Monday, August 6, 2012

LETDOWN? Really, where can the Olympics go from here? Swimming's done, most of the gymnastics are done, the 100m dash is done. Yes, we've got the majority of track and field still to come, plus the culmination of so many team tournaments, but if they had ended the Olympics after last night I'd be satisfied. (Isn't the order of the gymnastics competition completely reversed? Wouldn't it be more dramatically satisfying to build from apparatus finals, to individual all-around, and then to team?)  Three links:

51 comments:

  1. victoria9:02 AM

    I can kind of see why they do the gymnastics the way they do -- the chance of injury is relatively high in gymnastics, and that risk would disproportionately fall on the best gymnasts if you did event finals first, which could affect the team finals. Sure, there's always a chance of something happening during qualifying, but at least this way you have a pretty good chance of everyone being able to field their best team for the finals.

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  2. I tend to enjoy the first week a bit more, as I really like both the team gymnastics and swimming competitions.  But I'm enjoying track and field quite a bit.  (I think I'm surprised every Olympics at how much I enjoy track and field.)

    A few thoughts that I had during gymnastics last night:

    * Man, our announcers are idiots.  Last night, when they were going on and on about how it was pretty much impossible for McKayla Maroney to lose, my immediate thought was that nothing is impossible.  That's why they hold the competition.  (I've also decided to blame them for her slip.  That may not be rational, but I don't care.) 

    * When I first heard the theme song for the gymnastics team, I was wondering why NBC had chosen a Mumford & Sons song.  (Not that I listened terribly closely, but that was my reaction.)  Upon learning that it was the new Idol winners' coronation song, I still think that it sounds like a Mumford & Sons knockoff.  But it's catchy and enjoyable enough, I guess.

    * Kate Middleton should probably get an MVP award from the British Olympics organizers.  It seemed like she was constantly somewhere, looking engaged in whatever sport she was attending.  Maybe not as apt to jump up yelling as Prince William, but between the two of them, they are definitely making the monarchy look good. 

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  3. isaac_spaceman10:49 AM

    the 100 is done, but the 400 and 1500 are still marquee events.  NBC doesn't care about the field events, but I'd love to see some high jump and pole vault (Scott Walker! Go Huskies!).  You still have the volleyball -- both beach, where NBC is pimping the hell out of May-Treanor/Walsh-Jennings, and the far superior indoor, where I think the US women are more fun to watch than the men.  There's some sport where they use mostly professional tall millionaires, I can't remember what.  And maybe we'll get some Wide World of Sports-type coverage of less popular events (though they've apparently burned off the judo, weightlifting, and fencing).  So, no, I'm not ready for them to be done with the Olympics. 

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  4. bristlesage11:05 AM

    I am in love with indoor volleyball this year, both men's and women's, for both prurient and non-prurient reasons. Water polo, the 200m for both men (Usain Bolt trying to double again) and the women (great competition), the steeplechase (god, I love the steeplechase), and you know, probably some people will get a kick out of BMX.  And mountain biking.  Lolo Jones in the 100m hurdles, too.  The relays!  And the men's marathon on 8.12.

    And while in-the-pool swimming is over, there's still the open-water 10k.

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  5. Jordan11:06 AM

    There was a cartoon I loved as a kid that wasn't Laff-A-Lympics or Yogi's Space Race but followed the same basic principle.  And I can't remember what it was called.  Does anyone remember this?  Help me ALOTT5MA, you'remy only hope.

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  6. Fred App11:08 AM

    Speaking of beach volleyball: Call me a purist, but if you're not playing on a beach, then it's not beach volleyball. They should call it what it is: "Sandpit Volleyball."

    Also, am I the only one turned off by NBC announcers calling all the women beach volleyball players by their first names? Other than LeBron and Kobe, I can't think of any other place where the announcers do that. It comes across as incredibly condescending and sexist -- like we can be on more intimate terms with them because they're wearing bikinis.

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  7. I am sure that the steeplechase and open-water swimming will receive full coverage from NBC.  Totally forgot we had some of that X-Games stuff in the summer games.

    To Isaac (or anyone):  can you explain to me the continuing endurance of the triple jump as a discipline?  Does it measure any meaningful skill?

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  8. Heather K11:21 AM

    Especially because only this olympics were they no longer being forced to wear bikinis.  I agree with Fred App are they little girls or something?  I mean they call the gymnasts by their first names but they are actually little girls (for the most part--obvs the 37 year old on the German team is not but she is a bad ass and there are many twenty year olds but still).

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  9. Heather K11:23 AM

    I grew up in a track household (in Athens my sister's coach was on the coaching staff--wait maybe Sydney, I don't remember) as evidenced by the fact that my parents and sister were driving back from a family reunion yesterday and I could give them results for other people than Usain Bolt by saying there is an american woman who really wants to win the 200 and she did, her name was sanya, sanya something ross?  And my sister yells into the phone Sanya Williams Ross won?!!!  And many other results were translated easily like that.  Only track nerds are going to pass that through.  

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  10. Dave S11:27 AM

    The announcers totally jinxed McKayla Maroney.

