Some Final Thoughts....On Beijing

The 29th Olympiad.....

2008 edition has come to a close.....Here are our final thoughts:

China, once know as Communist Red China, put on a really great show. There were zero issues of terrorist threats, no violence, and they treated the United States with a lot of mutual respect and dignity. (Of course they do understand the economic value of our U.S. dollars).

NBC brought you these games via the best technology of our time. Thanks to the NBC family of networks, we were able to watch........everything. Live or taped delay.......we saw it.

Beach Volleyball again led the ratings charge.....I wonder why?

Personally, I could have done without the seemingly endless hours of gymnastics and synchronized swimming.......but .....who am I?

Speaking of gymnastics......Those Chinese gymnasts sure didn't look 16..........but ....if they can still be the best in the world at 12 or 14.....who cares?

Weren't you amazed at the number of athletes....including the "fastest man on earth"....Usain Bolt........from Jamaica, went to colleges ....and trained.......in the United States?

I could have done without all that rowing stuff also.

Remember the glory days of boxing for the USA in the Olympics? Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard? Well , boxing is officially dead in the U.S. The Americans won only one medal. Yes.......one.....and it was a bronze.

Lisa Leslie has ended her Olympic competition in womens' basketball in style. The USA again won the gold.......and Lisa ended .....with a won-lost record of 32-0......Wow!

The Redeem Team is still the story of these Olympics...........They could have easily folded in the championship game against Spain..........But.....the "team" came through.

Here is China's slant on the final medal count .....from a Chinese newspaper(Accenting the Gold, Silver, and Bronze):

1	CHN	51	21	28
2	USA	36	38	36
3	RUS	23	21	28
4	GBR	19	13	15
5	GER	16	10	15

Here is the medal count you will see in U.S. newspapers:

2008 Medals

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
USA	36	38	36	110
CHN	51	21	28	100
RUS	23	21	28	72
GBR	19	13	15	47
AUS	14	15	17	46

• View full medal standings >>

A different perspective.......

Hope to see you in London........2012!

USA 118, Spain 107

The Redemption is complete........

But it was not easy. This Spanish team the Americans beat by 37 points just last week ....gave Uncle Sam's boys all they could handle.

In fact , the U.S. trailed by 5 points in the first quarter, and led by only 2 with just eight minutes left.

That's when the superstars .....as in Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade....took over the game.

Kobe , hitting big shot after big shot.......Wade hitting clutch 3 point goals.....and LeBron bringing that defensive force and will.

The U.S. never panicked.....never lost their composure.....

They never really figured out how to stop Spain on this day........but they slowed then down ....just enough to out score them.

And .......to think I watched the entire game.......at 2 a.m. !!!!

Go figure.....

And congrats.......USA!!


BEIJING - AUGUST 24: (L-R) Kobe Bryant #10, LeBron James #6 and Dwyane Wade #6 of the United States wait to receive the gold medal after defeating Spain in the men's basketball final during Day 16 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Dropping the Baton.......Twice

Not a good day for the USA's mens and womens 4 X 100 meter relay teams....

Olympic Medal Update

As of Saturday, August 23.....China time:

2008 Medals

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
USA	31	36	35	102
CHN	47	17	25	89
RUS	17	18	22	57
GBR	18	13	13	44
AUS	12	14	16	42

• View full medal standings >>

Olympic Update

It's a foregone conclusion....

The United States may win the total medal count.....but China has all the gold.

From NBC sports.....the latest tally:

2008 Medals

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
USA	26	28	28	82
CHN	45	14	20	79
RUS	13	14	18	45
GBR	16	10	11	37
AUS	11	12	13	36

• View full medal standings >>

Hump Day News & Views

The fastest man on earth..........

Bolt.......what a fitting name. (Bolt sets 200m mark to cap sprint double (AP)).......Usain Bolt has put himself in the record books yet again by doing what hasn't been done in the Olympics since 1984......winning both the 100 meter and 200 meter dash. Carl Lewis did it in Los Angeles that year.

Bolt set a new world record with a time of 19.30 eclipsing Michael Johnson's 19.32 time in the 1996 Atlanta games.

