Like the U.S. men's basketball squad, the women's tennis contingent might be hurt by defections. Fearing various dangers in Athens, it's unclear whether players like Davenport and the Williams sisters will show up.

Some have questioned the athletes' patriotism. In today's Times, however, Selena Roberts argued that patriotism and Olympic participation should not be intertwined.

Martina Navratilova agrees, saying that athletes should have the freedom to make this choice on their own. But Martina herself isn't terribly concerned about potentialy dangers there, and she plans to be in Athens.

"I'm not going to alter my lifestyle," she said. "You keep an eyeball out. It always cracks me up when they announce orange alert or whatever. I mean, what are you supposed to do? Buy duct tape?"

(Well, yes, if you ask the inestimable DHS.)

Less skittish than the men's ballers or the women's tennis tour, the women's basketball team members seem ready to forge ahead. Perhaps it's a slight benefit of a lower profile.