Medal Predictions

My bold medal predictions.  Last Winter Olympics, I got about one-third of the gold medalists right and about half the medalists.

ICE HOCKEY

Men
G:  Russia
S:  Canada
B:  United States

Women
G:  United States
S:  Canada
B:  Russia

FIGURE SKATING

Men
G: Patrick Chan, CAN
S: Yuzuru Hanyu, JPN
B: Daisuke Takahashi, JPN

Ladies
G:  Kim Yu-Na, KOR
S: Mao Asada, JPN
B: Julia Lipnitskaia, RUS

Pairs
G: Tatiana Volosozhar & Maxim Trankov, RUS
S: Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy, GER
B: Pang Qing & Tong Jian, CHN

Ice Dance
G: Meryl Davis & Charlie White, USA
S: Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, CAN
B: Nathalie Péchalat & Fabian Bourzat, FRA

Team
G: Russia
S: Canada
B: United States

CURLING

Men
G: Canada
S: Great Britain
B: Sweden

Women
G: Sweden
S: Canada
B: Switzerland

SKI JUMPING

Men's Normal Hill
G: Taku Takeuchi, JPN
S: Gregor Schlierenzauer, AUT
B: Simon Ammann, SUI

Men's Large Hill
G: Thomas Diethart, AUT
S: Peter Prevc, SLO
B: Kamil Stach, POL

Men's Team
G: Austria
S: Germany
B: Slovenia

Women
G: Sara Takanashi, JPN
S: Carina Vogt, GER
B: Daniela Iraschko-Stolz, AUT

BIATHLON

Men's Sprint
G: Martin Fourcade, FRA
S: Simon Schempp, GER
B: Arnd Peiffer, GER

Men's Pursuit
G: Emil Hegle Svendsen, NOR
S: Martin Fourcade, FRA
B: Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, NOR

Men's Mass Start
G: Martin Fourcade, FRA
S: Emil Hegle Svendsen, NOR
B: Anton Shipulion, RUS

Men's Individual
G: Emil Hegle Svendsen, NOR
S: Martin Fourcade, FRA
B: Alexey Volkov, RUS

Men's Relay
G: Norway
S: Russia
B: Germany

Women's Sprint:
G: Selina Gosparin, SUI
S: Kaisa Makarainen, FIN
B: Darya Domracheva, BLR

Women's Pursuit
G: Tora Berger, NOR
S: Gabriela Soukalova, CZE
B: Kaisa Makarainen, FIN

Women's Mass Start
G: Darya Domracheva, BLR
S: Tora Berger, NOR
B: Synnore Solemdal, NOR

Women's Individual
G: Gabriela Soukalova, CZE
S: Tora Berger, NOR
B: Andrea Henkel, GER

Women's Relay
G: Germany
S: Norway
B: Russia

Mixed Relay
G: Norway
S: Czech Republic
B: France

LUGE

Men
G: Felix Loch, GER
S: Armin Zoeggler, ITA
B: David Moeller, GER

Women
G: Natalie Geisenberger, GER
S: Alex Gough, CAN
B: Tatjana Hufner, GER

Doubles
G: Tobias Wendel & Tobias Artl, GER
S: Toni Eggert & Sascha Benechen, GER
B: Peter Penz & Georg Fischler, AUT

Relay
G: Germany
S: Canada
B: Italy

NORDIC COMBINED

Normal Hill
G: Eric Frenzel, GER
S: Jason Lamy Chappuis, FRA
B: Havard Klemetsen, NOR

Large Hill
G: Eric Frenzel, GER
S: Magnus Krog, NOR
B: Jan Schmid, NOR

Team
G: Norway
S: Germany
B: France

SKELETON

Men
G: Martin Dukurs, LAT
S: Tomass Dukurs, LAT
B: Alexander Tretiakov, RUS

Women
G: Noelle Pikus-Pace, USA
S: Lizzy Yarnold, GBR
B: Janine Flock, AUT

BOBSLED

Two-man
G: Steve Holcomb, USA
S: Beat Hefti, SUI
B: Alexander Zubkov, RUS

Four-man
G: Steve Holcomb, USA
S: Oskas Melbardis, LAT
B: Maximilian Arndt, GER

Two-woman
G: Kaillie Humphries, CAN
S: Elana Meyers, USA
B: Fabienne Meyer, SUI

ALPINE SKIING

Men's Downhill
G: Aksel Lund Svindal, NOR
S: Hannes Reichelt, AUT
B: Patrick Jung, SUI

