I'm actually really looking forward the Olympics. This magical time every 4 years where I take residence on my sofa and watch obscure sports that I usually never give a shit about. I'm not being ironic here, I really love the Olympics. The only minus is that given Brazil's time zone I won't be able to gobble up as much sport as in 2012.
I hope that despite the apparently short odds on something going wrong, nothing goes wrong. So far it looks like Bolt is injured, so we're not off to a good start!
What are languish expectations on this?
A mutilated body just washed up on the volleyball beach. I expect fuck ups on at least that level to happen.
I predict the favela gangs will find ingenious, non-criminal ways to make money off wide-eyed tourists.
I'll try to follow the Olympic football tournament and some athletism events.
I am sure the BOPE, the Elite Squad, will be there should any favela gang try to misbehave.
Love the Olympics even if I don't have the time to watch it like I used to. And I could theoretically watch more of it because of the time zone :P
The Olympics in a third world cesspool? CAN NOT WAIT
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 02, 2016, 03:54:59 PM
The Olympics in a third world cesspool? CAN NOT WAIT
Hey! It is part of Putin's BRICS Empire that is going to rule the world.
The Olympics went downhill after 1912.
I'll do the same as I've done for many years, skip it.
I think one aspect in which these games will really shine is in the hottness of the ushers. Would be cool if they were topless.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 02, 2016, 04:22:47 PM
I think one aspect in which these games will really shine is in the hottness of the ushers. Would be cool if they were topless.
Extremely defined tan lines. :x
For some reason, I've always much preferred the Winter games.
Quote from: Tonitrus on July 02, 2016, 04:31:48 PM
For some reason, I've always much preferred the Winter games.
Hotter chicks.
ISIS will hit it.
Nonsense. Even ISIS has clean water standards.
Too easy and high profile target not to.
They're not going all the way to South Fucking America, man. THINK
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 02, 2016, 05:00:17 PM
They're not going all the way to South Fucking America, man. THINK
Isn't it closer than San Bernardino?
Quote from: garbon on July 02, 2016, 05:05:38 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 02, 2016, 05:00:17 PM
They're not going all the way to South Fucking America, man. THINK
Isn't it closer than San Bernardino?
:XD:
Well they didn't have to go anywhere to get to San Bernardino, they just had to appeal to some nutcases there.
Probably some nutcases in Brazil.
Quote from: garbon on July 02, 2016, 05:05:38 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 02, 2016, 05:00:17 PM
They're not going all the way to South Fucking America, man. THINK
Isn't it closer than San Bernardino?
Considering the state of sanitation down there, I sincerely doubt there would be any Department of Public Health employees nearby, even disgruntled ones.
Quote from: Valmy on July 02, 2016, 05:09:36 PM
Well they didn't have to go anywhere to get to San Bernardino, they just had to appeal to some nutcases there.
Probably some nutcases in Brazil.
Which was my point. :hug:
Quote from: Valmy on July 02, 2016, 05:09:36 PM
Well they didn't have to go anywhere to get to San Bernardino, they just had to appeal to some nutcases there.
Probably some nutcases in Brazil.
Ah, so we're going to to move the goalposts from "ISIS" to "ISIS wannabes and fags with hangups", gotcha.
Quote from: garbon on July 02, 2016, 05:10:26 PM
Quote from: Valmy on July 02, 2016, 05:09:36 PM
Well they didn't have to go anywhere to get to San Bernardino, they just had to appeal to some nutcases there.
Probably some nutcases in Brazil.
Which was my point. :hug:
It's a stupid fucking point.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 02, 2016, 05:12:02 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 02, 2016, 05:10:26 PM
Quote from: Valmy on July 02, 2016, 05:09:36 PM
Well they didn't have to go anywhere to get to San Bernardino, they just had to appeal to some nutcases there.
Probably some nutcases in Brazil.
Which was my point. :hug:
It's a stupid fucking point.
Right back at ya.
I saw a proposal from Christine Lagarde the other day suggesting that Athens be the permanent home of the Olympics instead of rotating it from city to city every four years. I would be perfectly happy with that--it'd solve a lot of the problem of venue wastage at the very least.
Quote from: Habbaku on July 02, 2016, 05:24:06 PM
I saw a proposal from Christine Lagarde the other day suggesting that Athens be the permanent home of the Olympics instead of rotating it from city to city every four years. I would be perfectly happy with that--it'd solve a lot of the problem of venue wastage at the very least.
Might help their economy.
Quote from: Habbaku on July 02, 2016, 05:24:06 PM
I saw a proposal from Christine Lagarde the other day suggesting that Athens be the permanent home of the Olympics instead of rotating it from city to city every four years. I would be perfectly happy with that--it'd solve a lot of the problem of venue wastage at the very least.
The IOC wouldn't. Playing off candidate cities against each other so the games get bigger and bigger every time (with all the money that comes with that) is their business model.
I agree the whole thing is going to crash at some point, though.
We won a gold medal in Atlanta, 1996 (sailing). We thought it was a miracle. We unexpectedly got a silver in Athens, 2004 (table tennis). Then a Bronze in London, 2012 (cycling). If the pattern continues, we won't win anything this time. As per business as usual.
