am hoping to try and take in more NFL games this fall than in recent memory.
Jake Iverson: I’m a Minnesota Vikings fan, so I dread Week 1 kind of like how kids dread the first day of school.
Victor Flores: I will soon if the SF Giants don’t vault into true playoff contention.
Gavin Derkatch: I always am. There’s nothing like football season, especially being on the sidelines at high school and Frontier Conference games.
Briar Napier: I’m a bit scared to find out if Joe Burrow’s blonde buzzcut becomes instantly iconic or one of the biggest punchlines of the season.
3. Olympic rugby player Nicole Heavirland of Whitefish challenged Jason Kelce to arm wrestle. Who is one celebrity/athlete you wouldn’t want to arm wrestle?
John Letasky: I don’t even have to adventure away from Billings for this answer — the “Blond Bear” Jim Wright.
Jake Iverson: All of them! I don’t want to arm wrestle anyone. I prefer my arm bones in their current, non-broken state.
Victor Flores: Max Scherzer. Not only does he have a strong right arm from his many years of pitching, he’s one of the most intense athletes ever. He might try to rip my UCL.
Gavin Derkatch: The list is long. At the top is probably Aaron Donald. He is a freak of nature.
Briar Napier: Only Letasky and the professional wrestling fans reading this will understand why — “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner.
4. What Olympics event do you think would be the most fun to experience live?
John Letasky: Gymnastics draws the celebrity crowd, but after watching a little bit of it perhaps water polo … or women’s beach volleyball.
Jake Iverson: Gymnastics seems to be the most electric crowd. Simone Biles gets louder cheers than most rock stars (as she should).
Victor Flores: I’m with Briar. Experiencing any relay or individual sprinting event in person would be electric.
Gavin Derkatch: I’d love to experience the intensity of the swimming relays.
Briar Napier: Without question, the 4×100-meter relay. It’s the most pulsating track event already, but throw in Olympic medals and it’s the maddest dash in sports.
5. When was the last time you used a pencil sharpener?
John Letasky: I’m old school and use a pencil at work daily, so I still find my way to the pencil sharpener — just like in grade school.
Jake Iverson: I’ve never used it, but I did recently win one at a holiday party hosted by the Associated Press’ Matt Brown (AP parties go crazy).
Victor Flores: Probably college. I do use pencils fairly often — for keeping score when I golf — but I never sharpen them because every course offers fresh ones for free.
Gavin Derkatch: I’d guess probably high school, and that was only when I had managed to somehow lose all of my pens.
Briar Napier: High school. I switched to pen only long ago.
