Official Summer Olympics Thread

[swerb]

Had a couple inquiries as to where to talk about the Olympics.

Let's just do it in here.

[General]

[British_Pharaoh]

Britain will do the usual

win medals in insignificant sports such as sailing, rowing and equestrian

then be rather pitiful during track and field

we have a good triple jumper apparently and some good middle distancers and of course are defending 4x100m relay champions!!

but i know for a fact we wont defend that against the juiced up american athletes

(only joking sorry couldn't resist)

[mikebrownz26]

(qieh)

I beg to differ. NBC's coverage of the women's beach volleyball this afternoon was exemplary.

[Bayou Tribe]

I may be alone on this, but if the US dominates the medal count yet doesn't win gold in men's hoops it'll be a damper for me. Gotta get back on top in basketball, just have to.

[British_Pharaoh]

I may be alone on this, but if the US dominates the medal count yet doesn't win gold in men's hoops it'll be a damper for me. Gotta get back on top in basketball, just have to.

no excuses for failure really

and I can't been doing with the 'LeBronze' headlines again

not that i have to read them seeing as I'm in England

[Bill the Butcher]

Anyone know where I can find a damn TV schedule that shows both EST times and channels?

[osucrazy18]

every thing is amazing, i've been glued to the tv alllll day i love it i dont care what you guys think these are the best athletes ever

[mswerb]

The opening ceremonies were sick. The stadium China built is amazing. Every segment of the ceremony had 2008 performers, none of them performed more than once. I could not turn it off, althought I did waste 2 hours waiting for the U.S. olympians to be announced.

[CarolinaTribe]

Some of those routines in gymnastics were simply amazing. I've really enjoyed watching the Olympics so far, and I usually don't keep up with it much. The time difference works out well for me.

Good to see Michael Phelps bring home the gold in his first event. Swimming, gymnastics and volleyball are the most entertaining for me. I'm sure I'll watch the US basketball games, also.

[FUDU]

My view on the Olympics is that is is totally unappreciated, most likely due to the times we live in.

As a fan of many pro sporting events it is easy to overlook the Olympics. However is there a truer test of competition when you think about it? It is easy to say NFL or NBA players are the best athletes on the planet but when it comes down to it all their efforts can be questioned at some point due to money. Not the case with the Olympics...and please spare me the endorsement arguments, for Olympians those are few and far between.

For IE: Michael Phelps, there may not be a better athlete on the planet (swimming is one tough ass thing to do) and if he only wins 7 golds instead of 8 it cannot be questioned whether or not he tried his hardest, simply b/c there is no money in it for him if he wins. No money in it for the winners means no money in it for him not to win.

It comes down to patriotism and pure love of competition and being the best at one does.

It is sad we don't respect that more.

Yet more people watch TNT NBA basketball with Tim Donaghy influencing games.

[Bayou Tribe]

For IE: Michael Phelps, there may not be a better athlete on the planet (swimming is one tough ass thing to do) and if he only wins 7 golds instead of 8 it cannot be questioned whether or not he tried his hardest, simply b/c there is no money in it for him if he wins.

I agree, Phelps is amazing. Absolutely dominating athlete at the peak of his game. He is a joy to watch, and he's on a warpath right now.

No money in it for the winners means no money in it for him not to win.

No money in it for the winners? Tell that to the Canadians.

[jfiling]

It's from WikiAnswers, which is the first source I can find. I'll add an edit from a more reputable source when I find it:

The USOC has paid prize money to its winning Olympians since 1984, this year giving out $25,000 to gold medal winners, $15,000 to those who take home a silver and $10,000 for a bronze. Some of the richer U.S. sport federations give additional prize money to their winners as well.

EDIT: Found the same numbers from an ESPN article from 2002. http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter02/ ... id=1340081

[General]

(qieh)

I beg to differ. NBC's coverage of the women's beach volleyball this afternoon was exemplary.

Checkmate...especially Brazil

[HoodooMan]

The opening ceremonies were sick.

I'm witchoo.

Though NBC's coverage--especially the camera work, and Matt Lauer, and comments on other countries like "That's where Madonna got her baby from"--was often less than sick.

[FUDU]

I just caught a nice nap thanks mostly to the 4 man rowing that was just on.

[CarolinaTribe]

It's 1:00AM in China, so nothing is going on now. They just said Phelps will be coming up shortly, but he's obviously already raced.

I'll wait until around 9 tonight to start watching again.

[Bill the Butcher]

Handball rules.

Here's a link to the Top 8 plays of opening day. All pretty cool plays, but check out number 2. Awesome and hilarious.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share. ... w_to_l0044

It's like a mix between basketball and soccer.

Boccer, if you will. Or... Sasketball?

[JoJo White]

Damn. I'm about to rub one out on this Alicia Sacramone chick:

[/img]

[Bill the Butcher]

Hahahaha.

[mswerb]

The women's gymnastic team is having a rough time right now. 2 of them went out of bounds.

