Every two years, we all get a chance to band together against the world.

We all don our USA gear, we watch things we wouldn’t dream of watching at any other time — we’re talking to you, curling — and we get understandably upset when a French figure skating judge’s decisions seem a little sketchy.

There’s always good drama and controversy, and you know that Bob Costas will have a story that will pull on even the tightest of heartstrings.

For two weeks in the winters and summers of even-numbered years, our national pride outweighs anything else in our lives, distracting us from even the most disappointing things around us — for instance, a 73–59 loss at Kansas on Saturday.

But isn’t rooting for the United States in the Olympics a little like being a Yankees fan or cheering for North Carolina in March?

Of course, we bring home a boat-load of medals. But shouldn’t that be expected for the nation with the most athletes competing?

Don’t get us wrong: We love Apollo Anton Ohno, Lindsay Vonn and Shaun White as much as anybody else, but there’s more out there than just the red, white and blue.

Over the 14 days that remain in competition, the 2,415 other athletes not clad in USA clothing will likely dazzle and amaze you.

Our friendly neighbor to the north, Canada, will give us at least one feel-good story in an event they weren’t supposed to win. Or, you can watch the stacked hockey team — featuring names like Sidney Crosby, Jerome Iginla and Martin Brodeur — take to the ice seeking the country’s eighth gold medal and its first since 2002.

The Canadians also put on a wonderful show with their opening ceremony — despite some technical difficulties and appearances from Sarah McLachlan and k.d. lang — and gave us the opportunity to see “The Great One” one more time, when Wayne Gretzkey lit the torch Friday night.

Germany will likely pose the greatest threat to the American’s podium hopes, however. The Germans took home the most golds from Turin in 2006 and won the overall medal count with a games-high 29.

But what about the countries that were only able to qualify one athlete? Don’t tell me you don’t want to see the athletes of Tajikistan, Jamaica and Ethiopia bring home a medal. What could possibly make for a better story?

Possibly the story of the athletes of the Republic of Georgia.

Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, died during a training run Friday at Whistler’s luge course, a track that has been called the fastest in the world. Athletes of the games have questioned if things are being pushed too far, and the start of the luge course was moved down the track to reduce speeds, but the real impact came during the opening ceremony.

The seven Georgian athletes who walked in had donned black arm bands and scarves to honor Kumaritashvili. A black ribbon had been draped across their red and white flag. They were greeted with the warmest welcome the 60,000-plus crowd at Vancouver’s BC Place could muster, but the looks on their tear-stained faces told the story. International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said Kumaritashvili’s death “clearly casts a shadow over these games.” But through the shadows there will be a story for everyone.

Even if you’re not a Yankees fan.

Go world.