My biggest dilemma is who to cheer for,Brits or Americans !!!!!
Tell you what, no offense but that reminds me of the one thing I hate the worst about the Olympics: being constantly bombarded by a medal tally by country by the TV commentators. >:(
Talk about being contrary to the Olympic spirit! :(
To me, any decent person should NOT watch the China 2008 Olympics !
Artiste has a point, if the Chinese regime is oppressive, watching the Olympics indirectly supports their oppression. So, perhaps those who agree that the gov in Beijing should not be given any support then should not watch the Olympics.
Merci Lynne !
May I ask isn't a decent life more important than gansters ??
Did you know that China has children as real slaves working in shops ?
So, to me, I try to purchase less ans less Made In China items; besides many are dangerous, even kids' toys !! Did you know ? Create jobs in your own country, isn't that better ?
So, maybe purchasing less and less, or no Made in China items, would be a good habit for you to continue ? And, this way, you continue your freedom ? Likewise to boycott the China 2008 Olympics !
What do you think ?
Au revoir,
hugs!
That's like saying since I don't like the fact my next door neighbor spanks his children, I won't talk to the little kid from down the street because he's playing in their front yard.
It doesn't make sense. It's not the athletes fault!
I haven't been paying attention to the China/Olympics situation, but while it may not be any of the world athletes' fault that the Chinese government is repressive/ecologically disastrous/etc., and it may not have been the athletes who made the awful decision to allow China to host the Olympics, it is their choice to go participate in the Chinese-hosted Olympics.
Here is an email that I got to-day from a chinese person in China, who is a citizen that wants freedom there.
Here is part of his email, that explains how different their athetes are trained as slaves for politics so China can dominate them, as China cons the World with their 2008 Olympics:
Some of the girls from the gymnastic team as young as 14, have been confined to state run training camps for no less then 8 years, away from family, training non stop including missing most of their academic needs. All national Chinese Olympic teams, train under the State supervision. Only last year there were four reported serious accidents in the Chinese team, from over training including three young athletes that suffered irreversible serious physical injuries with broken spines. This week a girl, seventeen years old, from the canoeing team revealed her fear of water, as she was forced to join the national team when she was only ten years of age, as she was seen to be a strong girl.
........
So you see partly, that China under the guise of sports cons the World and its own people too by forcing them to be like slaves or be slaves ? ?
This person will get prison, be tortured, etc., if found to have sent such emails to us in the free world, because since January talking negatively about China on the internet is a crime since such a law came into effect, we know ?
How? How does my watching the Olympics in Indianapolis support Chinese oppression over on the other side of the world? I don't get it.
So you're saying the entire world should tune out the Olympics and ignore all the athletes and their hard work because we are upset with China? China will continue to do what it's doing regardless if I watch the Olympics or not. Like I said, I'm not that important. And besides, perhaps the Olympics will allow China to feel more a part of the international community and cause them to rethink their human rights policies. :)
If you had rigorously trained for perhaps 15 out of the 20 years of your life, wouldn't you too seize the opportunity and go, even if it meant travelling to the Chinese-hosted Olympics? Perhaps I am without conscience but I believe I would go, no matter where the Olympics were held. :)
Now neither of the Hamm brothers will be there for men's gymnastics. :'(
The opening ceremonies are very beautiful. :)
Kerry, is Ian Thorpe competing for Australia?
I haven't heard. All we hear over here is Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps. ... ::) :-\
Alas, Ian "The Thorpedo" Thorpe is not competing. :'( In his absence, keep an eye on Aussie swim stars Grant Hackett and Stephanie Rice. :D
Yes, Kerry, like you, I too sat up and watched the opening ceremony, and I thought it was spectacular.
Us Aussies are quite lucky this time, as our time zone is only two hours different to China, so we get to see most of the events at a decent hour.
And great news today, Stephanie Rice got the gold......Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi
Kerry I will be sure to watch for Grant Hackett and Stephanie Rice and I'll cheer them on if I see them competing! :)
Alas, Ian "The Thorpedo" Thorpe is not competing. :'(
The "Thorpedo" is not an Olympian? WTF? ???
That's a shame. :(
Cannot believe the announcers of the women's gymnastic are lamenting the "good ole days" of Romanian gymnastics when Karolyi was in charge.
Karolyi is a martinet. His training regime back in the days of Nadia was brutal and cruel and did not take into account the mental, physical or emotional health of the young girls in his charge.
He's a shit.
Agreed !!!
On the subject of gymnastics anyone else think half the Chinese team are closer to 12 than 16??
Because my daughter is a gymnast we are glued to it and also the tennis for son. But there is no way some of the Chinese gymnasts are 16. Or do they just hit puberty several years later in China?
Agreed !!!
On the subject of gymnastics anyone else think half the Chinese team are closer to 12 than 16??