Men's Super G
G: Aksel Lund Svindal, NOR
S: Didier Defago, SUI
B: Bode Miller, USA

Men's Giant Slalom
G: Marcel Hirscher, AUT
S: Ted Ligety, USA
B: Alexis Pinturault, FRA

Men's Slalom
G: Marcel Hirscher, AUT
S: Henrik Kristoffersen, NOR
B: Felix Neureuther, GER

Men's Super Combined
G: Ted Ligety, USA
S: Alexis Pinturualt, FRA
B: Marcel Hirscher, AUT

Women's Downhill
G: Maria Hoefl-Reisch, GER
S: Tina Weirather, LIE
B: Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden, SUI

Women's Super G
G: Laura Gut, SUI
S: Tina Weirather, LIE
B: Anni Fenninger, AUT

Women's Giant Slalom
G: Jessica Lindell-Vikerby, SWE
S: Maria Pietila-Holmer, SWE
B: Tina Weirather, LIE

Women's Slalom
G: Mikaela Shiffrin, USA
S: Frida Hansdottir, SWE
B: Marlies Schild, AUT

Women's Super Combined
G: Maria Hoefl-Reisch, GER
S: Marie-Michele Gagnon, CAN
B: Tina Maze, SLO

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

Men's 15 KM Classical
G: Alexey Poltoranin, KAZ
S: Petter Northug, NOR
B: Alexander Legkov, RUS

Men's Skiathlon
G: Martin Johnsrud Sundby, NOR
S: Petter Northug, NOR
B: Alex Harvey, CAN

Men's 50 KM Freestyle Mass Start
G: Chris Jespersen, NOR
S: Martin Johnsrud SUndby, NOR
B: Alexander Legkov, RUS

Men's Relay
G: Norway
S: Russia
B: Sweden

Men's Individual Sprint
G: Sergey Ustiugov, RUS
S: Alex Harvey, CAN
B: Petter Northug, NOR

Men's Team Sprint
G: Russia
S: Norway
B: Sweden

Women's 10 KM Classical
G: Justyna Kowalczyk, POL
S: Marit Bjorgen, NOR
B: Therese Johaug, NOR

Women's Skiathlon
G: Marit Bjoergen, NOR
S: Therese Johaug, NOR
B: Charlotte Kalla, SWE

Women's 30 KM Freestyle Mass Start
G: Marit Bjoergen, NOR
S: Therese Johaug, NOR
B: Charlotte Kalla, SWE

Women's Relay
G: Norway
S: Russia
B: Sweden

Women's Individual Sprint
G: Kikkan Randall, USA
S: Marit Bjoergen, NOR
B: Ingrild Flugstad Oestberg, NOR

Women's Team Sprint
G: Finland
S: Norway
B: Russia

FREESTYLE SKIING

Men's Moguls
G: Alexandre Bilodeau, CAN
S: Mikael Kingsbury, CAN
B: Patrick Deneen, USA

Men's Slopestyle
G: Nick Goepper, USA
S: James Woods, GBR
B: Bobby Brown, USA

Men's Aerials
G: Liu Zhongqing, CHN
S: Anton Kushnir, BLR
B: Qi Guangpu, CHN

Men's Halfpipe
G: Kevin Rolland, FRA
S: David Wise, USA
B: Mike Riddle, CAN

Men's Ski Cross
G: David Duncan, CAN
S: Andreas Matt, AUT
B: Chris Delbosco, CAN

Women's Moguls
G: Hannah Kearney, USA
S: Justine Dufour-Lapointe, CAN
B: Chloe Dufour-Lapointe, CAN

Women's Slopestyle
G: Kaya Turski, CAN
S: Dara Howell, CAN
B: Keri Herman, USA

Women's Aerials
G: Li Nana, CHN
S: Lydia Lassila, AUS
B: Xin Zhang, CHN

Women's Halfpipe
G: Maddie Bowman, USA
S: Ayana Onozuka, JPN
B: Devin Logan, USA

Women's Ski Cross
G: Katrin Mueller, SUI
S: Fanny Smith, SUI
B: Ophelie David, FRA

SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING

Men's 500 Meters
G: Victor An, RUS
S: Charles Hamelin, CAN
B: J.R. Celski, USA

Men's 1000 Meters
G: Sin Da-Woon, KOR
S: Charles Hamelin, CAN
B: Kim Yun-Jae, KOR

Men's 1500 Meters
G: Sin Da-Woon, KOR
S: Lee Han-Bin, KOR
B: J.R. Celski, USA

Men's Relay
G: Canada
S: South Korea
B: United States

Women's 500 Meters
G: Fan Kexin, CHN
S: Park Seung-Hi, KOR
B: Arianna Fontana, ITA

Women's 1000 Meters
G: Shim Suk-Hee, KOR
S: Park Seung-Hi, KOR
B: Kim Alang, KOR

Women's 1500 Meters
G: Park Seung-Hi, KOR
S: Shim Suk-Hee, KOR
B: Zhou Yang, CHN

Women's Relay
G: South Korea
S: China
B: Italy

SNOWBOARDING

Men's Slopestyle
G: Roope Tonteri, FIN
S: Mark McMorris, CAN
B: Niklas Mattsson, SWE

Men's Halfpipe
G: Shaun White, USA
S: Ayumu Hirano, JPN
B: Greg Bretz, USA

Men's Snowboard Cross
G: Markus Schairer, AUT
S: Omar Visnitin, ITA
B: Stian Sivertzen, NOR

Men's Parallel Giant Slalom
G: Benjamin Karl, AUT
S: Vic Wild, RUS
B: Roland Fischnaller, ITA

Men's Parallel Slalom
G: Sylvain Dufour, FRA
S: Zan Kosir, SLO
B: Lukas Mathies, AUT

Women's Slopestyle
G: Sarka Pancochova, CZE
S: Jamie Anderson, USA
B: Spencer O'Brien, CAN

Women's Halfpipe
G: Kelly Clark, USA
S: Arielle Gold, USA
B: Xuefong Cai, CHN

Women's Snowboard Cross
G: Eva Samkova, CZE
S: Dominique Maltais, CAN
B: Lindsey Jacobellis, USA

Women's Parallel Giant Slalom
G: Isabella Labock, GER
S: Julia Dujmovita, AUT
B: Amelie Kober, GER

Women's Parallel Slalom
G: Patrizia Kummer, SUI
S: Yekaterina Tudegesheva, RUS
B: Tomoka Takeuchi, JPN

SPEED SKATING
(tomorrow)

Figure Skating Team Event - This is Really How the Scoring Works?

After tireless searching for the rules concerning the new team event at the Winter Olympics, I think I finally have figured out how it's being scored and I'm not sure they could have picked a worse way to score it.  The rational person would figure that they would just add up the scores of the four short programs and the four free skates to get a grand total, simple isn't it?

Of course not!

There are ten teams qualified, with each team have an entry skate a short program.  The top five teams will advance to the free program.  The skaters will be awarded placements for each event.  For each of the four short programs the top skater(s) will earn 10 points; 9 points for second; down to one point for tenth.  It seems to me (and don't quote me on this as it seems the ISU has been intentionally vague on the subject) that in the free skate the top skater(s) will earn 10 points, with fifth place earning six points.  This makes the short program more important than the free program and gives the Japanese (who may advance on the strength of their singles skaters) a real boost for their subpar dance and substandard pairs teams.

If we look at the skaters for the 10 teams and rank them, here are my predictions:

Pairs:
Volosozhar/Trankov, RUS - 10 pts
Duhamel/Radford, CAN - 9 pts
Peng/Zhang, CHN - 8 pts
Berton/Hotarek, ITA - 7 pts
James/Cipres, FRA - 6 pts
Castelli/Shnapir, USA - 5 pts
Wende/Wende,GER - 4 pts
Kemp/King, GBR - 3 pts
Lavrentieva/Rudyk, UKR - 2 pts
Takahashi/Kihara, JPN - 1 pt
 * Germany's Savchenko & Szolkowy are skipping the team event which could cost the Russians a point over their rivals as the Germans would be predicted to finish second in the pairs.  A seventh place finish in the short program for the Wendes vs. a second place finish for Savchenko & Szolkowy means that the Canadians, Chinese, Italians, French and Americans move up one spot - a additional point in the standings.

