USA 118, Spain 107

Redemption!

After eight years, Team USA is back on top. They reclaimed the gold in spectacular fashion with a hard fought game against the Spaniards. Great game. I knew Spain was going to play a strong 40 — I mean, after all, it is the gold medal game — and it was stressful to watch the fourth until Kobe went off.

Wow. Awesome...just awesome!

When the final buzzer sounded the team made an awesome gesture and shook hands with Doug Collins, a victim of the Screw of '72, sitting courtside at the commentary desk, then danced at center court.


I called my dad when the game went final — at 3:30 a.m. in Iowa. My cousin got married on Saturday and the family had attended the service and wild reception in Dyersville. He didn't answer his cell phone, so I called my mom's. I knew I was waking them in their hotel room, but what the fuck? My mom answered after a few rings.

"Is dad awake?" I asked.

"Yeah. He's up. Here he is," she said. I heard the scuffle as the phone was passed.

"What's the score," he asked in a very froggy voice. It sounded like he was still asleep.

"We won the gold," I told him.

"Great. That's great."

Allow me a little nationalist pride, flaunting the only version of Old Glory I have (a good one, I must admit):


Basketball!