ERIC FEFERBERG, TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP, Stanley Chou/Getty ImagesThe U.S. women's soccer team's first headline of the day was an unusual one—it came when they were tied with Canada, 3-3, and headed into overtime in their first do-or-die game of the Olympics.
"I think this USA team likes drama!" goalie Hope Solo tweeted after they had escaped with a 4-3 victory.
Maybe so, but they sure gave fans a fright, as did the men's basketball team, which barely avoided losing to Lithuania over the weekend and were up by only one point at the half.
Buoyed by Kevin Durant's 28 points, this incarnation of the Dream Team ended up with a comfy 126-97 win over Argentina—but they need to quit it with these slow starts.
"It was a tough game and so was the first half tonight," Durant said. "Guys played together. That second half is how we want to play."
Here's what else popped around the Olympic park and beyond:
Best Cheering Section: In addition to Ryan Lochte and Conor Dwyer returning the favor, swim fans Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and the men's basketball team had Ludacris, Condoleeza Rice and Evander Holyfield urging them on.
Over the First Hurdle: Famous-for-other-reasons Lolo Jones, who just made the U.S. Olympic team, won her preliminary heat and will run 'n' jump in tomorrow's 100-meter hurdles semifinals—and, we hope for her, tomorrow afternoon's final.
At It Again: Like so many other athletes who aren't stopping at just one, American Sanya Richards-Ross—who won gold in the 400-meter run yesterday—was back in action today and enjoyed the fastest time overall in qualifying for tomorrow's 200-meter semifinals.
Worst Prematch Diet: While everyone was twittering over the McDonald's chicken wrap Usain Bolt wolfed before defending his 100-meter dash gold, American judo fighter Nick Delpopolo was diqualified after ingesting pot. He insists he unintentionally ate something that had the illicit herb baked inside before he came to London, but that didn't help his case after he became the first athlete of the 10,500-strong Olympics field to fail an in-competition drug test. "I apologize to U.S. Olympic Committee, to my teammates, and to my fans, and I am embarrassed by this mistake," said the 23-year-old judoka.
Finishing Touch: Elsewhere, Team USA picked up medals in shooting, with Matthew Emmons winning bronze in the 50-meter rifle three positions; and the 400-meter hurdles, where Michael Tinsley won silver.
Royal Touch: Kate Middleton popped up in Weymouth, where British sailor Alison Young finish fourth in the women's radial. On a brighter note, Team Great Britain's Stuart Bithell and Luke Patience sailed into the next round of the men's 470.
Magic Number: China reclaimed the lead in total medals with 64, including 31 gold, after a day in which U.S. athletes were mainly competing in heats and preliminary rounds rather than final events—and the ones who were in finals didn't win big. Not that Team USA's 63 medals (29 gold) are anything to scoff at, of course.