2008 Olympics

[Radiated]

Perhapss the one global event that can bring the world together for 2 1/2 weeks.

China put on the best opening ceremony ever. Truely breath taking. If no work was spoken on TV, it would have made no difference.

The pyrotechnics, the fireworks, the training and the choreography(sP) was truely amazing.

If only the world would follow the history and path of the olympics, I think we would be a far better off place.

I know that here are the politics, and the negative stories, but the olympics are amazing.

The story of the little boy from China that escaped the rubble of the earthquake, then going back in to save 2 of his classmates, because felt he had to because he was a hall monitor.

[justacatsfan]

I watched parts of the Opening Ceremonies and I agree they should have just let the cameras roll with no commentary. Costas and Leher trying to be funny just didnt work.

I'm one of those that will have the games on in the background for the duration catching bits and pieces.

Now if it was the winter Olympics I would set my alarm for 3am to get up to watch Curling. Feel in love with that "sport".

[RP_McMurphy]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d8/Tianasquare.jpg

[freethrow]

By, RP. I will not watch a second

According to Lachlan McClain (spelling?) on the radio recently, those that watch the Olympics do so because they have no life. I guess you won't get that label from him. :) He says the Olympics isn't real sport and he has no interest in any of it. He also said that he was rooting for Spain to win the basketball Gold. IMO, the guy is just a notch below being a total arse at times. :icon_mrgreen:

I thought the opening of the Olympics was spectacular. I too doubt that any Nation will ever exceed it. And the fact that much of it was all done by groups of a couple thousand people in extremely coordinated efforts was a wowzer to me. Those circles with all of 2008, all of those drums and those boxes, that are truly difficult to imagine that the were not computer generated for much of it, were all amazing.

I wonder if those people doing the boxes either had some sort of ear piece or something that toned for them in certain ways queuing them when to move and what way? If done totally from practice it is even more amazing.

[justacatsfan]

I just saw that the father in law of one of the volleyball players was stabbed to death this morning. They wee in a tower and the attacker jump off the tower to his death.

[UK Lola]

China put on the best opening ceremony ever.

Agree completely. I especially liked the announcer's statement of "after this one, they should just retire the trophy for best opening ceremony".

[bigjeep]

when does it start?:)

if the games can give the world a few weeks of comradity then fine...but if ya`ll think Hitler and Germany was bad after their olimpics then all I can say is you ain`t seen nothing yet...the games should never have been put there...

[JohnJ]

They had good fireworks, but I have seen better opening ceromonies.

[ryanebelhar]

Lexington native Elaine Breeden is up in the semis for the 100m butterfly right now

and wow, she did not do so hot.

[misterbluecat]

USA tabbed 2 more medals in the 400 IM. Phelps and Lochte, Gold/Bronze.

[Rockober]

USA tabbed 2 more medals in the 400 IM. Phelps and Lochte, Gold/Bronze.

Phelps is unbelievable!!

[JohnJ]

Wow, U.S.A.'s anchorman Jason Lezak, who swam the 400-meter freestyle relay with Phelps, probably turned in what will be the top performance at these Olympics last night! What a race!!!

[misterbluecat]

And he made the french eat their words too.

[ryanebelhar]

http://i35.tinypic.com/2a5b4lf.gif
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZAtiG4J8s8

[BigBlue75]

By, RP. I will not watch a second

According to Lachlan McClain (spelling?) on the radio recently, those that watch the Olympics do so because they have no life. I guess you won't get that label from him. :) He says the Olympics isn't real sport and he has no interest in any of it. He also said that he was rooting for Spain to win the basketball Gold. IMO, the guy is just a notch below being a total arse at times. :icon_mrgreen:



I can take Lachlan with a grain of salt since I've sat in on a couple of his shows live at different restaurants.He seems to be very personable and I honestly don't think he has some kind of agenda. I used to get pretty ticked at him and still, I very rarely listen to his shows. Even with that, I don't understand that comment at all. Without hearing the comment, the only thing I would guess is he was just trying to stir the pot to stimulate people to call in.

