The Summer Olympics

[Chase]

Hey Everyone!

I must say, I'm hooked on this years Olympics!

Not only DirecTV has like 7 dedicated channels to them, most of them in HD, but the online site NBCOlympics.com has every sport on there and you can watch obscure sports on there.  (Over 2000 hours of Streaming Video)

I'm a big fan of Handball, Shooting, Equestrian, Fencing and lots of others.

Here is 2 weeks of wasting time!

- C

[Ginsu Victim]

My wife and I have watched some. I've never enjoyed an opening ceremony...until now. That was so freakin' awesome.
Watched USA vs China men's basketball, some swimming events, and all of the gymnastics (mens and womens). Hate volleyball, so we didn't bother with any of it. Looking forward to watching more over the next two weeks...

[Malenko]

There aren't any Olympic sports that interest me. I tried to watch the mens basketball, but after the 1st half it wasn't worth watching; it'd be cool if Phelps wins the most medals ever, but I don't think that really qualifies him as the "greatest olympic athlete ever"

I could totally win the air pistol competition.

[Ginsu Victim]

The men's basketball game was good. Even though the score shows it as a blowout, it was still a pretty tough game and China has a great team.

[shardian]

The men's basketball game was good. Even though the score shows it as a blowout, it was still a pretty tough game and China has a great team.

I just read an article on espn that said China 300 million people in China play basketball! Just think of the numbers. Their Basketball pool of talent is as big as our whole population.

[walls83]

Last nights 4 x 100 meter mens swimming Relay was awesome.  Beating the French who were talking ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.

[jfunk]

I've found the entire Olympics very compelling this year.  From the opening ceremony (SO awesome) to the "redeem team" (isn't it nice to have US pro b-ball in a good light?!?) to Phelps (that relay was INCREDIBLE) to gymnastics..  I'm having trouble NOT finding something worthwhile to watch 

And even my girls (3 & 5) are enjoying it.  They loved the opening ceremonies, and one member of the women's gymnastic team practices where my girls go to gymnastics 

All in all, a very exciting couple of weeks 

[DrumAnBass]

Quote I overheard about the opening ceremony: "Man I wish I was high!"

 

[SavannahLion]

Not only DirecTV has like 7 dedicated channels to them, most of them in HD, but the online site NBCOlympics.com has every sport on there and you can watch obscure sports on there.  (Over 2000 hours of Streaming Video)

I'll wait until it comes out on Blu-ray.

[Paulson]

 It's okay I guess...but I think it should be a non professional outfit without the likes
 of Rodger Federer etc...There's no pro boxers is there?

 Just a thought.

[Dartful Dodger]

U.S.A.’s soccer team needs a win or tie.

Soccer is a sport I usually don't care about, but I got stuck watching it at my sister’s house, and that match was exciting. 
I work out at 5:30am so I'm looking forward to sweating to this match tomorrow.

[RTSDaddy2]

My job requires rest, so I rarely get to see it- looking forward to some indoor volleyball sometime this weekend.

[patrickl]

My job requires rest

You test beds or something?

[ChadTower]

I just read an article on espn that said China 300 million people in China play basketball! Just think of the numbers. Their Basketball pool of talent is as big as our whole population.

Of course, China has been known to lie like Jon Lovitz about things like this.

[ClubNinja]

And you'd probably have to cut that 300 million talent pool in half anyway, since at least that many players probably aren't attractive enough to be on television.

[Ginsu Victim]

If you think ugly isn't allowed in the NBA.....you haven't watched the NBA.

Sam Cassell, anyone?

[ChadTower]

If you think ugly isn't allowed in the NBA.....you haven't watched the NBA.

He's likely talking about Chinese national television. 

[ClubNinja]

If you think ugly isn't allowed in the NBA.....you haven't watched the NBA.

He's likely talking about Chinese national television. 

Right. 

