It’s a U.S. vs. China trifecta to start Games

BEIJING – Things like this rarely happen by accident. How is it that the United States and China are playing the very first game of men’s basketball tournament? And the women’s tournament? And the water polo tournament? As these superpowers bring marquee value to the start of the Games, a closer look was in order.

Men’s basketball

Carmelo Anthony calls it “one of the most watched games in sports history.” It’s estimated that more than a billion people will tune in.

There’s no doubt that Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic will have the toughest job. It will be his duty to guard Yao Ming. Howard realizes he won’t be a crowd favorite. “I love the Chinese people and I love the fans here, so hopefully they won’t hate us too long,” he said.

Men’s water polo

The United States hasn’t been exactly setting the water on fire in recent years. Its last Olympic medal was in 1988 when its coach, Terry Schroeder, was a player. However, there is no rich history of water polo in China. The country has never medaled and people don’t know a lot about their players, so this should be another win for the U.S.

Women’s basketball

The U.S. team is pretty good. In fact, they are seeded No. 1 in Group B and have the top ranking of all the teams. The veteran WNBA roster is far superior to most of the play across the world. China isn’t that good, but it isn’t that bad either. Still, give the U.S. the sweep for the three-sport series.