The Olympic Games

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 4:40 pm

Saw the opening ceremony last night.

Hands down, the greatest show on Earth....ever.....

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 7:32 pm

Yep, the Brits are ******.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:26 am

I'm having a good time rooting for Japan this time around.

I've also found myself cheering anyone who isn't the US, which kind of irks me.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:48 pm

Well, about 75% of the way through watching more Olympics than I have since probably Atlanta '96, I feel strangely patriotic.

Because when you get down to it, those Americans who are competing are just regular people who put everything they have into these few chances to grab some amount of what...gold?....glory?....I mean, most of them will win a medal, and then fade back into obscurity, and being good at air rifle is not going to get you a job with a retirement plan 9 times out of 10. But they do it anyway, for the oppertunity to say "I'm the Best in the World! Now listen to my anthem, Bitch!"

And hats off to Beijing for a smooth but smoggy Olympics thus far, but I've certainly grown to be at least annoyed by China, with their Baby Girl Gymnasts and Milli Vanilli opening musical numbers and what not. And until I see otherwise, I remain convinced that the Czechaslovakian diving judge was bought off by Big Red.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:51 pm

Usain Bolt is the king of the world.

Bolt and Ara Abrahamian are the only dudes I'll remember when this **** is over.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:40 pm

Once again, hate to be nationalistic, but....Michael Phelps? 8 gold medals? 8 world records? 18 swims in 9 days? That's got to be memorable.

Bolt is the fastest man in the world currently, clearly, but like most bad ass track stars, I'm not a big fan of his egoistic self promotion.

Are you saying you'll remember Ara like, "Go Swdeden!," or like "That guy got robbed!" or like "Remember when that wrestler threw down and gave up his bronze in disgust because he wanted gold?"

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:41 am

Is swimming the only olympic sprt where u can realistically compete in 8 events and win?

Bolt is brillant, but could he run 8 different events?

Not taking anything away from Phelps because its still utterly amazing but can this be achieved anywhere else but the pool?

Oh, and go UK for being 3rd and all that!

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:08 pm

I will take away more than anything that opening ceremony.

Then, the name Usain Bolt. I just like saying it. I'm more impressed with that name than the guys actual accomplishments.

I mean, how badass can it get, that you're the fastest man on Earth.....and your name is Bolt!

Then, I'll remember that boxing match where some dude from Romania punched some Chinese dude in the face three times in succession, and amazingly was not awarded a single point. I laughed my ass off when they showed it in slow motion. It was then I realized how subjective and vunerable to home-cooking boxing at the Olympics really is.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:19 pm

I like Bolts attitude. It's refreshing not knowing the answer to every question (regarding interviews).
Most interviews with athletes are a waste of ******* time IMO. If some dude scores six goals in a game he'll probably say "It was a team effort". There's no life in interviews.

And I'm glad that Ara took a stand (corrupt refs, etc).
But sad that he sort of 'stole the show' from the gold medal.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:31 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:Is swimming the only olympic sprt where u can realistically compete in 8 events and win?

Bolt is brillant, but could he run 8 different events?

Not taking anything away from Phelps because its still utterly amazing but can this be achieved anywhere else but the pool?

Probably not. Swimming's got different distances and individual/team (like any track and field), but then it also has different strokes, which is what makes the multitude of events.

The only thing track could offer comparably is hurdles. So, keeping in mind that I myself hate running and know nothing about track and field outside of shotput and discus, you could do something like the 100, 200, or 400 + some relay events + some hurdles, but it probably wouldn't be enough for 8 medals, and you would die of exhaustion halway through because of all the qualifying.

Yaya wrote:I will take away more than anything that opening ceremony.

True. Especially the guy running around the stadium in the air proceeded by a ginormous fireworks spectacular that made the Bird Nest's olympic torch look like a matchstick.

Then, I'll remember that boxing match where some dude from Romania punched some Chinese dude in the face three times in succession, and amazingly was not awarded a single point. I laughed my ass off when they showed it in slow motion. It was then I realized how subjective and vunerable to home-cooking boxing at the Olympics really is.

