Reading time, two minutes:
• The USA's brilliant overall performance at the Olympics can be celebrated with a birthday party. Happy 40th, Title IX.
• The American women claimed two-thirds of the medal haul. Even better: They understand the concept of "team."
• Just a reminder: One of those gold-sweeping teams was anchored by Modesto's Erin Cafaro (women's eight rowing).
• The stars of the Games: 1. Usain Bolt. 2. Michael Phelps. 3. Gabby Douglas.
• Honorable mention: Allyson Felix, whose three golds equal Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988.
• A name never fit an athlete better: Hope Solo.
• The women's soccer gold medalists best embody the country — talented, confident, dramatic, over-the-top and relentless.
• I hope their "Greatness Has Been Found" t-shirts were not their idea. The footprints lead us to Nike.
• USA teammates shouldn't rip Lolo Jones and her media buildup. They should thank her for creating a buzz for their sport.
• London receives high marks for the track and field portion of the Olympics. It felt and sounded like the greatest track meet in the world, a 2012 version of Chariots Of Fire.
• Two silly numbers: The 36.84 by Jamaica in the 4x100 relay, and the 40.82 by the USA in the women's 4x400.
• Usain Bolt's Olympic double-double in the 100 and 200 was spectacular until he said, "I am now a living legend." True living legends leave others to say that.
• The Lakers finally reeled in Dwight Howard, who will make them a major threat in the West ... if Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash stay healthy.
• Coming up in The Bee this week: Former NCAA 1,500-meter champion German Fernandez of Riverbank turns pro and eyes the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
• Remember Bakersfield Blaze speedster Billy Hamilton, who stole 104 bases through July 11? Since his promotion to Double-A Pensacola, he's swiped an additional 29.
• If I'm Reds manager Dusty Baker, I'm thinking, "September callup."
• The Giants have hit only 18 home runs in 57 games at AT&T Park. It's do-able G-Men. We refer you to Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent.
• Peyton Manning threw an interception in his first appearance for the Broncos. No truth to the rumor their fans chanted, "We want Tebow."
• We can only hope decathlon champion Ashton Eaton looks better 36 years from now than Bruce Jenner.
• The United States pulled a Linda Ronstadt on China this week in the medal count — as in "Blue Bayou" meaning "Blew By You."
• And for you older baby boomers courtesy of The Bee's Brian VanderBeek, the U.S. actually pulled a Roy Orbison.
• I think we just lost the Katy Perry and Lada Gaga demographic.
• LSU star Tyrann Mathieu, the Honey Badger, was bounced from the team for drug problems. He took what he wanted too many times.
• High school football players and other athletes are slogging through 100-degree heat. The thermometer reached 109 on Fresno State last week. I'm sweating as I write this.
• Creepy: Morgan Uceny fell in the 1,500-meter Olympic final on the anniversary of Mary Decker's fall in 1984. See both for the practicing definition of "the agony of defeat."
• It took three Olympic gold medals for fans to praise Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings for their beach volleyball skill and not their attire.
• Only the American and Chinese women topped their respective men's teams for medals. Dig no deeper on why these nations dominated the Games.
• If London goes down as the "Women's Olympics," it will get no argument from Team USA.
Bee staff writer Ron Agostini can be reached at (209) 578-2302 or ragostini@modbee.com.
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