Good Reads: Olympics, Olympics, Olympics

The Medalists

GOLD: This will get shared by Bill Plaschke and Cathy Haratsa who both wrote about U.S. softball coach Mike Candrea, who recently lost his wife.

SILVER: The New York Times has done an excellent job uncovering interesting athletes that won't end up on the medal stand including Palestinian runner Sanaa Abu Bkheet.

BRONZE: The Washington Post did a story of Keri Strugg finding maturity and perpective in her life with gymnastics all but behind her. (This ran yesterday and I somehow missed it.)

The Rest

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On Greece itself:
Boston Globe says Greeks have the spirit.
Bernie Lincicome adds his to the sight and sounds collection. The last anecdote is amusing.

Athlete stories:
USA Today does a long (by its standards) on Jennie Finch.

Ian Thorpe articles by Bob Ryan and NY Times on Ian Thorpe
Jeff Jacobs on anonymous US boxers.

News:
LA Times on athletes competing for nation's they've barely visited.
The Associated Press' story on the U.S. Women's soccer team opening the games with a win.

George Vescey praises Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, who is hte gold medal winner in lastnameletters and the head of the Athens Olympic organizing committee.

Akron Beacon-Journal LeBron beat writer Tom Reed reports on a stressful day for the men's basketball team.

The Russians are emerging again as a sports power.

Non-Olympics stuff:

Bianchi on Tim Brown joining the Bucs.