BEIJING — It was another two days of frustrating taxi rides to and from track and field, beach and indoor volleyball venues. There's no problem catching this very affordable means of transportation (anywhere and everywhere for no more than $5 to $8) but trying to catch one from a venue after the competition is impossible. There are no taxi stands with lines only a "free for all" in the streets with people fighting for a cab with elbows flying. It has taken as long as 45 minutes to an hour to finally get a ride.

In spite of the five-game thriller with USA defeating Poland, it was another Clint Eastwood match with just enough "good" overcoming the "bad" and the "ugly". The "good" was Ogonna Nnamani, Kim Willoughby and Lindsey playing well as starters or subs in Game 2 and continuing their fine play in Games 4 and 5. The "bad" was the very poor team passing and the "ugly" was the inability to defend the soft shots and cover our hitters when blocked.

USA started Game 1 playing very competitively but at 17-17 with Robyn Ah Mow-Santos rotating to left front, the coaches either refused or forgot to use their normal double sub to put Kim Willoughby in to hit and block with Lindsey in to set. Even Stacy Sykora, the back court specialist was not inserted to steady out the passing as we gave up seven straight points to 24-17 before siding out. The coaches fortunately corrected the problem using a staggered double sub the rest of the match.

So, it is now win or go home for all teams. The quarterfinal draw, for the first time in Olympic competition, involved the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in each group being matched up randomly instead of the normal 2 vs. 3 crossover.

This rule was changed as a result of an Olympic team in 2004 supposedly losing on purpose to set up a more favorable draw. The "random" draw worked out with China, No. 3 in our group playing Russia, No. 3 from the other group with No. 2 USA playing No. 2 Italy. How convenient a result for the host country!

The United States-Italy match is tomorrow and is scheduled for 4 a.m. Hawai'i time (10 p.m. in Beijing).

With improved ball handling the USA is capable of beating Italy and moving on to the semifinals. Hopefully all their individual efforts will result in a team medal-contending performance. "If you believe in magic," it will be provided by the cheers from the Joy Luck Club of Tina, Stepho and Lala and the positive thoughts from an old coach Bagg.