Because my daughter is a gymnast we are glued to it and also the tennis for son. But there is no way some of the Chinese gymnasts are 16. Or do they just hit puberty several years later in China?
I enjoyed seeing the U.S. men's swim team win the 4 X 100 relay! That was great. :) They didn't get "smashed" at all.
Yep, they looked closer to 13 than 16.
Yes, I believe the Iron Curtain countries used growth inhibitors and kept the girls' weight so low they were delayed in entering puberty so they could excel at the skills they needed to win (getting hips and boobs and body fat slows and weighs the female body down in performing the fantastic tumbling you see. To do such tricks you have to have the body of a child or a boy to compete at the elite level). I wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese gymnasts were given such things. They're doing the drug testing aren't they? Who is checking their testing?
The girls probably have no clue. I remember watching a PBS special where some former East German female athletes never realized they had been given steroids in their competitive days - despite the body hair, bigger muscles, etc., - they were told they were getting vitamin shots and they never questioned their coaches.
I would be surprised if there was not a double attack going on.Lying about their age as they have to be 16 in the year of the Olympics and maybe some growth retardation hormones as well. I find the whole thing very scary.
My daughter who is now 10 is tiny like meand sorry bragging here,took 1st in State for her level this year, and it was her 1st year of competition.
All of a sudden the head coach at her gym is very interested in her. He has even given her free privates.He passed comment to my husband how she is just the right height and build for gymnastics. She is very small but with very very strong arm and leg muscles.He said to us both, he hoped she does not grow too much, and stays small like me.
She cannot legitimately compete in the next Olympics ,which is what he hoped as she will not be 16.
The only good thing, is when we are late with payment, we don't get stinky mails from the gym owner, all of a sudden our daughter has become too important for her to lose.!!!!
She is already doing level 7 work. I am so neurotic these days about everything, I have told her when she gets the free privates not to have anything to drink from him.
The level some coaches will go to for that extra bit of help, really scares me, and as you said, the kids don't even know half the time.
We had a wrestling coach here, who coached another team, not the one my oldest one was in, tell us that some coaches put steroids in drinks, so to warn our son only to drink from his own bottle.
A parents worries are never over. You think great, my kid is doing well in sports, that keeps them out of trouble to some extent, but Oh no,it is just a whole new set of worries.
Some day, someone has to write a book, Parenthood the real truth !!!!
Congrats to the U.S. men's gymnastics team!!!
They were THIS close to a spectacular silver! But oh, well. They're a young team and will do great things.
So cute. Some MUST be gay. ;D
what you saying? Straight men can't be cute??!
>:( >:(
:laugh:
It is, indeed, a shame. However, it is my understanding that Ian Thorpe voluntarily retired from competitive swimming. It was his own choice. I'm sure I can speak for most Australians, as well as swim fans everywhere, when I say what a shame it is that he has retired. :'(
Agreed !!!
On the subject of gymnastics anyone else think half the Chinese team are closer to 12 than 16??
Because my daughter is a gymnast we are glued to it and also the tennis for son. But there is no way some of the Chinese gymnasts are 16. Or do they just hit puberty several years later in China?
The girls probably have no clue. I remember watching a PBS special where some former East German female athletes never realized they had been given steroids in their competitive days - despite the body hair, bigger muscles, etc., - they were told they were getting vitamin shots and they never questioned their coaches.
Congrats to the U.S. men's gymnastics team!!!
They were THIS close to a spectacular silver! But oh, well. They're a young team and will do great things.
So cute. Some MUST be gay. ;D
You bet! All those beautiful young men. ... ::)
Added: It is a little strange, however, to see athletes from Asian nations walk into the stadium while the music in the background is "Scotland the Brave" played on bagpipes. :laugh:
Read "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes; the making and breaking of elite gymnasts and skaters" by Joan Ryan. Things have certainly improved since she wrote this back in 2000-2005, but I'm sure a lot hasn't. Read it and weep.
I agree that they look younger than they are supposed to be. It occurs to me that if those kids are undergoing strenuous training regimens from a very young age, perhaps that delays puberty? We know that strenuous athletic training can cause women to stop menstruating, so I wonder if such training can also delay the onset of puberty? ???
While I admire what all gymnasts, male and female, can do, I sometimes wonder about broadcasting so-called "women's" gymnastics. I mean, very young, or very young looking, girls cavorting in skintight costumes? ::) At least the men don't look like little boys.
Dammit, I'm so cross with myself that I just got too sleepy to stay up and watch. >:( I'm sure we will see some of them again in four years (four effen years. ... :laugh: ). The whole team, including David Durante, the alternate who didn't get a chance to compete. They really did come off as a team, like a bunch of brothers. I'm so happy for them. :D
I've been thinking, too, about the ethnic make-up of the American team (Russian, Indian, Chinese, Irish, Italian, and maybe even a WASP or two!), and I think those guys are wonderful representation of what America is when we are at our best. :D
None of them are setting off my gaydar, but a guy can dream about one or two of them. ... :laugh:
On the other hand, a certain young diver whom I watched compete last night (who shall be nameless). ... ::)
David Durante was in the stands crying as they won. It was really sweet.
