Redemption is sweet....Even at 4:00 in the morning: Team USA wins gold!

Location: Memphis, TN

Time: 3:50 A.M CST

Event: Men's Basketball at the Olympics. Gold Medal at stake.

This year's Olympic games weren't really getting me pumped as they had in the past. I really felt like it was just another sporting event.

When I was younger, the Olympics were like a once-every-4-years-Christmas. Then, I had to become an adult. Other things in my life took precedent. Most things were on my plate while the Olympics sat on the back burner.

I watched the opening ceremony. I was captivated by the sights and sounds and a little voice inside me told me to get excited.

I watched Michael Phelps' first Gold medal win. That voice became a little louder.

I watched his other wins. I felt a euphoria like I hadn't felt since the 1996 Olympics; the last time I watched almost all of the Olympics.

I watched the volleyball Gold Medal games. Something inside me came alive.

Then I watched the Gold Medal game in Men's basketball. It was fought hard back and forth the entire game. As I watched, the voice inside me became a scream; and now, it's exploding with sound inside my head.

As I sit here watching the medal ceremony and I see the Gold medals being placed on each U.S. player, tears well up in my eyes as I feel an unprecendented sense of pride.

As I sit here after standing to hear the National Anthem, I find myself crying tears of pride. Tears of joy. Tears. Of Patriotism.

I saw every U.S. player's face. I couldn't see tears. But I know that they feel what I feel. I do not feel what they feel. They won a gold medal. Just the same, though, our emotions are running high.

Some people may say that me crying or getting emotional is wrong. That this country has gone too far down the drain for me to cry.

Still others will say that it's wrong for me to cry because it's not what a man should do.

And even still, there are others who think it's ok for me to cry and for me to show my emotions.

I believe that in certain situations, crying is the only thing possible one can do to show one's true emotion.

So how does one show one emotion when he or she is feeling several at the same time?

Crying.

People do it all the time.

It's usually reserved for sadness, mourning, frustration.

Today, however, on Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 4:11 A.M., this 23-year old feels an immense sense of pride, patriotism and happiness. Yet tears welled up and fell from my eyes.

As Team USA defeated Spain's National team for the Gold Medal in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, I couldn't have felt any happier if I was there in Beijing seeing the game first-hand.

I was afraid that Team USA would lose because we were playing against an inspired Spain team.

Then the Black Mamba awoke from his slumber and bit the Spain team on the calf.

Kobe Bryant either scored or had an assist in 15 points that were scored by the U.S. team.

I could say he hit the dagger that ultimately stopped the Spainiards in their tracks. But that would be an understatement.

Kobe Bryant hit the shot of his career. Not his NBA career, not his Olympic career, but his basketball career.

With a Spainiard's hand in his face, Kobe hit a 3-pointer with 3:10 left in the game to stop a Spain run.

He was also fouled on the play by the same Spain defender.

That defender's name is Rudy Fernandez. He will be forever remembered for helping Team USA win the gold medal in Men's Basketball and reclaim the glory that comes with it. The glory that came from the 1992 and 1996 teams.

I can definitely say that redemption is sweeter than domination. If we had won the gold in the 2004 Olympics, I may not be feeling the same as I do now. USA needed this.

For a country that is so content on calling itself a "Melting Pot," we don't act like it.

For anyone who was born here and prides themself on being called an American knows that this win his HUGE.

I feel it, and it feels good. The 2008 Olympics have come and gone. They came in with a bang and have gone out the same way. But it all ended way to fast.

People may read this and think that I'm wrong for feeling this way as I mentioned earlier.

I ask those people this: Do you feel proud to be an American?

I do.

This has reaffirmed my faith in the Human race not-to-mention the American race.

It also makes me feel like I'm wearing a gold medal.

And I'm not taking it off for a while.