Team USA did it on ‘em in London Town, yesterday.  From basketball to judo, we were at our best and rewrote history.  Here’s a rundown of yesterday’s most talked about moments.

USA BASKETBALL

Team USA obliterated Nigeria 156-73.   Such a lopsided victory comes with many new records:

• The set the record for  the largest margin of victory (83 points) by Team USA in Olympics men’s basketball history
• 156 points is an all-time Olympic record.  The previous high, 133 points, was also held by Team USA and set in 1996 against China.
• The team also set an Olympic record for the most three pointers.  They hit 29 in 46 attempts. That’s a field goal percentage of 71%.
• Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks. scored 37 points in just 14 minutes.  He hit 10 of 12 3-pointers, also a new US Olympic record.  Anthony’s record-setting performance replaces the accomplishments of another former Knicks player, Stephon Marbury.  In 2004, he hit six 3-pointers and scored 31 points.

So far, Melo’s been the standout player among his US compadres, leading the team in averaging 20.7 ppg.  Despite shouldering most of the Lin blame, he appears unfazed and is letting his game do all the talking.  Although the opponents are far inferior, Melo is still seizing the moment to remind all of his critics what he’s capable of.  Hopefully all of the whining Knicks fans who have threatened to defect to BK will recognize the Knicks is, and will always be (at least until 2015) Melo’s team and finally STFU.  I’m happy to see Melo out there cooking.  I hope he continues to do his thing, and most importantly, brings some of that heat back with him for the 2012 – 2013 season.

 

USA SWIMMING

Michael Phelps got off to a slow start, but finally won his first gold medal of the 2012 Games. He out swam his competitors in the 200m Individual Medley, making him the first man to 3-peat in the same individual swimming event.  This latest medal brings his total to 20 and includes 16 golds.  And, he can extend this lead today when he swims the 100m Butterfly, his last individual Olympic race of London, and possibly his career.

Also, Rebecca Soni set an Olympic record of 2:20:00 in the 200m Breastroke, again. She broke it in the final, earning her second gold medal. The new time to beat is 2:19:59.

 

USA JUDO

After overcoming years of sexual abuse, Kayla Harrison was able to put that behind her and train for the Olympics.  Her hard work paid off because yesterday she became the first US woman to win gold in judo at the Olympics. Her story is pretty amazing and the epitome of a true champion.  Watch.

 

USA GYMNASTICS

And last, but most definitely not least, is the record-setting accomplishment of Golden Gabby Douglas.  This young lady’s historic moment, becoming the first African American woman to win a gold medal to become the all-around champion, moved me to tears.  It goes without saying that she’s an inspiration to millions of little girls everywhere, but I’m not too ashamed to admit her fearlessness and faith is also an inspiration to me, a grown ass woman.  Michael Jordan who? I want to be like Gabby.

Immediately following Gabby’s event, an emotional Dominique Dawes joined the FoxSports.com team to discuss what Gabby’s historic moment meant to her. Warning:  Get your tissues ready.

 

After yesterday’s banner day, the USA officially surpassed China in the medal count.  We have 37 compared to their 34.  We’re currently tied with 18 gold medals, but there’s no question we’re moments away from rightfully reclaiming that number one spot too, especially with my favorite event, Track & Field, starting today. Here’s a complete TV schedule of the T&F events.

Congrats to TEAM USA!

-@sdotrenee