Men:
Patrick Chan, CAN - 10 pts
Yuzuru Hanyu, JPN - 9 pts
Evgeni Plushenko, RUS - 8 pts
Yan Han, CHN - 7 pts
Jeremy Abbott, USA - 6 pts
Peter Liebers, GER - 5 pts
Florent Amodio, FRA - 4 pts
Yakov Godorozha, UKR - 3 pts
Paul Bonifacio Parkinson, ITA - 2 pts
Matthew Parr, GBR - 1 pt

Ladies:
Mao Asada, JPN - 10 pts
Julia Lipnitskaia, RUS - 9 pts
Carolina Kostner, ITA - 8 pts
Gracie Gold, USA - 7 pts
Kaetlyn Osmond, CAN - 6 pts
Zhang Kexin, CHN - 5 pts
Maé-Bérénice Meite, FRA - 4 pts
Nathalie Weinzierl, GER - 3 pts
Natalia Popova, UKR - 2 pts
Jenna McCorkell, GBR - 1 pt

Dance:
Davis/White, USA - 10 pts
Virtue/Moir, CAN - 9 pts
Pechelat/Bourzat, FRA - 8 pts
Bobrova/Soloviev, RUS - 7 pts
Cappellini/Lanotte, ITA - 6 pts
Coombes/Buckland, GBR - 5 pts
Zhiganshina/Gazsi, GER - 4 pts
Heekin-Canedy/Dun. UKR - 3 pts
Reed/Reed, JPN - 2 pts
Huang/Zheng, CHN - 1 pt

Team Standings after Short:
Russia - 34 pts
Canada - 34 pts
United States - 28 pts
Italy - 23 pts
Japan - 22 pts
France - 22 pts
China - 21 pts
Germany - 16 pts
Ukraine - 10 pts
Great Britain - 10 pts

As one can see, it should be very close for the 4th and 5th spots moving on to the finals.  The tiebreaker will be the points accumulated in the two best disciplines.  This would give Japan the edge over France with 19 points between men and ladies; France would have 14 points between pairs and dance


Pairs:
Volosozhar/Trankov, RUS - 10 pts
Duhamel/Radford, CAN - 9 pts
Berton/Hotarek, ITA - 8 pts
Castelli/Shnapir, USA - 7 pts
Takahashi/Kihara, JPN - 6 pts

Men:
Patrick Chan, CAN - 10 pts
Yuzuru Hanyu, JPN - 9 pts
Evgeni Plushenko, RUS - 8 pts
Jeremy Abbott, USA - 7 pts
Paul Bonifacio Parkinson, ITA - 6 pts

Ladies:
Mao Asada, JPN - 10 pts
Julia Lipnitskaia, RUS - 9 pts
Carolina Kostner, ITA - 8 pts
Gracie Gold, USA - 7 pts
Kaetlyn Osmond, CAN - 6 pts

Dance:
Davis/White, USA - 10 pts
Virtue/Moir, CAN - 9 pts
Bobrova/Soloviev, RUS - 8 pts
Cappellini/Lanotte, ITA - 7 pts
Reed/Reed, JPN - 6 pts

Final Predicted Totals:
Russia - 69 pts
Canada - 68 pts
United States - 59 pts
Italy - 54 pts
Japan - 53 pts

Should boil down to a duel between Russia and Canada unless either Abbott or either Gold or Wagner can finish in the top 3 in their disciplines.  There exists the possibility that one team could have a large enough lead heading into the dance that it won't matter if they finish first or last.

Nadezhda Ostapchuk tests positive

Nadezhda Ostapchuk of Belarus tested positive for metenolone, an anabolic steroid, and was stripped of her gold medal in the women's shot put.  Valerie Adams of New Zealand now wins her second consecutive gold medal in the event.  Ostapchuk is the first London gold medalist to test positive, and let's hope she is the last.  I am being very optomistic here that all the other athletes competed cleanly, perhaps a little naive on my part.  Ostapchuk, age 31, is the married mother of three.