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  11. Genevieve11:34 AM

    "They all know she's won it.  Everyone else is basically trying for silver."  I groaned and waited to see if karma would arrive.

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  12. Genevieve11:40 AM

    I was so psyched to see that the 37-year-old was in the vault finals.  Way to go Oksana Chusovitina! (had to look up her last name).  She has a son slightly older than mine, she's more than twice the age of a lot of her competitors (and teammates), and she vaults well enough to make event finals.  LOVE her.

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  13. bristlesage11:44 AM

    I'm not sure about all the women, Fred App, but in the case of May-Treanor and Walsh-Jennings, I think there's some confusion about their last names.  Some of it is plain-old hyphen fear, but there's also the fact that their uniforms don't say "May-Treanor" and "Walsh-Jennings", but "May" and "Walsh".  So what do you call them?  In the case of the Brazilian team of Larissa/Juliana, it's because they're doing that whole Brazilian thing of first-name athletes.  In the case of the Schwaiger sisters, well, they have the same last name, so that makes sense.  And those are the three teams I've seen most often on TV.  Doesn't explain everything, but I think there's more than just sexism at play here.

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  14. It seemed terribly unfair that she was the recipient of the bad karma generated by their idiocy.  Perhaps they should have all received lyringitis instead.  Which would have had other positive externalities for the viewing audience.

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  15. Joseph J. Finn11:51 AM

    Are you kidding?  This is the best week.  We have most of the lame stuff out of the way with gymnastics done, so now we can concentrate on track & field, basketball, football and other great sports.  

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  16. Gleemonex11:54 AM

    Yeah, I just liked every post in this thread.

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  17. Anonymous11:54 AM

    Old but awesome Pistorius photo: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/oscar-pistorius-best-picture-ll-see-2012-olympics-115020678--oly.html

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  18. Gleemonex12:11 PM

    Plus also, as I was intending to say: I think Maroney looks like a serious Mean Girl (she's got that bitchy Kate Beckinsale thing about her), and I had just finished saying that when the announcers went all-in for the "everybody else is competing for silver" stuff. So I told them to can it, Jack -- whaddya tryin to do, jinx her? And then the thing that happened, happened, and then I found myself defending a person I deeply dislike -- "She's a child! And she probably landed that seven thousand times in the gym! She knows she fucked up! Leave her alone! Can't you see she's trying not to cry -- she doesn't want to be the messed-up weepy face on a thousand stupid asshole websites tomorrow morning! God! Ugh!" 

    I, ah ... I talk a lot to my TV. 

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  19. lisased12:38 PM

    I blame the Finnish vodka.

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  20. Emily1:49 PM

    Wonderful picture. Thanks for sharing.

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  21. gtv2001:54 PM

    Is anyone else as irritated as I am by someone playing "Another One Bites the Dust"  at game point in the beach volleyball?  Nice olympic spirit.

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  22. I'm more irritated by the Bolero trumpet.  Also, according to my brother, who was there, when the grounds crew is re-raking the court they play "Yakkety Sax."

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  23. Joseph J. Finn2:32 PM

    And now, apropos of nothing, NBC decides people want to watch fox hunters jumping horsies over things.

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  24. isaac_spaceman2:45 PM

    Fred App -- NCAA added beach volleyball this year (there are like a dozen schools fielding teams, though it's really a low-cost sport), and although everybody calls it "beach volleyball," the official term is almost as you suggest:  "sand volleyball." 

    The funny thing about the sand volleyball uniforms is that although they're no longer required to wear bikinis, most women players still do.  The truth is that their bikinis are both similar to and not similar to the similarly revealing outfits worn by, say, track athletes -- similar in terms of coverage, not similar in terms of ergonomic necessity.  But they're most likely the uni of choice for one simple reason:  endorsements.  Kerri Walsh in a bikini, sand court behind her, lazy afternoon sun behind that, is a supreme pitchwoman, equal parts athletic icon and aspirational lifestyle poster.  Kerri Walsh in tights and a long-sleeved shirt is only half of that.  The notion of a highly successful 40ish Stanford grad going to work every day in a bikini is odd, but that's where the money is. 

    Incidentally, the indoor women are incredible.  Megan Hodge coming off the bench to demolish China?  Awesome.  Destinee Hooker putting the hammer down again and again from the opposite side?  Awesome. 

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  25. isaac_spaceman2:46 PM

    Catch that Pigeon? 

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  26. isaac_spaceman2:47 PM

    She won the 400.  They didn't run the 200 yet, did they? 

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  27. The Pathetic Earthling3:06 PM

    Do all horse jumping venues require mingolf versions of the local architecture?  If so, I will henceforth campaign for a Copenhagen Olympics that we might see those done in Lego.

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  28. Duvall3:24 PM

    Was it just the NBA that ceased to exist, or the WNBA as well?

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  29. tortoiseshelly3:37 PM

    I don't know, I'm kind of in love with watching the indoor and beach volleyball. It's possible I just really wish I had Misty May-Treanor's butt, though.

    I played indoor volleyball in high school, and I wish to God I'd been able to play in a bikini, getting an awesome workout and tan on the beach. Instead, I was sweating it out wearing a cheap, polyester, long-sleeved top & short-shorts in the Texas heat. It was as awesome as it sounds.

