By DAVID LASSEN, Scripps Howard News Service

BEIJING -- After taking big steps, the United States men's water polo team ended up on the second step on the podium.

After losing 14-10 to Hungary in the gold medal game at the Beijing Olympics Sunday, that felt more like a disappointment than the achievement it was. But in time, coach Terry Schroeder and his players know that will change.

BEIJING -- The United States baseball team will leave Beijing with a bronze medal as a parting gift, for itself and its sport.

The U.S., in its final Olympic appearance for the foreseeable future, earned that medal by defeating Japan, 8-4, Saturday at Wukesong Baseball Field.

BEIJING -- On a roll. In a zone. At another level.

Whichever phrase you preferred, Phil Dalhausser provided the perfect example at the time it mattered most.

BEIJING -- Even the best team in the world can't afford to squander scoring opportunities in a sport where they are precious and few.

The United States softball team did that.

Japan did not.

And so, it's Japan's softball team that stands atop the world at the end of what may have been the final Olympic game for the sport.

BEIJING -- Left to their own devices, pitchers Monica Abbott and Yukiko Ueno might have battled all day.

But the Olympic softball tournament has a rule to help prevent that -- and the United States softball team has Crystl Bustos.

BEIJING -- It happened about two years ago, but Terry Schroeder remembers it like it was yesterday.

Shortly after he became an assistant coach with the United States men's water polo team, the head coach of this year's U.S. Olympic team was in the stands at a game when he overheard a conversation.

BEIJING -- The end of the U.S. medal drought in men's water polo is now tantalizingly close.

When the U.S. held off Germany 8-7 on Monday afternoon at Yingdong Natatorium -- after Italy had upset Serbia earlier in the day -- it not only assured the U.S. a place in the medal round, but vaulted them to the top of the Group B standings in pool play at the Olympic tournament.

BEIJING -- Deena Kastor spent months planning and training, running hundreds of miles and arranging her schedule -- her life, really -- to prepare for the Olympic marathon.

In an instant, with a pop, all of that was lost.

BEIJING -- Bob and Mike Bryan earned their Olympic medal the hard way.

After losing the first set, the Bryans turned back five break-point opportunities in the second set and rallied to beat Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra of France, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the men's doubles bronze-medal match Saturday night on Show Court 1 at the Olympic Green Tennis Center.

BEIJING --

If there was any doubt that its defensive play could make the U.S. men a contender in the Olympic water polo tournament, consider it erased.