Bolt has made Jamaica proud.....That tiny vacation island has now won 4 gold medals and 3 silver........all in track and field.


Another aging star leased out for the stretch run....


Yesterday, Greg Maddox joined the list of future hall of famers like Ken Griffey, Jr and the likes. The San Diego Padres traded Maddox to the L A Dodgers for cash and a player to be named later. ( Dodgers acquire Greg Maddux)

Maddox will bring his 353 major league wins to a Dodger team slugging it out with Arizona to try and win the National League western division. Maddox can still deliver 5 to 6 innings, has pin point control.....and won't be in awe of a pennant race. Good move, L A .





One down.....two to go........

The USA men's basketball team......or the "redeem team" (as they are constantly referred as), blew out Australia today, 116 - 85, in the quarter finals of the Beijing Olympics.

Argentina is next....in the semi-finals. I have never been so sure of anything in my entire life. I said they would not only win........but dominate.....as well.

We always knew the United States had the best pure athletic talent in the world.....but this team is showing that a total "team" effort beats an ego tripped out all-star team.....any day.











Cincinnati ....what message are you sending?

Leave it to the Cincinnati "bungling" Bengals to set yet another precedent when dealing with troubled NFL players. ( Bengals bring back WR Chris Henry).

Yes.....it's true. It was April 3rd of this year, when the Bengals released Chris Henry, following his 5th arrest since 2005, saying his conduct off the field would no longer be tolerated.......and his services were no longer needed.

Well, well.......after injuries to key members of the receiving corps ........the Bengals have decided.....hmmmmmmm....if he can still play.....let's re-sign him. Just another hypocritical decision among the NFL front offices.

This is the same team that also released line backer Odell Thurman for virtually the same reasons........

Hang in there, Odell........there's a chance of injuries in the line backer ranks.....stay by the phone.....these are the Bengals.....

If you can fill a need.......they will forgive and forget.

A Few Things........Learned From the Weekend

Normally....we do this on a Monday......

But Monday came....and Monday went. Sorry, but some of us still have to work for a living. And in my line of work, the hours can get a little crazy.

Anyway........back to what we learned.....

In the Beijing Olympic.........

It was thrilling to watch the 10,000 meter race on Sunday........Ethiopians and Kenyans.....These guys were actually lapping world class runners.

The last 800 meters..........was a sprint.....And when I say sprint.....consider this. The last 2 laps were clocked at 55 seconds each......The race ended up with Ethiopia 1 and 2, with a Kenyan claiming 3rd.

USA 106, Germany 57.......

The Americans played perhaps their best game ..........We said here first.....that this team would dominate...........well........take a look: Americans drub Germany 106-57 in men's…



WFAN has some changes.....

The "Mike and the Mad Dog" show..........is history. Chris "Mad Dog" Russo has left WFAN....Leaving Mike Francesa to go solo. Sources as Russo will sign with Satellite biggie , Sirius. For all of us one time New Yorkers, we remember 66 WFAN, "the fan"........When they took over 66 WNBC....some 20 years ago. Nothing stays the same ...forever. Good luck , dog.





"Transformers"...........was a pretty entertaining movie.

In this .......southern college town.....it was move in day for all incoming University of Georgia freshmen over the weekend. Am I glad.......I've already been there. My daughter is a senior........married...lives off campus. But I still remember her freshmen year.....utter chaos.

Did we...........really learn .......anything?

This weekend?

Olympic Update

Here's the latest medal count....by country....

Courtesy of NBC Sports:

2008 Medals

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
USA	19	20	24	63
CHN	32	13	12	57
AUS	8	10	11	29
RUS	6	10	10	26
GBR	11	6	8	25

• View full medal standings >>

Olympic Update

Here's the latest medal count....through 08/15:

Medal Tracker - Beijing 2008
Rk.	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	USA	14	13	19	46
2	China	26	9	6	41
3	Australia	5	7	8	20
4	Russia	3	8	8	19
5	Korea	6	9	3	18
Full Medal Tracker

Courtesy...CBS Sports

The Freedom....of Expression

It was ....the summer of 1968.....