[ukblue22]

They had good fireworks, but I have seen better opening ceromonies.

I heard today, some of the fireworks were digitally created and pre recorded. (Sorry, I feel like I let the whole 'No Santa" story out of the bag.)

[dougwhit]

holy shnickies, synchronized diving, thats what olympics means to me

[ukyfootball]

Did you all hear about the girl who sang the Chinese National Anthem for the opening ceremonies? It turns out she lipsang the song, and they told the actual young Chinese girl who sang it that she wasnt pretty enough. Its really sad, and takes a little bit out of the opening ceremonies.

[sardiscat]

These Olympics have been totally engrossing. I have a trial starting in federal court on Tuesday and I can't stop watching the Olympics to prepare for it. The abilities of the athletes are light years ahead of what they were even 8 years ago, and the televising of the games is so much better now that events are being shown on more stations and they aren't trying to suck in more female viewers with all the sappy "up close and personal" interviews with the athletes that they used to show.

[surveyor]

IMO, some of the athletes are benefitting from technological advances in equipment - mainly the swimmers. The new suits that were modeled after the skin of a shark for aero(hydro?)dynamics in the water has aided in shaving seconds off of times. Also, the pool is 9 meters deep versus 6, allowing for less turbulence on the swimmers. The lane dividers are specially made to further reduce wake and turbulence between swimmers as well.

[JohnJ]

IMO, some of the athletes are benefitting from technological advances in equipment - mainly the swimmers. The new suits that were modeled after the skin of a shark for aero(hydro?)dynamics in the water has aided in shaving seconds off of times. Also, the pool is 9 meters deep versus 6, allowing for less turbulence on the swimmers. The lane dividers are specially made to further reduce wake and turbulence between swimmers as well.

The rules for the swimming strokes have been vastly modified, too. For example, swimmers used to get disqualified if their heads went all of the way underwater on breast stroke, now they routinely go way under, and they can do butterfly kicks underwater on certain strokes and turns or dives when that used to be outlawed, etc.

They say those new swim suits can take 30 minutes to get into.

[ryanebelhar]

I heard today, some of the fireworks were digitally created and pre recorded. (Sorry, I feel like I let the whole 'No Santa" story out of the bag.)

The organizers knew there was no way they could capture some of the fireworks on camera because of the different angles that would have been required, so they used CGI to show them on tv. But all the fireworks were real in person.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Being cooped up in the house for a week after surgery I have enjoyed the Olympics.....swimming and beach volleyball are the best..Michael Phelps is awesome.....one of the best atheletes around right now..I love watching him swim..hope he gets number 8 tonight

[Will Lavender]

I've watched a ton of Olympics this past week, so I must have no life. :icon_mrgreen:

I've really enjoyed them. My favorite sports to watch have been swimming and beach volleyball, two sports that, before Beijing, I don't think I really paid attention to whatsoever.

[Will Lavender]

I've seen China on other boards getting some heat for the opening ceremonies (too scripted) and such, but I thought the ceremonies were flat-out spectacular.

However, you'd have to be an idiot to think that one gymnast was 16 years old. More like 10 or 11, maybe.

[UFGrant]

I've watched a ton of Olympics this past week, so I must have no life. :icon_mrgreen:

I've really enjoyed them. My favorite sports to watch have been swimming and beach volleyball, two sports that, before Beijing, I don't think I really paid attention to whatsoever.

Hey man...your just like me.

I can't get enough of this stuff and I'm not sure exactly why. It must be the camaraderie of sport and competition. Haven't paid this much attention to it since '96. I really enjoyed the gymnastics last night with my girl Nastia Liukin taking home the gold.