The Top Twenty Moments of the Games

I would normally create a top 10 list, but there were so many indelible and exciting moments that I have decided to create a top 20.  These are my personal choices and I am sure I have left out some moments and events others would include.

#20 - Women's 1500 Meter Run - To me the most heartbreaking moment of the Games.  Last year at the world championships, Morgan Uceny was the best 1500 meter runner in the world when she was tripped up in the finals and finished tenth.  Heading into the final lap at Olympic Stadium, Uceny once again fell, leaving her in tears on the track.  There is no telling how she would have done over the last lap, but there is the unfortunate part of it. We will never know if she could have had the crowning moment of her career and at age 27, Rio is four very long years away.

#19 - Women's Water Polo Final - United States vs. Spain. While their more celebrated counterparts were winning a third consecutive gold medal in soccer, the women of water polo captured a first gold medal after two silvers and a bronze. Heather Petri and Brenda Villa finally brought home gold after appearing in all four Olympic tournaments.

#18 - Women's Judo 78kg. The United States had never captured a judo gold medal in the previous ten Olympiads they had participated in. Kyla Harrison, the 2010 world champion, had moved to Massachusetts to train with double Olympic bronze medalist Jimmy Pedro, and put her life back together after acknowledging sexual abuse by a previous coach. Harrison did capture a first ever U.S. gold and was jubilant in her celebration.

#17 - Men's Basketball Final - Twenty years after the Dream Team, the United States sent a men's squad loaded with superstars and punctuated with role players. The tenacious Spaniards showed how far the international game has come by keeping the game very close through the third quarter before Kobe, LeBron and Kevin Durant took charge and led the Americans to a 14th gold medal.

#16 - Women's Singles Tennis Final - Serena Williams gave one of the most dominating performances of the Games by thoroughly pasting Maria Sharapova in the final 6-0, 6-1. Serena completed the career Golden Slam and then teamed with sister Venus to win a third doubles gold and become the only player to win the Golden Slam in singles and doubles.

#15 - Women's Floor Exercise - During the qualifying round of women's gymnastics Aly Raisman almost seemed like the villain when her performances on balance beam and floor exercise propelled her into the all-around ahead of team headliner and defending world all-around champion Jordyn Wieber. After delivering a decisive final performance in the team final, Raisman lost a bronze in the all-around on a tiebreaker. Returning for the event finals, Raisman was spectacular in the floor final, with a scintillating performance to easily capture the gold.

#14 - Women's 200 Meter Backstroke - Missy Franklin showed her promise in winning the world championship in this event last year as a 16 year old. The extremely likeable teenager was the swimmer of the Olympics and punctuated it with a world record.

#13 - Men's 100 Meter Final - Always one of the highlights of the Olympics, the 100 meters is so perfectly simple, a footrace from point A to point B, fastest takes the gold. Usain Bolt quieted the doubters with the second fastest performance in history ahead of a stellar field and won the first of his three gold medals that cemented his status as the greatest sprinter in history and begins to put him in the upper echelon of all Olympians.

#12 - Men's 200 Meter Butterfly - Michael Phelps made his Olympic debut in this event in 2000 as a 15 year old, finishing fifth. He hadn't lost a final in this event in over a decade, but just as things all went Phelps's was four years ago, he was a little too long on the final stroke and got edged out by South African Chad le Clos who had previously won a gold medal...at the 2010 Youth Olympics.le Clos will be able to tell his grandchildren one day that he beat Michael Phelps in the Olympics.

#11 - Women's All-Around Gymnastics - Ever since Olga Korbut came out of nowhere to charm American TV audiences 40 years ago, the women's all-around has been one of the most featured events on the program. Gabby Douglas, the youngest and least renowned member of the world championship team a year ago, Douglas was the steadiest and best under pressure of the contenders. For the rest of her life, she will be known in gymnastics circles simply as Gabby.

#10 - Men's 200 Meter Individual Medley - After finishing fourth in the 400 IM and second in the 200 butterfly, it looked as though the magic of Beijing was gone for good. Phelps turned things around with this event, winning the second of his four gold medals, by dominating the field including teammate Ryan Lochte who had beaten him in the 400 IM and in this event at the 2011 worlds.

