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The Beijing Olympics Thread

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mantaray

WK : ahh, ok then. But do you still have to download or can you actually stream anywhere?

Also, is there any place where you can watch a full and complete entire event, instead of just highlights?

Oh wait WK -- I just realized I might be spoiling things for you. :( :( :( But, these events are not live. Are they broadcasting gymnastics for you right now? I hope so. I'm sorry if I spoiled anything :(

Aug 17, 08 10:44 pm  · 
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holz.box

you know, football games aren't tape delayed for the west coast...

we're still on the women's diving

Aug 17, 08 11:19 pm  · 
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WonderK

manta, it's OK. The only thing I've managed to remain "surprised" for was Michael Phelps gold medal last night. My roommate looked it up but I didn't check anything until it was over! In a way it was more nerve wracking so I've gone back to checking everything first :-D

Also I think you can watch entire events. I watched most of the Women's Time Trial the other day, without commentary, almost 2 hours of it! It was almost boring but there was someone doing real-time comments for the online version, which was cool. Also in the Navigation tab, you could skip to who you wanted to see. I did the same thing in the Women's All-Around comp the other night.

And no, I don't work for NBC ;o)

In other news, I'm kind of sad that diving isn't competitive anymore. I don't mind seeing the Chinese do so well, I just wish someone else would put up a fight. Does anybody else remember Greg Louganis? He was such a beautiful diver! I had to introduce my roommate to the incident where he hit his head on the board. Traumatic to watch, even today.

Aug 17, 08 11:24 pm  · 
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WonderK

OK, you guys are right, this diving commentator lady is totally mean. She just said "surfs up" after one of the girls dove! Rude!

BTW, did you guys hear about Nancilea Foster? She smashed her face on the diving board when she was 14 and she went back to the sport, and is now in the Olympics! Amazing story. Goodness.

This is boring. Just give Guo Jingjing the medal already. She's a machine!

Aug 17, 08 11:41 pm  · 
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mantaray

Yeah, I agree. Diving used to be one of my faves but has been pretty boring this year. Maybe the men's will be better?

At least gymnastics is putting up some surprises.

This past week has been exciting but I do look forward to the night I can go to bed on time before work the next morning again.

Aug 18, 08 12:18 am  · 
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Emilio

I dunno, not too many machines with a face like that....

Aug 18, 08 12:18 am  · 
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Liebchen

During the synchronized diving, one of the Canadian divers was a little chunkier than others (which is to say she's thinner than most Americans, but whatever); when she hit the water the commentator in discussion yelled "Whoa! TIDAL WAVE!" Come on.

Aug 18, 08 1:02 am  · 
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Liebchen

Diving commentator Cynthia Potter's citation at the International Diving Hall of Fame.

It says, "Weighing less than 100 pounds, this diminutive dynamo competed in diving for the USA a record 20 years both on springboard and tower...."

So, she was skinny. I bet she's fat now.

Aug 18, 08 1:15 am  · 
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WonderK

There's a video of this Potter lady here:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/diving/news/newsid=140512.html

She's bitchy there too.

So, I think I know what everybody's talking about now. Alicia Sacramone got robbed in the Vault. I'm not saying she should have won but she deserved the bronze, because that Chinese girl fell on her landing! WTF! Bela Karolyi was totally right. That guy is awesome, BTW.

Aug 18, 08 1:24 am  · 
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WonderK

My jaw was on the floor throughout the whole pommel horse competition! Amazing what the American kid did! Flying scissors! It's a shame he fell :o(

Aug 18, 08 1:50 am  · 
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mantaray

Yes. His routines are just beautiful. They make pommel horse look like an entirely different exercise. I didn't even know you could *do* the stuff he does on pommel horse, and so fluidly and quickly! If you haven't seen it, you should watch the final men's events for the team finals -- it happened to be pommel horse for the Americans, their worst event typically -- except for this guy. And they put him last, and he just nailed it for their bronze. It was a great moment!

Aug 18, 08 2:15 am  · 
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job job

y'know, this Cynthia woman - her commentary seems even-handed. The judges scoring reflect her comments, so she's not being especially spiteful. Sometimes you need to hear it raw to get better - would we prefer this to be the Just OKlympics?
Or... is it not-boring for us to cheer on Phelps (who is amazing, no lie) because he's representing Team America

sorry dudes

Aug 18, 08 2:33 am  · 
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WonderK

OMG that little Jamaican girl who won the 100m dash is so cute. She's so young....she's even got braces. The braces add to the cuteness.

Aug 18, 08 2:37 am  · 
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lol and she's tiny...I can see the contrast already when the Olympians return home and she's standing next to the 6'5 lightning bolt

Aug 18, 08 10:33 am  · 
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sharkswithlasers

It still seems weird to me when pros pick up medals... i know it's just how it is now. Still...

