So the fireworks are spent and the dancers are tired. The closing ceremony is in the books, and all that's left is to watch and see whether the Beijing Olympics have any significant effect on the host country's station in the world, over the long haul.

In the meantime, all I can say is ... who doesn't love Usain Bolt?

Oh, right. Every American who forgets how much preening and posing our own athletes (too many of them, doped up) have done over the years. And Jacques Rogge, the IOC boss who has a problem with Bolt's enthusiasm but not China's human-rights record.

To me and many others, Bolt will be the enduring image of these Games -- never mind the quintessentially uninteresting Michael Phelps and his eight gold medals -- and I was thrilled to have myself sprinted from the main press center to the Bird's Nest stadium last week in time to watch him clock that brilliant 9.69 in the 100 meters. Easily, the highlight of the fortnight for me.

Now, though, it's time to sprint off into bed. For the first time in a long time, there's no wake-up call on the other end ...

-- Michael C. Lewis

It seems like eight weeks since I left Salt Lake City, having published my list of the eight teams or athletes I most wanted to succeed in China's Olympics. If their success really served as my criteria, I had a pretty good Games. Here's the review:

1) Chinese baseball: Bruce Hurst, the St. George native and former major league pitcher, told me he would be "thrilled" with one win for China's baseball team, having spent a few years working with their pitchers. They did beat Chinese Taipei and played respectably in other games, although there was a somewhat embarrassing series of ejections in a 9-1 loss to the USA. Jim Lefebvre, the manager who parted ways with Hurst a year ago, and pitching coach Steve Ontiveros, who replaced Hurst, were tossed out, along with a pitcher.

2) Matt Grevers: I endorsed his decision not to swim for the Netherlands in 2004, not taking advantage of a citizenship offer based on his heritage, and taking another shot at the U.S. swim team. It paid off, Grevers won a silver medal in the 100 backstroke and helped break a world record in the preliminaries of the 4 x 100 freestyle relay. Some guy named Michael Phelps replaced him in the final relay, but by Olympic rules, Grevers still earned a gold medal.

3) USA Softball: Uh, oh, Big disappointment here. The women of the diamond crushed everybody until the medal round, where they needed extra innings to beat Japan, then lost 3-1 to Japan in the finals, following the unusual (to me) second-chance format. It was a sad ending (at least for now) for Olympic softball.

4) Eric Shanteau: Swimming after recently being diagnosed with cancer, Shanteau barely missed qualifying for the 200 breaststroke final, but received much credit for his effort.

5) Hope Solo: Now we're getting somewhere. The U.S. women's soccer goalie was vindicated in her shutout of Brazil in the gold medal game, after giving up two goals in the first four minutes of the tournament opener.

6) Gao Feng: I chose her at random as a medal contender in her sport (judo) who faced huge pressure as part of the home team. She earned a bronze medal, exactly what Sports Illustrated predicted for her. I'm not sure about her own country's expectations.

7) Deron Williams. He was steady for the USA basketball team, further establishing himself as an elite NBA player. Can't wait to see how he progresses this year with the Jazz.

8) Michael Phelps: He did OK, from what I hear.

-- Kurt Kragthorpe

I kind of feel as though I'm giving a speech and the audience is getting up and leaving. The Closing Ceremony is wrapping up and I still have more to say from Beijing.

So intend to keep blogging until they shut this thing down, or I get on the plane home.

It was a little disappointing, I'm sure, to Jazz fans to have Carlos Boozer hardly play for the U.S. basketball team in the Olympics, but those feelings should be balanced by two factors: First, Deron Williams played consistently well, making two key plays in the gold medal game after Spain had cut the lead to two points. Second, Boozer handled himself very professionally throughout this tournament, and he deserves a lot of credit for being so supportive of his teammates and accommodating to the media -- although it was a little funny to see him being interviewed on national TV after barely appearing in the game.

Actually, I believe that's why coach Mike Krzyzewski played him so little. It was almost a case of reverse favoritism, as Coach K wanted to make sure nobody accused him of being too kind to his ex-Duke player. And he also knew that Boozer was not going to complain about his coach's tactics.

What's more, Boozer ought to be fresh and ready for the Jazz season, don't you think?

-- Kurt Kragthorpe

Wow, what a fun, intriguing basketball game -- finally.

Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" is playing on the public-address system and Deron Williams just hugged Carlos Boozer and to celebrate a gold that did not come easily, in the final chapter.

The Americans' lead was suddenly down to two points with about eight minutes left, then Spain was within four points with a little more than two minutes to play.

The USA responded every time, which was impressive, considering this was the only time it was tested in this tournament.

Williams made a nice contribution at a key time in the fourth quarter, hitting a three-pointer from the left wing and assisting Kobe Bryant for a three that made it 101-92. Spain made one more run, but the Americans held steady.

Spain's players and staff had a bit of a meltdown in the last minute with two technical fouls that made the final score deceiving.

Williams finished with seven points. Boozer appeared for the last 26 seconds of the game.

-- Kurt Kragthorpe

This game almost became really interesting, before the Americans extended their lead to nine points after three quarters.

In the middle of the third quarter, Spain had three possessions, when trailing by four points. Each time, Spain failed to score and the Americans responded with a basket. But you have to give Spain a lot of credit for making the Americans work as hard as they're having to.

Jazz guard Deron Williams played the last 2:08 of the quarter, making a pull-up jumper in the lane, but having a driving basket taken away by a questionable charging call.

-- Kurt Kragthorpe

Remember, it's only a 40-minute game in the Olympics, so the combined 130 points in the first half came in only 20 minutes.

This was definitely the most entertaining half of USA basketball I've witnessed in this tournament, in the eighth game. Kind of makes up for missing the thrilling U.S. men's volleyball gold medal victory over Brazil (aptly being covered by Michael Lewis), but not quite.

jazz guard Deron Williams has two points for the Americans. His recent three-point attempt was one of the few misses for his team, which was shooting nearly 70 percent for most of the half.

Other teams have been reasonably close to the USA at halftime in Beijing, so the third quarter will be critical, in terms of whether we can expect a competitive game all the way to the end.

-- Kurt Kragthorpe

Spain is battling, having cut the lead to six points, but two fast-break baskets and a Dwyane Wade three-pointer for the USA have etxended the margin to 13, midway through the second quarter.

Jazz guard Deron Williams picked up two fouls and has not appeared in this quarter.

-- Kurt Kragthorpe