Tuesday, August 7, 2012

EYES ON LONDON: Lebron, Team USA face Argentina

United States' Lebron James (6) shoots over Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas (14) during their men's preliminary round basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Sergio Perez, Pool)

United States' Lebron James (6) shoots over Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas (14) during their men's preliminary round basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Sergio Perez, Pool)

An image of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is projected on the Parliament building at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Bolt overwhelmed a star-studded field Sunday to win the 100-meters in 9.63 seconds, an Olympic record that let him join Carl Lewis as the only men with consecutive gold medals in the marquee track and field event at the Summer Games. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Teresa Frassinetti of Italy reacts after a 9-6 lost to the United States in a women's water polo quarterfinal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

United States' Sanya Richards-Ross, left, is embraced by United States' Deedee Trotter after she won gold in the women's 400-meter final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

People cheer as they watch Olympic sprinters Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake competing in the 100 m dash at the London Olympics on a large TV screen set up at the national stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012. A crowd of roughly 500 people on the grounds of the national stadium cheered wildly as Bolt crossed the finish line of the 100-meter dash in 9.63 seconds, many dancing and chanting. A group of drummers performed during the meeting. (AP Photo/David McFadden)

(AP) ? Around the 2012 Olympics and its host city with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of the games to you:

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AMERICANS REGROUP

Lithuania gave the Americans a scare in their last game. Now LeBron James and Co. face a team even more talented.

Team USA plays Argentina on Monday, looking to reassert themselves after nipping Lithuania 99-94 on Saturday. Carmelo Anthony says the game woke them up and they're ready to get back to dominating.

"It was a little bit tighter than what we expected," Anthony says. "Lithuania was focused, and it kind of caught us on our heels. We won't get caught on our heels again."

Argentina features NBA stars Manu Ginobili and Luis Scola, who lost one game to France in pool play.

? Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://www.twitter.com/APKrawczynski

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BOLT TWEETS

Hours after winning a second consecutive Olympic gold in the 100 meters, Usain Bolt took a moment to tweet a message of support for injured Jamaican teammate Asafa Powell.

Bolt ? whose handle is (at)usainbolt ? wrote: "Respect bossy..hope u get well soon.. You started this Jamaican take over (at)officialasafa"

Powell, who held the 100 world record from 2005 until Bolt claimed it in 2008, pulled up with a groin injury Sunday and finished last in the dash. Bolt won in an Olympic-record 9.63 seconds.

What's not clear is whether Powell will be able to help Bolt and Jamaica try to defend their title in the 4x100 relay. That event's heats are Friday night.

"I got out of the starting blocks and stumbled," Powell said Sunday at the stadium. "I reinjured my groin and I couldn't push."

? Howard Fendrich ? Twitter http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

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GOLDEN CAMP MOMENT

The Jacksonville Jaguars ended practice in a most unusual manner on Sunday ? they watched the wife of one of their players win Olympic gold.

Not only did the Jaguars allow cornerback Aaron Ross to leave the team and be in London to watch his wife in person at Olympic Stadium, but the entire team huddled back home to watch the race as well.

Sanya Richards-Ross didn't let them down, either ? winning gold in the 400 meters.

"Well, that was a good way to finish practice," Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey said. "That was a neat experience for the players. I don't think any of them knew the outcome."

Mularkey invited the 1,200 fans at practice to watch the tape of the race with the team. He had the Jaguars video department tape the race off of a live Internet showing, as NBC wasn't going to broadcast the race until later in the evening.

Aaron Ross is expected back with the team in a couple days.

"This brought us a little closer as a team," Mularkey said.

? Tim Reynolds ? Twitter http://www.twitter.com/ByTimReynolds

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NEXT CAREER

American swimmer Tyler Clary says he's considering a career as a race car driver when he hangs up his Speedo.

The gold medalist in the 200-meter backstroke said he's attended races at the track in Fontana, Calif., and, last year, participated with an off-road racing team.

"I want to take a serious shot at being a professional race car driver after swimming's over," Clary said on Sunday night's "Wind Tunnel" program on Speed Channel.

"It's funny because when you initially tell people that, you get laughs, complete surprise, but I know that this is something I could be really good at and, like I said, I want to take a serious shot at it."

He attended the IndyCar race at Long Beach this year. He also spent time with the CEO of the Skip Barber Racing School and is trying to find a way to participate in some of their programs.

"There's also the possibility of a shootout in January where I could compete against some other regional hotshots," Clary said. "If I had a way of saying, as far as racing goes, this is what I'll be doing after swimming is over, I'd be in a Formula One car. But I'm the type of guy that's ... just get me in a car and I'll be happy. If it's an Indy car, a rally car, a stock car, off-road racing would be amazing, too. Any of that stuff. I just really have a passion for auto racing and I really want to drive."

