Olympics Are Here And So Is Wang Zhi Zhi

The Olympics started off lukewarm until the U.S. men swimmers humiliated the French swimmers chokers in the pool.

It inspired me to stay up on Sunday night through Monday morning watching rowing, and now am totally consumed in everything Olympics.

Early this morning, two basketball medal hopefuls Spain and China needed overtime to decide their contest. Yao Ming fouled out (of course) and China choked away a 15-point lead in the 85-75 final. Pau Gasol and the Spaniards ruined the triumphant return of ex-Dallas Maverick Wang Zhi Zhi, who looked like the player he never was in the NBA. Wang carried China throughout, hitting jumpers en route to 15 points and even tying the score at 72 apiece to set up overtime.

Gasol, who had 29 points and eight boards, actually showed up during crunch time, and I am sure Kobe really enjoyed watching his Laker teammate come through in an important game. Spain's coach may have seen the NBA Finals because Pau was curiously on the bench with a couple minutes left in regulation, replaced by his younger brother Marc.

I guess all the Lakers needed was an overtime game in the Finals to get an aggressive Pau. Silly Spaniards, the American squad used four quarters to beat China by 31.

Here is to hoping that Wang can don(g) a Clippers jersey again.

And Michael Phelps is a beast in the pool going three-for-three in achieving gold so far. Phoebe Cates was the last reason I watched anything associated with a pool.

Oh, and the Chinese trapeze artists are crazy good at gymnastics ... beating the surprisingly-competitive third place American men squad.