DAY 1
Italy's ANTONIO ROSSI (Canoe/Kayak Flatwater)
The Stud of the opening ceremony needed to show enthusiasm. We considered Liechtenstein's flag bearer, Marcel Tschopp, a track and field athlete who didn't let the fact that he was one of two people representing his country stop him from fist-pumping. And Kevin Cordon, the smiling flag bearer from Guatemala who apparently heard Bob Costas when the announcer noted that Cordon had drawn one of China's badminton standouts in the first round of competition, so perhaps he should enjoy himself now. But in the end, Italian flag bearer Antonio Rossi (pictured) had three things those gentlemen didn't: 300-plus countrymen acting as though they'd hit the vino while awaiting their walk in the parade of nations; the ability to reduce broadcast fatigued Costas and Matt Lauer to a ''Marco...Polo'' joke; and a sport jacket that hugged his back muscles. —Mandi Bierly
Olympic Studs: Day 1 reader picks
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