[AtomSmasher]

I haven't seen even a second of the Olympics this year, so I can't really comment on whats going on, but this funny picture of the blue screen of death during the opening ceremonies is getting passed around the net, so I figured I share.

http://gizmodo.com/5035456/blue-screen-of-death-strikes-birds-nest-during-opening-ceremonies-torch-lighting

[AtomSmasher]

Also, since you guys are talking about not showing ugly people on Chinese television, apparently the little girl who sang during the opening ceremonies was only miming because the girl with the great voice wasn't pretty enough to put in front of the camera

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7556058.stm

[ChadTower]

Ironically, 2 billion people outside of China wouldn't ever know the difference.  They look quite alike.

[shardian]

Ironically, 2 billion people outside of China wouldn't ever know the difference.  They look quite alike.

I thought the same thing. And since when does a 7 year old just getting her 2 front teeth put her in the ugly category? WTF is wrong with that culture? Put that little girl on America's Got Talent and she would be a media darling here in the states.

[billf]

Ironically, 2 billion people outside of China wouldn't ever know the difference.  They look quite alike.

I thought the same thing. And since when does a 7 year old just getting her 2 front teeth put her in the ugly category? WTF is wrong with that culture? Put that little girl on America's Got Talent and she would be a media darling here in the states.

The same culture, according to the gymnastics commentators, that take three year old girls from their families and put them into training for future competitions.  The commentators mentioned that the girls only see (or was it talk? don't remember) their families about once a year.

[ChadTower]

The same culture, according to the gymnastics commentators, that take three year old girls from their families and put them into training for future competitions.  The commentators mentioned that the girls only see (or was it talk? don't remember) their families about once a year.

This is probably a place where the culture and the actions of the gov't should be separated.

[SavannahLion]

The same culture, according to the gymnastics commentators, that take three year old girls from their families and put them into training for future competitions.  The commentators mentioned that the girls only see (or was it talk? don't remember) their families about once a year.

This is probably a place where the culture and the actions of the gov't should be separated.

It's a country that makes no bones about supressing their citizens by controlling access to ISP's. The two are not always mutually exclusive.

[ChadTower]

It's a country that makes no bones about supressing their citizens by controlling access to ISP's. The two are not always mutually exclusive.

How is that indicative of the culture?  It is a direct action of the gov't without mandate of the people.  The cultural effect of that is that everyone has a net enabled phone.  News doesn't go through web pages.  It gets spread via personal networking from peer to peer.  The gov't is still trying to control media but in this age of instant contact the culture is circumventing the gov't's actions.  What I'm told by friends who are from there is that the result is often a population that actually knows more than average about world affairs because information is condensed and targeted as it makes its way around by hand.

[fjl]

Also, since you guys are talking about not showing ugly people on Chinese television...

Right, cause the United States doesn't do that either. Lets not forget there was a time when not only non-ugly but only white people where shown on television.

[AtomSmasher]

Also, since you guys are talking about not showing ugly people on Chinese television...

Right, cause the United States doesn't do that either. Lets not forget there was a time when not only non-ugly but only white people where shown on television.

Really?  Because tv sets became available to American consumers in 1946 and by 1956 Nat King Cole was the host of his own program.  I find it hard to believe that in 10 years time they went from refusing to show black people on television to a show hosted by a black man.

[ChadTower]

A show that couldn't gain any real sponsorship because no major corporation wanted to be associated with black people.  It was very short lived.  IIRC some people even tried to kidnap him in the middle of a show to get him off the air, he was injured during the attempt, and he refused to perform in many parts of the country after that.

Not a good example if your case is that black people were welcomed on TV here from the start.

[Ginsu Victim]

Nat King Cole aside, you wouldn't have a black female host a show until Oprah in 1986. The first black star of a network television show wasn't until Bill Cosby in "I Spy" in '65.

Not exactly progress...

[AtomSmasher]

Not a good example if your case is that black people were welcomed on TV here from the start.

Actually I was curious about his comment, so I did a little searching and found a site that listed african american achievements and it listed the Nat King Cole show, but I didn't look at any details of the show.  Even if he wasn't welcomed, it does at least show that television programs did allow black people on tv, even if it did cause a backlash among the public.

Regardless, comparing chinese television of today with american television of 50 years ago doesn't seem like a very good comparision.  We should be comparing chinese television of today with american television of today, which is what everyone else talking about the subject was doing.

