THE DAY AHEAD IN LONDON

The Olympic flame (sniff, sniff) will be extinguished in just two days. But for now, the competition rolls on. And runs on. And dribbles on. And, well, you get the point.

So, we meet again: In men's basketball pool play earlier this week, Team USA's Carmelo Anthony was on the receiving end of a below-the-belt punch from Argentina's Facundo Campazzo. After the game, Campazzo claimed he had been punched earlier by Chris Paul. Anyway, now it's on as the long-time international combatants have yet another showdown in the Olympic semifinals. Maybe these guys should start wearing cups. Tipoff at 1 p.m.

Another chance to see "Blade Runner": The South African men won a bronze at last year's world track and field championships with double-amputee Oscar Pistorius in the 1,600-meter relay. But they needed to win an appeal Thursday just to make the Olympic final. The U.S has its own story of perseverance. Manteo Mitchell broke his fibula during the opening leg Thursday and still ran more than 200 yards on the injury, helping lead the Americans into the final. It will be a hodgepodge U.S. relay team, though, with Mitchell, LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner all injured. The event is at 1:20 p.m.

Showing what she can do: San Jose's Jeneba Tarmoh finally got her Olympic moment Thursday as she helped the 400-meter relay team into the final. It's been a tough road for Tarmoh. She tied Allyson Felix in the 100 meters at the

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U.S. track and field trials for third place and, clearly overwhelmed, declined to participate in a run-off for the final Olympic berth in the event. Then there was a question if U.S. track officials would even let her run in the relay. But she did, and now the question is if she will get the baton in the race for a medal. Final is at 12:40 p.m.

Wrestling for attention: Amateur wrestling pretty much goes unnoticed in the U.S. But the 74 kilograms (163 pounds) freestyle event probably is the best chance for an American to win gold. Jordan Burroughs is the defending world champion and the biggest reason why the U.S. team came to London with high hopes to end a string of poor showings at the Olympics. Qualification starts at 5:10 a.m. The gold medal finals are at 11:50 a.m.

At least they don't have to deal with sharks: The grueling men's 10K open water marathon swim will be contested in the 28-acre Serpentine Lake in London's Hyde Park. The event made its Olympic debut in 2008 and has been tinged by tragedy. Two years ago, an American swimmer drown in a race held in the Middle East. That's why there will be plenty of lifeguards in kayaks and boats on the course. Event begins at 4 a.m.

The women's metric mile: The U.S. middle distance and long distance runners have had a strong Olympics. It's not expected to carry over into the women's 1,500 meters. Still, San Francisco's Shannon Rowbury qualified for the final, along with fellow American Morgan Uceny. And that's a huge accomplishment in itself. Event is at 12:55 p.m.

-- MARK EMMONS