Beijing 2008

[Stokes]

Thought I'd start a thread for the Olympics, apologies if there is already an Olympic discussion elsewhere, mods feel free to delete if that is the case.

I've been watching every night, its great to have live events on in prime time.

A couple general comments:

Michael Phelps in particular, and US swimming in general are nasty.

The US women's gymnastics team didn't deserve gold with all their mistakes, but I'm still pissed that China cheated to win the gold and nothing will be done about it (there is a minimum age of 16 for the competition, and there is NO way some of the girls on their team are older than 13-14 max). They have a history of doing this (a girl from 2000 admitted to it) and there are multiple reports out there (NYT, another today on cnnsi.com) that the girls are too young.

Water polo has got to be the most exhausting sport out there, I wouldn't last 30 seconds.

The final medal count is going to be awfully tight between China and the USA.

Anyone else watching?

 

[Kdo5]

Phelps wins again! 6 gold medals....6 world records.

Oh yeah go US Gymnastics girls!!!!! Sucked that that girl from Massachusetts messed up in the team finals. Shes still hot though.

Liuken and Johnson FTW. Gold and Silver in all around gymnastics. Take that China. The cheating scumbags didn't win gold this time. Nothing against their girls although they are underage. They are excellent.

 

[Stokes]

Pretty impressive by the USA in both swimming and gymnastics last night. The judges were pretty kind to the Chinese in the women's all around, but in the end the 2 US girls were just too good. Shawn Johnson killing her last routine to get the silver was pretty cool. They have some amazing mental toughness for 16 year old girls (or in the case of the Chinese 12 year old girls). I feel bad for those Chinese kids, they are basically taken from their homes at age 3 and put in year round gymnastics camp away from their parents. Pretty disgusting.

Tonight I think will be Phelp's toughest test, there's the American that is really good, and another guy from maybe Serbia who looks really strong.

USA is up 7-8 in the medal count now after losing the lead yesterday to China.

 

[Kdo5]

HOLY ****. Phelps BARELY beat that Serbian. I mean wow! The Serbian had him ******* beat!!!

 

[Stokes]

That was awesome, if that serb had taken one more stroke he wins. Oh well, too bad for you Serbia!

Tonight 41 year old Dara Torres goes for gold in the 50m freestyle, she was the top qualifier. If she can do it that would be an amazing feat. She also showed great sportsmanship last night actually holding up the race to wait for a competitor who's swimsuit had torn. Hope she gets it.

USA basketball took care of business against Spain this morning, and Tyson Gay didn't even make the 100m finals (although you have to admit Usain Bolt is pretty much the coolest name for a sprinter ever).

 

[Stokes]

So a Chinese girl fell on her vault and still got a bronze over an American (from MA no less) that stuck both her landings. I feel bad for that girl, same one who blew the overall for the US, now she gets cheated over a bronze.

I'm disgusted by the mugging for the camera that the sprinters do when they win. It was a disgrace by the US runners in 2004 when they won, and Bolt was no better this year. Chest pounding and celebrating before the race is even over pisses me off. Posing and flexing is even worse.

 

[BritPat]

GB having a brilliant games, and are currently lying third in the medals table. With more to come I might add, they have aguaranteed gold and silver in the mens sprint cycling, whilst we have a finalist in the gold medal race off in the womens sprint.

Come on Great Britain!

 

[Kdo5]

So a Chinese girl fell on her vault and still got a bronze over an American (from MA no less) that stuck both her landings. I feel bad for that girl, same one who blew the overall for the US, now she gets cheated over a bronze.

I'm disgusted by the mugging for the camera that the sprinters do when they win. It was a disgrace by the US runners in 2004 when they won, and Bolt was no better this year. Chest pounding and celebrating before the race is even over pisses me off. Posing and flexing is even worse.

**** it. I love Bolt. I love seeing him doing his poses and everything because its funny. He is an unbelievable runner. I've never ever seen anybody as fast as he is and as for him easing up and celebrating before he crossed the finish line. Well I didn't mind. I find the whole "classless and sportsmanship" thing overrated. He had it won and he obviously didn't give a rats ass to better the world record he set.

 

[BritPat]

Bolt's beaten Johnson's WR in the 200M. And he did it into a head wind.

Unbelievable.

 

[Stokes]

Glad to see Bolt running to the line, sad to see Johnson's record go down.

Anyone else find it weird that Misty May spreads her mom's ashes on the court after winning the gold? If I was a men's player I might say "hey Misty, maybe you can hold off on that until AFTER I'm done playing out here in my bare feet and diving face first into this sand?"