[ChadTower]

That site probably isn't correct, then... Cole wasn't the first black person to host a show.  He was the first famous black person to host a show.  There was another musician who had one a few years earlier whose name escapes me now, I think it was actually a woman too.

[AtomSmasher]

Nat King Cole aside, you wouldn't have a black female host a show until Oprah in 1986. The first black star of a network television show wasn't until Bill Cosby in "I Spy" in '65.

Not exactly progress...

Perhaps, but he didn't say anything about staring roles, he said they were not shown at all.  The little girl singing at the olympics wasn't a star of a major television series, just a little girl with a great voice not pretty enough to be shown for the two minutes or so of the song.

[AtomSmasher]

That site probably isn't correct, then... Cole wasn't the first black person to host a show.  He was the first famous black person to host a show.  There was another musician who had one a few years earlier whose name escapes me now, I think it was actually a woman too.

Possibly.  Heres the site: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmfirsts.html

Could you be thinking of the Hattie McDaniel who won an academy award for best supporting actress in 1940?

[ChadTower]

That site probably isn't correct, then... Cole wasn't the first black person to host a show.  He was the first famous black person to host a show.  There was another musician who had one a few years earlier whose name escapes me now, I think it was actually a woman too.

Possibly.  Heres the site: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmfirsts.html

Could you be thinking of the Hattie McDaniel who won an academy award for best supporting actress in 1940?

After some searching I'm thinking of Hazel Scott in 1950.

[Ginsu Victim]

That site probably isn't correct, then... Cole wasn't the first black person to host a show.  He was the first famous black person to host a show.  There was another musician who had one a few years earlier whose name escapes me now, I think it was actually a woman too.

Possibly.  Heres the site: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmfirsts.html

Could you be thinking of the Hattie McDaniel who won an academy award for best supporting actress in 1940?

Ha...that's google for you. Same site I was quoting.

[shardian]

Black people make up 12-15% of the US population but are consistently 25-30% of the actors in television and movies.  They've been over-represented for decades.

You're gonna have to provide some sources for that statistic. That is simply too much to swallow. 25-30%? No way. There is a reason we have the phrase "Token black guy".

[ChadTower]

You're gonna have to provide some sources for that statistic. That is simply too much to swallow. 25-30%? No way. There is a reason we have the phrase "Token black guy".

In the last 24 hours he has also called L Ron Hubbard a brilliant man and questioned the reliability of Hondas. 

[shardian]

Ahh yes, he has. And you were doing so good Jim! Better get your Doc to check your med levels again.

[ChadTower]

Ahh yes, he has. And you were doing so good Jim! Better get your Doc to check your med levels again.

Dammit dammit dammit.  I wanted to find a WAV of the AAHHH YESSSSSS sound from Fathom but can't find it anywhere.  That's exactly how I heard your post in my head.

[Ginsu Victim]

How about those Olympics? 

(Let's get this back on topic...)

[polaris]

some welsh chick won the first gold in the olympics     
hasnt some american dude just reached 11 golds, that an awesome acheivement.

[Hoopz]

How about those Olympics? 

Most events, I think, "wow, that person has spent most of their life and countless amounts of money honing a completely worthless skill".

However, curling is totally worth the cost.

Let's bump that comment to the Winter Olympics thread.   

[SavannahLion]

It's a country that makes no bones about supressing their citizens by controlling access to ISP's. The two are not always mutually exclusive.

How is that indicative of the culture?  It is a direct action of the gov't without mandate of the people.  The cultural effect of that is that everyone has a net enabled phone.  News doesn't go through web pages.  It gets spread via personal networking from peer to peer.  The gov't is still trying to control media but in this age of instant contact the culture is circumventing the gov't's actions.  What I'm told by friends who are from there is that the result is often a population that actually knows more than average about world affairs because information is condensed and targeted as it makes its way around by hand.

OK, you have a country whose citizens are fighting for ways to gain additional freedoms, ie everyone with net enabled phones sharing information. But wait, is that really representative of the majority of citizens there? Is it really everyone? Or is it more that it's almost everyone that that person(s) knows which is unlikely representative of everyone in the country?