Yep. I realized that after Roy Jones Jr. got famously jobbed at Seoul in '88. It's too bad too, because the idea of scoring punches and winning by points as opposed to just beating each other up is strangely enticing to me.

Ob wrote:Most interviews with athletes are a waste of ******* time IMO. If some dude scores six goals in a game he'll probably say "It was a team effort". There's no life in interviews.

In America, an athelete scores six goals, and he probably says, "I want to give all my thanks to God, without him I wouldn't have accomplished anything."

Is that a good or bad thing?

Ozz · Post by **Ozz** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:33 am

Shanti418 wrote:So, keeping in mind that I myself hate running and know nothing about track and field outside of shotput and discus, you could do something like the 100, 200, or 400 + some relay events + some hurdles, but it probably wouldn't be enough for 8 medals, and you would die of exhaustion halway through because of all the qualifying.

I think sprints and hurdles are too different events for one person to be equally great in both. I'm not talking out of exprience, I just don't remember anyone doing that. Combining sprints and long jump makes mores sense and for example Carl Lewis IIRC won for golds in 1984 by winning 100m, 200m, 4x100m and long jump. Marion Jones tried to beat that in Sydney in 2000 adding 4x400m as fifth event. She didn't manage though - she placed third in long jump and in 4x100m her teammates blew it on the beginning and she only could take the team from 6th or 7th place into 3rd (which was quite awesome from what I remember). But seeing as she admitted being on drugs it doesn't really matter.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 12:56 am

I guess that's true, although I'd be interested to see exactly why sprinters can make good long jumpers, but not good hurdlers or triple jumpers.

Got to see that Polish guy win shotput. Nice!

Also got to see both US 4x100 teams drop batons and embaress themselves. Not so Nice!

Also watched a 20k Run/Walk. Boring!

Ozz · Post by **Ozz** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:38 am

Shanti418 wrote:Also got to see both US 4x100 teams drop batons and embaress themselves. Not so Nice!

Especially as that means one less chance to see Allyson Felix in action. And I luv Ally.

For me, yesterday's 4x400m semi-finals were hilarious because of our commentators. I don't what the hell they were smoking, but somehow they thought Belgian relay were ours. Throughout the whole thing. The best part was when we were on third right before the finish line and then Belgium outran as and they were actually cheering.

Then they saw the results: "Hmm... Belgium third? And Australia (who also outran us during last meters) fourth? That can't be right... Erm...".

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 9:43 am

Shanti418 wrote:I guess that's true, although I'd be interested to see exactly why sprinters can make good long jumpers, but not good hurdlers or triple jumpers.

I'd imagine it's to do with the amount of jumping involved.

With sprints and long jump, it's basically, just "run forward as fast as you can for as long as you can", a repetition of a single movement, whereas hurdles and triple jump involve multiple and different movements, both forward and upward. So, sprinters and long jumpers are built primarily for speed, while the other two have to incorporate jumping up, and what better way to improve jumping potential than to be less massive.

Therefore, sprinters are probably too heavy (for their muscle distribution) to jump effectively in hurdles and triple jump, while their ability to generate forward momentum can make up for this in the long jump.

The Last Autobot · Post by **The Last Autobot** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 12:17 pm

If Phelps were a country he would be in the top ten gold medals list.

He must be a mutant

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:07 am

The Last Autobot wrote:If Phelps were a country he would be in the top ten gold medals list.

He must be a mutant

Actually not far off. He's got virtually all double joints, and his waist is extremely small in proportion to his shoulders/chest, both of which are apparently good things for swimming.

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:27 am

Shanti418 wrote:
The Last Autobot wrote:If Phelps were a country he would be in the top ten gold medals list.

He must be a mutant
Actually not far off. He's got virtually all double joints, and his waist is extremely small in proportion to his shoulders/chest, both of which are apparently good things for swimming.

Also has freakishly long arms and short legs with a long torso.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:02 am

I've been joking that Phelps doesn't belong on the US Olympic Team; he belongs on the X-Men.

Seriously, stick him in one of the X-Men spin-off movies and I'll be thrilled.