When it comes to this nation's stick-and-ball sports as worthy Olympic pursuits, the United States apparently is damned if it dominates and damned if it doesn't.

The new school year is just around the corner, and school sports teams are already gearing up with practice and scrimmages.

BEIJING, Aug. 18 -- Tens of thousands of people had come to glimpse China's megastar hurdler at a mere qualifying heat on Monday. The anticipation was so great that, at first, when spectators saw a wincing Liu Xiang pull out of the race, there was only stunned silence.

Beijing - Ever brighter, ever tighter - hot pants for the sprints, ringed socks for the long jump, whole-body condoms for swimming. You'd think the Olympics were a fashion, not sports, show. Just about everyone wears as little as possible. The flap...

LOOKING at the British medal haul is like waking up to find yourself an East German.

Excuse me, but this is Britain we're talking about, isn't it? As in Plucky Brit gets fourth. As in Plucky Brit says it was my dream just to be here. As in Plucky Brit says making the final was my gold medal.

The new school year is just around the corner, and school sports teams are already gearing up with practice and scrimmages. The waning weeks of summer vacation are the perfect time to start getting into shape before the practices and school year begins. 

The five-ring circus has begun. On Friday night, Aug. 8, 2008, at 8 p.m. (Beijing time), the Olympics commenced. I have mixed emotions about their arrival.

At the age of 29, I did something I never thought I'd do. I bought a sword – a sliver of flexible steel called a foil, 90cm long with a blob of black rubber on the tip. I'd been attending a fencing class for six months, and this was my financial commitment to a sport I'd begun on a whim.

Kayak polo teams practice on Spy Pond Watch the slideshow