In the U.S. I can easily say that everyone owns (posesses is probably a more accurate term) a car or motorcycle. Is that true? In my circle of friends, that is true. In the entire country, that's obviously not true. Does everyone in the U.S. own a PC? In the last five years I haven't encountered anyone who doesn't own or use a PC manufacturered in the past ten years, but I can't be convinced that everyone in the country owns or uses a PC.

You have a country with over 1.3 billion. Pretty good bet there's a pretty big silent majority there. A silent group is just as powerful as one or two loud voices.

I have no doubt the general population is more aware of world affairs than elsewhere. This is one of the stages of uprising (or significant change). Oddly enough, China's been stuck in this particular stage for quite some time. Just like the U.S. has been stuck in its apathetic stage for the past twenty years or so.

Oh well. Whatever. This kind of debate can go back and forth for days on end.

Dammit dammit dammit.  I wanted to find a WAV of the AAHHH YESSSSSS sound from Fathom but can't find it anywhere.  That's exactly how I heard your post in my head.

All I know is Fathom the comic book. What is Fathom?

[SavannahLion]

I see. I wouldn't call mermaids homoerotic but hey, to each their own I guess. 

Ahh yes, he has. And you were doing so good Jim! Better get your Doc to check your med levels again.

Dammit dammit dammit.  I wanted to find a WAV of the AAHHH YESSSSSS sound from Fathom but can't find it anywhere.  That's exactly how I heard your post in my head.

http://www.pinball.yoo-design.com/pages/sounds.html

OK... yeah, no... I don't get it.

[patrickl]

How about those Olympics? 

Most events, I think, "wow, that person has spent most of their life and countless amounts of money honing a completely worthless skill".

I always wonder what these people will do when they are too "old" to compete when they reach their late thirties. They have no education, no job experience and no income from sports anymore. What do you do then?

[shardian]

Back on to the subject at hand. I just found a reason to start watching the Olympics:

The mystery of the HOT Paraguayan

Bonus link to save your Google-Fu efforts.

[ChadTower]

I always wonder what these people will do when they are too "old" to compete when they reach their late thirties. They have no education, no job experience and no income from sports anymore. What do you do then?

Think it through to its logical conclusion... what did that athlete spend most of that money on?

Coaching.

[ChadTower]

All I know is Fathom the comic book. What is Fathom?

The most over-rated homoerotic pinball machine ever made.

Haven't you ever played Laser Cue?

[shardian]

Think it through to its logical conclusion... what did that athlete spend most of that money on?

Coaching.

No doubt! Those washed up has-beens who weren't good enough for the Olympics that my wife took ice skating lessons from made damn good money.

[ChadTower]

Dude, the theme of the game is a guy being seduced by mermaids and dragged to the bottom of the ocean.

That's the traditional concept of a mermaid.  It varies from culture to culture but generally they are said to cause sailors to die, either by mistake or intentionally.  They're also omens of tragedy since (at least where I grew up) they are said to know that a ship is going to go down before it does and they are there to see it and either save or attack victims or collect their stuff.

[Ginsu Victim]

I can't find video of the Swedish wrestler who threw his bronze medal down. Anyone got a link?

(Edit: Just watched it over on the Drudge Report, but it didn't show him confronting the judges)

[SavannahLion]

I see. I wouldn't call mermaids homoerotic but hey, to each their own I guess. 

Dude, the theme of the game is a guy being seduced by mermaids and dragged to the bottom of the ocean.

A mermaid is a creature that's half woman and half fish. Homoeroticism deals with two people of the same sex. The game is about a guy being seduced by mermaids.

Not only are the mermaids and the guy not of the same sex, about half of the relationship is not even within same species.

[ChadTower]

It could be called a little homoerotic if you were caught up on the voice sounds.  They should have used a woman.

[billf]

I always wonder what these people will do when they are too "old" to compete when they reach their late thirties. They have no education, no job experience and no income from sports anymore. What do you do then?

Can't say for sure, but I believe that many of the athletes on the US Olympic team are currently enrolled in college or are going to be going to college.  Michael Phelps went to University of Michigan and study sports marketing and management.  I was just watching Women's Sabre and the three women on the team were all in college.  I know they mentioned that many of the gymnast's (men and women) on the US team are in college.