[surveyor]

I've loved watching the Olympics since seeing Spitz in `72. I used to really enjoy the weightlifting competitions but after seeing numerous pec and bicep tears, knee and elbow dislocations, I've shied away over the years. Summer games favorite events:

Men's and Women's Volleyball
Men's and Women's individual track and field events
Men's and Women's decathlon
Men's and Women's swimming and diving
Men's and Women's gymnastics :icon_redface:

However, the winter olympics are my favorite - all the skiing events, luge, skeleton, bobsled, curling..........

[ryanebelhar]

Phelps just won his 7th gold. one more to go.

This was actually closer than the relay the other night. He won by .01 seconds!!!! They were showing it in super slow motion, and he looked DOOMED until he won.

[Will Lavender]

Phelps is unreal.

Interesting comments from him after the swim. Sort of reminds me of the stuff people say from time to time about Tiger and the Williams sisters.

[Dwight Schrute]

Phelps is unreal.

Interesting comments from him after the swim. Sort of reminds me of the stuff people say from time to time about Tiger and the Williams sisters.

What did he say?

[Will Lavender]

What did he say?

Said the Serbian swimmer commented that it would be good for the sport of swimming if Phelps lost the race.

Phelps said the comment fired him up, and he ended up beating the Serb by a hundredth of a second.

[lighthouse]

I've watched a ton of Olympics this past week, so I must have no life. :icon_mrgreen:

I've really enjoyed them. My favorite sports to watch have been swimming and beach volleyball, two sports that, before Beijing, I don't think I really paid attention to whatsoever.

I'm in the same boat Will. I watch as many events as I can and cheer for the US team. It doesn't matter how many times we win Gold, it's always an emotional time when they play our National Anthem and raise the American Flag.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Good to see Mark Spitz talking via satellite with Phelps and Bob Costa last night..still a very good looking man to this day
He had alot of good things to say about Micheal Phelps

[Jeff Craddock]

I've watched a ton of Olympics this past week, so I must have no life. :icon_mrgreen:

I've really enjoyed them. My favorite sports to watch have been swimming and beach volleyball, two sports that, before Beijing, I don't think I really paid attention to whatsoever.

Those have been mine, as well.

I played beach volleyball for years in SC, including a couple years of two-man, but I was in my forties by that time and I couldn't keep up with the younger players. That and a knee injury ended things for me--it's very easy to over-torque a knee in the soft sand. It's one of the most demanding sports imaginable--the stamina it takes to cover a full volleyball court, while slogging through deep soft sand in 100+ degree temps (it gets VERY hot on soft sand, sometimes so hot that it can be painful to the feet). The men's game is all about power, but the women, for more than one reason ;), are more interesting to watch. They throw themselves all over the court and often have longer points. I absolutely loved the match between the Belgians and our top-rated team the other night, when the US came back from dead to take the first game.

Back when I played, Karch Kiraly was still the greatest men's player in the world and the Brazilians were the best in the women's game. Google Jackie Silva (Brazil) and take a look at some her accomplishments in the late 80's and early 90's, including her gold medal in the first women's beach volleyball competition in the '96 Olympics. I saw her play a couple of times and she was fiery, to say the least.

What's interesting is that both swimming and volleyball will for the most part take their place in sports obscurity until the next Olympics. And I've heard that at least for the women, this will be the last Olympics for beach volleyball. :thumbdn:

[ryanebelhar]

As of right now the 2012 Olympics list beach volleyball as a sport. Baseball and softball are getting the ax however.

[TrueblueCATfan]

As of right now the 2012 Olympics list beach volleyball as a sport. Baseball and softball are getting the ax however.
I wonder.....it is getting the AX because the USA wins the Gold every olympic's:mad:

[ryanebelhar]

I wonder.....it is getting the AX becasuse the USA wins the Gold every olympic's:mad:

baseball really isn't that popular world wide, and the USA has only one gold in baseball. USA has one bronze and one gold, and Cuba has the other 3 golds

softball on the other hand, USA dominates. 3 Olympics, 3 golds.