[SteelersStillSuck]

I didn't realize that womens gymnastic was this "entertaining" before .

[Bayou Tribe]

Watching China's womens gymnastics team, there's no way some of those chicks are 16. No possible way.

Also, just watched Katie Hoff dominate the 400m free and die out at the end for silver. Sucks, she was so close.

Now Phelps is going out for the free relay. The French have a strong team, though. Should be good.

[SteelersStillSuck]

The French just got beat in swimming after trash talking the US saying they would crush them. .

Michael Phelps=Only memeber of scUM other than Braylon you'll catch me rooting for.

[osucrazy18]

ahhhhhhhhhhh that was amazing!!!!!
fuck you frenchies!!!
AHHHHHH

[Hi Oktane]

ahhhhhhhhhhh that was amazing!!!!!
fuck you frenchies!!!
AHHHHHH

Ranks right up there with one of the better USA Olympic moments. (Shouldn't the French know better than to talk trash by now? At least they didn't surrender after the first leg.)

[Bayou Tribe]

COME GET SOME FRANCE. BERNARD WENT DOWN LIKE A BITCH.

[osucrazy18]

as a former swimmer im frickin shaking
46 FLAT holy shit!
ahhhhhhh

[Bayou Tribe]

How many teams eclipsed the old WR? 4 or 5?

Either way, the pool was on fire. That was legit on so many levels.

[JoJo White]

How many teams eclipsed the old WR? 4 or 5?

Either way, the pool was on fire. That was legit on so many levels.

I wish there was a France message board I could go to so I could rub it in the frogs' faces.

[osucrazy18]

How many teams eclipsed the old WR? 4 or 5?

Either way, the pool was on fire. That was legit on so many levels.

I wish there was a France message board I could go to so I could rub it in the frogs' faces.

[swerb]

Hey, at least they didn't surrender.

[Bayou Tribe]

So Michael Phelps has 6 events to go. What does he have to do (if anything) in those 6 to be considered one of if not the greatest olympian of all-time?

He's 8 total medals away from tying Larissa Latynina (Russian gymnast in 50's) in the total medal count, but only 2 golds from having sole possession of the record for most career golds.

[leadpipe]

My view on the Olympics is that is is totally unappreciated, most likely due to the times we live in.

As a fan of many pro sporting events it is easy to overlook the Olympics. However is there a truer test of competition when you think about it? It is easy to say NFL or NBA players are the best athletes on the planet but when it comes down to it all their efforts can be questioned at some point due to money. Not the case with the Olympics...and please spare me the endorsement arguments, for Olympians those are few and far between.

For IE: Michael Phelps, there may not be a better athlete on the planet (swimming is one tough ass thing to do) and if he only wins 7 golds instead of 8 it cannot be questioned whether or not he tried his hardest, simply b/c there is no money in it for him if he wins. No money in it for the winners means no money in it for him not to win.

It comes down to patriotism and pure love of competition and being the best at one does.

It is sad we don't respect that more.

Yet more people watch TNT NBA basketball with Tim Donaghy influencing games.

Phelps gets a million dollar payoff if he beats Spitz's 7.

[FUDU]

I love Bela Karolyi, that dude flat out speaks his mind and that is that.

Kind of disgusting though that his wife, the current coach, looks more like his brother than she does his wife.

[pup]

If y'all ain't watching Team USA mens gymnastics right now, you are missing out.

<I know, I can't believe I just typed that either>

[pup]

You think I can kill a no hitter, check out what I did to Team USA.

[Bill the Butcher]

I was half-paying attention, but I knew China's team had won... and they were celebrating rightfully so. And then they showed the USA team... celebrating like they had won gold... but they had won the bronze. I'd be happy, but not as enthusiastic as they were.

Oh yeah, and when the camera was on the USA team, and the mic was on, and one of the white guys says, "Back at home. That's how we do." I felt slightly embarrassed. I can deal with it, but I couldn't help but say "shut up" to the TV under my breath.

[osucrazy18]

man does it make me a dusch if i was acctually getting into that
i thought we had won silver then bam BRONZE who the hell wants bronze

[Hi Oktane]

I was half-paying attention, but I knew China's team had won... and they were celebrating rightfully so. And then they showed the USA team... celebrating like they had won gold... but they had won the bronze. I'd be happy, but not as enthusiastic as they were.

Oh yeah, and when the camera was on the USA team, and the mic was on, and one of the white guys says, "Back at home. That's how we do." I felt slightly embarrassed. I can deal with it, but I couldn't help but say "shut up" to the TV under my breath.

Butch, I'm assuming you're looking at the result w/o knowing much of the background to this story. Most of these guys should not have even been here but made the team as a result of injuries to key members including Hamm. One more alternate, and you would've been on the high bar. WINning the bronze was an incredible feat for this team that NOONE anticipated.

[consigliere]

I'm absolutely enthralled with these Olympics.

The opening ceremonies were freaking amazing. That stadium is unreal.....good Lord, I can't wait to see what London does to surpass THAT. I can only imagine what the closing ceremonies are going to be like.