Aug 18, 08 11:16 am  · 
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Synergy

I think pros getting medals is fine, especially when you look at all the controversy surrounding "amateur athletes" in the past. At least this system is honest and open, instead of athletes having to have underhanded cushy government jobs to supplement their training.

Aug 18, 08 11:24 am  · 
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mantaray

I love Bela Karolyi. (most of the time).

Aug 18, 08 11:29 pm  · 
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WonderK

I have just become inspired by the American pole vaulting woman. She's only been doing this for 4 years, actually the announcer said "she was watching this on television 4 years ago". Ha ha, see! I can pick a sport now and be good enough by London!

I hope all of the guys got to see the puff piece on the Russian pole vaulter. She apparently owns every world record in pole vaulting possible, and she's pretty, and she knows it. She's like the Paris Hilton of pole vaulting.....if you're into that kind of thing.

manta did you see the bit about the Vault scoring with Bela? Yeah Alicia was robbed.

Aug 19, 08 1:47 am  · 
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WonderK

The American pole vaulter's coach is kind of a douche!

Aug 19, 08 2:47 am  · 
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****melt

So was Nastia.... on the robbed part that is.

Aug 19, 08 8:12 am  · 
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Synergy

I've come to the conclusion international gymnastics is a farce, the scoring is inconsistent and awful, the governing body doesn't enforce its own rules and many of the rules are just plain bizarre (Anyone read about the tie breaking procedure? Or see what happened to the Russian vaulter when she began her vault before a little light went off, hint: she got a 0)

Aug 19, 08 8:17 am  · 
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fulcrum

the tie-breaking rule seems fair to me. Why is it that if America loses there must be some kinda anti-US conspiracy, and when America "somehow" wins, then it's miracle comeback and whatnot?

sometimes we win, and sometimes we lose.

anyway, those sports that are judged by subjective point of views, like gymnastics and figure skating, shouldn't be in any form of competitive event... too many unknown factors to come in and play... and whinings.

Wonderk, I don't understand your logic to compare the Russian gold medalist pole vaulter to Paris Hilton. If someone is good looking, then she (in this case) is automatically compared to Paris? I don't think Paris Hilton doesn't even hold the record in porn business, either.

Aug 19, 08 8:53 am  · 
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Synergy

It isn't about an anti US conspiracy, no one has alleged that except you. It's about a goofy scoring system that doesn't make sense.

If the athletes tie, they should share the medal (as has been done in the past, and is still done in many other olympic events) not give the medal to one or the other under an alternative and inferior scoring method.

The logic of having multiple judges is that while an individual judge may incorrectly judge a routine, the composite of multiple judges will help remove these mistakes, and the average will reflect the correct score. If you have a tie breaking procedure that involves dropping some of the judges scores, you lose this averaging quality and reintroduce the original bias you sought to remove in the first place. It is illogical.

Did you see what happened to Anna Pavlova of Russia in the individual vault finals? Apparently if a vaulter begins prior to a certain light going off, they are awarded a zero on the attempt. Earning this zero completely removed Pavlova from any chance of winning a medal, despite the fact that after her first vault, she was in 4th place. Sure she should have known that this was the rule, but why have this rule in the first place? Wouldn't a warning or a single redo make more sense? Perhaps if she starts before the light a second time, then award her a zero, but why have a no false start system, it seems cruel. Isn't the goal to let the competitors actually compete, rather than eliminate them for minor technicalities? It is a "fair" rule since everyone should be aware of it, but it still doesn't make a lot of sense.

Aug 19, 08 9:18 am  · 
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sharkswithlasers

I did a google on Mark Spitz... i read that he was offered a million to train for '92 Barcelona, which it turns out he attempted... like everyone knows...the sport has evolved radically... so not surprising that he missed qualifiying. What IS surprising is that about half of his Barcelona qualifiying attempts came in UNDER his '72 gold medal times... and all at age 41!

Aug 19, 08 10:14 am  · 
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Liebchen

Fulcrum...You must have missed NBC's 'human interest' segement on the Russian pole vaulter. THEY compared her to Paris Hilton on their international broadcast: showing her living in Monte Carlo, lounging in her bathing suit, saying that she'd like to be in "motion picture," etc. Take a deep breath.

Aug 19, 08 10:28 am  · 
 · 
ether
spitz vs. phelps
Aug 19, 08 10:43 am  · 
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fulcrum

ahhh deep breath... that's what I need. I didn't watch that segment (or that much "taped" olympic coerages, either). I apologize to everyone, if I offended anyone; I didn't mean to be an ass.

