Aug 6, 2012; London, United Kingdom; Chris Colwill (USA) performs his dive during the London 2012 Olympic Games at Aquatics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
No, NBC isn't pulling any strings to somehow get Michael Phelps entered in Sunday's men's marathon, or have Ryan Lochte try to play point guard for the U.S. men's basketball team. Now, the network has to do the best it can with what's left - and there's plenty left in the various team sports - basketball, soccer, volleyball, etc. - that are left. But NBC's ratings so far, up over Beijing, means it's already pretty much covered its bets. Here are some tips on what to watch (all times ET):
10:30 a.m. on NBC: The U.S. women's water polo squad, which took silver in Beijing in 2008, plays Australia in live coverage.
1:15 p.m. on NBC: Semifinal in men's three-meter springboard. If you like TV diving, watch it now - because you have a long four years of deprivation ahead.
2:00 p.m. on NBC: Live coverage of the U.S. women's volleyball team's quarterfinal matchup with the Dominican Republic. The U.S. is looking for its first-ever gold in volleyball. The top-ranked U.S. has potential player pool that's bigger, thanks to the population difference with the DR, whose team is 11th-ranked. But you never know.
7:00 p.m. on NBC Sports Network: In weightlifting, it's the men's superheavyweight final. 'Nuff said.
8:00 p.m. on NBC prime time: Women's beach volleyball and lots of track and field. Not a marquee Olympic TV night, but rest assured that whatever seems most-mediagenic for U.S. audiences - think close-ups of Americans winning or losing - NBC will hold for prime time.
Michael Hiestand, USA TODAY