[Jeff Craddock]

As of right now the 2012 Olympics list beach volleyball as a sport. Baseball and softball are getting the ax however.

Thanks for the info. :thumbup: I tried a google search and could find nothing that indicates that beach volleyball is being dropped. My mistake.

[ryanebelhar]

i looked it up because I was worried. Volleyball is so much fun to watch.

[Radiated]

CONGRADULATIONS MICHAEL PHELPS.

One of the greatest feats in olympics, if not sports history.

Team USA has done great in the pool.

[ryanebelhar]

Michael Phelps > the world

[bigjeep]

Yes, congratulations...but nbc should have shown the other three kids as well during the NA and not just Phelps...that was terrible for those kids and their family and friends at home...

[surveyor]

Yes, congratulations...but nbc should have shown the other three kids as well during the NA and not just Phelps...that was terrible for those kids and their family and friends at home...

Yup. My wife and I were thinking the same thing. It WAS, afterall, a 4 man relay that won gold - but the shot for the home viewers was solely of Phelps.

Nonetheless, an amazing feat for sure - 8 gold medals.

[Will Lavender]

I missed it.

So the camera just remained on Phelps the entire time? Wha?

I thought it was bad when Andrea Kramer ased one of the swimmers what swimming with Phelps in the other relay meant to him. :icon_confused:

[justacatsfan]

I think a strong case can be made for BOLT'S 100m sprint. The was the most impressive single performance to me. Secretariat like.

[bigjeep]

I think a strong case can be made for BOLT'S 100m sprint. The was the most impressive single performance to me. Secretariat like.

What was so impressive was that he let up the last 20 yds or he`d have run under 9.50...

[Rockober]

The other swimmers should have been shown more but 8 golds is unprecedented. Unbelievable feat that probably will not be broken again anytime soon. The USA relay team seemed to know where the attention was and they also seem to embrace being a part of Olympic history.

Way to go USA!!

[DenCat]

I wonder if Spitz had entered more than 7 events, would he have gotten more? Congrats to Phelps though. He really is a freak of nature in the water.

[justacatsfan]

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/08/16/sports/24548244.JPG

And his left shoe was untied

[bigjeep]

impressive...yes, but the showboating is a disrespect to the other runners...very T Owens...

[bigjeep]

and it`s woman`s weightlifters...there`s noway this kid is 16...


http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/mtgz/20080816/242518-84091.jpg

[ukyfootball]

She looks 16 to me. Anybody who can do that much weight probably is 16.

[bigjeep]

She looks 16 to me. Anybody who can do that much weight probably is 16.


well duh...

[surveyor]

and it`s woman`s weightlifters...there`s noway this kid is 16...


http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/mtgz/20080816/242518-84091.jpg

Of course he's 16..................

[TrueblueCATfan]

Micheal Phelps is awesome..deserves the spotlight ..IMO of course.....he is the best athelete in the world right now.....I have enjoyed the Olympics this year......I love watching that boy swim

[cdrw]

and it`s woman`s weightlifters...there`s noway this kid is 16...




Very funny! I woke my wife up from her nap to show her that. (She wasn't as amused as I was, for some reason.)

[John Clay Rice Jr.]

MP is AWESOME!!! 8 Gold Medals.

[JohnJ]

I wonder if Spitz had entered more than 7 events, would he have gotten more? Congrats to Phelps though. He really is a freak of nature in the water.

I think everyone has to congratulate Phelps on his accomplishments.

I also think Spitz could have won more and loved his mystique and how he got into other swimmers' heads. I was just reading about Spitz on wikipedia.org and here is a cut-and-paste of a good Spitz story there:

Mark Spitz is quoted as saying, "When I went to the Olympics, I had every intention of shaving the mustache off, but I realized I was getting so many comments about it--and everybody was talking about it--that I decided to keep it. I had some fun with a Russian coach who asked me if my mustache slowed me down. I said, "No, as a matter of fact, it deflects water away from my mouth, allows my rear end to rise and make me bullet-shaped in the water, and that's what had allowed me to swim so great. He's translating as fast as he can for the other coaches, and the following year every Russian male swimmer had a mustache."

