Olympics Premier League

Brian McBride retired from the U.S. men's national team after its disappointing World Cup showing in 2006. Soccer by Ives, however, is reporting that the Fulham striker has expressed an interest in joining the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing.

Generally, the Olympic soccer tournament is a U-23 event, but the International Olympic Committee grants each team three roster exemptions for over-age players. McBride, who has never participated in the Olympics, will be 36 in August when the Games begin. Plus, several players on the U.S. senior team will be busy with World Cup qualifying in August, meaning McBride could easily be one of the U.S. Olympic team's three over-age players.

The timing of these games, however, makes this curious. After all, the English soccer season begins in August, and no club likes the idea of one of their starters missing the entire preseason because of national team duties.

However, McBride plays for a club that looks certain to get relegated from the Premier League by the end of April, and it's unclear whether the American forward figures into Fulham's future plans. Could McBride's interest in the Olympics be a sign that he doesn't want to end his career in a Coca-Cola Championship? Would he choose to cap his career with the kids in Beijing and ride off into the sunset?

Either way, a forward line featuring McBride and Jozy Altidore seems fairly formidable, no?

The Chinese government's support of the ruling regime in the Sudan has drawn a lot of ire from those of us who don't take a shine to genocide. As it should. All the focus on Darfur has distracted activists from their more traditional anti-China agenda which focused on their occupation of Tibet.

Since invading in 1950, China has been in control of Tibet and has long waged war with their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Before and after going into exile in 1959, the Dalai Lama has tried to get China to return Tibet to an autonomous status and allow Buddhist traditions to flourish in the Himalayan region. The Chinese know that much of the world sympathizes with the Dalai Lama and are concerned he will use the Olympics as a springboard for protests.

"China earned the qualifications in order to host the Olympics. But he is even trying to sabotage this important event and spread rumors."

Some might argue that Tibet has earned the qualifications in order to determine their own government. The Chinese are particularly worried about a stop the Olympic torch will make at the top of Mt. Everest. Officials are warning against any disruption.

"If there is an unstable element in Tibet, for example, the sabotage activities of the Dalai clique, then under these special and individual circumstances we will take corresponding measures to uphold stability."

When it comes to Tibet, corresponding measures tend to result in broken bones and bloodied noses. So they've got that going for them, which is nice.