In Mexico City.......the Olympics. (It actually took place in mid October).....but .....

Tommie Smith and John Carlos of the USA track team, raised their arms straight into the air....and made a fist. On the platform of the medal winners.......after Smith had won the gold in the 200 meters....and Carlos had placed third.

No words..........just an arm raised.....and a fist formed.

Well........The United States of America.....well.......they went .....bananas!

"How dare they disgrace the USA?" "They made a Black Panther signal!!!!!" "They should give there medals back!!!!"

And so forth...........and so on..........The Media crucified these men..........And for what?

For expressing themselves as black men.....going through the trials........that were...........the '60s......Remember 1968? Martin Luther King was assassinated. Robert Kennedy, also. Thee Democratic National Convention? The race riots? Those were ...trying times.

And these two men........chose the forum.....which was the Olympics.....to express themselves....

Fast forward........2008.....Beijing.......

Seems the Spanish basketball team made a statement......expressing themselves.....using their fingers....to "slant" their eyes........China style.

Well ........as usual.....the US media..........has been hammering these guys....calling them racist, etc.

Spain and the rest of world........says. "What's the big deal?"

And we agree......We are so "politically correct" in this nation.........it's become pathetic.....

Lets...........let........people express themselves.......It's really not all that bad.

Volleyball........Can Indeed be Interesting

Women's Beach Volleyball.....that is...



It began here......in the deep south. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics introduced the rest of the world to volleyball.......played in the sand......with 2 person teams.

Put the women teams in bikinis......all of a sudden ......the sport just takes off. Go figure!

Of course, beach volleyball originated back in the 1920's............in Santa Monica, California.

It's popularity was always high out west, and with the television ratings garnered in Atlanta, it has been one of the most watched Olympic events in the 2000 Athens and 2004 Sydney Games.

I like the competitiveness of the game.....the scenery is not bad either.....


Here's what others are saying:


Beach Volleyball's Moment

The competition at Beijing's 12,000-seat Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground is one of the hottest Olympic tickets. The sport, with its beach-party atmosphere featuring impeccably cut and tanned athletes competing in skimpy bathing suits, is seen as having huge entertainment potential, which is why NBC is featuring it live in prime time throughout the Summer Games.
Read more from Wall Street Journal


See........I'm not the only one.

Hump Day News & Views

If....it's Wednesday.....It must be Hump Day.....

A few thoughts......and a little news.



19-17.....And this was a Major League Baseball game....

Last night the Boston Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 19-17, after blowing a major league record 10 run lead.

Talk about your wild games........The evening featured a combined 36 runs, 37 hits, 4 errors and a total of 11 pitchers used.

Here's the box score: Box Score



This Michael Phelps dude is really good.....

At 6' 4", he is an imposing figure.....with a wing span of 6' 7".......He has already won 11 gold medals in his career.

Meet the man...........courtesy of Wikipedia:

Michael Phelps - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Things I think I think..........on a Wednesday....

I always thought John Edwards was a phony........now.....I'm sure of it.

I think Brett Favre will have a tough time in New York .....this season.

I think I'm about to jump on the Chicago Cubs bandwagon.......They are the best team in baseball.........or at least in the National League.

I think it's a good thing the Olympics come only every 4 years........I could not survive all the hype.


Have a great ......Hump Day.

Things We Learned..........From the Weekend

Everybody's coming after Georgia.......

Number one in the pre- season means everybody is taking pot shots at Georgia......Fans, sports-writers, foes.......

But when I heard that even Russia had invaded Georgia late last week.....I must say.....I got a little concerned.

Oh that's a different Georgia?

Never mind.






NBC has these Olympics covered.....24/7.......

The Peacock network that is NBC really has this 29th Olympiad covered. With it's broadcasting family consisting of NBC, MsNBC, CNBC, and the USA network, there is not an hour in the day when the Olympics are not shown.

With the 12 hour time difference.......it works for me. Whether it's Beach Volleyball, boxing, swimming, bike racing, or gymnastics........it's on.....somewhere.

