A Story to Watch :: 2008 Olympics

Lopez Lomong was selected as flag-bearer for the US Olympic Team in tomorrow's opening ceremony. Lopez will run the 1,500 meters. This is a position elected by the athletes. His election came the same day that former Olympian, Joey Cheek's visa was denied by the Chinese government for his in Team Darfur, which he founded.

Lopez,23, is significant because when he was 6, his family was driven from Sudan in a rebel attack. They fled to Kenya and lived there for 10 years. He then made his way to America and became a citizen a year ago.

Team Darfur has been openly critical of the Chinese government for supporting the Sudanese regime responsible for the genocide in Darfur. Many olympic athletes have joined Cheek and Team Darfur and are standing for basic human rights in a country that seems to be losing the battle. See the full story at USAToday.

I am proud of my country's athletes for making this decision. For Lopez, America represents the best in humanity, a resurrection of a life started horribly wrong. I am jazzed that he escaped the rubble and found his way to America. I will pull for Lopez Lomong this week, just a little bit more. It's quite a contrast to the millionaires that will be gracing the hardwood for us, struggling to regain prominence in a sport that was created here! But I digress...way to go Joey Cheek, way to go US athletes...way to go Lopez Lomong!