Olympic Update: Don't settle things with tiebreakers, let's go to OT

I've had some rough experiences in my life, but I wouldn't trade places with Nastia Liukin on Monday night for all the X-Box 360's in the world.

The US Gymnast and All-Around gold medalist came up short on Monday night in the finals of the Uneven Parallel bars event. Liukin finished the event with a silver medal, her fourth medal of these Olympics.

Liukin lost to gold medalist He Kexin, who had the same score as Liukin.

With tiebreakers in place, it was He getting the gold and Liukin getting the silver.

I don't know much about gymnastics. I admit ignorance on my part. I'm the first to admit that and I probably always will. Maybe it's my American bias, but even I thought the judging is a little messed up.

I understand that they've modified the scoring, but I'm still confused. I feel as though it lacks clarity. I mean come on, the announcers aren't always the brightest, but even the NBC crew had a tough time and needed the score sheets for both women. I wouldn't try and read it, unless you do understand, then please try to explain it to me, preferably in some sort of a diagram.

If there's a tie, then let's call it a tie. Otherwise, we have some sort of an OT showdown. We can do it kind of like a walk-off, minus David Bowie. Something simple! We have the technology people! Let's make use of it!

Granted, things won't be perfect, but we can at least try to put together a scoring system that even an idiot like myself can understand.

Photo Credit: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images

Olympic Update: US women in soccer gold medal final

The US Women's soccer team find themselves in familiar territory here at the Olympics. The US Team is in the gold medal finals once again after defeating Japan today, 4-2.

Angela Hucles two goals made the difference for the US. Hucles scored her first goal late in the first half to tie up the match at 1-1. Lori Chalupny put the US ahead for good when she scored in the 44th minute. Heather O'Reilly also contributed a goal, but this one came in the 70th minute of the match. Hucles second goal came during the 80th minute, which was more than enough to put away Japan.

The US will be facing Brazil in the finals. Brazil defeated Germany earlier today by a score of 4-1.

The US has a chance to win their third gold medal ever in women's soccer. They've had much success here in the Olympics, only losing one gold medal final. The US has a chance to show their soccer dominance to the rest of the world, once again.

Olympic Update: Torres wins Silver in 50 M

US swimmer Dara Torres picked up a silver medal on Sunday in the 50 meter freestyle at the Beijing Olympics.

The 41-year-old lost by .01 seconds to Britta Steffen of Germany. Cate Campbell of Australia finished in third place.

Torres has her third medal of these Olympics. Her other two medals are also silver. Torres now has 11 career Olympic medals.

Meanwhile, the US in the women's 4x100 medley relay, which Torres was apart of, won the silver. They lost to the Australians, who in the process broke a world record.

The US team consisted of Torres, Natalie Coughlin, Christine Magnuson and Rebecca Soni. The team lost by less than a second. China picked up the bronze medal.

Finally, in the women's marathon event, Constantina Tomescu Dita won the gold medal. The Romanian defeated Wincatherine Nyambura Ndereba of Kenya by over a minute. Chunxiu Zhou of China picked up the bronze medal. Dita finished the marathon in two hours, 26 minutes and 44 seconds.

Olympics Update: 1-2 US finish in women's all-around gymnastics

The United States picked up a couple more medals last night (or today, I'm not very sure). US gymnast Nastia Liukin won the gold medal in the women's all-around final. Liukin scored a 63.325, narrowly holding off runner-up Shawn Johnson.

Johnson, the silver medalist for the event, scord a 62.725. She earned her second silver medal of these 2008 Olympics.

Liukin also has a second medal of these Olympics.

Yang Yilin of China picked up the Bronze medal in the event.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Olympic Update: US Women get Silver medal in team event

The US women's gymnastics team had plenty of opportunities to win the gold medal in the team event, but mistakes from some of their athlete's in last night's event fell short. Therefore, China won the gold medal, the US won the Silver and Romania won the Bronze.

China finished the event with 188.9 points. The US finished about 2.5 points behind, a total of 186.525. While the US barely outscored China in the Vault and the Beam, they were outscored in the Floor routine and the Uneven bars.

Next up will be the Women's Individual All-Around event final, which takes place on Friday morning.

Photo Courtesy: AFP/Getty Images

Olympics: It's on!

