In L.A., David Wharton reported female fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad "finished a close second to Michael Phelps in the U.S. flag-bearer vote." Each sport "nominates one athlete for the honor." Though officials do not release the final vote count, a source said that Muhammad "barely missed being elected" (LATIMES.com, 8/3). In K.C., Vahe Gregorian writes the selection of Phelps "is a no-brainer" for someone who has "bestrided the Olympics as one of its most prominent and enduring faces." However, there "would have been an incredible and indelible statement" in choosing Muhammad to carry the flag, especially at a time "knee-jerk intolerance has been surging" (K.C. STAR, 8/4). The Dallas Morning News' Tim Cowlishaw said if Muhammad was picked, it would be “almost like an anti-Trump statement to make, and I don’t think they should be making pro-Trump, anti-Trump” statements. But Cowlishaw said he has a “problem” with the choice of Phelps, as he has had two DIUs and “doesn’t always seem terrible remorseful about it” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 8/3).
GOING PRO: U.S. gymnast Laurie Hernandez is "turning pro ahead" of the Rio Games. Hernandez has signed with longtime Olympics agent Sheryl Shade of Shade Global, who has represented, among others, gymnasts Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin and Paul Hamm (USATODAY.com, 8/3).
WE'RE JUST FINE: U.S. diver David Boudia said that the "negative coverage leading into Rio has been overblown." He said of event organizers, "They seem like they're on top of their game. Obviously, they're getting some last-minute things patched up, but I feel like that's what Athens 2004 (was like). For the athletes, it's great" (ESPN.com, 8/3). Meanwhile, U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin said, "I feel so taken care of. The USOC has gone to so much work to make sure we have everything that we need, and I think Brazil has done a great job, the best that they could, at making sure we had everything we need in the village" (DENVER POST, 8/4).
CLOGGING THE LANE: NBC's Keir Simmons notes the U.S. men's basketball team will stay on a luxury cruise ship during their stay in Rio as opposed to the Olympic Village. However, the "drive to the Olympic stadium is long and you often get held up in traffic." Simmons: "The players are not going to love that" ("Today," NBC, 8/4).
PATRIOT GAMES: Patriots S Nate Ebner will represent the U.S. in rugby during the Games this month, and in Boston, Christopher Gasper notes Ebner is "taking a risk with his football sabbatical." The Patriots "have a roster exemption for him while he competes at the Olympics, but he will have to earn a spot upon his return." However, Ebner's opportunity to "compete for an Olympic medal in a sport that was crucial to the bond he had with his late father was too much to pass up" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/4).
WHO BETS ON BADMINTON? USA TODAY's Martin Rogers notes Las Vegas has "prepared itself for its first excursion into the Olympics since the turn of the century." The start of the Olympics has "created a buzz in the Vegas sports books at a time of year when there is little else in the way of sports betting action." The last Olympics "to be bet on in Nevada" was the '00 Sydney Games. The following year such wagers "were prohibited, at a time when Sen.John McCain (R-Ariz.) was pushing for a ban on betting on all amateur sports" (USA TODAY, 8/4).
