Quick hits for now.

* Having seen a fair bit of water polo now, I think it's time that we stopped letting California hog the sport to itself. I've yet to see a game that's not been entertaining, which is saying something for Olympic team sports.

* Is it me, or would the US men's hoops team be better off playing Lebron James and Amare Stoudamire more and Stephon Marbury and Richard Jefferson less?

* Along those lines, I don't know if this is strictly legal, but Larry Brown should fine any player who takes a shot from more than 12 feet away from the basket. Fines are doubled if you take a three pointer. It's hard to tell which has been more atrocious, the long distance shooting or the quarter-hearted "defense" that's marked most US games.

* Speaking of deciding between atrocities, I'm trying to decide which has been the worst moment by an in-studio personality: Pat O'Brien's stupid, borderline insensitive interview with sabre bronze medalist Sada Jacobsen, or Mary Carillo trying to milk humor from a horse passport required for horses to prove they meet quarantine laws ("So you're here for pleasure? Then why the long face, fella?").

Jimmy Roberts gets the lifetime achievement award here for his gauzy "Olympic Moments" which more often than not give further pointless coverage to people and topics previously beaten to death.

* I'll agree with the general consensus that the cable-based coverage has been solid. I would like to see more replays, though.