Redeem Team getting along on, off court
Greg Couch: What keeps throwing me is the way the U.S. basketball team celebrates on the bench. Superstars standing, watching others win, pumping fists and hugging teammates. I'm not used to watching superstars care about others, unless it's the playoffs. Or a contract year.
Greg Couch: What keeps throwing me is the way the U.S. basketball team celebrates on the bench. Superstars standing, watching others win, pumping fists and hugging teammates. I'm not used to watching superstars care about others, unless it's the playoffs. Or a contract year.
Not your basement Ping Pong
Greg Couch: I’m staring at a statue of an ancient Chinese man behind a ping pong table. "Want to play?" an actual man asks, handing me a paddle. Against a statue? Well, I serve. And the statue, holding a paddle with the top facing down, hits it back. I run off to the side, nearly falling on my face for a return. Statue hits it back again.
Greg Couch: I’m staring at a statue of an ancient Chinese man behind a ping pong table. "Want to play?" an actual man asks, handing me a paddle. Against a statue? Well, I serve. And the statue, holding a paddle with the top facing down, hits it back. I run off to the side, nearly falling on my face for a return. Statue hits it back again.
U.S. shows China baseball's brutal side
Greg Couch: China’s baseball manager finished his press conference and left the building. He was angry, yelling at someone about the accusations against him. And he pulled up a chair where security guards wait outside, and just sat down. "Do you know what he’s doing?"an Olympic volunteer asked me. No. Why? "Everyone else leaves out that door over there, and then goes away. He looks like he’s waiting for something, like he wants to wait."
Greg Couch: China’s baseball manager finished his press conference and left the building. He was angry, yelling at someone about the accusations against him. And he pulled up a chair where security guards wait outside, and just sat down. "Do you know what he’s doing?"an Olympic volunteer asked me. No. Why? "Everyone else leaves out that door over there, and then goes away. He looks like he’s waiting for something, like he wants to wait."
Life at the top begins for adored Nadal
BEIJING -- It was clear even from the way he walked out on the court, mixing long, proud steps with a little shadowboxing while fans squealed. Before him, Fernando Gonzalez walked out to polite applause. But when Rafael Nadal traipsed out? The crowd went nuts.
Nadal atop the tennis world
Greg Couch: It was clear even from the way he walked out on the court, mixing long, proud steps with a little shadow boxing, while fans squealed. Before him, Fernando Gonzalez walked out to polite applause. But when Rafael Nadal traipsed out? The crowd went nuts.
Greg Couch: It was clear even from the way he walked out on the court, mixing long, proud steps with a little shadow boxing, while fans squealed. Before him, Fernando Gonzalez walked out to polite applause. But when Rafael Nadal traipsed out? The crowd went nuts.
Jamaican bolts to a new record
Greg Couch: You're nervous at first, because everyone is so hyped, and they're blaring that loud, melodramatic intro music. Everyone's taking pictures, the crowd is bubbling energy. It's the Olympic 100-meter dash, the signature event of the Games. The winner is the fastest person on earth.
Greg Couch: You're nervous at first, because everyone is so hyped, and they're blaring that loud, melodramatic intro music. Everyone's taking pictures, the crowd is bubbling energy. It's the Olympic 100-meter dash, the signature event of the Games. The winner is the fastest person on earth.
Silver linings for Torres
Greg Couch: This doesn't change Dara Torres' story. She's still 41, still a mom. She still came back after a seven-year retirement. And if this was supposed to be an American dream scene, an example to the middle age, does it change anything that she didn't win gold in the 50 meter freestyle in the Beijing Olympics Sunday?
Greg Couch: This doesn't change Dara Torres' story. She's still 41, still a mom. She still came back after a seven-year retirement. And if this was supposed to be an American dream scene, an example to the middle age, does it change anything that she didn't win gold in the 50 meter freestyle in the Beijing Olympics Sunday?
U.S. girls come of age
Greg Couch: It is not possible to have two Mary Lous at once, as we've been looking for just one for nearly a quarter of a century. But in a night that lined up as good vs. evil, women's gymnasts vs. exploited kids, and yes, American vs. China, the right side won. American Nastia Liukin, who came into the Olympics as The Other One, won the women's individual all-around gold this morning.
Greg Couch: It is not possible to have two Mary Lous at once, as we've been looking for just one for nearly a quarter of a century. But in a night that lined up as good vs. evil, women's gymnasts vs. exploited kids, and yes, American vs. China, the right side won. American Nastia Liukin, who came into the Olympics as The Other One, won the women's individual all-around gold this morning.
Euro style? U.S. desire is the answer
Greg Couch: The truth is, nobody every really believed, deep down, that USA Basketball was outmatched by the European style of teamwork and pick-and-roll. Wondered, yes. Believed, no. I mean, come on. When the U.S. was losing in the Olympics and World Championships, it was because the Americans didn’t care.
Greg Couch: The truth is, nobody every really believed, deep down, that USA Basketball was outmatched by the European style of teamwork and pick-and-roll. Wondered, yes. Believed, no. I mean, come on. When the U.S. was losing in the Olympics and World Championships, it was because the Americans didn’t care.
