The Summer Olympics

[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.