[ukbob]

and it`s woman`s weightlifters...there`s noway this kid is 16...


http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/mtgz/20080816/242518-84091.jpg

SHE'S A MAN, BABY.


I also thought Bolt's run was unreal. But his showboating knocks it down a notch or 2 for me. But my gosh, what a run.

Phelps is great for sure. NBC has to hype him even more for ratings. Just the way it is.

[ryanebelhar]

i was watching womans shot put yesterday. I question the credentials of some of those women.

[lighthouse]

The weightlifter looks 16 like the Chinese gymnist looked 16. :icon_smile:

[Will Lavender]

The weightlifter looks 16 like the Chinese gymnist looked 16. :icon_smile:

I'd be shocked if that Chinese gymnast was 12. Tiniest human being I've ever seen.

[ukwebfan]

The badminton is grossly underrated. Never thought I'd type that.

It's been difficult to watch with the gorgeous weather but these are my most watched events so far:
1. Basketball (really?)
2. Swimming
3. Gymnastics
4. Track & field (sprints)
5. Indoor Volleyball

Least watched:
1. Cycling
2. Rowing
3. Equestrian
4. Boxing
5. Soccer

[ukwebfan]

Gotta love the choices this year on DirecTV. Eight channels in all for no additional cost. :thumbup:

[cumberlandredskin]

The badminton is grossly underrated. Never thought I'd type that.

It's been difficult to watch with the gorgeous weather but these are my most watched events so far:
1. Basketball (really?)
2. Swimming
3. Gymnastics
4. Track & field (sprints)
5. Indoor Volleyball

Least watched:
1. Cycling
2. Rowing
3. Equestrian
4. Boxing
5. Soccer

Boxing is a sport that has really died in this country. I'm sure at one time it was one of the most watched. I've watched some boxing CSNBC and US isn't very good. They will only have one boxer to medal. He is a heavyweight and I already forgot his name. He was very fortunate to win too. Winning on a tie-break vote, which I didn't really understand.

[bigjeep]

Fast or not...I`m pretty much tired of watching young Bolt and the love he has for himself...

[surveyor]

I don't begrudge him having fun with it.

Sort of along the lines of the ol' Dizzy Dean quote:

It ain't braggin' (in this case, showboatin?) if you can back it up.

[JohnJ]

The badminton is grossly underrated. Never thought I'd type that.

It's been difficult to watch with the gorgeous weather but these are my most watched events so far:
1. Basketball (really?)
2. Swimming
3. Gymnastics
4. Track & field (sprints)
5. Indoor Volleyball

Least watched:
1. Cycling
2. Rowing
3. Equestrian
4. Boxing
5. Soccer

I pretty much agree with the ones you like.

Personally, there is way too much beach volleyball and synchronized diving for my tastes. I'd rather see something else.

[Will Lavender]

Fast or not...I`m pretty much tired of watching young Bolt and the love he has for himself...

I made the same point to my wife.

I think celebration is great. The Jamican girl who won last night was awesome. But Bolt seems to almost show the other sprinters up.

And he almost got passed in that last race there at the end. Sort of wish he would have.

(The man is a freak of nature, though. No doubt about it.)

[UFGrant]

(The man is a freak of nature, though. No doubt about it.)

The guy is a monster.

I hope he runs the 200 all the way through. I don't condone his behavior but he's just trying to have a little fun.

He's that good.

[UFGrant]

5. Indoor Volleyball

I'm really feeling the beach volleyball. Our American teams (May-Treanor/Walsh , Dalhausser/Rodgers) are tearing it up. Hopefully May and Walsh beat the Chinese in the final on Weds.

