11:30 A.M — Kara Lawson Helps U.S. Women Embarrass China

U.S. Women pimpslap China.

Former West Springfield star Kara Lawson continues to help the U.S. Women march to their fifth consecutive gold medal, drilling China by 45 points. She keyed the eventual blowout win in the first game over New Zealand.

Lawson went 2-of-3 from the field in 14 minutes. She had five assists, four points and three rebounds.

"The last time the Americans faced the Chinese was in the gold medal game of a tournament in Beijing in April. China won that game, 84-81, but at the time the Americans had just four players on this Olympic squad in the game - Fowles, Kara Lawson, Lisa Leslie and Katie Smith."

This time, though, it was different. The U.S. women even scored 23 straight points. That's less than 24 hours after the U.S. men won by 31 points. Watch out world.

11:30 A.M — Kara Lawson Brings Family to Olympics

Washington Times on Kara Lawson's Olympic trip: http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/blog-rings/2008/Aug/07/lawson-family-reunion/

This is the absolute information we have to have. What a scoop. Kara Lawson, former Virginia Ms. Basketball in 1997 and 1998, is bringing her family to Beijing. Whohoo.

And who would have thunk — awed by tennis' Roger Federer? What about LeBron or Michael Phelps? Apparently they don't do it for Kara. Good to know.