Now this is the debate we’ve all been waiting for.

I saw the following headline on CNN’s home page today

U.S. men’s basketball team crushed by Italy

Now obviously they are referring to the fact that the US lost miserably to the Italians, but for some reason I couldn’t get the picture out of my head of our basketball team being crushed by the actual country ala Monty Python or a Fark Photoshopping.

From an L.A. Times article (free registration required).

Basically it says that Wal-Mart employees account for a disproportionate amount of state relief money.

Full text of article after the jump.

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While Brendan has pointed out how well USC will be represented at the Olympics for me (and Mike, and Dane, and Andrew, etc) to cheer for this summer its nice to know that I will have a local Olympian to cheer for as well. Jarred Rome, a 1996 graduate of Marysville-Pilchuck High School may have a tough time medaling though, his 215 feet, 9 inch discus throw to claim the U.S. Olympic Trials title is a little short of the 223 feet that all three medal winners surpassed in the previous Olympics. Hopefully a little home town cheering will help him to the awards stand later this month.

Okay, college football fans, it’s the day we’ve all been waiting for. ESPN has published the preseason coaches’ poll. USC dominated the pack with a whopping 449 (out of 466) first place votes for a 1,500-point first-place ranking.

Oklahoma and LSU round out the top three as the only other schools to recieve first-place votes (12 and 5 respectively).

USC’s schedule gives them a nice shot at a repeat championship, too. Only two other Pac-10 schools made it into the Top 25. The Trojans play #15 Cal (their only loss last year) at home, and #25 Oregon isn’t on their schedule this year. USC’s non-conference schedule has them playing VaTech, Notre Dame, and Colorado State, none of whom cracked the Top 25. Here’s hoping for a repeat of last season! (with USC’s only loss coming at the hands of Washington instead of Cal)

Other notable schools:
#37 (tied) Notre Dame - 25 points
#52 (tied) UCLA - 7 points
#59 (tied) Washington & UCONN - 1 point

GO HUSKIES!