But other than that I'm with you on your list.

[UFGrant]

Anybody else think we are getting screwed in gymnastics?

[misterbluecat]

Yeah, the way they score Gymnastics now is a big freakin joke. Should have been 2 golds. If they do it in other events why not this one? Well, I answered my own question .... because the FIG deemed it necessary to screw with the scoring system.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Anybody else think we are getting screwed in gymnastics?
YES we did get screwed..that chinese girl that won the gold last night is not of age..she looks 10 or 11 years old.....

[Radiated]

You could pick any random 6 people, drunk or not, and they could judge gymnastics.

Is gymnastics the only sport that cannot have co-medals?

[Will Lavender]

You could pick any random 6 people, drunk or not, and they could judge gymnastics.

Is gymnastics the only sport that cannot have co-medals?

The problem is that it's immensely complicated, which I think is what they want. The less the viewing public understands, the less chance for controversy.

They were making some great points last night on NBC. Karoli (sp?) said he thinks they should get back to the plain ol' perfect score = 10. I agree. And the whole tiebreaker thing was the biggest crock I've ever seen in my life.

[sardiscat]

I always love seeing something I've never seen before, and I had never before seen--and never thought I would see--a guy win the Olympic finals in the 100 hamming it up as he crosses the finish line. Usually they're straining to get a nose in front of the other guy. Bolt was ahead by a bigger margin than Ben Johnson the year Johnson was juiced on steroids.

[bigjeep]

I always love seeing something I've never seen before, and I had never before seen--and never thought I would see--a guy win the Olympic finals in the 100 hamming it up as he crosses the finish line. Usually they're straining to get a nose in front of the other guy. Bolt was ahead by a bigger margin than Ben Johnson the year Johnson was juiced on steroids.


You never thought you would see extremly horrible show up sportsmanship in the olympics? His great tallent means absolutly nothing to me because of it...thank God he was from another country...

[Ukosumu]

You never thought you would see extremly horrible show up sportsmanship in the olympics? His great tallent means absolutly nothing to me because of it...thank God he was from another country...
It would be a blown up by the press if he was from the US.

[macdon]

I rarely use the word 'cute'.

But it fits perfectly when describing Shawn Johnson. Along with many other adjectives like immensely talented, poised etc.

Bob Costas likes interviewing Gymnasts because they have to look up to him.

[sardiscat]

"You never thought you would see extremly horrible show up sportsmanship in the olympics?"

I for sure didn't ever think I would see it in the finals of the 100. Those guys usually have too many other things they're trying to do. Like get their big toe across the line before the two guys next to them get their big toes across the line. Awesome talent fills me with awe. The guys he was running against didn't take any offense. Why should I?

[lighthouse]

I rarely use the word 'cute'.

But it fits perfectly when describing Shawn Johnson. Along with many other adjectives like immensely talented, poised etc.

Bob Costas likes interviewing Gymnasts because they have to look up to him.

I bet Costas's mirror is up high so he can look up to himself. :icon_mrgreen:

[UFGrant]

The problem is that it's immensely complicated, which I think is what they want. The less the viewing public understands, the less chance for controversy.

Another thing about this that was mentioned the other night and I agree with is who the judges are. You can't have judges from the same country judging the gymnasts who are performing. So the USA, China, Russia, Romania have the top athletes that are consistently in the finals. That leaves countries like Korea, Angola, Ireland, and Botswana doing the judging and they never have the top athletes so they don't have a keen eye for the competition.

I think they should have former gymnasts as judges because they are the true experts.

[surveyor]

"You never thought you would see extremly horrible show up sportsmanship in the olympics?"

I for sure didn't ever think I would see it in the finals of the 100. Those guys usually have too many other things they're trying to do. Like get their big toe across the line before the two guys next to them get their big toes across the line. Awesome talent fills me with awe. The guys he was running against didn't take any offense. Why should I?