    This week, I'm looking forward to seeing more basketball, soccer, and the relays. The relays are probably my favorite track and field event, with all the potential baton dropping, etc.

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  30. Jenn.3:43 PM

    I admit it:  I kind of loved the style of the jumps.

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  31. Squid3:50 PM

    Hang the blessed DJ?

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  32. Adam C.3:53 PM

    I was gonna say Wacky Races, which was another HB cartoon that pre-dated Laff-A-Lympics, but I think isaac's answer is somehow linked as well.

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  33. Jordan4:12 PM

    Wacky Races! I just rewatched the opening on youtube.  I remember Laff-A-Lympics, I really liked Space Race, but I loved Wacky Races.  Also, i just learned Captain Caveman wasn't in it, just two characters that looked a lot like him.  TMYK.

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  34. Genevieve4:23 PM

    All this time I thought May was her middle name (not maiden, just a regular middle name).  Misty May Treanor. 

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  35. Andrew4:55 PM

    Is Destiny Hooker saddled with the most unfortunate name in all of volleyball or all the world?

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  36. Watts5:47 PM

    Also confirmed by the BBC - I highly recommend the "Double Oh Beach Bum" podcast from last week for all the details about the beach volleyball venue, including an interview with the BBC commentator covering that event: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/mayo

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  37. Christy in Philly9:19 PM

    What in the world was with that Track Cycling tonight?  I can't even wrap my head around what I just saw. A big man holds you up, then you creep around the track looking over your shoulders until you pedal like hell in the last lap!! Bizarre!

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  38. Heather K9:29 PM

    correct, the 400, now you see exactly how my sister got the track results.

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  39. isaac_spaceman9:35 PM

    Andrew -- it's "Destinee."  Not Destiny.  And you know what?  She can work that name, because I can't imagine there are too many people in the world who are going to make fun of her to her face about it.  She's what, 6-foot-2, faster than you and me (and a multiple NCAA winner in the high jump to boot) with an absolute cannon of a right arm. 

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  40. isaac_spaceman9:39 PM

    I saw like ten seconds of the horse jumping, but the horse went right by a portrait of the Queen propped up in a cheesy enamel frame, and I was like, really? 

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  41. victoria9:50 PM

    On a related note, I just learned this weekend that they used to train people to give chest compressions for CPR using the tempo of "Another One Bites the Dust." Apparently they switched to "Stayin' Alive," at least in part because the semantics were better.

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  42. I was completely confused as well. Entertained, though, I guess.

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  43. that's the sprint -- bikes have a single massive fixed gear (no coasting) and no brakes. First two laps are all about the strategery as they jockey for position. Inside rider must take the first lead position, then tries to get the 2nd rider to take the lead position. Generally, you want to be the second rider going into the final lap. Done properly, you wheel suck the lead rider and explode past on the last turn. However, if the lead rider isn't paying attention then the 2nd rider can get an early jump and pass before the 1st rider reacts.

    If you end up being the front rider, there are two main options. First, if the second rider gives you a gap start the sprint early and keep him from drafting your wheel. This is what happened in the bronze medal race.

    Second option, if the 2nd rider has your wheel, is to keep him from passing on the inside and just outsprint him to the finish. As long as the 1st rider maintains the lower lane the 2nd rider has to take the longer outside route to pass. If the 1st rider drifts up the fall, then the 2nd rider can swoop down and take the shorter inside lane.

    Gold medal ride was more of the 2nd option, though the 2nd rider didn't get close enough to execute a proper draft.

    Sprints are also best 2 out of 3 rides, as the racers trade off taking the lead position. But I guess that's too much competition for NBC to show.

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  44. Man, the Russian gymnasts are just terribly bad sports, no matter the color of the medal.

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  45. bristlesage9:12 AM

    They showed both races in the gold medal match. 

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  46. Christy in Philly9:25 AM

    I appreciate the explanation. I still think it's totally bizarre!

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  47. bill.9:42 AM

    oops, guess I missed that.

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  48. bill.9:54 AM

    keep an eye out for the Kierin races. A motorcycle paces a handful of riders for around 6 laps, working up close to 40mph. When the motorcycle peels off, it's an all out 2 lap sprint. Strategy: go fast, don't crash.


    Beginners guide to Keirin. Written for betting on the professional races in Japan, it gives a nice and simple overview.

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  49. It's not in the Olympics, but for organized chaos it's hard to beat the Madison. It's a multi team relay race, with bodies swooping all over the track. Active riders are down low, with teammates circling up high. To tag out, the teammate swoops down below the lead rider, they grab hands, and the lead rider pulls the teammate in front. New lead rider takes off, former lead attempts to get to the top of the track.

    youtube -- the Madison was in the Beijing Olympics. Madison mayhem and destruction.

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  50. I read that fast and had the thought:  Usain Bolt is playing water polo?!?!?!  Wow, that is one hell of an athlete!

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  51. Given that the announcers referred a handful of times to "the six-foot four-inch Hooker" during the match, I'm guessing she's even taller than you guessed.

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