Daily Snapshot: August 21

LaShawn Merritt (right) looks to outpace the rest of the field in the 400. (Harry How / Getty Images)
STAR ATTRACTIONS: Defending men's 400 meter champion Jeremy Wariner may have a difficult time earning his second individual gold medal as American LaShawn Merritt (above, right) has proven to be a legitimate threat to the crown.
NBC and NBC HD
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Men's Swimming; Gymnastics - Rhythmic Competition; Women's Water Polo; Equestrian -; Softball; 8 p.m.-Midnight Track & Field; Women's Diving - Platform Gold Medal Final; Men's Beach Volleyball; 12:35-2 a.m Men's Volleyball(LIVE); Men's Beach Volleyball
CNBC and CNBC HD
Midnight-2 a.m. Women's Track & Field - 20k Walk; 5-8 p.m. Freestyle Wrestling 84kg, 96kg, 120kg Gold Medal Finals
USA and USA HD
2 a.m.-Noon Women's Soccer Gold Medal Match (LIVE); Softball Gold Medal Game (LIVE); Canoeing Semifinals (LIVE); Freestyle Wrestling; Women's Table Tennis; Men's Table Tennis
MSNBC
5 a.m.-5 p.m. Women's Basketball Semifinal (LIVE); Women's Soccer Bronze Medal Match (LIVE); Women's Water Polo Bronze Medal Match (LIVE); Women's Handball Semifinals; Women's Volleyball Semifinal
OXYGEN
6-8 a.m. Gymnastics Gala Exhibition
TELEMUNDO
2-6 a.m. Track & Field Gold Medal Finals; Women's Diving - Platform Competition and Semifinal; 8-11 a.m. Women's Soccer - Gold Medal Match (LIVE); Women's Beach Volleyball Gold Medal Match; Midnight-1 a.m. TBA
UNIVERSAL HD 24-hour MSNBC, & CNBC HD
Simulcasts and Coverage
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL
6 a.m.-6 p.m. Women's Gold Medal Match
NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL
8 a.m.-8 p.m. Women's Semifinals
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Look for contributions from the following Globe Staffers in Beijing:
- John Powers
- Shira Springer
- Bob Ryan
- Marc J. Spears
- Gregory Lee
- Scott LaPierre
- Patricia Wen







WE JUST DON'T GET IT!!! For decades we have put baton passing at the bottom of the training priority list and once again it bites us in the buns. The coaching staff is totally to blame and should be publicly drawn and quartered. Is it too much to ask for just a few hours practice every four years? One with half a brain would figure that out in a heartbeat. If the coaches won't demand the effort then the athletes themselves must pull rank and PRACTICE for God's sake!