The 2012 London Olympic Games are forthcoming and it is that time that we all pay attention to little known sports just because the athlete is part of Team USA, and for others like myself it is a time to see a lot more coverage of our secondary favorite sport. For me that is water polo which I have played since high school and college.
There has not been a lot to be optimistic about regarding the United States men's team ever since they won the silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games, but in the 2008 Beijing Games when Team USA won a silver medal. Coming into the tournament Team USA was not even expected to make it to the knock out stages since they had to play in a tough group that included Italy, China, Serbia, Germany and Croatia.
Team USA went 4-1 in group play to move on to the semifinals for winning their group, and proceeded to easily defeat Serbia 10-5 which ensured that the United States would medal for the first time in 20 years. In the finals Team USA took on two-time defending Olympic champion Hungary and hung around for most of the game, but Hungary was just too much for the United States and they lost 14-10.
Here are highlights of the 2008 Gold Medal match:
Here are all 24 goals in the game, but the quality is not that great:
Celebrate the most compelling moments in Summer Games history with 'Memorable Moments' on Yahoo! Sports. Re-live moments such as Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10s in Montreal, Michael Phelps' record eight gold medals in Beijing, Carl Lewis' unforgettable four gold medals in Los Angeles, the spectacular success of the 1992 U.S. Dream Team, Muhammad Ali in Rome and Atlanta, and any more!
These special moments are showcased through exclusive video, iconic photos, and stories on Yahoo!'s hub dedicated to the coverage of the Games. Enjoy the unique storytelling from Yahoo! Sports' award-winning writers and experts, as well as through the lens of Yahoo!'s users themselves.
Check out Memorable Moments on Yahoo! Sports!