How young? ;)
;D I like gymnasts better than swimmers, divers better than swimmers.
There's a whole argument going on in women's sports about just this subject. "Women's" gymnastics and "Women's" ice skating have been given over to little girls because the elite level requires athletic skills that only the body of a child can manage.
Doesn't seem right, does it? That you have to be a child to succeed at women's athletics? :-\
In such sports, yes. Luckily you can still be an Amazon in the track events.
Not sure, but I think so.
There's a whole argument going on in women's sports about just this subject. "Women's" gymnastics and "Women's" ice skating have been given over to little girls because the elite level requires athletic skills that only the body of a child can manage.
Men don't have this problem because they gain muscle mass as they get older, so the older they get, the stronger they get, their body shape doesn't change much. Not so with women. The older women get, the more fat tissue they gain along with hips and breasts and weight and change of center of gravity.
Apparently there was a 30 something gymnast in the german womans team?
Eighteen. Whew! ;D (And great abs. ... ;D )
This article offers a glimpse into the gymnastics training program in China for girls who show promise:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/05/sports/gymnast.php
Yeah. Her name is Oksana Chusovitina, and she was born in 1975. This is apparently her fifth Olympics. She defected to Germany from Uzbekistan to get medical treatment for her son who was diagnosed with leukemia.
She has qualified for all-around and vault, so hopefully we'll get to see her compete in the next couple of days.
Here's more info on her: http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=801/qa/index.html
And here she is on vault at the 2008 World Cup competition:
Pretty amazing. I hope she does well in Beijing.
Is it just me or is there no real reason the women's beach volleyball team
1) wear bikinis
2) that are all a size too small for them?
I've been wondering about that myself. ???
At least the women could wear something like bike shorts. ... :-\
Owwwwwwwwww!! ;)
But I see what you mean - finally caught the men's synchro diving. OMG!!! [pant pant]
Is it just me or is there no real reason the women's beach volleyball team
1) wear bikinis
2) that are all a size too small for them?
I really don't like watching them because I keep getting distracted by their asses hanging out the bottoms.
The men wear baggy shirts and shorts. Either put the women in t-shirts and shorts or put the men in Speedos. >:(
I was thinking the same thing about 'women's' gymnastics. The men are in shorts and tank tops. The women are in little leotards cut way too high for their muscled asses.
They're obviously all too young to need a bikini wax so when they spread their legs for the international world to see, the hedge isn't showing.
Put 'em in fucking shorts for the gods' sake. >:(
Even Martina Navaritalova started to wear shorts instead of skirts on the tennis courts.
I was thinking the same thing about 'women's' gymnastics. The men are in shorts and tank tops. The women are in little leotards cut way too high for their muscled asses. They're obviously all too young to need a bikini wax so when they spread their legs for the international world to see, the hedge isn't showing.
Put 'em in fucking shorts for the gods' sake. >:(
Well tight seems to work for the cyclists.....
Or put the men in leotards. ... ;D Hell, ballet dancers do it. ... ;D
Speaking of the Chinese "women"--I use the term loosely--gymnasts, I saw something on the news last evening--I forget if it was national or local--where they spoke to a pediatric dentist, who commented on one of the "women" missing an adult canine tooth, "missing" as in she had lost the primary tooth but the secondary tooth had not yet come in--evidence that she is nowhere near as old as she is supposed to be.
Well, I guess the cyclists genuinely do have an argument about wind resistance. :-\
Speaking of the Chinese "women"--I use the term loosely--gymnasts, I saw something on the news last evening--I forget if it was national or local--where they spoke to a pediatric dentist, who commented on one of the "women" missing an adult canine tooth, "missing" as in she had lost the primary tooth but the secondary tooth had not yet come in--evidence that she is nowhere near as old as she is supposed to be.
WARNING: What follows is not for the faint-hearted!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1044258/Pictured-The-horrific-moment-Olympic-weightlifter-turns-elbow-front.html
Did somebody seriously think this pic was a good idea?! I mean REALLY!?
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Spanish-basketball-team-poses-for-offensive-pict;_ylt=Av4pruhlUdZ30XttWDwy2UjHKZt4?urn=oly,100152
Dancer paralysed :( :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2551869/Beijing-Olympics-Chinese-dancer-injured-in-opening-ceremony-rehearsal-paralysed.html
Well tight seems to work for the cyclists.....
Only decision they have to make is whether to wear black shorts....
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd7/suekat777/blackbicycleshorts.jpg)
......or red shorts
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd7/suekat777/redbicycleshorts.jpg)
Uh, I vote for red. ... ;D
I am SHOCKED....you sure??!!
