The United States conquered the 2012 Olympics, as the team will leave London atop the medals table. The U.S. led all countries with 104 medals and 46 golds, China came in second with 87 medals and 38 golds.

It was a phenomenal showing for the Americans, who many believed would be in a tight competition with China for the top spot. Instead, in the second week the U.S. turned it into a blowout.

In 2008, the United States finished with 110 medals to China's 100, but the Chinese wrapped up the Beijing Games with 51 golds compared to 36 for the U.S. This time around, it wasn't that close.

This was the ninth time in Olympic history that a country has surpassed 100 medals at the Games. But the U.S. had a long way to go to surpass it's 173 total medals from the 1984, or its ridiculous total of 239 medals from the St. Louis Olympics in 1904.

The Americans led the way in medals (101) and golds (35) at the 2004 Athens Games, and accomplished the same feat in 2000 in Sydney with 94 medals and 37 golds. The U.S. also owned the games on its home soil in Atlanta in 2006 with 101 medals and 44 golds.

The last time the Americans didn't win the overall medal count at the Summer Olympics was in 1992 at the Barcelona Games when the Unifed Team went home with 111 medals. The Unified Team was the name used for athletes from the former Soviet Union at the time, and it also finished with more golds (45) than the United States (37).

The United States continues to be the sports powerhouse of the world. While China is certainly a rising power, the Americans continue to find the medal podium more than any other nation.

Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

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In true NBC fashion, the Closing Ceremony of the London Games will be broadcast on tape delay later Sunday night. But the actual show got kicked off at Olympic Stadium around 4 p.m. ET. If you who missed out on watching the event live online (illegal streams or otherwise) as it unfolded and want to whet your appetite before it appears on TV, we've got your back.

We're not going to rehash every single detail of what transpired, but we can share with you some of what you can expect:

The stage is comprised of various London landmarks covered in newsprint.

Sports Illustrated photographer Robert Beck shared on Instagram a more colorful look of the main stage:

When all the athletes from different countries enter the stadium, they'll be doing so as one. It'll be easy to spot out the U.S. athletes. They'll be the ones shamelessly taking advantage of it not yet being Labor Day. Here's beach volleyball silver medalists April Ross and Jenn Kessy, with other members of the U.S. contingent in the background:

Heather Mitts and Abby Wambach give us a better look at what the women will be wearing. Apparently it's from Ralph Lauren's Amish collection:

When the show got started it was pretty much a concert from Britain's most popular musical acts ever.

Madness performed "Our House":

Freddie Mercury of Queen came back from the dead:

And the Spice Girls came into the stadium on top of taxi cabs:

The Telegraph has a full setlist for the night, but here's a few notable songs that you'll see performed:

Pet Shop Boys – "West End Girls"

One Direction – "What Makes You Beautiful" (the Fierce/Fab Five must have been hyperventilating)

Urban Voices Collective and the Dhol Foundation – "Here Comes the Sun" (by George Harrison)

John Lennon – "Imagine" (performed by Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir and Liverpool Signing Choir)

Queen – "Bohemian Rhapsody"

George Michael – "Freedom ’90"

David Bowie – "Space Oddity" / "Changes" / "Ziggy Stardust" / "Jean Genie" / "Rebel Rebel" / "Diamond Dogs" / "Young Americans" / "Let’s Dance" / "Fashion" (not live)

Russell Brand (yes, that Russell Brand) and Bond – "I Am the Walrus"

Fatboy Slim – "Right Here, Right Now" and "Rockafeller Skank"

Bee Gees – "You Should Be Dancing" (recorded)

Spice Girls – "Spice Up Your Life"

Brian May, Roger Taylor and Jessie J – "We Will Rock You"

The Who – "Baba O’Riley" / "See Me, Feel Me" / "Listening to You" / "My Generation"

Sounds and looks like an awesome party. After being a tremendous host for the last 17 days, it's only fitting London ended it all with a triumphant and proud bang. And Kevin Love probably isn't going to remember any of it.

Enjoy the show, folks.

Photos via @BeachProApril, @USOlympic, @richarddeitsch, @heathermitts; Madness photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images; Mercury photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images; Photo Spice by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The United States men's basketball team did it again on Sunday. They lived up to expectations and secured another gold medal for American basketball with a 107-100 win over Spain.

But more important than earning Olympic gold in 2012, Team USA set an example for the next generation of players looking to represent their country.

We know Kobe Bryant has played the final game in his Olympic career, but after three trips, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony may not return either. Both guys have redeemed themselves for being part of the bronze medal 2004 team by earning gold in Beijing and London. And if this was their last ride at the Olympics, it was a great one. 

Anthony had one of the best offensive performances we've ever seen in the Olympics. He scored 122 points in just 121 minutes played over the eight game run. He shot 50 percent from 3-point range and 57.5 percent on 2-point field goals. 