Yup. He deserves to celebrate however he sees fit and the manner in which he celebrated didn't appear to be disrespectful of his competitors. Many of these guys have been cutting up together in the village and prior to the meets - in particular Walter Dix and Bolt. They've been caught on camera yukking it up together a few times.

[Will Lavender]

Bolt = :eek:

[Will Lavender]

Jamaica = :eek:

[BigblueDrew]

Bolt is the most awesome human specimine I have ever seen. He is to running what Jordan was to basketball. a true force of nature. At 21, if he remains healthy and focused we might never see his like again.

[Jody Porter]

"You never thought you would see extremly horrible show up sportsmanship in the olympics?"

I for sure didn't ever think I would see it in the finals of the 100. Those guys usually have too many other things they're trying to do. Like get their big toe across the line before the two guys next to them get their big toes across the line. Awesome talent fills me with awe. The guys he was running against didn't take any offense. Why should I?

Agreed. Thought Costas's take on that was a little over-the-top.

[Will Lavender]

Agreed. Thought Costas's take on that was a little over-the-top.

The thing about Bolt was that he was slowing down intentionally and toying with the field, and he about got passed in every race he'd run with the exception of the 100M. He even slowed to do that dance in the 100 meters when he broke the world record! It's the Olymics; I want to see people go all out. I still remember Roy Jones Jr., the biggest farce in Olympics history. If Jones was disqualified for what he did (or didn't do), then what about Bolt? (Not that I think Bolt should have been disqualified, but there does seem to be a double standard there.)

Last night, however, Bolt didn't slow down at all. One of the most impressive things I've seen in a very impressive Olympics.

[Jody Porter]

A friend of mine and I discussed this over a game of racquetball (which should be an olympic sport, but that's another topic for another thread...:icon_smile:) the other night, and he agreed with most of you guys that it was not appropriate olympic behavior. That's probably true, but for some reason the awesomeness (yes, that's a word) of his performance far overshadowed that to me. And almost made his "antics" forgiveable, and quite possibly appreciated. They added to the memorableness (another real word) of the event.

Additionally, his performance and "let-up" in the 200m heats did more than just paint him as a show-boat; they also let everybody in the field know, then and there, that he could not be beat. Not even when he slows down. Must be pretty demoralizing to be going all-out and see the guy next to you jog and still beat you by a considerable distance. He won the gold in that event way before the finals were ran.

[cumberlandredskin]

Congrats to these ladies! Winning anything 108 times in a row is something else. It also sounds like Florida Marlin Catcher,Matt Treanor, is going to have a busy off season.;) In case you didn't know he's married to Misty May.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/beach_volleyball/news;_ylt=AmXvKlW6nWzPscLnVaSy0MI5nYcB?slug=cr-beachvball082108&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[sardiscat]

"I still remember Roy Jones Jr., the biggest farce in Olympics history."

The only farce about Roy Jones Jr. in the Olympics was when the Korean boxer whom he had knocked the snot out of for three rounds was given the gold medal over him. Jones wasn't disqualified. He was just cheated. Something that was confirmed when a witness came forward who had heard the phone call where the Koreans rigged the judging. It was as big a cheat as the Russians in the '72 basketball final.

[Will Lavender]

"I still remember Roy Jones Jr., the biggest farce in Olympics history."

The only farce about Roy Jones Jr. in the Olympics was when the Korean boxer whom he had knocked the snot out of for three rounds was given the gold medal over him. Jones wasn't disqualified. He was just cheated. Something that was confirmed when a witness came forward who had heard the phone call where the Koreans rigged the judging. It was as big a cheat as the Russians in the '72 basketball final.

I watched the match. The explanation at the time was that Jones was deducted major points for showboating and taunting the Korean. (If he did those things, I sure didn't see it.)

"Disqualified" was the wrong word--but it might as well have been a DQ.

[surveyor]

Explanation by who? The commentators? I don't recall ring officials or Olympic officials stating such.

