Today it ends. We close the curtain on Omaha’s 2012 summer sports extravaganza.

Two overlapping multi-day, nationally televised sporting events — within three blocks of each other in north downtown.

As a sports fan, it doesn’t get much better — unless, you know, Nebraska or Creighton is winning a national title.

Tom Shatel wrote this morning about whether the Swim Trials should return in 2016 — and what’s next for Omaha.

The 2013 Figure Skating championships are coming. Same for the ’13 Senior U.S. Open. There will be others. But what else do you want? If you could put a big event in Omaha in the next few years, what would it be?

Gymnastics? Another volleyball final four? A Frozen Four?

You tell me.

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>> When Nebraska announced its move to the Big Ten, you could count on one hand the number of traditional linebackers on the roster. Bo Pelini didn’t need ‘em. In the Big 12, he could fill his defense with 210-pound hybrids like Dejon Gomes and Eric Hagg.

In the Big Ten, that dog won’t hunt. Which is apparently why Pelini is reshaping his defense. He signed four linebackers in the 2012 class. Pelini just picked up his third for 2013. Marcus Newby, a four-star outside linebacker from Maryland, announced his commitment this morning.

>> Michael Phelps is on track to chase a boatload of golds again. But even though Phelps beat Ryan Lochte head-to-head in three of four races, I think Lochte was just as impressive this week.

Racing three times Saturday night was incredible. And Sunday, Lochte just missed an Olympic spot in the 100 butterfly, an event where he doesn’t have much history. The man is immensely talented and competitive.

>> Check out Sam McKewon’s Big Red blog post this morning about Nebraska’s standing in the Sears Director’s Cup. In almost two decades of all-sports rankings, Nebraska has never finished worse.

Most Husker fans, I believe, would say the athletic department is very strong. The coaches are likable. Facilities are booming, even in a rough economic time. But the products on the actual fields are struggling. You won’t find many weak programs, but there are too many average ones.

>> Here’s your weekly Tiger update: He won again. He looked great most of the tournament. He is definitely equipped to win the British Open or PGA Championship. However, Tiger’s remark after the win was needlessly arrogant. Nobody said you’d never win again, Tiger.

>> Read this from Dan Wetzel about Joe Paterno.

>> Should the NCAA punish Penn State? I say no. Dennis Dodd says yes.

>> The 100-meter drama in Eugene, Ore. keeps getting weirder.

>> Finally, 1620 The Zone announced this morning that The Schick and Nick Show is ending. I’ll have some thoughts later in the week. But I will miss it enormously.