Synergy, let US take a deep breath here. My point is this; do you think we would care about this issue, if A) the faulty scoring system we all KNOW somehow handed the gold to the US gymnast, or B) an athlete from some small country beat another one from another small country? Am I the only one who has brought up the anti-US conspiracy? Maybe I am on this thread, but that's one of the titles I saw this morning on Yahoo, local TV news, some segments on national TV, foreign news paper, etc. Anti-whatever is how victimized (man, is there other words for this case) countries or groups usually say to the other country, so well, that's how it works.

About that rule; well, that's the rule that everyone had agreed on, and no one had raised any issues with it PRIOR to this incident. Yes, by breaking up the averaged score is not right, but what's the alternative option without do-over or giving them dual gold (man, that's another story)? and yes, you're right, it doesn't make a lot of sense, but that's best THEY (not we) have so far. Maybe the gymnastics federation should get some help from BCS people from NCAA. ha!

Aug 19, 08 12:42 pm  · 
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****melt

I don't think it's a conspiracy against the Americans, I just think the whole scoring system is screwed that's all. It doesn't help that they've got some people judging these events that aren't as knowledgeable (competent) as they should be to judge such exercises.

Aug 19, 08 12:46 pm  · 
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WonderK

I agree with tuna....they are making the scoring system more and more complicated in an attempt to make it more fair, which is great, but then they employ these "tiebreakers" that make very little sense. Why not take the scores back that they threw out? Or something. I don't know, but the Americans weren't the only ones affected....a guy in the horse vault competition also lost out on gold because of a separate tiebreaker rule. Sorry I forget where he's from....

Aug 19, 08 5:25 pm  · 
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sharkswithlasers

Not that i'm some big women's discus fan, but speaking of minimal coverage for unpopular events: unless i'm mistaken, i think they showed three tosses... gold, silver, and bronze...! Funny...

Aug 19, 08 5:38 pm  · 
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job job

so I watched the webcast of the uneven bars. I'm not from the US* and I'm not from China so I feel impartial when I say that the gold medalist really did have a better routine, tie-break aside.

What I think whips some people here into a fervor is the biased reporting (don't believe me? Try watching it without sound).
Long camera views on sad faces. Commentator's rudely talking over other performances about the details of the scoring system resulting in a DISAPPOINTMENT for us, and not an acknowledgment for them. Let me paraphrase one of them who said it with some equanimity: "Look, they knew about the tie-break rule before getting to the Olympics. This ain't a surprise, so cram it, sister".


*Calling yourselves American is correct, but not specific. Did you know that America is a land mass stretching from Canada, through Panama to Argentina? People from Uruguay are as American as citizens of the U.S.A.^

^Why IS this forum so USA-centric? Is it because foreigners with sketchy English get chased off? It would be nice to see a Spanish language archinect, or Chinese archinect., or god forbid, a Feminist archinect. I'd like to read bonehead comments in other languages and perspectives.~

~see what I'm doing with notes? it's awesome.

Aug 19, 08 6:12 pm  · 
 · 
Synergy

thanks jobbyjob, your snark really clarified this mess that us dumb United States of Americans couldn't understand.

Aug 19, 08 7:04 pm  · 
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WonderK

jobbyjob, I'd suspect that this forum is USA centric because it was started in the US by a guy* who went to a US architecture school. And a lot of us are from the US, and if you'll remember correctly, those of us from the US aren't very good at learning other languages. So if there was a Spanish-language Archinect, I dare say we wouldn't even know about it because we couldn't read the search results in Google. Which was also made in the US.

I'm trying to give you an answer without any sarcasm but sometimes I lapse into it, sorry. I think that for me, personally, I see that the US has been taking a figurative beating on the world stage for a number of years, but now that we are fielding progressive candidates in our elections and are actually trying, I don't mind getting all "rah-rah USA" again, for once. As the eloquent and feisty Michele Obama said, "for the first time in my life I am proud of my country!" And since it is the Olympics I feel like I'm allowed. I'm just saying.



*...and that guy is Canadian! ;o)

Aug 19, 08 8:29 pm  · 
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WonderK

PS. jobbyjob, are you a Billy Connolly fan? Better yet, are you Scottish?

Aug 19, 08 8:30 pm  · 
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****melt

jobbyjob - I agree with WonderK. I've been such cynic when it comes to anything having with the country of my birth for quite some time now, that I am not going to apologize for being "rah-rah" for "our" athletes. Is there really something so wrong with that? Seriously? And although there has obviously been lots of mention of the US athletes, I think if you peruse this thread again, you'll see plenty of kudos to other athletes from other countries.

Oh and one more thing. If you want a fix of a foreign language on the forum. Try this thread.

Aug 19, 08 11:00 pm  · 
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mantaray

Shawn Johnson has the best smile in the world. She's the happiest, friendliest looking gymnast I've seen in *years*. I have a crush!