In a class by himself
Greg Couch: We've come to expect certain things of our fastest man on earth. GOAT: That was the tattoo on Maurice Greene, proclaiming himself the Greatest Of All Time. Michael Johnson had his gold shoes, and Carl Lewis, well, he was the franchise for ego. Yet because of who they are and what they do, the male-diva thing kind of works. You wonder if running the 100-meter sprint requires that sort of bravado. Same thing with baseball closers. It's something about the short burst of intimidating performance that calls for you to be a cocky S.O.B.
Greg Couch: We've come to expect certain things of our fastest man on earth. GOAT: That was the tattoo on Maurice Greene, proclaiming himself the Greatest Of All Time. Michael Johnson had his gold shoes, and Carl Lewis, well, he was the franchise for ego. Yet because of who they are and what they do, the male-diva thing kind of works. You wonder if running the 100-meter sprint requires that sort of bravado. Same thing with baseball closers. It's something about the short burst of intimidating performance that calls for you to be a cocky S.O.B.
The end of Federer?
Greg Couch: He shook James Blake’s hand after losing to him for the first time, having beaten him for years, and it was over Roger Federer. His Olympic hopes, his No. 1 ranking. Rafael Nadal will finally, officially, pass Federer in the world rankings Monday. "I’m disappointed,” Federer said. Blake beat Federer 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) in the Olympics quarterfinal, Federer’s fourth loss in his past eight matches.
Greg Couch: He shook James Blake’s hand after losing to him for the first time, having beaten him for years, and it was over Roger Federer. His Olympic hopes, his No. 1 ranking. Rafael Nadal will finally, officially, pass Federer in the world rankings Monday. "I’m disappointed,” Federer said. Blake beat Federer 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) in the Olympics quarterfinal, Federer’s fourth loss in his past eight matches.
China's big, tiny win
BEIJING -- You have to watch ''women's'' gymnastics with one eye closed. Shut down your conscience and watch the beauty of the movements, the power and guts of the girls. I mean women.
BEIJING -- You have to watch ''women's'' gymnastics with one eye closed. Shut down your conscience and watch the beauty of the movements, the power and guts of the girls. I mean women.
Three Golds in the bank, five more to go for Phelps
Greg Couch: No overcoming sickness, no relying on teammates, no thrilling finish.
Greg Couch: No overcoming sickness, no relying on teammates, no thrilling finish.
Olympic wrestlers risk it all to make weight
BEIJING -- T.C. Dantzler just spent 50 minutes on his stationary bicycle, and was exhausted. He could barely talk, which is something for him.
USA Volleyball 'trying to move on' after tragedy
Greg Couch: The question is how you move on from tragedy? Will the American volleyball team fall apart over the stabbing. The coach, Hugh McCutcheon, is gone indefinitely after his father-in-law was killed in a Chinese tower Saturday, his mother-in-law nearly killed and now still holding on, and his wife standing there in horror as her parents were attacked.
Greg Couch: The question is how you move on from tragedy? Will the American volleyball team fall apart over the stabbing. The coach, Hugh McCutcheon, is gone indefinitely after his father-in-law was killed in a Chinese tower Saturday, his mother-in-law nearly killed and now still holding on, and his wife standing there in horror as her parents were attacked.
Relative of U.S. Olympic coach killed in Beijing
Greg Couch: Just hours after an Opening Ceremony put a happy face on the start of the Olympics, a Chinese man attacked two relatives of U.S. men's volleyball head coach Hugh McCutcheon, fatally stabbing one and seriously injuring the other.
Greg Couch: Just hours after an Opening Ceremony put a happy face on the start of the Olympics, a Chinese man attacked two relatives of U.S. men's volleyball head coach Hugh McCutcheon, fatally stabbing one and seriously injuring the other.
Johnson is Little Miss Perfect
Greg Couch: Shawn Johnson sat straight with her fingers clasped on the table directly in front of her, and her smile big, straight and never wavering. "In the end," she said, "if I give everything I have, I’ll be happy." In every Olympics, we look for some tiny sweetheart to fall in love with. Johnson is it.She is the American gymnast, who not only is favored to win the all-around competition, but also possibly take down China’s team in the most hotly contested U.S.-China team matchup in the Olympics.
Greg Couch: Shawn Johnson sat straight with her fingers clasped on the table directly in front of her, and her smile big, straight and never wavering. "In the end," she said, "if I give everything I have, I’ll be happy." In every Olympics, we look for some tiny sweetheart to fall in love with. Johnson is it.She is the American gymnast, who not only is favored to win the all-around competition, but also possibly take down China’s team in the most hotly contested U.S.-China team matchup in the Olympics.
Wade ready to prove Redeem Team has substance
Greg Couch: It doesn’t really matter if Dwyane Wade is dating Starr Jones, as rumor has it, though his wife might disagree. It’s not important if he’s a little cocky going into the Beijing Olympics, talking about touring the gold medal around the U.S. when it’s over. That is the celebrity side of Wade, the former quiet kid from Chicago.
