The Dream Team vs. The Redeem Team
Olympics 2008: Stars To Watch
Allyson Felix - Track and Field
After wining a silver medal in the 200 meters at the 2004 Summer Olympics, sprinter Allyson Felix is looking for more in 2008. The five-foot-six, 125-pound sprinter is very strong for her size. Look for her to challenge in all of the sprinting events in Beijing. Felix is also a devout Christian and feels that her sprinting ability is a gift from the lord.
Demetrius Andrade - Boxing
The amateur welterweight boxer they call "Boo Boo" won the 2007 world championship. Andrade is a clear US medal favorite at 152-lbs. His coach, Robert "Herb" Martin, says, " (Andrade?)has a way of turning up the heat when he needs to. He can put pressure on you and get the win. Everything he throws is pretty much on-point. He's very sharp. He also has a good eye."
Candace Parker - Women's Basketball
Parker was just 10 years old when she watched watched Lisa Leslie win her first Olympic gold medal in Atlanta. Twelve years later, Parker got the chance to help her L.A. Sparks teammate
win an unprecedented fourth straight gold.
Freddy Adu - Soccer
Soccer-phenom Freddy Adu made history in 2004 by becoming the youngest American athlete in a century to sign a major league pro contract. In the same year, he became the youngest pro athlete to ever school a goal in MLS history. Adu was recently, named to the 18-man squad that will represent the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Look for him to be a leader and fan favorite.
James Blake - Tennis
Best known for his speed and powerful forehand, James Blake has been one of the more prominent American tennis players over the past five years. He is currently ranked 8th in the world. In 2007, Blake compiled another consistent season with two ATP titles in five finals. Look for Blake to play well in the 2008 Olympics.
Lisa Leslie - Women's Basketball
Lisa Leslie is one of the only players to have dunked in a WNBA game, and she is expected to dominate the games this summer. Leslie is looking to win an unprecedented fourth straight gold.
Jeremy Wariner - Track and Field
A quick fact, Jeremy Wariner is the first caucasian man to win Olympic gold at 400 m since Viktor Markin in 1980. He won two Olympic gold medals in the 2004 games and four World Championships medals. Wariner should be carrying home more hardware in the 2008 games.
Venus Williams - Tennis
Venus is one-half of the Olympic gold-medal winning Williams sisters from Compton, Calif., have dominated womens tennis for a decade and plan to win gold again in Beijing.
Tyson Gay - Track and Field
America's 100-meters world champion Tyson Gay had a nasty fall and hamstring injury in the Olympic trials that
some thought would kill his chances at competing. Gay's 100-meter performance in Indianapolis is the second-fastest ever time into a headwind, trailing 2000 Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene. The Kentucky-native became only the second man in history to win titles in the 100-meters, 200-meters and the 4x100-meter relay.
Serena Williams - Tennis
As the other half of the world famous Williams sisters, Serena will play through a left knee injury in the weeks before the games despite advice from a doctor-and her father-that she rest before the Olympic games.
Who's the best?
In 1992, a miraculous event occurred in the basketball world... the stars converged to create what many consider to be the greatest collection of basketball players to ever grace the hard court.
Dubbed the "Dream Team," this collection of NBA legends absolutely and effortlessly steamrolled the competition. As the years went on, U.S. Olympic teams continued their dominance through various "Dream Teams," although no team since has been able to live up to the original team.
America's dominance was quickly brought to earth when the team suffered an embarrassing bronze medal finish in the 2004 games.
Four years after that nightmare, a team of young superstars seek to regain Olympic glory. Dubbed the "Redeem Team," this assembly of players is under immense pressure to resurrect the glory days.
So as this team goes for gold the question will linger: Who's the better team? Jordan vs. Kobe, Lebron vs. Bird -- who will come out on top in a head-to-head match-up for the ages?