Meanwhile, James made the most of the tournament. Capping off a summer in which he finally won a championship and was named NBA MVP and MVP of the finals, LeBron led the way to a gold medal. He was his typical versatile self and clearly was the engine that kept the team moving. 

With Bryant, James and Anthony possibly stepping down, guys like Kevin Durant (who dropped 30 points in the final against Spain), Kevin Love, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis will now step in and become the backbone of Team USA's future. 

This tournament run showed that the United States has an incredibly deep group of superstar-level talent who can all also play team basketball. That's the key to winning internationally, and the reason why the U.S. failed at the 2004 Games in Athens.

This year, guys like James, Bryant, Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Chris Paul and Durant really bought into the team concept. They were willing to make the extra pass and didn't care about their own statistics, playing one-on-one basketball or shining on the world stage. Instead they shared the ball and seemed to delight in setting up their superstar teammates. Everyone contributed.

They also took pride in representing their country.

That kind of basketball and that attitude set an example for the next generation of players who were at home watching this year's run. 

Photo: Jesse B. Garrabrant/National Basketball/Getty Images

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It's no secret that NBC's coverage of the Olympics has been less than stellar. They've cut entire chunks of the Games out of their coverage. They spoiled some key events before the public could get a chance to experience them. They even thought it was a good idea to turn some footage of female athletes into a not-so-subtle softporn compilation video.

Now they may have reached a new low. One of the network's color commentators mistook actor Jesse Eisenberg for Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, according to Deadspin.

Eisenberg, the actor who played Zuckerberg in the Oscar-winning movie "The Social Network," was in London for the Games. NBC spotted him during Team USA's gold medal winning performance against Spain. The sight prompted the unidentified commentator to quip, "I know I'm gonna put that picture of Facebook."

He could have left it there and gotten away with his mistake. Instead, he dug a deeper hole of embarrassment by adding, "We've got every executive of note, it seems, worldwide attending these games."

Let's hope that NBC doesn't spot Robert Downey Jr. in the crowd. They could cause a serious panic by announcing that Iron Man might be in London because he believes some supervillain is plotting to destroy the Olympic Stadium.

Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images

LeBron James had his 2012 get that much sweeter when he and Team USA captured the gold medal on Sunday.

It's LeBron's second Olympic gold medal, and for him that might be good enough. LeBron is already hinting that he might not be willing to chase after Olympic gold for a third-straight time four years from now in Rio de Janeiro.

"It’s been a great run honestly. I don’t know if I’m going to be part of the 2016 team," he said, per USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt.

The London Games have already been LeBron's third Olympics. A lot of people might not realize he was part of that disastrous 2004 squad in Athens we're all trying to forget about.

A third Olympic gold medal is unprecedented in men's basketball and begins to infringe on Lisa Leslie's record of four. If LeBron sits out, Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony can always get there, should they return.

LeBron will be 31 when the cauldron is lit in Rio. Not too old. But not so young where running court for an extra month in the offseason isn't entirely taxing. It's possible he could still commit and have a scaled back role, much like the 33-year-old Kobe Bryant did this year.

He might be undecided now, but we'll see what LeBron thinks four years from now when the opportunity of once again having Olympic glory comes knocking on his door.

Photo: Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

The South African sprinter known as "Blade Runner" has become one of the hottest names at this year's Games. South Africa's Oscar Pistorius is not only the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics, but he's also offered his opponents some fierce competition.

His early training days were no different. Apparently, he was so determined and dedicated to his running and training that his trainer said he didn't realize he was a double amputee for quite awhile, according to the AFP.

Jannie Brooks, Pistorius' personal trainer, has been working with the runner since he was a teenager in high school. He said it took him some time to realize he wore prosthetic legs because he worked so hard during his exercises. Pistorius also wore tracksuits in the first six months since their training took place during the winter.

Brooks said he didn't know about Pistorius' legs for six whole month because "he was doing everything at the same pace as everybody else."

When he finally learned the truth, he said he "couldn't believe it."

Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

If you missed the Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 Olympic Games, you won't have to scour YouTube for clips before the IOC finds them or find a way to go back in time.

The Guardian is reporting that director Danny Boyle will turn his iconic opening ceremonies into a feature-length DVD movie.

Boyle said the DVD will include all of the original music featured in the show by Underworld, The Chemical Brothers, High Contrast, The Pet Shops Boys, and Dizzee Rascal. It also feature the pre-filmed bits used in the ceremony such as Daniel Craig's "James Bond" cameo with Queen Elizabeth II and Rowan "Mr. Bean" Atkinson poking some fun at the theme and iconic beach running scene from "Chariots of Fire."