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: ;)
Yeah, right. Y'all probably elbow me out of the way to get to the ballot box! :laugh:
Yeah, right. Y'all probably elbow me out of the way to get to the ballot box! :laugh:
Outta way!!
Geez! And they claim gay men are c*ckhounds! We ain't got nuthin' on you two! :laugh:
"I prefer to see the men play without shirts. When male players train they traditionally choose to wear a longer boardshort to their knees."--McPeak
"Women choose to wear a two piece bathing suit because it is the least restrictive uniform possible." --McPeak
"Not only are you battling the heat of the sun, but you are diving around in the sand." --McPeak
"Imagine the feel of sand inside your clothes combined with sweat. I can't think of anything worse." --McPeak
ok so MEN dont' care about sand inside their clothes? Men don't find shorts so restrictive they can't play volleyball? I guess men are just tougher and can focus better...
??? ???
What on earth are you talking about Jess? ???
"I prefer to see the men play without shirts. When male players train they traditionally choose to wear a longer boardshort to their knees."--McPeak
"Women choose to wear a two piece bathing suit because it is the least restrictive uniform possible." --McPeak
"Not only are you battling the heat of the sun, but you are diving around in the sand." --McPeak
"Imagine the feel of sand inside your clothes combined with sweat. I can't think of anything worse." --McPeak
ok so MEN dont' care about sand inside their clothes? Men don't find shorts so restrictive they can't play volleyball? I guess men are just tougher and can focus better...
??? ???
What on earth are you talking about Jess? ???
I'm listening to the National Anthem right now as our girl Nastia wins the all around gold for women's gymnastics and Shawn won silver leaving that little Chinese girl for bronze. I didn't think they could do it, seeing as how the judging was cutting the Chinese breaks all through the early rounds.
ditto...ditto.......what the hell ARE you on about Jess ???... especially the McPeak bits....???
Did you get all outa sorts lookin at those red shorts........???
I'm listening to the National Anthem right now as our girl Nastia wins the all around gold for women's gymnastics and Shawn won silver leaving that little Chinese girl for bronze. I didn't think they could do it, seeing as how the judging was cutting the Chinese breaks all through the early rounds.
And it's also a feel good moment considering how many stories are now rising about the ages of the Chinese 'women'. Their own bloggers and docs on their stats from earlier competitions that people have show He to be about 14.
Really pisses me off, but nothing can be done. You go to a country where such corruption is rampant, you can't expect them to adhere to a true Olympic spirit.
McPeak is a member of the Olympic volleyball team and she is answering a question about why the women wear bikinis. I thought we were talking about the clothes the Olympians are wearing... :-\
What an awesome finish! Gold and silver! I was worried when the judges seemed to be giving Nastia lower scores than she deserved, but it ended well. Good for Nastia and good for Shawn. The Russian who ended up in 4th place was pretty impressive, too.
I am so looking forward to the rest of the gymnastic competitions. I'm psyched!
By the way, Nastia's going to SMU -- just like Lashawn. Maybe she'll pledge Tri Delt. :)
I am not even American, but with a daughter in gymnastics the skewed voting made my blood boil.The American girls particularly Nastia were marked down, quite blatantly so.
The Russian girl should have have taken bronze.
The Chinese should have their team medal removed, That is what would happen if drug tests prove positive, they are so flagrantly flouting the rules.There was an article on the age of one of the girls in the team, which was circulating the internet,but it has now been removed!!! The girl was only 12 earlier in the year, so I guess Chinese years must be a bit like dog years.!!
A live update from the '67 Summer Bro-lympics!*
(http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn108/LauraGigs/Brolympics.jpg)
"That victory scream ― that is the scream that rang in his ears 4 years ago not once but twice.
This is a very aggressive position. He likes to be in this position ― he doesn't go out that fast.
This is why he is so so good. He knows how to do this just perfectly. His real key is that pump. It just blisters the field. Looking very good and very much in control.
You see him right there . . . a combination of speed off the blocks and that Greg Louganis (http://www.umich.edu/~msjrnl/backmsj/110695/loug.html)-like entry. Like I said, that low center of mass so he can get in and pop up right away. He's quick off those blocks. Watch him. Just explodes ― he has that perfect entry. You see that?
That's where he's so good. Nice tight and low and then look. Quick pop up there, you 'll see this, boom! And then once he comes up he has a narrow stroke . . ."
*Actual NBC commentary from the Men's 100m Freestyle Competition August 14, 2008.
I wish you yanks would get ahead of China in the medal tally. You're the only ones who can do it. Maybe in the track and field you will do it, I hope so. That would piss them right off.....
I don't care who does it as long as it's not the Chinese. We're pretty good at track and field. We'll see what happens.
