‘Timing is everything.

There is a tide in the affairs of men

which, when taken at the flood

leads on to fortune.’

– Will Shakespeare

The XXX Olympiad begins in London this weekend. For America, perhaps the world, these games could not have come at a better time.

√ For athletes the culmination of preparing for the zenith of careers.

√ Time for a feel-good in America too. A respite from drought, a dullard economy, excruciating media attention on senseless killings, and hateful political rhetoric.

Timing can be everything.

This week, patriotism. Wrap ourselves in the flag, chant U-S-A! in unison and tell ourselves “red, white and blue ain’t corny.”

America’s refrain: roll out America the Beautiful … reach for their stars, go for the gold.

Before the cheering starts, a few items from one man’s Bucket List.

Things to notice, things I hope to see.

1. Going to Britain, USA is not favored to top the medal tote board at the end, but isn’t it timely? Underdog America goes against the Brits again is Bunker Hill and Shot-heard-round-the-world perfect.

2. America’s Uni. As much as the United States grew from upstart colonial collective into a super power in so short a time, the face of the US delegation to London could be Unibrow. Anthony Davis.

Scrawny shooting guard on a so-so high school team … ‘discovered’ one summer … grew to player-to-watch … to media darling … blossomed to college player of the year … slipped on an NCAA championship ring … rocketed to first pick in NBA draft … dropped then added to USA basketball team … will a gold medal be next?

All before Davis’s 20th birthday, March 11, 2013.

If the kid were a stock on Wall Street today, his name would be in a sentence with Apple, Xerox, Mexican Grill and whatever Warren Buffett is buying.

Timing can be everything.

Favorites?

3. Reese Hoffa, 5-11, 315-pound shot putter born in Louisville. Hoffa’s nickname ‘Unknown Shot Putter,’ says much. Reese Hoffa Olympian says more.

4. Tyson Gay, sprinter (Lexington Lafayette). Already a three-time world champion at 100 meters, Gay may be USA’s best hope against Jamaican self-proclaimed superman Usain Bolt.

5. Stephanie Hightower. London could be a mountain-top experience for this member of the US delegation. USA Track and Field president, Hightower, now 54, was an All-American sprinter at Ohio State. She began her journey as a skinny sprinter at Fort Knox High School in the 1970s.

6. Favorite underdog. Claire Donahue. 100 meter butterfly. Western Kentucky University graduate and pride of Lenoir City, Tennessee (population 8,764), Donahue may be more surprised to make it to London than those who had never heard of her (blush). Donahue could become America’s next Cinderella story. Think: Lenoir City, Tennessee to front of a Wheaties cereal box, and all that goes with it.

The London Olympics opening ceremony is Friday evening.

Turn up the air conditioner and hand your friend a flag.

America, I love this place!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Kentucky and Louisville coaches wedged their way into a news cycle last week alongside the British Open, JoPa’s statue removal at (un)Happy Valley and media-stroke on Dwight Howard’s ego.

UofL’s Charlie Strong continued to win hearts and minds while UK’s Joker Phillips did his best to make the best of a bad hand dealt him before the SEC coach-media meet in Hoover, Alabama.

Strong’s visits to Kosair’s Children’s Hospital, a youth football clinic in his city’s west end last week, earned a Pay-It-Forward newspaper headline and opportunity to tell a Louisville reporter, “My role as a head coach is to go touch as many lives as I can.”

Genuine, admirable … and timely.

Phillips by contrast already saddled by increased ticket prices, sagging ticket sales and a feeble four or three-game Mini-Pack gimmick, answered questions that begged for no comment.

Ironic, UK ticket sale tactics have become a reminder of Howard Schnellenberger’s first years at UofL. Tickets to Cardinal games went for a song and/or a coupon from Krogers.

Today, in a league CBS-Sports bought for a billion dollars and tickets are a premium in every other SEC town south of our state line at Jellico, Mitch Barnhart is pitching mini-packs.

Phillips had to field questions about hot seats too which, at the least damages recruiting. His name is 31st on one hot seat list behind Tennessee’s Derek Dickey at fifth and Florida’s Will Muschamp 23rd.

Kentucky, media types predict, will win no SEC games and finish last in the league.

A more sunny view from here – low expectation can be an ideal place to launch motivational speeches i.e. “men, it’s us against the world! Lets go prove ‘em all wrong!”

When asked the question UK football coaches have dreaded since Bear Bryant was given a cigarette lighter while Adolph Rupp got a Cadillac, Phillips waffled. “Isn’t Kentucky a “basketball school,” he was asked. Trying to dance with this ugly one, he waffled and said any exposure of UK’s logo helps his program.

If ever a media query begged for a Les Miles-style reply, this was it. Phillips ought to have responded, “next question!”

COURTNEY LEE

Western Kentucky coach Ray Harper’s recruiting pitch added a paragraph last week when former Hilltopper Courtney Lee signed with the Boston Celtics.

A fan favorite at Western, Lee will $uit up for the Celtics at $5 million a season.

Hope here is, Lee is as good a fit in Boston as it appears on paper. His run-the-floor on every possession style could put him on the business end of Rajon Rondo passes often enough to make Ray Allen a fond memory.

BASEBALL’s BEST

Hall of Fame speeches at Cooperstown in July can be too long, emotional or, hit a home run. In 2005 Ryan Sandberg’s speech was out-of-the-park perfect.

But last Sunday former Cincinnati Red Barry Larkin hit a grand slam. His speech was heroic, grateful, humbling, genuine and timely.

If you missed it, Google Larkin’s Hall of Fame acceptance speech on the internet.

And so it goes.