The DVD will also show some of the movie scenes that had to be cut for time. Boyle said these clips will explain some of the fleeting references and sights that the viewers might have missed in the live version. Boyle promised, "It will make more sense in this version."

The best part is that the DVD will speed up the very looooong procession of the athletes.

Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

Usain Bolt had another outstanding Summer Games. He won gold in the 100, 200, and 4x100 relay, and the man just wanted a souvenir to take home to Jamaica. Unfortunately, some Olympics officials were standing in his way.

Bolt had just run the final leg of the 4x100 relay at a blistering pace to help Jamaica set a world record in the event on Saturday. But instead of handing the "stick" to an official, he kept it:

Two officials reportedly caught up with Bolt and demanded he hand over the baton, threatening to disqualify Jamaica if he didn't. Bolt reportedly had an animated discussion with the officials and handed over the baton, leading to boos from the crowd.

The officials must have heard the boos because they relented and decided to let Bolt keep the souvenir.

"I got the baton back but at the start he was saying I couldn't keep it because it's the rule," Bolt said after the race, according to 9 News.

"It was kind of weird because he actually told me that if I didn't give it back I would be disqualified so I just gave it back to him.

"I took a picture with the guys, and I am going to frame the picture and put the baton below it — just something to remind me of London," the gold medalist said.

I'm glad they let the man keep the baton. The Olympics fun police already ruined enough with their treatment of Ryan Lochte. There was no need keep a memento from Bolt just so they could make a few extra bucks at their yard sale.

GIF via BuzzFeed Sports

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Celebrations and proper sportsmanship have been an issue throughout the London Olympics.

The US women's soccer team was called out by New Zealand for its celebratory methods, and the squad drew criticism after its win over Japan. Now it's the US complaining about the celebration methods of another country.

The US women's volleyball team blew a lead and lost the gold medal game to Brazil on Saturday. The favored Americans thumped Brazil 25-11 in the first set, but lost the next three sets 25-17, 25-20, and 25-17.

The Brazilian players were overcome with joy and some fell to the ground after winning. They jumped around in circles, cried, and exchanged the customary handshakes and kisses with the US players. But it didn't take long for things to get out of hand.

After the team held hands in a circle of prayer, the players lined up and did several somersaults (pictured above), even rolling into the US players who were walking off Earl's Court.

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the celebratory songs and clapping continued in the waiting area. The Brazilian players then danced their way back onto the court to receive their medals, though to be fair, they were playing to their legions of fans in attendance. But once they, the US, and Japanese players were all lined up for their medals, the Brazilians continued to dance.

In the image below, you can see the US and Japanese players standing straight while the Brazilian players (in yellow) gyrated in the middle:

Some of the American players were irked by the excessive celebration from the Brazilians.

"A lot of them are my friends,” four-time Olympian Logan Tom said, according to FOX Sports' Reid Forgrave. "They celebrate a little differently than Americans do. I let it slide. I did tell them, 'Get your asses down from the podium (when the silver and bronze medals were being awarded).' It’s just a little respect sort of thing. But like I said, it’s their culture. They celebrate how they want to celebrate. I’m all for that."

"If we had won, maybe we wouldn't have jumped around as much, but we would have celebrated," Danielle Scott-Aruda told Yahoo! Sports. "But you know, it's culture. So congratulations to them."

Coach Hugh McCutcheon said he had no issue with the Brazilians' celebration, saying, "If that's the way they choose to [celebrate], I've got no issue with that."

Maybe the truth is many people don't think about whose feelings they're hurting if they're the ones celebrating such a tremendous accomplishment. Perhaps it's not such a bad thing to be on the losing end. One, it teaches athletes the importance of sportsmanship. Two, it creates bitter feelings that frequently serve as future motivation.

As far as the Brazilian volleyball team's behavior goes, there's only one thing I know: McKayla Maroney definitely would not have been impressed. Derrick Rose wouldn't have been, either.

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Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas was honored in her hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia, with a mural on the side of a sports bar.

The mural was painted on the side of AJ Gator's Sports Bar & Grill in Virginia Beach and took four days to complete, according to The Virginian-Pilot.

Brothers Todd and Eric Lindbergh painted the 30 feet by 8 feet mural and included the words "Way to go Gabby" in gold capital letters. Douglas is painted in excellent detail and depicted smiling while holding a gold medal, with an American flag in the background.

It's safe to say Gabby was a fan. She tweeted to say she was "so honored" by the mural:

“@miiss_ashley: awesome mural here in VB for @gabrielledoug !! twitter.com/miiss_ashley/s…” WOW!!! This is amazing!! #sohonored ❤❤

— Gabrielle Douglas (@gabrielledoug) August 10, 2012

First it was a cereal box, and then it was a mural. What's next for the golden girl?

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