I don't blame the Chinese girls for this debacle. 10-15 years from now, if China keeps getting Westernized, there will be - mark my words - some sad Sports Illustrated article about one of these girls who will confess how - as a child of 12-14 - she was made to lie about her age so she could compete.
She's in China! What are they going to do? Say no? In one story, I guess was meant to be inspiring but sounded more like child abuse to me - one little gymnast wanted to quit. She was a long way from home, away from her friends and family, subjected to a harsh disciplined athletic program day in day out and she finally broke down and called the people she thought she could rely on, who loved her and would help her. Her parents. She called and asked to come home. They said no. :( >:( >:(
She was a little girl. Who was she going to turn to next?
And now? So what if she's a champion? She's a stranger now to the people who should have been the most important in her life and probably on some level feels betrayed by them.
Sad and tragic.
What's worse is that the whole world is caught up in not saying anything bad about a 'host' while they are in their country, and so remain silent. Luckily the journalists aren't as polite.
Tell you what, that whole business of medal tally by country is another thing that pisses me off.
I realize it's unavoidable, and perhaps it's even human nature to do this sort of thing, so I can't even really blame the media for it, but I still think it's contrary to what I believe is supposed to be the spirit of the Olympics.
Like, what, Country A is better than Country B because Country A's athletes win more medals? Bullshit.
yeah and I always feel so BAD for the countries that have never won one...but they show up anyway..
That's the spirit of the Olympics! It's sort of what I like best about the opening ceremonies, when you watch all the athletes parade in, and you see a group that's maybe only half a dozen--or even fewer--representing some country that most geographically challenged Americans have never even heard of, and you know they have practically no chance of winning anything, but there they are, so brave and proud! :D
That's the spirit of the Olympics! It's sort of what I like best about the opening ceremonies, when you watch all the athletes parade in, and you see a group that's maybe only half a dozen--or even fewer--representing some country that most geographically challenged Americans have never even heard of, and you know they have practically no chance of winning anything, but there they are, so brave and proud! :D
They mentioned a couple of stories that bring tears to my eyes - the young African swimmer - can't recall his country- last Olympics or so who had just learned how to swim. He wasn't an Olympic caliber swimmer, he was literally a beginning swimmer, yet there he was, dead last, struggling to finish, long after everyone else had packed up and gone home so to speak. People stayed to watch and cheer him on. Another person, from some island country coming in dead last in a race in the Mexico City Olympics I think. Asked why he kept on, he remarked, "My country didn't send me 7000 miles to start the race, they sent me 7000 miles to finish the race."
Now that's the spirit.
Tell you what, that whole business of medal tally by country is another thing that pisses me off.
I realize it's unavoidable, and perhaps it's even human nature to do this sort of thing, so I can't even really blame the media for it, but I still think it's contrary to what I believe is supposed to be the spirit of the Olympics.
Like, what, Country A is better than Country B because Country A's athletes win more medals? Bullshit.
WARNING: What follows is not for the faint-hearted!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1044258/Pictured-The-horrific-moment-Olympic-weightlifter-turns-elbow-front.html
Did somebody seriously think this pic was a good idea?! I mean REALLY!?
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Spanish-basketball-team-poses-for-offensive-pict;_ylt=Av4pruhlUdZ30XttWDwy2UjHKZt4?urn=oly,100152
Dancer paralysed :( :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2551869/Beijing-Olympics-Chinese-dancer-injured-in-opening-ceremony-rehearsal-paralysed.html
and thank you thank you thank you for not posting the pics themselves!
{{Kelda}}
well I tell you that pole vaulting was sad... :P :P
our woman talked trash then couldn't back it up....that Russian woman walked all over her.
OUCH...
Her coach though, he was a shit to her. Talk about negative reinforcement.
Her coach though, he was a shit to her. Talk about negative reinforcement.
Poor Nastia, poor Alicia. Both got screwed by more favoritism shown the Chinese.
I don't understand why they can't protest a judge's scoring. When they obviously miss things - they have film right there - or are showing blatant favoritism, they never get called on it.
What a ripoff.
I'd play it safe and stick with white rice. No buffet for me. :)
Believe it or not, I've tasted snake before. Rattle snake. I had a taste of it in Arizona. Now don't roll your eyes.... PROMISE you won't roll your eyes!...... but it tasted like chicken! Well, a gamey version of chicken. Hard to describe, but it wasn't too bad at all. :)
Why can't they just give out two golds and a bronze? Why have a tie-breaker rule anyway? Other Olympic sports allow ties.
Nastia handled the situation extremely well, in my opinion. She was so poised accepting the silver. I know I would have been fuming.
It seems that gymnastics judging needs to be revamped yet again. Maybe instead of not allowing judges from countries that have gymnasts competing in the event (the way it is now), they should include a judge from each country represented in the particular competition and just throw out the highest and the lowest scores.
Maybe the viewing of slow-motion replays should be a mandatory part of judging (if it isn't already). A second, more critical look before a score was given surely couldn't hurt.
