Late Olympic Swimming Results

Okay, time to sum up the late swimming results, plus some other things, before we get to track and field:

Michael Phelps is a true gentleman, giving up his place in the final relay race to his team rival Ian Crocker. Crocker swam to gold with the other relay racers, and Phelps still gets the gold for it for his performance in the semifinal that got the U.S. in the final in the first place. He's not done yet - he should still do well in Beijing four years hence.

Amanda Beard, the most talked-out American female swimmer at these Games who isn't Natalie Coughlin, finally got a gold medal in the women's 200-meter breaststroke, her specialty. Meanwhile, Jenny Thompson lost her bid for an individual gold medal, but she still leaves the Olympics as the most decorated American athlete ever. Feel free to use a cutout of her in place of a tree this Christmas. :-)

Gary Hall, Jr. is an egotistical athlete with a big mouth, but seeing as he won a gold medal in the men's 50-meter freestyle swim, he has every right to boast. I'm not so sure he has a right to dress like Rocky Balboa - robe and all - when going out to the pool, though.

Remember when I suggested that Iraq could sail to a gold medal in men's soccer on its momentum alone? Seems that's not so far-fetched. They just beat the Australians, and now they're being seriously considered as medal contenders.

Annia Hatch won the silver in the women's gymnastics vault. I thought she should have won gold, but she seems perfectly happy with second place, so what do I know?

As for track and field, I could discuss Gail Devers . . .but, uh, I really don't want to go there. :-(