Phelps deep-sixes all comers

BEIJING – Look out, Mark Spitz. Get the check ready, Speedo. Michael Phelps is closing in – quickly, of course.

Phelps made it 6 for 6 in winning gold medals, and in setting world records, by taking the 200-meter individual medley today. If he wins either of his last two races, he’ll join Spitz as the only Olympians to win seven golds at one Summer Games and cash a $1 million bonus from his sponsor.

Win ’em both and Phelps will stand alone as the greatest Olympic champ for both a single games and for his career. This was his 12th gold, pulling him further from Spitz and three others with nine. At only 23, he could end up doubling the long-standing career mark at London in 2012. Who would bet against him after this week?

Phelps was back in the pool before the session ended, qualifying second fastest for the 100 butterfly final Saturday. His final event is the 400 medley relay Sunday.

Across the street from the Water Cube, high-flying gymnast Nastia Liukin bested U.S. teammate and friend Shawn Johnson to win the women’s all-around. It was the first time Americans went 1-2 in the event and the first time the U.S. has won two medals of any color. With Carly Patterson having won the event in Athens, this also is the first time the U.S. has won this prestigious crown at consecutive Olympics.

Johnson is the reigning world champion, having also beaten Liukin at the national championships and Olympic trials only a few weeks ago. Liukin’s dad, Valeri, knew the feeling because although he won two golds for the Soviet Union 20 years ago, he finished second to a teammate in the all-around.

There was a dramatic finish as Liukin posted the top score on the floor, then had to wait through Johnson’s routine, the last of the meet. She was good, but only good enough to match Liukin’s mark in the event. She wound up 0.6 behind overall.

Through six of 18 medal events on the day, the United States led China 43-36, with American shooter Jason Turner getting moved up from fourth to bronze after a North Korea shooter was stripped of his third-place finish in 10-meter air pistol. Kim Jong Su also lost a silver medal in the 50-meter pistol.

A Vietnamese gymnast also was caught cheating, making it three ousted athletes so far.

Phelps’ victory was part of an impressive morning at the pool.

Ryan Lochte got gold and bronze, winning the 200 backstroke in a world-record time, then finishing third in the 200 IM a half-hour later. Rebecca Soni won the women’s 200 back, also setting a world record. Aaron Peirsol got silver in the 200 back, and Natalie Coughlin took bronze in the 100 freestyle.

Shooter Matt Emmons finished second in the 50-meter prone rifle, an event he won in Athens. His wife, Katerina, a shooter for the Czech Republic, has won a gold and a silver at these games.

American Tyson Gay, world record-holder Usain Bolt and previous world record-holder Asafa Powell all easily made it through the first round of the 100 meters in track.

Tennis

So much for a men’s final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Or the Williams sisters meeting in the women’s final.

James Blake, who had won only a single set in his previous eight matches with Federer, knocked him out 6-4, 7-6 (2). Blake is the only American left in men’s singles.

“If you play him enough times, he’s bound to have an off day,” Blake said.

Federer leaves with his third straight Olympic disappointment. He also goes away knowing his 41/2-year reign as the world No. 1 will end next week, replaced by Nadal.

Serena Williams overcame two match points, but ultimately lost to Elena Dementieva 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Li Na beat Venus Williams 7-5, 7-5.

Men’s basketball

The redemption the U.S. men’s team is seeking won’t come until gold medals are hanging around their necks. Still, beating Greece felt darn good.

Mixing passion with unmatchable athleticism, the Americans went up by 19 points before halftime on the way to an easy victory. Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh each scored 18 points, Dwyane Wade had 17 and LeBron James 13.

Rockets star Yao Ming scored 30 points to lead China past Angola 85-68 for the hosts’ first win of the tournament, and Lakers center Pau Gasol scored 13 in Spain’s 72-59 victory over Dirk Nowitzki and Germany. Nowitzki was held to 11 points by a defense designed to shut him down.

Softball

After posting shutouts and no-hitters in its first two games, the Americans faced their first deficit since the gold-medal game in 2000. It took some weird circumstances.

The Canadians scored a run without a hit when an umpire ruled that pitcher Monica Abbott made three illegal pitches. Her violation was losing contact with the pitching rubber. One of the illegal pitch do-overs led to an error by center fielder Caitlin Lowe, her first in 123 games since joining the U.S. team in 2005. Before that, she went 237 games without a miscue during four perfect years in the field as an All-American at Arizona.

The game was postponed in the fourth inning because of the rain, and the teams will resume play today.