Friday already? My how time flies when the Olympics are on. With the first week of the Olympics coming to a close, Team U.S.A leads the medal count with 38, followed by China with 30. Track and field starts today and the American team hopes to carry the victory torch lit by Michael Phelps and Simone Biles.
On your mark. Get set. Go!
The Last Night’s Game Team
P.S. – Curious who picks up the tab at the Olympics? Check out our post for Stilettos on the Glass Ceiling – From Green to Gold – The Business of the Olympics.
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- Bring home the bacon. LeBron James signed a three-year $100 million deal with Cleveland Cavaliers. Next season he will be the highest-paid player in the NBA for the first time in his career. James played for the Cavs last season and led the team to an NBA Championship last season.
Summer Olympics
- It's all a blur. Michael Phelps won two more gold medals, bringing his career total to 22 gold medals and 26 medals overall. During the 200-meter individual medley viewers in Canada were under the impression Phelps came in second to another American swimmer, Ryan Lochte, due to their broadcast announcer’s mistakes. Same, same but different.
- History made. Simone Manuel became the first African American woman to win a gold medal in an individual Olympic swimming event. Manuel tied for gold in the 100-meter freestyle swim. An American hadn’t won a gold medal in this event since 1984 - 32 years ago.
- Girl power. The world’s best gymnast, American Simone Biles, blew away the competition and won gold in the all-around competition. Her Team U.S.A. teammate Aly Raisman won the silver and Russia's Aliya Mustafina brought home the bronze.
Don’t miss:
- In a win or go home game, U.S.A. women’s soccer takes on Sweden today at 3 pm EST.
- Track and field starts today. Two women to watch: Allyson Felix in the 400-meter and Vashti Cunningham in the high jump. Cunningham is the 19-year-old daughter of legendary NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham.
Overtime
- American Kayla Harrison won her second gold medal in Judo. Harrison has overcome sexual abuse by a coach and started the "Fearless Foundation" to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and to enrich the lives of survivors through education and sport. Unfortunately abuse by coaches isn't unusual. Last week, a controversial IndyStar.com report was released detailing the improper reporting of sexual abuse and harassment in U.S.A. women’s sports.
Sideline stat
- The Fiji rugby team won their country’s first Olympic medal by beating Great Britain. The team, representing the island nation of 900,000 people, made history by taking home the gold in rugby sevens.
Coaches’ Corner
- Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez will play his final game of his New York Yankees career today in New York. Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi has been reluctant to go out of his way to play A-Rod during his last week and denied his request to play third base in his last game. "We thought about it, but he hasn't done any work," Girardi said. "We are still in the business of trying to win games." Burn.