Greg Couch: It doesn’t really matter if Dwyane Wade is dating Starr Jones, as rumor has it, though his wife might disagree. It’s not important if he’s a little cocky going into the Beijing Olympics, talking about touring the gold medal around the U.S. when it’s over. That is the celebrity side of Wade, the former quiet kid from Chicago.
Malaythong eyeing badminton gold
Greg Couch: The last we saw of Bob Malaythong, he was sitting back on a badminton court with a birdie sticking out of his right shin. He and his partner had just lost the world championships to David Ortiz and Brian Urlacher. Yes, of course that Brian Urlacher. And the Ortiz who plays for the Red Sox. It was in a national Vitamin Water commercial, if you haven't seen it, and Ortiz' smash, thanks to the empowering drink, had fired so hard that it stuck into Malaythong.
Greg Couch: The last we saw of Bob Malaythong, he was sitting back on a badminton court with a birdie sticking out of his right shin. He and his partner had just lost the world championships to David Ortiz and Brian Urlacher. Yes, of course that Brian Urlacher. And the Ortiz who plays for the Red Sox. It was in a national Vitamin Water commercial, if you haven't seen it, and Ortiz' smash, thanks to the empowering drink, had fired so hard that it stuck into Malaythong.
Olympic spotlight focuses on Parker
Greg Couch: Candace Parker stood there in the row, as if she could simply blend in with the best women’s basketball team on earth. She has passed that point now, but this was just good manners Thursday, as someone had to be the gracious speaker for the U.S. women’s basketball team. And Lisa Leslie has handled that job perfectly for years.
Greg Couch: Candace Parker stood there in the row, as if she could simply blend in with the best women’s basketball team on earth. She has passed that point now, but this was just good manners Thursday, as someone had to be the gracious speaker for the U.S. women’s basketball team. And Lisa Leslie has handled that job perfectly for years.
The games of chance
Greg Couch: First impressions aren't much more reliable than what was anticipated, but the first person to greet me in Beijing was a young, smiling woman who said, ''Welcome to Beijing,'' while checking my passport. The airport terminal is big, spotless, beautiful and an architectural triumph of its own. The air?
Greg Couch: First impressions aren't much more reliable than what was anticipated, but the first person to greet me in Beijing was a young, smiling woman who said, ''Welcome to Beijing,'' while checking my passport. The airport terminal is big, spotless, beautiful and an architectural triumph of its own. The air?
Loukas just one of many local Olympians
Greg Couch: Drop by the Cubby Bear after a ballgame, and you don't usually worry about who all those people inside really are. Or even the person on the next stool. If you ask, you're going to hear something made up anyway. I've gone a time or two, or more, and never given it a thought.
Greg Couch: Drop by the Cubby Bear after a ballgame, and you don't usually worry about who all those people inside really are. Or even the person on the next stool. If you ask, you're going to hear something made up anyway. I've gone a time or two, or more, and never given it a thought.
Local Olympic athletes
The women's basketball team "the hoops team not trying to rebuild its name" has a heavy Chicago flavor.
The women's basketball team "the hoops team not trying to rebuild its name" has a heavy Chicago flavor.
Mexico's one-man gang
Pistachio is the big seller at Heavenly, the little gelato and ice cream shop in Logan Square. The guy behind the counter, the owner with the scoop, is Larry Langowski, a 6-foot, 250-pound Polish guy from Chicago.
Brewers, Yost look like toast
MILWAUKEE -- There was Brewers manager Ned Yost, trying to explain away another embarrassing loss to the Cubs. His team had given up a first-inning run on a dropped third strike, with the first baseman signaling to the catcher not to throw the ball. Don't throw it. Eat it.
Grim fairy tale: Time to awake
Trouble in Disney World. Is that what we have here? The Cubs are letting reality creep into their little perfect fairy tale?
T.C. has it all together
Greg Couch: After two days trying to reach T.C. Dantzler, the Olympic wrestler from Harvey, the phone rang Thursday, and it was him. I got off the treadmill, out of breath, and answered. ''Call me back,'' he said. ''I hate to interrupt a guy during his cardio.'' And he was gone. Just like that. Gone.
Greg Couch: After two days trying to reach T.C. Dantzler, the Olympic wrestler from Harvey, the phone rang Thursday, and it was him. I got off the treadmill, out of breath, and answered. ''Call me back,'' he said. ''I hate to interrupt a guy during his cardio.'' And he was gone. Just like that. Gone.
They might be, they could be the real thing
So I'm sitting at the White Sox game Wednesday, and they look awful. Four errors. Bad pitching. Down by four runs. And the only way they can score, as always, is by the home run, which is fun to watch but completely unreliable.
Deng still a keeper
When it turned out that the little engine really couldn't, it didn't matter anymore what happened to the Bulls' famous core of young players. It's the core that John Paxson couldn't bring himself to break up when stars were available for trade, the core he had developed, the core of the future.