Aug 19, 08 11:28 pm  · 
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job job

I am so not anti-USA.
I do not enjoy making random strangers angry (so apologies to Synergy)
I totally love the idea of Sean Connery narrating MY bonehead posts. I'm more Eddie Izzard then Billy Connolly, and I've just read your reports on SXSW which are excellent, by the way.

Aug 19, 08 11:29 pm  · 
 · 
ff33º

Best "Balls in the Face Slam" Dunk:

Vince Carter

Aug 20, 08 12:52 am  · 
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WonderK

Ok, I'm drinking wine and watching the Olympics! Yeah Tuesday!

jobbyjob, if you have an hour or so, look up Billy Connolly's routine "the Big Yin" and listen to it - or try to listen to it. I've heard it 4 or 5 times and can still only decipher about half of it. There is a part on a "wee jobby" that I think you will appreciate. Or not. LOL.

I heart Shawn Johnson too! She's so freaking adorable! I'm so glad she (insert spoiler here).....

PS. What are you talking about, SXSW? Who are you talking to? I've never been to Austin.....

<gulps more wine>

Aug 20, 08 12:53 am  · 
 · 
mantaray

hehe WK i very carefully avoided any spoilers!!! i re-worded my post about 18 times, just pour toi. hope it worked!

Aug 20, 08 2:23 am  · 
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WonderK

Holy crap did you SEE Jonathan Horton's high bar routine? It was actually terrifying and the fact that he executed it so beautifully is amazing. Watch the video if you missed it.

Aug 20, 08 3:06 am  · 
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Holy crap - I'm sorry for those of you who have delayed coverage...so I'm just going to say WOW!!

Aug 20, 08 10:49 am  · 
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WonderK

techno I already know. I always check the news when I get up in the morning. It spoils a lot. Also I can't watch TV in the morning.....must go to work!

Aug 20, 08 11:45 am  · 
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job job

?
who AM I talking to?? I may have gone full tool back there (so just what was I reading, then)

I think the harder event to judge is tae kwon do. Many points are being missed. My initial thought is to wrap the fighters not in sheets of foil (humourous but stupid) but conductive fabric in their body armour and helmet. The other conductive pads could be taped to their hands and feet. If contact is made, circuit is closed, a light goes on, point is scored.

Simple.

Then they can bend backwards, arms cocked, screaming like Freddy Mercury just like I've seen in fencing.

Aug 20, 08 2:29 pm  · 
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Synergy

Anybody ever seen the judging in Olympic Boxing? that sport has an extended history of terrible decisions. To of the greatest boxers of all time, Roy Jones Jr. and Floyd Mayweather Jr.,were both ripped off in awful decisions.

jobbyjob,

No hard feelings, I was just getting frustrated. If you read through this thread you'll see that about every 10 or 15 posts, someone pops in lets out a venemous diatribe about Whiny Americans without bothering to actually read what has already been discussed. By and large, we have been praising this Olympics, China's hosting and the many athletes performaning, regardless of nationality, politics, etc.

The only sport that has been irritating me has been Gymnastics, which also has a long and storied history of controversies, by the way. I'll agree that if you look at any single event, it's easy to interpret results differently but the matter becomes more difficult when you see event after event end in controversial ways that keep swaying in one teams favor over another. I'm not alleging a conspiracy at all, but I think you can see why it becomes frustrating

Aug 20, 08 2:44 pm  · 
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****melt

Since everyone knows, I just have tro say...DAMN that was an amazing 200m final. I seriously think Bolt has wings on his ankles. Amazing.

Atechno - what do you all have in your water that makes such fast runners. I am completely and in utter awe. WOW!!!!

Aug 20, 08 10:09 pm  · 
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Emilio

WARNING: SPOILER RE: WOMEN'S SOCCER (hell, I don't know when these things are on in different parts of the world, don't even know when it was played, just saw it online)

the US women won gold but I still can't believe Marta didn't score once in all those chances...she's an amazing player.

Aug 21, 08 5:29 pm  · 
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Tuna/Wonder K its pandamonium here flags everywhere (akin to 4th July party) 5 gold medals so far

Aug 21, 08 6:41 pm  · 
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vindingo

Synergy - I would have to agree with you that Olympic boxing is a joke. Teddy Atlas didnt seemed to thrilled about the judging either.

I am also not a fan of the new freestyle wrestling format. I would prefer to have no clinch, or go back to the over under instead of a single leg. Other than Cejudo the US team didnt have such a great showing.

Aug 21, 08 9:11 pm  · 
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vado retro

three cheers beach volleyball is FINALLY over. god how many games do they play????

Aug 22, 08 8:38 am  · 
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