Came across an interesting story in the New York Times the other day. It began by relating the time a U.S. Olympic Committee caterer found half a chicken breast at a supermarket in China last year that was so large, it would “feed a family of eight.”

“We had it tested,” the caterer was quoted as saying, “and it was so full of steroids that we never could have given it to athletes. They all would have tested positive.”

The story went on to explain how the USOC has enlisted the help of some of its sponsors to provide clean, untainted food for the 600 or so American athletes who will be competing this summer in Beijing. For instance, Tyson Foods will ship more than 12 tons of lean protein to China for the athletes to eat while they’re there.

Despite the Americans’ planning, the Times story brings to light a serious problem ” one of many, we’re learning ” at this Summer Olympics, where performance-enhancing drug scrutiny will be greater than ever.

Can you imagine, as an athlete, if you did everything right for four years, then ate something you were assured was clean but which caused you to be expelled from competition simply because “clean” in China is not the same as “clean” elsewhere? My guess is something like that will happen at least once in Beijing. …

You can’t overlook the fact that two of the NBA’s top four scorers play for one team ” the Nuggets. Allen Iverson, at 26.8 points per game, and Carmelo Anthony, at 26.2 ppg, rank behind only LeBron James (30.1) and Kobe Bryant (27.9) among the league’s best.

But the far more impressive stat for both Nuggets is their accuracy. Iverson, a career 42-percent shooter at the point, has traditionally viewed shot attempts the way Wilt the Stilt viewed women: another 10 probably won’t ruin the party.

This season, however, Iverson has made 45 percent of his shots, something he’s done over a full season just twice in his 12 years in the league.

Anthony, meanwhile, is shooting 48 percent from the field, two percentage points better than his career average. …

Quick quiz: Can you name the Nuggets’ third-leading scorer, behind The Answer and Melo? It’s not Marcus Camby (9.2 ppg), or Kenyon Martin (10.8), or J.R. Smith (9.3), or even Eduardo Najera (6.0). …

Sunday was a bad day to be a Clemson Tiger. The struggling orange basketball team squandered an 11-point lead to No. 3 North Carolina with about three minutes left in Chapel Hill, eventually losing in double overtime. Don’t think they’ll have forgotten it in bubble land a few Sundays from now. …

Quiz Answer: Denver’s third-leading scorer is 23-year-old Linas Kleiza, the 6-foot-8 swingman from Lithuania who played his college ball at Missouri. He’s averaging 12.2 points per game. …

Terrifying scene in Buffalo on Sunday. Richard Zednik, a 12-year NHL vet playing for Florida, had his throat slit by a teammate’s skate during a play in back of the Buffalo net. He left a gruesome trail of blood on the ice while skating toward the bench, and later that night underwent surgery on his carotid artery that saved his life. …

For a guy who has proclaimed himself the greatest ever at a position, center, that is more important than any other on the basketball floor, Shaquille O’Neal sure has made the rounds. Last week’s trade to Phoenix means O’Neal has now played for four teams in his 16-year career. …

In parting, you wonder what a recipe for disaster sounds like on a ski lift? “I’m not good at all,” the guy sitting next to me said. “But I’m fearless.”

” Breckenridge resident Devon O’Neil’s $0.02 column runs on Tuesdays. He can be reached at devononeil@hotmail.com.