31.   The opening match of the NBA Finals resembled basketball the way a leggy supermodel resembles a porcupine.

32.   The only U.S. woman who advanced out of qualifying Thursday, Lisa Kosglow, won her opening match but lost in the second round to Karine Ruby of France.

33.   The US should have learned from those Olympic experiences that winning the opening match is imperative.

34.   There are considerably fewer fans to watch Cedric Pioline win his opening match.

35.   They disposed of the Swiss duo in the opening match.

36.   Thus, Graf advanced to the third round and avoided the cataclysmic fate that befell top seed Hingis in her opening match Tuesday.

37.   Volkov, will face Edberg in the opening match.

38.   Where Raheem, Vargas, Cauthen and Guardado are is where featherweight Floyd Mayweather and middleweight Roshii Wells hope to be Monday night after they box their opening matches.

39.   Will the gala opening match be in Tokyo or Seoul?

40.   With the notable exception of the opening match between Germany and Bolivia, most of the games have been fun to watch.