And that's a good thing.



R.I.P...........Isaac Hayes.....

The man who brought us "The Theme from Shaft" music...........wrote the song "Soul Man" made famous by Sam & Dave.......and later starred in Comedy Centrals' "South Park", died yesterday, at the age of 65.

Ironically , Hayes is co-starring with recently deceased Bernie Mac, in a film titled , "Soul Man".....to be released later in the year.

Is that weird.........or what?







Meaningless games of pre-season.....

The NFL got into full pre-season game playing.......and yes it was all .......for the most part.....meaningless. The New England Patriots sat out 26 of their better players.

I don't blame them ..........There is too much invested these days.......and injuries can just ruin a season.





A hint..........of fall in the Air?

Yes........it was faint.....it wasn't much.....

But I could have sworn over this past weekend.....I noticed......Fall is in the air.

Morning temperatures were around 60 degrees.......Cool , for August, in this southern college town.

Relief.....from the dog days of summer........

Won't be long now...

Off......and ......Runinng

A statement was made ......


Last night in Beijing......and this morning in the states.


GAME REPORT: USA 101, China 70


The game was played in China Sunday night......we saw this morning....



I'm so confused....





Team USA put on a spectacular show......over coming a huge crowd.....some fierce 3 point
shooting by China....To pull away at the end.

Let The Games........Begin.....

Beijing, China.......

Very touching moment.....here's a clip of one of the "Sudan Boys" (Lopez Lomong).......Now a US citizen......Who will carry the American flag at the opening ceremonies....

Watch and listen.......courtesy of .....the Associated Press and YouTube....

Hump Day News & Views

And we wonder why the rest of the world hates us...

Leave it to Americans.....to always try to make a point. Yes, Beijing, which is hosting this year's Olympics......has a slight smog problem. Seems the air might be a tad unsafe at times.

Well, our USA cycling team arrived Wednesday wearing black pollution masks. Of course, this immediately pissed off all of China.

Has the cycling team ever heard the term "Ugly American"? China knows it has a smog problem. They have been shutting down plants and manufacturers for months now, and didn't deserve the "rub it in your face" actions of a few snobbish, spoiled, American athletes.



A much needed win........

The Atlanta Braves won a baseball game last night. Not a big deal. They are just playing out the string........too far out of the pennant race.

But guess who the winning pitcher was? Yep! None other than Mike Hampton himself. Hampton got his first win in about 3 years......hit an RBI double....and helped the Braves defeat the San Francisco Giants, 11-4.

With the recent loss of Brave's announcer, Skip Caray..........and the stark realization this season is done.....it was good to see a win.

And it was better to see it with Mike Hampton pitching.



Who's cover ....is it?

Sports Illustrated.....is playing mind games with college football fans. The magazine has a long standing tradition of having different covers for different geographic regions.....But come on........this is .....all south.

I've seen 2 completely different covers for the August 11th edition. Which will it be, guys?

























USA Men's basketball team struggled?


Yes they did......

In it's final exhibition game against Australia, the US led by only four points midway through the third quarter and was up only seven in the fourth, but held on to win, 87-76. The Aussies rested their best player, Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut, who sat out the game.

Guys.......get real. We here at 5 on Five were bold enough to predict you would not only win the gold medal.......but dominate as well.

And dominating is not shooting 3 of 18.....from the 3 point line. Or hitting just 20 of 33 from the foul line. Let's just hope ......you needed a game like this one...to get it out of your system.




Some .....things...I think ........I think.......

I think it's hot.....my body ...knows...it's hot. In this southern college town, today....it was 99 degrees.....and humid.....and very uncomfortable.

I think ......Obama needs to lighten up with all the TV commercials.....one every ten minutes it seems. All it's doing is pissing off the conservatives......don't peak too early.....Save it for November, man.

I don't think my "DIRECTV" likes the heat either....several channels are digitally .....screwed up in the heat of the day......only to come back to normal....when the sun goes down. Go figure.

I think....I'm tired.....at least my eyelids are.......and the rest of me will follow.

Have a great Hump Day.