U.S. athletes dropping like flies

By Seth Livingstone, USA TODAY BEIJING — Before the first punch, first vault and first serve of the Olympics — even before Friday's opening Ceremony— the U.S.contingent suffered several blows to its medal hopes. Bantamweight boxer Gary Russell Jr., a two-time national champion, was forced to withdraw after being found unconscious and dehydrated Friday morning. That followed Thursday's announcement that gymnast Morgan Hamm's chronic ankle injury would force him to join twin brother Paul Hamm on the sidelines. Tennis star Lindsay Davenport of Palos Verde, Calif,, gold medalist in 1996, withdrew from the singles competition Friday but said she would still compete in doubles with partner Liezel Huber. With the U.S. women's soccer team, 2-0 losers to Norway in its opening match, still reeling from the loss of leading scorer Abby... [read full story]