IT'S GOOD TO BE THE KING

Social media's top Olympians on Friday, charted by social media charting company Star Count:

NO. 1 OVERALL: LeBron James (left), @KingJames on Twitter. The Heat megastar-conglomerate gained 10,000 Twitter followers and 10,000 Facebook followers in the morning alone.

SWIMMING: Chinese freestylerSun Yang, who gained 37,400 followers on China's hybrid of Twitter and Facebook, Seina Weibo

SOCCER: Brazil's Neymar Jr. (@Njr92), ahead of Americans Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13), Hope Solo (@hopesolo) and Abby Wambach (@AbbyWambach).

GYMNASTICS: China's Zhang Chenglong

* * *

SWOOSHING IN TO HELP

Egypt tried to do what a lot of people try to do these days: save a little money on a major purchase. Offered Nike gear for its team at half price, team officials accepted. Except the offer was from an unauthorized vendor, and they ended up with fake gear. "You can never tell the difference between the original and the fake ones," Gen. Mahmoud Ahmed Ali, chairman of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, told Ahram Online. The athletes could, and they complained on Twitter and to others who made the problem public. The real Nike got involved, and it said it was donating gear to Egypt's 113 athletes competing in 19 sports. "We are extremely happy that while these athletes are enjoying the greatest sporting event, they will be able to wear genuine Nike product," the company said.

* * *

WHY NOT ASK THE IRON SHEIK

Among the guest commentators NBC's Olympics blog has offered for wrestling is the Iron Sheik, left, who it says was a trainer for the 1972 U.S. team.

Asked to come up with a signature move and name freestyle wrestler Jordan Burroughs (74kg) could use, the Sheik offered: " 'The Jordan.' Not like the Michael Jordan, but he still the Real American. He can break the pinkie finger like Sheikie. He break people back with his pinkie."

And how does he feel about the "Flying Squirrel" nickname Greco-Roman's Ellis Coleman gave himself?

"Flying squirrel remind me of Ultimate Warrior because he a little rat when he jump in ring like that idiot Jose Canseco or Mel Gibson."

* * *

IF HE HAD ONLY KNOWN ...

In honor of the founder of the Internet, Tim Berners-Lee, being spotlighted at the opening ceremony:

The most searched Olympians on Yahoo:

1. Hope Solo, U.S. women's soccer

2. Stephanie Rice, Australian swimmer

3. Lolo Jones, U.S. hurdler

4. Serena Williams, tennis player

5. Natalie Coughlin, U.S. swimmer

* * *

HE LIKES ARCHERY AND FIRE

Times sports columnist Gary Shelton ranks his favorite opening ceremonies in covering 10 Olympics:

1. Barcelona. Nothing in the Olympics has been cooler than the archer lighting the torch with a flaming arrow.

2. China. An almost magical show - a gymnast running through the air -- in the magnificent Bird's Nest.

3. London. The British didn't lose their sense of humor, of fun, of cool. And Daniel Craig and the queen rocked.

4. Sydney. I can still see Kathy Freeman lighting the torch.

5. Athens. There was such apprehension before the Games, from the moment the opening ceremony began, the Games were terrific.

6. Atlanta. Yes, Muhammad Ali was terrific as he lit the flame. On the other hand, pickup trucks.