No, I'm not saying Michael Phelps will lose tonight in the 100 butterfly final, but if it does happen these Olympics, it will be here. Fellow American Ian Crocker is the world record holder, but also has a reputation as a big race choker. Meanwhile, Serbian Milorad Cavic has been the leading qualifier in the heat, and actually had to stones to talk some trash to Phelps."It would be good for the sport if he loses. It'd be good for him if he loses. It would be nice if historians talk about Michael Phelps winning seven gold medals and losing the eighth to some guy. I'd like to be that guy.''
I doubt many people feel the way you do, Milorad.
Also at the Water Cube tonight, the men's 50 free final, the women's 200 backstroke final, and the women's 50 free semis, which means the return of Dara Torres.
Elsewhere, track and field finally starts. Sure, it was all 18 hours ago or something, but at least it's something new. There's also more live beach volleyball (presumably an American team), and according to NBC, a reflection by Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson, also known as squeezing every last drop out of gymnastics.
NBC's Primetime Olympic Schedule
8 pm to 9 pm - The women's individual all-around gymnastics competition ran late into the night Thursday (ET). In the end, Russian-born Texan Nastia Liukin edged countrywoman Shawn Johnson for gold. The teens join Bob Costas to reflect and perhaps look forward to 2012. Also, coverage of track and field.
9 pm to 10 pm - Beach volleyball elimination-round coverage (LIVE ET/CT).
10 pm to 12 am - Swimming the 100m fly tonight, U.S. superstar Michael Phelps has within reach a record-tying seventh gold medal at one Olympics and the 13th gold of his career (LIVE ET/CT). Also, the men's 50m free, women's 200m back and 800m free, and coverage of a U.S. men's preliminary volleyball match against China (LIVE ET/CT). Plus, news from other Olympic venues.
Insomniac Olympic Schedule
NBC
12:30 am to 2:30 am - Track and field: Women's 10,000m gold-medal final. Diving: Women's 3m springboard qualification.
CNBC
12:00 am to 2:00 am - In softball, it's the U.S. vs. Taiwan. Also boxing elimination bouts for the flyweight (51kg) and middleweight (75kg) classes (LIVE ET/CT).
2:00 am to 4:30 am - Flyweight (51kg) and middleweight (75kg) elimination-round bouts (LIVE ET/CT).
USA
2:00 am to 10:30 am - Men's track and field 20k walk. Plus tennis: women's singles final, men's doubles final, and men's and women's singles bronze-medal matches (LIVE ET/CT).
MSNBC
5:00 am to 12:30 pm - Men's beach volleyball (China vs. Germany). Also, men's soccer quarterfinals: Brazil vs. Cameroon, Argentina vs. Netherlands, Italy vs. Belgium (LIVE ET/CT), and women's wrestling (48kg and 55kg).
Q up all the action here tonight.











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