#9 - Women's Soccer semifinal - They are the best known women's team in the country. A heartbreaking loss to Japan at the 2011 World Cup left Team U.S.A. pointing to London for redemption. A rematch with Japan and eventual gold medal almost never happened, until Alex Morgan scored a goal in the 123rd minute to overcome a hat trick from Canadian superstar Chrstine Sinclair, leaving the Canadians devastated in a controversial loss.

#8 - Women's Beach Volleyball Semifinals - Misty May-Traenor and Kerri Walsh Jennings captured a third straight gold medal in the finals over fellow Americans April Ross and Jenn Kessy. The May-Traenor/Walsh Jennings semifinal win over Xue Chen and Zhang Xi of China, 22-20, 22-20 was as exciting a contest as you will see on the beach.

#7 - Men's 10 Meter Platform Diving - The Chinese have dominated diving for twenty years and had won six of the first seven events. Qui Bo entered as the heavy favorite, the 2011 world champion had won that event by 41.2 points over silver medalist David Boudia. The Brits had a special interest as 2009 world champion Tom Daley was facing enormous pressure as one of the most recognizable athletes in Great Britain. The level of diving was exceptional and entering the final dive Daley led Boudia and Qui by 0.15 points. Daley had a lower degree of difficulty on the final dive which left the door open. Boudia scored three 9.5's which meant that Qui would need at least one 10 to win. The final dive from Qui was excellent, but fell just short of the scores needed, making Boudia the first American male diver to win gold in twenty years.

#6 - Men's Cycling Time Trial - Just a week before the Games, Bradley Wiggins became the first Brit to capture the Tour de France. With the pressure of expectations and tens of thousands lining the course, Wiggins delivered a gold, the fourth of his career and a momentary British record seventh medal overall.

#5 - Men's 10000 Meters - Mo Farah of Great Britain was the favorite, but the traditional powers Kenya and Ethiopia were going to try to control the race and keep Farah from winning. Showing great patience, Farah outkicked the field over the final lap with the crowd roaring to bring him home to the first British 10K gold in history. Behind him, Farah's training partner Galen Rupp captured the first American medal in the event in 48 years.

#4 - Men's Singles Tennis - A month before the Olympics, Roger Federer captured his seventh Wimbledon title over British hope Andy Murray, who came so close yet again. After two thrilling semifinals set up the rematch on Centre Court, Murray was never in jeopardy, winning Olympic gold at home before winning a Grand Slam event and preventing Federer from winning the Golden Slam.

#3 - Men's 800 Meter Run - Kenyan David Rudisha was the heavy favorite, the world champion and world record holder. World records in events over 400 meters are rare in championship races as there are no pace setters.  It hasn't happened since the 1980 Olympics when Nadezhda Olizarenko of the Soviet Union established a new world record over 800 meters. Rudisha took the lead from the beginning, but was a second behind pace after 400 meters. He surged away from the field over the next 200 meters and maintained his form to establish a new world record and led the field to the best ever marks-for-place from 1st to 8th. A truly epic race.

#2 - Women's Team Gymnastics - Despite NBC's overselling of the American team and the endless hillbilly musical montages, the American women were spectacular. They hit every one of the twelve routines to capture the first American gold since 1996. These five teenagers, with no Olympic experience were wonderful. Even McKayla was impressed, before her peevish behavior on the vault medal stand went viral (http://mckaylaisnotimpressed.tumblr.com/)

#1 - Women's 4x100 Meter Relay - After years of poor handoffs, dropped batons and injuries, the Americans finally got it right, very right. The performance was astonishing. When the Soviets set a world record in the 4x400 meter relay at the 1988 Olympics, the world record book was essentially closed for women. World records in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 100 hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put, discus throw, heptathlon and both relays all survived since the Reagan administration. The fall of communism in eastern Europe and random, out-of-competition drug testing were the two big factors in those records remaining. The world record in the 4x100 by and East Germany squad had lasted since 1985, before three of the American relay members were born. The Americans shattered the record and captured their first gold in the event in 16 years.  Lauryn Williams ran the anchor leg in the heat and captured her first gold medal in her third Olympics. The perfection of the race and the breaking of one of the 24 plus year old world records made me jump off my couch in amazement and excitement.

So many wonderful memories, I could probably write a different list tomorrow.

Rio... 1,453 days and counting...

