Run Liu Run

If you're in need of a subplot to get interested in the Beijing Olympics, you'll find it in Liu Xiang, China's national sporting hero because of his gold medal victory in the 110 high hurdles at the 2004 Athens Games. After his gold he said "I want to prove to the world that Asians can run very fast." He's the first person of non-African descent to clock in under 13 seconds in his event. This guy's popularity rivals that of Michael Jordan at his peak. He's beyond huge, bigger in China than Yao Ming, metaphorically speaking of course. And his picture is everywhere in Beijing - Coke cans, mobile phone adverts, billboards, buses. And he is no one-hit wonder, he's set multiple world records and taken gold in world championship track events in the past couple years.

There is even concern among local Olympic organizers that if Liu doesn't win his race in the 110 hurdles, a large portion of the crowd will vacate the stadium and not watch the remaining events. So, this dude has the weight of the entire nation on his shoulders at the Beijing Games. If you're going to pull for one guy from the host country, it ought to be Liu Xiang.