But then, the girl who won the bronze in London is the reigning world champion in that particular type of indoor cycling race. So our chances are actually higher than nil.
Quote from: Monoriu on July 02, 2016, 07:24:37 PM
We won a gold medal in Atlanta, 1996 (sailing). We thought it was a miracle. We unexpectedly got a silver in Athens, 2004 (table tennis). Then a Bronze in London, 2012 (cycling). If the pattern continues, we won't win anything this time. As per business as usual.
But then, the girl who won the bronze in London is the reigning world champion in that particular type of indoor cycling race. So our chances are actually higher than nil.
She's a cutie too. Hope she does well.
I am amazed that we have anybody who qualifies for the olympics at all. We suck at sports, so the fact that we are represented is already an achievement of sorts.
Quote from: celedhring on July 02, 2016, 06:24:36 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on July 02, 2016, 05:24:06 PM
I saw a proposal from Christine Lagarde the other day suggesting that Athens be the permanent home of the Olympics instead of rotating it from city to city every four years. I would be perfectly happy with that--it'd solve a lot of the problem of venue wastage at the very least.
The IOC wouldn't. Playing off candidate cities against each other so the games get bigger and bigger every time (with all the money that comes with that) is their business model.
I agree the whole thing is going to crash at some point, though.
Which is such bullshit. I agree that the Olympics are awesome, and they are awesome because of the competition. There isn't any need to blow $50billion on the winter games (though to be fair, it was probably more like a billion or two, with the balance going to corruption).
The IOC should be outlawed, and given to a committee of the UN...probably nearly as corrupt, but at least maybe more oversight. Does the IOC even really have any oversight whatsoever?
Quote from: Tonitrus on July 02, 2016, 09:13:36 PM
The IOC should be outlawed, and given to a committee of the UN...probably nearly as corrupt, but at least maybe more oversight. Does the IOC even really have any oversight whatsoever?
Who would win: the IOC or FIFA?
And how would the NFL fare, if not constrained by the US gov? :P
Quote from: Tonitrus on July 02, 2016, 09:38:57 PM
And how would the NFL fare, if not constrained by the US gov? :P
Exactly the same as it does now. FIFA and the IOC are corrupt because they are ostensibly non profits that skim from a very lucrative operation. The NFL *is* the lucrative operation.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 02, 2016, 09:47:23 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on July 02, 2016, 09:38:57 PM
And how would the NFL fare, if not constrained by the US gov? :P
Exactly the same as it does now. FIFA and the IOC are corrupt because they are ostensibly non profits that skim from a very lucrative operation. The NFL *is* the lucrative operation.
The NFL is also an ostensible non profit. :P
Quote from: alfred russel on July 02, 2016, 09:49:08 PM
The NFL is also an ostensible non profit. :P
A man in your situation should not be splitting hairs. :P
Quote from: Tonitrus on July 02, 2016, 09:38:57 PM
And how would the NFL fare, if not constrained by the US gov? :P
I don't see where you're going with this. If the NFL were truly constrained by the US government, then Bill Belichick would in prison, and half of Pittsburgh's playoff wins the last 10 years would be voided due to collusion.
Edit: and Alfred is right; the NFL is a non-profit; it's NFL Properties that pulls the strings.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 02, 2016, 09:52:23 PM
I don't see where you're going with this. If the NFL were truly constrained by the US government, then Bill Belichick would in prison, and half of Pittsburgh's playoff wins the last 10 years would be voided due to collusion.
Edit: and Alfred is right; the NFL is a non-profit; it's NFL Properties that pulls the strings.
Not anymore, they didn't like having to be public about how much their head honchos made.
QuoteThe NFL gave up the tax exempt status in 2015 following public criticism; in a letter to the club owners, Commissioner Roger Goodell labeled it a "distraction", saying "the effects of the tax exempt status of the league office have been mischaracterized repeatedly in recent years... Every dollar of income generated through television rights fees, licensing agreements, sponsorships, ticket sales, and other means is earned by the 32 clubs and is taxable there. This will remain the case even when the league office and Management Council file returns as taxable entities, and the change in filing status will make no material difference to our business". As a result, the league office might owe around US$10 million, but is no longer required to disclose the salaries of its executive officers.
:lol: Lose tax exempt status = profit!
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 02, 2016, 09:51:13 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 02, 2016, 09:49:08 PM
The NFL is also an ostensible non profit. :P
A man in your situation should not be splitting hairs. :P
My situation has considerably improved. :P
Got to hand it to Putin, he gets stuff done.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/07/russia-is-holding-its-own-olympics-for-all-its-banned-athletes
We finally get the All-Drug Olympics that SNL predicted back in 1988.
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/update-all-drug-olympics/n9691
Quote from: derspiess on July 28, 2016, 02:49:50 PM
Got to hand it to Putin, he gets stuff done.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/07/russia-is-holding-its-own-olympics-for-all-its-banned-athletes
We finally get the All-Drug Olympics that SNL predicted back in 1988.