What to Watch - Sunday 8/12

The Games wrap up with the Closing Ceremony tonight in prime time, but there are still gold medals to be given out earlier today.

Gold: Basketball - Men's Final - 10:00a.m. (NBC) - Fortunately, the haven't been called the "Dream Team," but this American team is still pretty good and they face Spain in the gold medal final for the third time.

Silver:  Boxing - Men's Super Heavyweight Final - 10:15a.m. (CNBC) The Brits are looking to cap an awesome Games with another big boxing win.  Anthony Joshua faces Italy's Roberto Cammarelle for gold.

Bronze: Freestyle Wrestling - Men's 96kg Final - 9:48a.m. - American Jake Warner looks to add another American golds to the tally against Ukranian Valerii Andritsev.

More Awful Coverage By NBC

Really upset with NBC Olympic coverage.  Some of it has been really bad and jingoistic.  But why did they decide to hijack the women's volleyball final to prime time coverage tonight?  They showed each of the US team's previous seven contests in these Games live and complete.  They stowed it into the final hour and just showed half of the first set won easily by the Americans and then came back with Brazil up 2 sets to 1 and leading the fourth set easily.  Why show it tonight?  They didn't show any of the competitive part of the match.  Disgusting job by NBC, even worse than the men's gymnastics all-around or any of the field events.  If you have your favorite sport shown in prime time by NBC, you're screwed!

What to Watch - Saturday 8/11

The penultimate day of the Games has most of the action wrapping up.  The final day on the track, finals in boxing and most women's team sports.

Gold:  Volleyball - Women's Final - U.S.A. vs. Brazil - 1:30p.m. (NBC Prime Time)  A rematch of the 2008 Beijing final, the U.S. women's team is undefeated this year and ranked number one in the world. Hugh McCutcheon coached the U.S. men to gold four years ago and is working the same magic with the women before heading off to coach the University of Minnesota. The American women are making a third appearance in the final (1984 as well as 2008) and attempting to capture a first ever gold medal. Destinee won three NCAA high jump championships, but she is looking for gold in volleyball rather than on the track, ironically both finals are the same day. The U.S. team is compelling due to the number of veteran Olympians, including five-time Olympian Danielle Scott-Arruda at age 39.

Silver: Track & Field - Men's 4x100 Meter Relay - 4:00p.m. (NBC Prime Time) The final chance to see the great Usain Bolt in these Games as he will anchor the Jamaican relay team. The Americans look strong and are coached by Jon Drummond, who led the American women to a gold medal and world record on Friday. However, the Jamaicans have three of the five fastest men in 100 meter history, even with former world record holder Asafa Powell out due to injury. It might take a world record to win the gold.

Bronze: Diving - Men's 10 Meter Platform - 3:30p.m. (NBC Prime Time) 2009 world champion Tom Daley and 2011 world silver medalist barely survived qualifying, but those scores do not carry over. China has won six of the seven diving events so far and Qiu Bo is the favorite here and the leading qualifier. Germany's Sascha Klein has been overlooked, but he might be Qui's biggest challenger. No athlete in London has been under more pressure than Daley who made his Olympic debut in Beijing at age 14.

Also:
Women's basketball final - U.S. vs. France @ 4:00p.m. (NBC)

Men's soccer final - Mexico vs. Brazil @ 10:00a.m. (NBCSN). Mexico has already captured their first soccer medal, and the soccer-mad Brazilians are looking to take Olympic gold for the first time.

Boxing - 56kg final - 3:45p.m. (CNBC) The crowd should be raucous, and split, as Britain's Luke Campbell takes on Ireland's John Joe Nevin.

Men's 5000 meter final - 2:30p.m. (NBC Prime Time)  Britain's Mo Farah captured the 10000 meter gold ahead of training partner Galen Rupp of the U.S.A. Olympic silver and bronze medalist Bernard Lagat of the U.S., a former Kenyan, is looking to finally take gold at age 37.

Women's 4x400 meter relay - 3:25p.m. (NBC Prime Time) The Americans look to take the gold as Sanya Richards-Ross and two other American 400 meter finalists are joined by 200 meter champion Allyson Felix. Both Richards-Ross and Felix could capture a fourth career gold medal. Challenges should come from Russia, Jamaica and Great Britain.