That relay race in the pool last night with Phelps and Co against the French may be the second greatest Olympic moment to me, second only to "Do you believe in Miracles?". That was heart-pounding stuff, and just amazing. Heart was in my throat that final 50m.

Also, watching Phelps make this run.....the USA basketball "Redeem" team, men's gymnastics, etc......just a joy to watch. I commented to the wife tonight that it is amazing how I am sitting here watching freaking handball or swimming or whatever, stuff I could care less about ever.....except in the Olympics.

I'm pumped for baseball to start tonight. Four Indians playing.....

[pup]

I was half-paying attention, but I knew China's team had won... and they were celebrating rightfully so. And then they showed the USA team... celebrating like they had won gold... but they had won the bronze. I'd be happy, but not as enthusiastic as they were.

Oh yeah, and when the camera was on the USA team, and the mic was on, and one of the white guys says, "Back at home. That's how we do." I felt slightly embarrassed. I can deal with it, but I couldn't help but say "shut up" to the TV under my breath.

Butch, I'm assuming you're looking at the result w/o knowing much of the background to this story. Most of these guys should not have even been here but made the team as a result of injuries to key members including Hamm. One more alternate, and you would've been on the high bar. WINning the bronze was an incredible feat for this team that NOONE anticipated.

Not to mention, 6 guys making their first Olympic appearance, out of a 6 man team.

[Bayou Tribe]

Yeah, men's gymnastics really stepped up. Everyone knew China would take gold, and most were sure Japan would take silver, but then there were 5 or so teams that could take bronze and USA wasn't favored of that group by any means.

When is the women's team final (gymnastics)? US, from all accounts, has a team that can contend for gold/silver.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

The opening ceremonies were freaking amazing. That stadium is unreal.....good Lord, I can't wait to see what London does to surpass THAT. I can only imagine what the closing ceremonies are going to be like.

I thought the opening ceremonies were scary. Treating all those people like nothing more than cogs in a machine and reportedly threatening them with torture if they screwed up.

We also now receive word that some of the fireworks were faked in the broadcast.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/08/12/fake ... index.html

And that they replaced the original singing girl because she had crooked teeth.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/0 ... index.html

Add on to that that the Chinese broke their promise about allowing the press uncensored access to the internet as part of their winning the bid. As soon as the press got there they found much blocked, including anything that could negatively report on China. Their emails are being checked by the Chinese government all while China has upped their efforts to prevent any North Korean refugees from crossing their border as they continue to defy international conventions they have agreed to by sending them back to North Korea to face torture and execution.

I'm one of those people that wanted to US, UK, Germany, etc to completely boycott these games. It's a disgrace that China was awarded them by the IOC in the first place, but I'm sure some money changed hands.

[Hi Oktane]

I thought the opening ceremonies were scary. Treating all those people like nothing more than cogs in a machine and reportedly threatening them with torture if they screwed up.

Is this pure speculation, or are there substantiated reports of such threats somewhere? If you have a link, I'd be interested in reading more.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Is this pure speculation, or are there substantiated reports of such threats somewhere? If you have a link, I'd be interested in reading more.

It is speculation at this point. We might find out more after the Olympics when the press no longer have their reports censored. There's been some talk below the surface on it. None of it would be surprising because the Chinese can easily send anyone they want to one of their RTL camps.

Not far from the olympic games there are many, many re-education camps where prostitutes, drug addicts, dissidents, and any one the Chinese government sees fit to commit are all routinely beaten, tortured, and generally brutalized. No tours of these places are going to be part of the Olympics.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/arti ... article.do

We do know that anyone who was "caught" as a performer giving up any secrets of the opening performance would get sent to jail for seven years. What happens in Chinese jails to Chinese citizens is not something fun to think about. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that the Chinese Communist Party officials had no problem threatening more if anything for majorly screwed up. This was China's great propaganda piece that would allow it to wow the whole world.

[Bayou Tribe]

We also now receive word that some of the fireworks were faked in the broadcast.

I'll have to go back and re-watch it, but if I remember correctly the announcers made a note about some of the fireworks being digitalized (in particular the footprints leading to Olympic Stadium).

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I'll have to go back and re-watch it, but if I remember correctly the announcers made a note about some of the fireworks being digitalized (in particular the footprints leading to Olympic Stadium).

NBC did say this on the broadcast. They were the only ones throughout the world that did. I'm sure the Chinese discouraged this. It was NBC's admission on air that actually caused the Chinese to admit it and caused the controversy globally as foreign TV productions were criticized for not letting their viewers know.

I would also like to point out that most of the TV networks (if not all) that flubbed this were all state run. It was the non-government TV company that didn't cowtow to Chinese requests.

[SteelersStillSuck]

Phelps won again.

Wow.

Guys like the Tiger Woods of Swimming.

[4thQtrGlory]

Alicia Sacramone......wow, wow! She looks like kristen from laguna beach