I do recall reading in the papers leading up to the boxing in SK whether SK would return the favor of the `84 Olympics. I recall the `84 Olympics and the Koreans thinking they were jobbed out of some victories.

Here's a good summary of the Roy Jones, Jr. match. It re-affirms my memory that Jones didn't appear to be doing any "show-boating". There was some cocky confidence, understandably, as he was landing punches at will.

Essentially, this is how I remember it. I quit following olympic boxing after that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsgY99FtWsU&feature=related

[Will Lavender]

Explanation by who? The commentators? I don't recall ring officials or Olympic officials stating such.

I can't really remember, but I always assumed it was the rationale the judges gave. Seems I remember the commentators, all of whom were stunned, suggesting that Jones must have lost because he was taunting.

Regardless, Jones absolutely punished that guy.

The point system they have in place now is weird. There does need to be a little subjectivity to make things interesting, I think.

[sardiscat]

"The explanation at the time was that Jones was deducted major points for showboating and taunting the Korean."

The Koreans explained it as, "What controversy? Our guy clearly won the fight. Why are Americans so biased?"

"I quit following olympic boxing after that."

I haven't been interested in it since then, either. Of course, the fact that the U.S. hasn't put together a really decent team since then has been a factor in that, too.

[bigjeep]

A friend of mine and I discussed this over a game of racquetball (which should be an olympic sport, but that's another topic for another thread...:icon_smile:) the other night, and he agreed with most of you guys that it was not appropriate olympic behavior. That's probably true, but for some reason the awesomeness (yes, that's a word) of his performance far overshadowed that to me. And almost made his "antics" forgiveable, and quite possibly appreciated. They added to the memorableness (another real word) of the event.

Additionally, his performance and "let-up" in the 200m heats did more than just paint him as a show-boat; they also let everybody in the field know, then and there, that he could not be beat. Not even when he slows down. Must be pretty demoralizing to be going all-out and see the guy next to you jog and still beat you by a considerable distance. He won the gold in that event way before the finals were ran.


old school guy here...that`s all fine and good and that is in line with todays young hip hop athletes unfortunantly...my most utmost respect to the God given tallents of the young man but as an...somewhat...olympic fan I don`t see it in line with the objective goals set by the O committee...

“The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”

Non-sportsmanship and showmanship don`t fit in the games for me...

I think we should invade Jamaca man...:thumbup:

[Terry L. Wildcat]

I'm in lust with Kerri Walsh :icon_redface:;)

[bigjeep]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040831/sp5.jpg

[UFGrant]

http://i2.sinaimg.cn/2008/en/photo/2008-08-15/U3029P461T74D7155F1661DT20080815143053.jpg

[surveyor]

Mu Shuangshuang


http://images.beijing2008.cn/20070927/Img214167072.jpg

[surveyor]

Lolo Jones

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0426/ncaa_a_jones_sq_300.jpg

[misterbluecat]

Olha Korobka

"Hello Meester!"

http://www.aclsal.org/images/olha.jpg

[misterbluecat]

I am watching the gold medal game in hoops right now. Let me tell you, K ripped into the officials big time over a bogus call. If it had been a college game, he would have gotten two T's immediately. If anything these international refs are horribly inconsistent. Spains bench has been out on the floor twice protesting calls, even at one point throwing a towel and a few cups. Nothing was called, no technical, nothing. They just let them have their tantrum, which disrupted the game. Whatever. At least Prince has gotten some quality minutes tonight.

[bigjeep]

http://www.nerdsonsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/allison-stokke.jpg

oops! correction...this is Allison Stokke, a pole vaulter from Cal and I don`t think she was even at the olympics...I`ll remove the picture if ya`ll want me too...


didn`t think so...

[freethrow]

Wow, the closing ceremonies are as spectacular as most opening ceremonies we have seen. China wanted to make an impression and they sure pulled it off.