Gotta agree with you there Jess....Even here in Australia where we have only a 2hour time difference to Beijing, some of the televised events we are getting are delayed and its really pissing us off.
If Australians are in the finals, luckily, we are getting most of them live, but much of the other stuff is delayed.
Actually, there has been a big uproar over here about the telecast and how higgly piggly it is. On the first Saturday of events, the TV station stopped transmitting the games in the afternoon for two hours to put on a live football match.....there was such a negative response to that,that they didn't do it again on the second Saturday.
You would think that they get four fucking years to organise their telecast, and it still dont look right...
ok here is my pet peeve and the reason I dont' watch the Olympics much.
It is tape delayed, not live, so why do they not have the events organized so you can sit and watch the entire finals and see who wins? For example, I was watching last night and they were showing the womens pole vault....they spent ten minutes on the event, leading up to the finals, they showed the bronze winner and that left two to go...and they switched over and showed some guys running hurdles!!! ARGH! I was so mad...why not just SHOW THE LAST TWO POLE VAULTS!!?? THEN go to the hurdles...
that is the main reason I don't watch more....the total disorganized and illogical coverage..
Jeff, I watched men's diving last night and thought of you when I saw Alexandre Despatie. :)
I just had to leave for a while, have they already shown the gymnastics event finals tonight?
(http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080819/capt.03b7bce3ccbb4c3a81cc37112d1a56d3.beijing_olympics_athletics_womens_100m_hurdles_olyat516.jpg)
but.....but.....but...what the heck??! How can this be? The girl with LESS clothes lost! the winner had all that wind resistance and..and...RESTRICTED movement (what with actual SLEEVES in her top and her shorts all the way down to the top of her thighs...)
I feel like the sun has risen in the west...how can this be?! How did the girl in the bikini LOSE like that? She was streamlined and could MOVE freely!!
I just don't know ...
Big baby. They should give it to the guy who came in 4th and erase his name from the records.
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=reu-wrestling&prov=reuters&type=lgns
Compare that to the French gymnast who was so thrilled with his bronze. He was crying and looked like he was about to puke in excitement at one point.
(http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080819/capt.03b7bce3ccbb4c3a81cc37112d1a56d3.beijing_olympics_athletics_womens_100m_hurdles_olyat516.jpg)
China does NOT let out much news, by blocking the USA news sites... and others still, optom!
I find the T.V coverage here so hit and miss. I did not have any idea that Britain had its best year for medals in 100 years. No mention of any of that here.
I only found out because we get an English newspaper here on Sunday.Until then I thought only USA, China and the odd Russian were competing.!!
I know back in England from what friends tell me, that the T.V coverage has been much more consistant.
Now I know England needs to cover more countries sa we don't get an enormous haul of them ourselves.
It just would be nice to see more general airing here.
I also know that there is a big time difference, but I somehow managed to miss all the tennis.However at least I got to see the gymnastics and swimming.So can't grumble to much.
Do you know what is especially exciting to watch I've learned - the BMXing..
It's amazing - you have to be extrmely skilled and fit to do that. Such a shame our Brit girl Shanaze reade (the world champion by far) didn't win after she clipped someones bike - but as she said I came here to get the Gold... and so I went all out to get it, I'm sad it didn't pay off but what can I do.
You can see avideo of the final here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/cycling/7575946.stm
really? You didn't know how well we were doing?! C'mon the Brits!
No, both me and husband were gobsmacked when we saw the Sunday paper.They hardly get a mention here. I have not seen one Brit. medal being won.Have seen a heck of a lot of the womens beach volleyball, which I can't stand. None of the equestrian events, no rowing.The gymnastics coverage was good, but that was about it for me, apart from a bit of mens diving,purely for the voyeur aspect. A fine way to end the day !!!
Oops. Me and my friends at work were laughing at this newest 'sport'. It looks like it takes the skill of a 10 year old boy. We have 13 year olds racing on higher hilly ground than that track out in the country. And the contestants wear these heavy huge helmets like motocross wannabes. Seen the helmets the regular bicyclists wear? How about the equestrians who are riding cross country jumping and racing at up to 20 mph on a 1 ton animal?
Silly sport, IMO.
Wow, what a difference.
The skies of Beijing - before and after:
http://jamesfallows.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/08/blue_skies.php
Here's an interesting article about BMX racing:
http://expn.go.com/expn/story?id=3490901
Prior to the Olympics, an exact duplicate of the Chinese track was built in Chula Vista, California.
Have you actually watched it Dela? I thought the same until I actually watched it (because of the Brit girl who is world class in it) and you really do have to take your hat of to these guys... its dangerous high octane and incredibly difficult. You can tell that within seconds of watching it. And I just watched the females not the males which I'm sure is even more dangerous etc... hence the helmets - go have a look using the link I supplied I bet you'll change your mind.