[shardian]

Considering the massive amount of dedication, determination, and discipline it takes to be an olympic athelete, I don't think many of them will have  a problem succeeding in whatever they do in life.

[billf]

Considering the massive amount of dedication, determination, and discipline it takes to be an olympic athelete, I don't think many of them will have  a problem succeeding in whatever they do in life.

Very true.

[ChadTower]

  Michael Phelps went to University of Michigan and study sports marketing and management.

Erm, yeah, on full scholarship.  And he chose his major basically so he could be his own agent.  Not exactly a good option for most athletes.  The only athletes that get that sort of ride are the top of the top and then only in a couple of sports.  A person actually has a better chance of landing a basketball or football scholarship than a scholarship in an regular Olympic sport.

[shardian]

Heh, during lunch today  they were showing Ping Pong coverage - with the Americans playing and kicking ass! There of course was a catch...our team is made up of Chinese women. 

[ChadTower]

I used to go to the Student Union at UMass to watch the Chinese guys play ping pong... it was insane, I couldn't even see the ball and they were 10 feet back from the table. 

[billf]

  Michael Phelps went to University of Michigan and study sports marketing and management.

Erm, yeah, on full scholarship.  And he chose his major basically so he could be his own agent.  Not exactly a good option for most athletes.  The only athletes that get that sort of ride are the top of the top and then only in a couple of sports.  A person actually has a better chance of landing a basketball or football scholarship than a scholarship in an regular Olympic sport.

Where did you find that he went there on a full scholarship.  He gave up his chances for college athletic scholarship because he signed a contract with Speedo - he is a pro.  He went the U of Mich because that is where his one and only coach went to become the swim coach.  He doesn't compete on U of Mich swim team - he can't by NCAA rules.  Did he get a full ride academic scholarship?
 

[ChadTower]

Where did you find that he went there on a full scholarship.  He gave up his chances for college athletic scholarship because he signed a contract with Speedo - he is a pro.  He went the U of Mich because that is where his one and only coach went to become the swim coach.  He doesn't compete on U of Mich swim team - he can't by NCAA rules.  Did he get a full ride academic scholarship?

I could swear I remember reading that but can't find it now and what you say makes sense.  Still, look at what he majored in.  He sure isn't going to be representing other athletes as an agent.  The point I'm making is that you can't take someone like him as representative of what the average olympic athlete does to get there.  When you're the best in the world the rules just don't apply to you like they do everyone else.  Everyone wants a piece of what you can do and they pay accordingly.


EDIT:

The Baltimore Sun said in August 2008 that Phelps earns $5 million annually in endorsements.

I think that pretty much destroys any concept of him being a good example.

[billf]

Where did you find that he went there on a full scholarship.  He gave up his chances for college athletic scholarship because he signed a contract with Speedo - he is a pro.  He went the U of Mich because that is where his one and only coach went to become the swim coach.  He doesn't compete on U of Mich swim team - he can't by NCAA rules.  Did he get a full ride academic scholarship?

I could swear I remember reading that but can't find it now and what you say makes sense.  Still, look at what he majored in.  He sure isn't going to be representing other athletes as an agent.  The point I'm making is that you can't take someone like him as representative of what the average olympic athlete does to get there.  When you're the best in the world the rules just don't apply to you like they do everyone else.  Everyone wants a piece of what you can do and they pay accordingly.

Which is why I also mentioned the Women's Sabre team and the gymnasts.  Women's Sabre team has to be just about the most obscure and unknown athletes at the games.  Each of the women on that team are in or going to start college.  That was my original point to patrickl - many of the athletes are going to college and will most likely be able to make money in the future and will succeed.  As for Phelps, yes he is a special case.  He may end up doing the same thing that Mark Spitz is doing - motivational speaking engagements.  Nothing wrong with that and he had to major in something, right?

[ChadTower]

Nothing wrong with that and he had to major in something, right?

If I were in his position I'd have chosen the same major.

[billf]

Nothing wrong with that and he had to major in something, right?

If I were in his position I'd have chosen the same major.

Me too!