By the time you have read this, the opening ceremonies will have already been completed. They're 13 hours ahead of us (depending on which time zone you live in). Things will get kicked off right away on Saturday for the women's sports.

The US Women's volleyball team will square off against Japan at 10 am (all times here on in Eastern).

The Women's soccer team will play at 2 am. They will face Japan. Meanwhile, Canada will face China at the same time.

The US Women's basketball team is also playing their first game on Saturday. They face the Czech Republic at 2 am.

There are also several gold medal finals going on for Saturday. In Women's weightlifting, we will see the Flyweight gold medal final. That will be on at 2 am and you can see it on USA or USA HD.

The Air Rifle gold medal final in Women's shooting is also slated for Saturday. Finally, in Women's Fencing, the Individual Sabre gold medal final is also on tap for Saturday.

Enjoy the ceremonies.

Olympics Preview: US Women's Judo Team

We're closing in at less than one month for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, which are being held in August. To prepare you for the games, we are previewing the US women teams that will be taking part in this year's games.

Today, we will focus on the Judo team. For those who are unfamiliar with Judo, it is a combat sport so to speak. Basically, if you like tossing people, then judo is for you.

The team will send three regulars and three alternates.

Sayaka Matsumoto- Women's 48kg (105 lbs.)

This 4th-degree black belt from Japan will be in her first Olympic games (she was an alternate in 2000). Matsumoto is a 7-time national champion. S he is one of the best Judo fighters in the world. Her alternate will be Ann Shiraishi.

Valerie Gotay- Women's 57kg (125 lbs.)

This 34-year-old is competing in her second Olympics. Gotay competed at the 1992 games in Barcelona. She missed out on the 1996 games and the 2000 games. This veteran has the chance to get far at the Olympics. Gotay's alternate will be Hannah Martin. This 20-year-old was barely four-years-old when Gotay competed in her first games.

Ronda Rousey- Women's 70kg (154 lbs.)

This 21-year-old is the youngest non-alternate member of the Olympic team. She will be starting in her second Olympics. Rousey finished in ninth place at the 2004 games in the 63kg weight class. Rousey has won several events this year, including the US Olympic Trials, USA Senior National Championships and the Budapest World Cup. Don't be surprised to see her medal this year at Beijing. Katie Sell will be Rousey's alternate.

Photo Courtesy: Valley Morning Star

Olympic Preview: US Archery Team

We're less than one month away from the 2008 Olympics, which are being held in Beijing. To prepare you for the event, we are previewing the US Women's teams. Today, our emphasis is on the US Women's Archery team. (NOTE: I couldn't find any photos of the US team themselves, so this will be sufficient for now.)

The women's team had an uneventful time at the last Olympic games in Athens. This time however, the team will only be sending two to Beijing.

Jennifer Nichols made her second straight Olympic games. In 2004, she finished in ninth place, the best finish among the American women in the individual event.

Khatuna Lorig is the only other American competitor in these games. Lorig is competing in her fourth Olympic games, as well as her third different country. She competed for the countries of Georgia and the Soviet Union. She's now a U.S. citizen and looks to bring medals back to her new home.

Olympics Preview: US Women's Tennis

We're now one month away from the beginning of the 2008 Olympic games, which are being held in Beijing, China. To get you ready for the Olympics, we are doing preview of all the U.S. women athletes that are Beijing bound. Today, we're profiling the U.S. women's tennis team.

Venus and Serena Williams will both be making another trip to the Olympics. For Venus it's her third trip and for Serena it's her second. Venus won two gold medals at the Sydney games in 2000. Serena has won only one gold medal and that was with her older sister, in the doubles portion of the 2000 games.

Lindsay Davenport has made it to her third straight summer games. Davenport won the singles gold medal at the Atlanta games in 1996. Davenport was knocked out of the second round at the 2000 summer games. At 32-years-old and a little over a year since she had her first child, there's no guarantees about Davenport's future. This could be her final Olympic games. A strong showing would be a great way for Davenport to finish her career as an Olympian.

Finally, we have a newcomer for the American women, Liezel Huber. Huber became an American citizen last year. The South African native has had doubles success in pro tennis. She now has the chance to make some noise for the American women at Beijing.