I'm in love. Matt Mitchum, an Aussie kept his cool, his good looks and his lovely form and robbed China of their men's platform dive gold sweep.
But he did get the opportunity because the Chinese leader choked on his last dive and Mitchum did not.
Good on ya, Aussies! ;D ;D ;D
I'm in love. Matt Mitchum, an Aussie kept his cool, his good looks and his lovely form and robbed China of their men's platform dive gold sweep.
But he did get the opportunity because the Chinese leader choked on his last dive and Mitchum did not.
Good on ya, Aussies! ;D ;D ;D
I saw that - pretty amazing.
Oh and ach well we'll have to agreed t disagree on the bmx-ing.. what do you think of the table tennis btw? I think thats more odd than the bmxing!
To tell you the truth, I'm glad they are now over.
The TV broadcast was bloody awful, and I started losing interest through the middle of last week.
Congratulations to all the athletes from all over the world, you did well........now go get a proper job.
and you know he is out, right? NBC wouldn't show his family....you notice that? They showed a LOT of other athletes families, mates, and all. Matt's parents and his partner ?Lachlan? was there to see him win!
To tell you the truth, I'm glad they are now over.
The TV broadcast was bloody awful, and I started losing interest through the middle of last week.
Congratulations to all the athletes from all over the world, you did well........now go get a proper job.
I saw that - pretty amazing.
Oh and ach well we'll have to agreed t disagree on the bmx-ing.. what do you think of the table tennis btw? I think thats more odd than the bmxing!
the trampoline is the one that made me roll my eyes...
They have Olympic trampoline? :o
Yeah, that's a bit of an eyeroller. My boy Matt Mitchum the diver though used to be like a junior competitor at trampoline.
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news?slug=cr-somalirunners082408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news?slug=cr-somalirunners082408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
Somalia sent two athletes. Both came in last...but lort reading their story.
Can someone tell me why the best athlete in the Olympics who is American,Mr. Phelps esq. was in London for the closing ceremony ???
But for a Led Zep fan, Jimmy Page playing whole lotta love was just the business for me.
Can someone tell me why the best athlete in the Olympics who is American,Mr. Phelps esq. was in London for the closing ceremony ???
But for a Led Zep fan, Jimmy Page playing whole lotta love was just the business for me.
I wouldn't say BEST ATHLETE, all he did was swim! ;D He is an amazing swimmer, there's no doubt about that but I'm still not convinced that he should have won that seventh medal. In the overhead slomo replay, the guy to his left seemed to be touching the wall way before Phelps had his arm extended, even the announcer (CBC) said that the other guy should have gotten it. Was there ever an explanation for this?
Here are the top nine comments made by NBC sports commentators so far
during the Summer Olympics that they would like to take back:
1. Weightlifting commentator: 'This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw
her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing.'
2. Dressage commentator: 'This is really a lovely horse and I speak from
personal experience since I once mounted her mother.'
3. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: 'I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother
and father.'
4. Boxing Analyst: 'Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths
in boxing, but none of them really that serious.'
5. Softball announcer: 'If history repeats itself, I should think we can
expect the same thing again.'
6. Basketball analyst: 'He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't
like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces.'
7. At the rowing medal ceremony: 'Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the
IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew.'
8. Soccer commentator: 'Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've
got eleven Dicks on the field.'
9. Tennis commentator: 'One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is
that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses
them... Oh my God, what have I just said?'
I'm in love. Matt Mitchum, an Aussie kept his cool, his good looks and his lovely form and robbed China of their men's platform dive gold sweep.
But he did get the opportunity because the Chinese leader choked on his last dive and Mitchum did not.
Good on ya, Aussies! ;D ;D ;D
Are those for real?! They are hilarious!
I'm in love. Matt Mitchum, an Aussie kept his cool, his good looks and his lovely form and robbed China of their men's platform dive gold sweep.
But he did get the opportunity because the Chinese leader choked on his last dive and Mitchum did not.
Good on ya, Aussies! ;D ;D ;D
welcome iorhael!
I wouldn't say BEST ATHLETE, all he did was swim! ;D He is an amazing swimmer, there's no doubt about that but I'm still not convinced that he should have won that seventh medal. In the overhead slomo replay, the guy to his left seemed to be touching the wall way before Phelps had his arm extended, even the announcer (CBC) said that the other guy should have gotten it. Was there ever an explanation for this?
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news?slug=cr-somalirunners082408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news?slug=cr-somalirunners082408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
Somalia sent two athletes. Both came in last...but lort reading their story.
Hi, I feel can only post a message like this here, but I am absolutely nuts over Matthew Mitcham as well...which makes no sense at all because I am married, and he is gay...not to mention that he is 30-plus years younger than me ;o! But somehow I feel I'm okay in talking about this here...He absolutely won my heart on Saturday night when he upset the almighty Chinese divers and won the gold...I loved him already for his open emotions (which were so refreshing to after seeing all the athletes who stifled them on the podium, including our gal gymnasts) and the fact that he won the gold after going through personal struggles in 2006. I didn't even know at that point that he was gay.
