By Christy Lemire
The Associated Press

ATHENS - We've seen it all during the Olympics, from alpha to omega. And we've largely kept our opinions to ourselves. But not anymore.

From the most enthusiastic fans and infectious chants to the worst hairdos and attitudes to the most annoyingly overplayed songs, here's our look at the best and worst of the 2004 Summer Games:

BEST CHANT

The roaring Greek cries of "Hellas, Hellas" - as the country is known here - which echoed everywhere but were deafening during the men's basketball game against the United States. (We also got caught up in the Lithuanians' rhythmic cheer of "Lie-tu-va.")

WORST BEHAVIOR

Two displays come to mind. The capacity crowd at Olympic Stadium whistling and booing - chanting for disgraced Greek sprinter Kostas Kenteris - and delaying the start of the 200-meter final by four minutes. And the gymnastics fans who booed for 10 minutes because they were unhappy with the high bar scores the judges gave Russian Alexei Nemov.

BEST SPORTSMANSHIP

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, for giving up his spot in the 400-meter medley relay to rival Ian Crocker, which allowed Crocker to redeem himself for a disappointing swim earlier.

WORST SPORTSMANSHIP

Germany's Judith Arndt, who won the silver medal in the women's road race, yet made an obscene gesture toward her nation's cycling federation officials while crossing the finish line. Arndt said she was upset that they didn't put her close friend, Petra Rossner, on the Olympic team. (And for more misplaced priorities: Taekwondo referee Zhao Lei, who still counted out Bertrand Gbongou Liango from the Central African Republic while he was lying unconscious from a roundhouse kick to the head before being hospitalized with a concussion.)

BEST HAIR

Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, whose blond-tipped bed-head still looked fabulous, even with the gold medal-winner's wreath on top of it.

WORST HAIR

Australian basketball player C.J. Bruton, whose braided 'do resembled a cornrow mohawk. (Though furry-backed Roberto Duenas of the Spanish basketball team qualifies for this category, as well. The 7-foot-3, 302-pound center is the winner of our "Wookie of the Year" award.)

BEST HORSE NAME

Air Jordan, a German horse in the three-day event, which includes jumping.

WORST CROWDS

The abysmally low soccer attendance at satellite venues in Thessaloniki, Heraklio, Volos and Patras - except when the Greeks played, and even they didn't sell out most of their games.

At the Ghana-Paraguay game, the announced attendance was 1,119 among 26,200 seats.

BEST FIREWORKS

The climactic show at the opening ceremony in Olympic Stadium.

WORST FIREWORKS

Chief Olympic organizer Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki threw a celebration one day later, with a pyrotechnics show that caused a fire in the nearby wooded area, burning out of control for nearly an hour.

BEST BARGAIN

The 2-euro Heinekens on tap at the venues and media villages. (Though the chocolate-coated ice cream bars for 1 euro and 50 cents also were a favorite.)

WORST FOOD

Anything served at the media villages. Breakfast was especially bleak, consisting of bland cold cuts, tepid omelets and concrete croissants.

BEST USE OF COSMETICS

American sprinter Gail Devers, who painted her famous talons blue to match her uniform.

WORST USE OF COSMETICS

The rhythmic gymnasts. We know you're trying to color coordinate, but seafoam-green eye shadow and silver hair glitter are never, ever a good look.

BEST FASHION ACCESSORY

British long jumper Jade Johnson's snazzy red fishnet stockings.

WORST FASHION ACCESSORY

The plastic strap barely holding up Jamaican Veronica Campbell's top as she ran the anchor leg of the 400-meter relay.

Her team won the gold, but her outfit was a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.

BEST FANS

Hard to choose. The mighty, tightly packed Lithuanian basketball fans, dressed in their country's green, yellow and red, resembled the produce section at a grocery store. The Japanese, in matching samurai garb, were vocal and organized at baseball. And then there was the overweight Brazilian beach volleyball fan in a green-and-yellow wig, tight yellow Superman costume and blue Speedo trunks.

WORST ATTITUDE

U.S. super heavyweight Jason Estrada, who performed dismally in a quarterfinal loss to Cuba's Michel Lopez Nunez, then infuriated his coaches by telling reporters it didn't matter because he's focusing on his upcoming pro career: "If I'm going to lose, I'm going to lose getting hit as little as possible. I'd rather not get hit at all."

BEST SONGS AT VENUES

The "Zorba the Greek" theme, which never grew tiresome. "Miserlou" by Dick Dale. "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet. "Music" by Madonna. Barry Manilow's "Copacabana."

WORST SONGS AT VENUES

"La Bamba." "Love Shack" by the B-52's. "Who Let the Dogs Out" by the Baha Men. "Tie Me Kangaroo Down." Barry Manilow's "Copacabana."

MOST OVERPLAYED SONG

The Venga Boys' "We Like to Party." Since the games started 2 1/2 weeks ago, it feels like this insanely catchy electronic ditty has been playing at some sporting event or soiree every second of every day. (Or maybe it's just stuck in our heads.)