FanHouse Greece

During the remainder of the Olympic men's basketball tournament, FanHouse will give you 5 Things to watch for in each game.

It's Always Manu, Manu, Manu!: Yes, that's right. Your favorite Argentinian is here to join us. Manu Ginobili has been his usual spectacular self in Olympic play, leading all players in scoring at 19.6 points per game, and second in assists at 5 per game. Ginobili's likely to face a tougher defense tonight/tomorrow though, with the Greek swarming defense and tight zone. Still, Ginobili's been on quite the tear, and if you're looking for fireworks, look no further.

Welcome To The Danger Zone: Greece's zone has been very effective, holding opponents to 45% shooting (in the Olympics where everyone's percentage is high) and that's after the USA drubbing. Argentina is tied for the second best offense in the Olympics, so Greece will want to do everything they can to make it a knock down, drag-out affair. Even with Argentina's #2 defensive ranking, the Greeks have a much better shot if they can slow the game down and make it a physical scrap. Let the Argentinians get rolling, and this could get out of hand, fast.

Seeing your national soccer team get crushed at the hands of your most bitter rivals, and then having your ear bitten off ... that's just no way to spend a weekend. But that's what happened to Grecian businessman Dimitris Tsimbibakis after Greece was hammered 4-1 by Turkey in a Euro 2008 qualifier. Poor guy. He'll never be able to fully appreciate Yanni again.

Some Bulgarian cats were hanging out on the Greek island of Crete, and were apparently taunting Greek fans as Turkey piled on the goals. The Greeks and Bulgarians rumbled, and Dimitris Tsimbibakis claims he tried to intervene and break things up ... when one of the Bulgarian brutes sunk his teeth into his ear.

I don't know what happened to the guy's ear, how much of it ended in a Bulgarian mouth, or if doctors were able to reattach it. But I assume that the guy will be fine when they get some Ouzo and baklava in him.

Greece fared a little better today in Euro qualifying action, beating Malta 1-0, while Turkey tied Norway 2-2. Bulgaria, in an act of karma, tied lowly Albania 0-0, and don't look very likely to make the finals. But at least they have their ears.