When I found out that out after doing some googling, I admired him all the more. I was extremely miffed at NBC for not showing the medal ceremonies but found it on their site at least. After watching that video, I loved him even more...he was just so wonderful on the podium and especially jumping up on the railing to see his mom and partner, and other Aussies. You gotta love him! He is so adorable...sexy in a cute sort of way...and definitely lovable. I will be following him closely from now on.
Here is the link for the medal ceremonies:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0823_SD_DVM_ME_L1291R7
There are also some interviews of him on You Tube...mostly Aussie stations...very little from the US >:( What I am wondering is whether NBC not mentioning his accomplishment at all after the meet was because he was not a US athlete or because he was gay...
Phooey!!! I can't watch the link because the plug in won't install on my computer.
I wanna give them the benefit of the doubt and say it was because he wasn't an American, but I have my suspicions...
The French swimmer coasted in and Phelps took that last 1/2 stroke. It was extremely close - the commentators later said it was like the distance of a fingernail - but Phelps did touch first. They don't depend on the eyesight of the guy over the lane. They have some sort of touch-sensor in the wall which will indicate who touched first.
Phelps did win. That's why you didn't see or hear about a protest from the French. It's an electronic device that decides who touches when.
when I clicked on there was an option to play without the plug in...it worked ok on mine...that was cool I was grinning all the way thru!
I'm using Firefox, so when I click on the link, it gives me the website, Matt's grinning mug and a big button that says "Video". I click on it and I get "To play video on Firefox please install Silver something plug in". There are no other options. Maybe if I was in Explorer or Netscape...
Heh heh. Switched over to Explorer 'cause Netscape didn't work.
Matt was so sweet. He's such a goober. Looked like a little kid out there, bouncing around, singing Australia's anthem, just thrilled.
Yes, it was refreshing to see someone so openly surprised and emotional about winning. :)
Bronze medal winner Gleb was glum. Looks like a poor man's Vin Diesel though. ;D
There are also some interviews of him on You Tube...mostly Aussie stations...very little from the US >:( What I am wondering is whether NBC not mentioning his accomplishment at all after the meet was because he was not a US athlete or because he was gay...
I wanna give them the benefit of the doubt and say it was because he wasn't an American, but I have my suspicions...
Here are the top nine comments made by NBC sports commentators so far
during the Summer Olympics that they would like to take back:
1. Weightlifting commentator: 'This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw
her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing.'
2. Dressage commentator: 'This is really a lovely horse and I speak from
personal experience since I once mounted her mother.'
3. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: 'I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother
and father.'
4. Boxing Analyst: 'Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths
in boxing, but none of them really that serious.'
5. Softball announcer: 'If history repeats itself, I should think we can
expect the same thing again.'
6. Basketball analyst: 'He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't
like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces.'
7. At the rowing medal ceremony: 'Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the
IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew.'
8. Soccer commentator: 'Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've
got eleven Dicks on the field.'
9. Tennis commentator: 'One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is
that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses
them... Oh my God, what have I just said?'
Tell you what, speaking of suspicions and not showing significant people in athlete's lives, did I just miss something, or in all the coverage of Dara Torres and the repeated comments about her age and being the mother of a two-year-old child, was there ever any mention made of a father of her child or of a partner for Torres of either gender?
Granted, I'll gladly give even star athletes some privacy, but still, unless, as I said, I just missed it--repeatedly--I thought that was rather a strange omission.
Here are the top nine comments made by NBC sports commentators so far
during the Summer Olympics that they would like to take back:
I think I remember the story they did of her. I want to say she has a husband who approved of her going back into swimming and helping out with childcare, etc.
I'm using Firefox, so when I click on the link, it gives me the website, Matt's grinning mug and a big button that says "Video". I click on it and I get "To play video on Firefox please install Silver something plug in". There are no other options. Maybe if I was in Explorer or Netscape...
Tell you what, speaking of suspicions and not showing significant people in athlete's lives, did I just miss something, or in all the coverage of Dara Torres and the repeated comments about her age and being the mother of a two-year-old child, was there ever any mention made of a father of her child or of a partner for Torres of either gender?
Granted, I'll gladly give even star athletes some privacy, but still, unless, as I said, I just missed it--repeatedly--I thought that was rather a strange omission.
Matt was so sweet. He's such a goober. Looked like a little kid out there, bouncing around, singing Australia's anthem, just thrilled.
Yes, it was refreshing to see someone so openly surprised and emotional about winning. :)
and here is the little girl who made me cry. Who still holds a dream to be a ballet dancer
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqaCQw8ijSs&translated=1[/youtube]