[patrickl]

I always wonder what these people will do when they are too "old" to compete when they reach their late thirties. They have no education, no job experience and no income from sports anymore. What do you do then?

Can't say for sure, but I believe that many of the athletes on the US Olympic team are currently enrolled in college or are going to be going to college.  Michael Phelps went to University of Michigan and study sports marketing and management.  I was just watching Women's Sabre and the three women on the team were all in college.  I know they mentioned that many of the gymnast's (men and women) on the US team are in college.

American athletes perhaps. For athletes from poor countries that's not the case.

On Dutch TV they decided to show the "person behind the medal". So for instance they showed this high jumping female and her family at home. It looked like the place Borat came from.

[billf]

Well, here in America, NBC shows non-stop stories about how all the athletes are heroes and have overcome tragedy and made profound sacrifices that we can never understand because their dying grandfather told them he wanted them to be the best beach volleyball player the world had ever seen the very instant before he shuffled off the mortal coil.

Not sure what Olympic coverage you're watching, but I've seen maybe a handful of those kinds of stories.  I've watched every night except the opening ceremonies (only caught a little bit of the opening).  Although I do agree that the Winter Olympic coverage is notorious for these "fluff" stories - my guess is they don't have enough winter events to fill the tv air time they have available.

[SavannahLion]

Although I do agree that the Winter Olympic coverage is notorious for these "fluff" stories - my guess is they don't have enough winter events to fill the tv air time they have available.

I always thought it was a bit like baseball. Five minutes of action stuffed into five whole hours.

Just kidding, I like the winter Olympics more than the summers. I wasn't sure of the counts and I was kind of lazy to research it so.... checking up on Wikipedia, Winter Olympics have 15 sports whereas the Summer Olympics (this year) have 28 sports. So yeah, sounds like your guess might be right.

[hypernova]

Am I the only one disgusted with the way the softball was set up?  Taken from the official Olympics site:

Page System Playoff

The Page System shall comprise of two semi-finals, one final and one grand final.

The Page System will take place over two competition days. The two semi-finals and the final will be played on the second to the last day and the grand final will be played on the last day.

First semi-final: The teams ranked third and fourth in the round robin shall play for a place in the final; the loser is the fourth.

Second semi-final: The teams ranked first and second in the round robin will play for a place in the grand final; the loser will play in the final.

Final: The winner of the first semi-final and the loser of the second semi-final shall play for the second place in the grand final; the loser is the third.

Grand final: The winner of the second semi-final and the winner of the final will play for the first place; the loser is the second.

So two other teams play in the 1st semifinal.  The 3rd seed plays the 4 seed.  Australia won against Canada.

USA plays Japan in the 2nd semifinal.  1 seed versus 2 seed.  We win.  In the grand final.

Stupid, right?  It gets even better!

Japan then plays Australia in the "Final."  Japan beats the Aussies.  Then Japan plays us in the "Grand Final" and wins.

We're out.  Gold medal-Japan.  We get silver.

I see.  Ignoring the fact that we got the short end of the stick on this deal, this setup ensures that the #1 or #2 seeds get an extra shot at the title.  But at the same time, when #1 beats #2 (or vice-versa,) assuming they win the next game, they get another shot to beat the team they lost to.  In Japan's case...the third time's the charm.  (We beat them in the round robin, too.)  How does this make any sense?  Now I know that if your team is the best, you should be able to win the big game...but once again, at the same time, you give a reasonably decent team enough chances against another, better team, they're going to win at some point.

What moron(s) came up with that elimination setup?  No wonder it's being eliminated from the Olympics.

Stupid...Well, at least we essentially stole a gold from Brazil in soccer.

[Dartful Dodger]

Did USA play two games and Japan 3?

If so the winner of the two top seeds had a better advantage than having the two top seeds play two games each.

[hypernova]

Did USA play two games and Japan 3?

If so the winner of the two top seeds had a better advantage than having the two top seeds play two games each.

Yes.

How?  If you lost, it's just like you got a mulligan, and had to play the two games necessary for the gold.  Either way, you have to win two games for gold.

The winner of the first semifinal (3 & 4 seeds) would have to win 3 games, as opposed to two.  That isn't fair to them at all.