Dwayne Wade of the U.S. battles Spain’s Berni Rodriguez for the ball in the gold medal match at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Kobe Bryant, standing, fights for a loose ball with Spain’s Alex Mumbru in the game for the gold medal. The U.S. won, 118-107. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Jason Kidd of the U.S. tries to steal the ball from Spain’s Pau Gasol in the gold medal game. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Members of the U.S. basketball team -- from left, Michael Redd, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer -- celebrate after defeating Spain to win the gold medal. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
As Spanish team members huddle on the left, the U.S. team celebrates its win over them in Beijing. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Kobe Bryant leaps as he, Carmello Anthony and other U.S. teammates celebrate their gold medal win in basketball. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Kobe Bryant kisses his gold medal as he celebrates with teammates. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Kobe Bryant is mobbed while signing his autograph after his team beat Spain to win the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
William Priddy, left, and Lloy Ball celebrate a point as Brazil’s Dante Amaral despairs during the men’s volleyball final. The U.S. rallied for a 3-1 victory over top-ranked and defending champion Brazil. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Ryan Millar weeps as he embraces teammate Clayton Stanley after the U.S. men’s volleyball team beat Brazil to win the gold medal. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. men’s volleyball coaches hug as the team wins a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics with a victory over Brazil. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. goalie Merrill Moses can’t stop a shot as Hungary pulls ahead, 11-9, in the second quarter of the men’s water polo final at Beijing’s Yingdong Natatorium. Hungary won, 14-10. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Jesse Smith of the U.S. celebrates a goal midway through the second quarter against Hungary in the men’s water polo final. Hungary won 14-10, to take the gold medal. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A dejected group of U.S. players sits on the sideline moments after losing to Hungary, 10-14, in the men’s water polo final at Beijing’s Yingdong Natatorium. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