? Jenna Fryer ? Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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BOTTLE TOSS

A plastic bottle was thrown on the track of the men's 100-meter final about a second before the start, landing about 10 meters behind the runners.

Scotland Yard said a suspect is being held on suspicion of causing a public nuisance. Police said the 40-year-old man was heard shouting abusive language before he threw the bottle. His name was not immediately released.

Several runners said they didn't know about the bottle until reporters told them about it afterward.

The bottle bounced a few times and came to rest in the lane occupied by Jamaica's Yohan Blake, who finished second in the race.

"I was so focused, I didn't see anything," Blake said.

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BUS STOP

"Follow me, lads."

And with that, the volunteer, whose identity will remain our secret, took off running. One of my AP colleagues and I had just missed a bus to East London University to cover the U.S. men's basketball practice and were going to have to wait at least 30 minutes for the next one. Seeing ? and hearing ? our frustration, the kind gentleman hustled outside the busy terminal at the media press center, and was able to stop the bus before it left the Olympic Park area.

Running into the street, he flagged down the driver ? a performance worthy of a gold medal.

I could only offer a handshake and my thanks to the stranger, who probably violated a half dozen rules and laws to get us on the bus.

"So naughty," the smiling driver said as we boarded.

? Tom Withers ? Twitter http://twitter.com/twithersAP

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BLACK EYES

Water polo: It's like handball with added water.

I stopped by the water polo pool and the Copper Box that hosts handball at the Olympic Park today and was struck by how similar the two sports are. Water seems like the only difference.

The other thing that hit me. How tough both sports are.

I've never seen so many women sporting black eyes as I did at the polo pool.

? Mike Corder ? Twitter http://twitter.com/mikecorder

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NOT DISAPPOINTED

World champion Yohan Blake said he's not disappointed about his second place finish in the 100-meter dash, behind his teammate and training partner, Usain Bolt.

"I came close tonight. It has been really good running with the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt," Blake said.

"I'm not disappointed. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. You never know what can happen. I think the 200 meters will be interesting."

Blake also hinted that he might run the 4x400 relay: "You never know. The finals. You never know."

? Jenna Fryer ? Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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A MOMENT WORTH BRONZING

Sometimes, finishing third has its benefits.

Greg Searle was part of an eight-man British rowing crew that won bronze, a disappointment for the 40-year-old, who came out of retirement in hopes of replicating his gold-winning performance in Barcelona two decades ago. Searle was finding himself consigned to a footnote in a Great Britain team that has been collecting golds as quick as it can paddle.

But as Searle's Twitter feed ? (at)GregSearle2012 ? demonstrated Sunday, he's just had an Olympic brush with greatness.

"Look who I made friends with at the handball," he offers his followers in a teasing caption to a photo link.

Click! And there Searle is, displaying a Cheshire cat grim, arm in arm with ... Kate Middleton, a.k.a. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

See the photo here: http://pic.twitter.com/KrJoeA05

? Shawn Pogatchnik ? Twitter http://twitter.com/ShawnPogatchnik

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GOLDEN MCNUGGETS

Usain Bolt thinks London has done a great job with the games, calling Britain, "a wonderful place."

And yes, the McDonald's over here tastes just as good as it does everywhere else. Bolt said he's had "a few nuggets, I'm not going to lie." He also had a wrap from his favorite fast-food place as part of his pre-race fuel.

"It was healthy, so don't judge me," he said, drawing laughs.

Bolt will be collecting his 100-meter medal on Monday, the 50th anniversary of Jamaica's independence from Britain.

"I wanted to give Jamaica a great birthday present, and I think that's a good start," he said. "I'm sure it will be a wonderful feat for all of the people in Jamaica to stand up and sing the national anthem."

? Jenna Fryer ? Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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QUICKQUOTE: 'LEGEND'

"I'm one step closer to being a legend." ? Usain Bolt on winning the 100 meters in 9.63 seconds, a new Olympic record.

? Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://www.twitter.com/APKrawczynski

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POWER IN THE STRETCH

It's been called the longest sprint ? a lot can happen in the 400 between the starting gun and the finish line.

Sanya Richards-Ross was behind Amantle Montsho of Botswana as they made the turn, but the tiny American runner accelerated through the stretch to win the Olympic 400-meter race Sunday.

Richards-Ross's time of 49.55 edged out the defending champion, Christine Ohuruogu of Britain, who also deployed a strong kick to finish in 49.70. American DeeDee Trotter won the bronze.

It was the first U.S. gold in track and field at the London Games ? and it was a long time coming for Richards-Ross, who sobbed at the Beijing Bird's Nest Stadium when she finished third in 2008.

? Sheila Norman-Culp ? Twitter http://twitter.com/snormanculp

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EDITOR'S NOTE ? "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item, and get even more AP updates from the Games here: http://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-08-06-OLY-Eyes-on-London-Package/id-6e5353a59fdc41b1ae8afaa36bccd37e

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