I'm pissed they're getting rid of softball for 2012. Why? Is it because the USA is too dominant? I can't believe softball gets the boot while things like badmitton and ping pong get to stay in.

Pretty amazing story about the girl that lost a leg and competed in the open water swimming event.

I'm with you Brit, I root for Great Britain anytime the US isn't involved.

 

[Stokes]

Well, looks like I spoke too soon, the US lost the gold medal game in softball. Maybe now that we're not a lock for gold they can keep it in the Olympics. I also see that both relay teams dropped the baton. Nice work USA!

 

[Ciara's Dad]

Congratulations to the USA ladies football (soccer) team who won the gold medal today. They beat Brazil 1-0 in extra time thanks to a goal by Carli Lloyd.
The goalkeeper for the Yanks, Hope Solo, had a great game. She's not bad looking either.
Great celebrations on the pitch by the team at full time.

 

[PJM]

Three Irish medals!!! Three Irish boxers got to the quarter finals which means they get at lesat a bronze each and they all look good enough to have a chance at the finals. Hard to explain how big this is in a tiny country (pop. about 4m) where most people play team sports.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

I feel bad for those Chinese kids, they are basically taken from their homes at age 3 and put in year round gymnastics camp away from their parents.

How different is that from Phelps' coach who tells his mother at what 10 - 12 years of age that he has a plan for Michael - swim and train 365 days a year for how ever long. Sure it may not be from the time of 3 years but still the same philosophy, IMO.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

Three Irish medals!!! Three Irish boxers got to the quarter finals which means they get at lesat a bronze each and they all look good enough to have a chance at the finals. Hard to explain how big this is in a tiny country (pop. about 4m) where most people play team sports.

Are those Irish medals or Great Britain medals? Sorry I ask. I know in the Commonwealth games they would be counted seperate but in the Olympics they are under GB? Why is that anyway.

Agreed very impressive showing by GB. Great lead in to 2012.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

We're ahead of the Aussies in the medal count. They'll be going mental "Yeah but we'll win the ashes..."

This little island aint doing too bad is it.

 

[Ciara's Dad]

Are those Irish medals or Great Britain medals? Sorry I ask. I know in the Commonwealth games they would be counted seperate but in the Olympics they are under GB? Why is that anyway.

Ireland, like the USA, is a Republic, which my grandparents helped achieve :snob:, so any medals are for itself. Ireland does not compete at the Commonwealth games as it is no longer a member of this anachronistic event.
I think you are getting mixed up with Northern Ireland (Ulster), which is part of the UK, for now , whose athletes get called Irish. They compete under NI in the Commonwealth games. The English, Scots , and Welsh all come under the unbrella of British when competing in the Olympics as well, but revert back to their own identities when competing in other tournaments, such as soccer's World Cup.
And, just to complicate things, athletes who are born in the North of Ireland can chose to represent either the Republic or the UK under an agreement between the two country's Olympic committees. People of the Republican community in the North do not see themselves as British, whereas people of the Loyalist community do. It's a long, long story!

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

Ireland, like the USA, is a Republic, which my grandparents helped achieve :snob:, so any medals are for itself. Ireland does not compete at the Commonwealth games as it is no longer a member of this anachronistic event.
I think you are getting mixed up with Northern Ireland (Ulster), which is part of the UK, for now , whose athletes get called Irish. They compete under NI in the Commonwealth games. The English, Scots , and Welsh all come under the unbrella of British when competing in the Olympics as well, but revert back to their own identities when competing in other tournaments, such as soccer's World Cup.

Thanks for explaining. Sorry if I offended.

 

[Ciara's Dad]

No offence taken I assure you. Happy to explain.
PJM might be a different story!

 

[Stokes]

How different is that from Phelps' coach who tells his mother at what 10 - 12 years of age that he has a plan for Michael - swim and train 365 days a year for how ever long. Sure it may not be from the time of 3 years but still the same philosophy, IMO.

His coach didn't take him from his home to a training facility to live at 3, also 10-12 years old and 3 years old is a big difference! Also, Phelps probably could have talked his mom into letting him quit, no such option for the Chinese. Their captain wanted to quit and her parents wouldn't allow it, they wanted that $$ from the government.

More evidence out today that at least one of the girls is too young. Not that it will matter, but it does go against the spirit of the games.

Congrats to Ireland!

Nice win by US soccer, Hope Solo is very easy on the eyes, but I hated how she handled being benched last year, even if she was right.

Yikes, just saw the replays of the mens and women's 4x100, horrible execution for both. Still, it should be fun to see the Jamaican men run in the final with both Powell and Bolt on the same team. I hope they go all out, it would be amazing.