The Nielsen Company says 36 million people watched NBC's Olympic coverage Sunday night, the biggest audience for the second night of a non-U.S. summer Olympics competition since TV began covering them in 1960.
US gymnast Jordyn Wieber’s coach says, "it's a shame that the all-around champion doesn't get to compete in the finals at the Olympics because of a stupid rule." Wieber was shut out of Thursday's all-around finals because international rules allow only two competitors per country.
In the pool, after missing the medal podium in his first swim in London and taking a surprising silver in the 4x100 freestyle relay, Michael Phelps is back for two more shots at another gold medal on Tuesday. He will try to defend his title in the 200-meter butterfly and also swim in the 4x200 freestyle final.
Americans showcased their medal power in the swimming pool at the Olympics. Seventeen-year-old Missy Franklin earned her first Olympic gold medal by winning the women's 100-meter backstroke. Franklin covered the distance in 58.33 seconds just 10 minutes after earning the eighth and final spot in the 200-meter freestyle final. American teammate Matt Grevers made it a backstroke sweep for the U.S. with an Olympic record time of 52.16 seconds in the men's 100-meters. The U.S. earned a 1-2 finish in the event with Nick Thoman winning the silver medal. Rebecca Soni missed a gold medal in the women's 100-meter breaststroke by eight-hundredths of a second. The world champion had to settle for silver. Nathan Adrian of the U.S. qualified fastest in the 100-meter freestyle preliminaries at the London Olympics, topping a tightly bunched field that included three ties.
Adrianwon his heat in 48.19 seconds on Tuesday while swimming in a lane next to world-record holder Cesar Cielo of Brazil. Cielo, the 2008 bronze medalist, tied for 10th
On the other hand, world champion Ryan Lochte was shut out of the medals in the 200-meter freestyle, finishing a disappointing fourth. The gold went to France's Yannick Agnel, who finished more than a second and a half in ahead of the competition.
Tuesday's action includes women's gymnastics team gold medal final. In swimming, there are gold medal finals in men's 200-meter butterfly featuring Michael Phelps, men's 4x200m freestyle relay, women's 200-meter freestyle and women's 200-meter individual medley.
There is also synchronized platform gold medal final in women's diving.
Back at home Scott Hairston hit a solo home-run in the 10th inning last night to carry the Mets over the Giants 8-7 and the Yankees lost their third straight to Baltimore, 5-4. The Yanks AL lead is down to only 6½ over the Orioles.
Sad news from Tampa, police say Tennessee Titans reserve receiver O.J. Murdock has died of an apparent suicide. A police spokeswoman says officers found the 25-year-old football player inside his car Monday morning with what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died. Murdock did not report to training camp over the weekend because of what the team said at the time was a personal issue.
Jake Sorgen, WAMC News
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press