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/update-all-drug-olympics/n9691
:thumbsup: One of my all time favorite skits.
An all drug Olympics could be fun to watch, but they need to be extreme. Like hearts exploding and bleeding out at the finish line extreme.
Sadly, the current olympics are probably very close to an all drug olympics, at least in some sports.
Don't anti-doping authorities keep the samples for like 8 years in anticipation of sportsmen taking drugs they can't yet detect?
QuoteWorldViews
'Please fix my toilet': Olympic teams suffer through problems at Rio's Athletes' Village
By Dom Phillips July 28 at 2:00 PM
Washington Post
RIO DE JANEIRO — The Summer Olympics are just days from opening, and organizers have been forced to mount a "massive operation" to fix a deluge of plumbing and electricity problems at the Athletes' Village in Rio.
It was the latest upset for an Olympics taking place amid a severe economic recession, a Zika epidemic, the impeachment process of suspended president Dilma Rousseff and a spike in crime in Rio state — which is so broke it needed a government bailout to pay police salaries in arrears.
The latest crisis began on Sunday, when the Australian team said its building in the Athletes' Village was uninhabitable because of problems with plumbing and electricity.
Now, with those issues resolved, the Australians have moved in. But other teams have complained about conditions in many of their apartments. The Argentine committee said that two of the five floors of its building were uninhabitable, and it had to rent apartments nearby for some of its technical staff. The Belarus Olympic committee published photos of dirty windows and blocked drains on its official page. Egyptian athletes had no hot water and their toilets did not flush, while a Kenyan wrote "Please fix my toilet" on a notice board in the Olympic Village.
A squad of 600 plumbers and electricians has been scrambling to repair everything.
"It is a massive operation and a massive undertaking to fix everything in such a way that we don't disturb the athletes and we don't compromise the security," Mario Andrada, Rio 2016's communications director, told The Washington Post. The operation was on course to finish by Thursday night, he said.
But even that operation has run into trouble.
On Wednesday, officials from Brazil's Ministry of Work inspected laborers' conditions and found the emergency team had been contracted informally, without the proper documentation. Fines could be levied if the subcontractors who hired the workers don't produce the necessary documents, the ministry said in a statement published on its website.
A spokeswoman for Rio 2016, speaking on condition of anonymity because of internal regulations, said organizers had presented the necessary documentation to the ministry.
But questions remain: How bad were the problems, and why wasn't the village ready when athletes began moving in on Sunday?
On July 26, TV Globo's nightly news program, Jornal Nacional, said one company contracted to fix the issues found problems in 57 out of the 272 apartments it was working on, including a lack of power and showers that did not work.
Filmed in shadow, an unidentified engineer working there said he believed the defects stemmed from the construction of the complex, built by a real estate consortium with plans to eventually sell the units. Rio 2016 is renting the complex of 3,604 apartments from Ilha Pura.
"I believe they had deadlines. They had to deliver the works on the date, and they delivered it the way it was," the engineer said.
Ilha Pura, or Pure Island, the real estate developer that built the complex, said the company had delivered the apartments in pristine condition.
"The construction work was 100 percent finished," a spokeswoman said in an email. "No kind of structural problem was found." She spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing internal regulations.
Ilha Pura supplied technical teams to help finish the work, the spokeswoman said, and its priority was to offer athletes "the best hospitality infrastructure."
That was not what the Australian team found when it conducted a "stress test" of the apartments on Saturday — turning on toilets and taps on several floors at the same time.
"The system failed. Water came down walls, there was a strong smell of gas in some apartments and there was 'shorting' in the electrical wiring," delegation chief Kitty Chiller said in a statement. "In our mind, our building is not habitable," she later told reporters.
Andrada, the spokesman for Rio 2016, said the complex had been turned over to organizers at the end of May but water and electricity were connected in June.
"The main cause for the delay was that water and electricity were connected too late" and there was no time to check the units before they were handed to the national Olympic committees, he said.
Andrada said it was not clear whose fault that was.
"Ilha Pura could maybe have delivered some of the apartments in better condition," he said. "We should have done better testing. But we are not discussing this now."
"Now the focus is on the resolution of the problem, not the cause of the problem," he said.
On Wednesday evening, some athletes described the problems they found. Shimaa Hashad, a member of the Egyptian shooting team, had no hot water when she arrived at her apartment earlier that day, and her toilet did not flush. "We told them and they fixed it," she said. "My friends from other countries told me about the same problems."
The Dutch team brought two technicians of its own after facing similar issues at Olympic Villages in London and in the Russian city of Sochi. But Rio was worse, said spokesman John van Vliet. Dutch field hockey player Mink Van Der Weerden said those efforts meant his apartment was in good condition when he arrived.
"They did a bit of work," he said. "And now it's all good."
Kiton Muca, an administration assistant for the Albanian team, said its members had faced some small issues on arriving, such as toilets that didn't flush, but these had been resolved. "For each Olympic Games, this is the situation," he said. Rio is his third.
Others faced more serious issues. The Argentine Olympic committee rented apartments in a nearby condominium for some of its technical staff because two of the five floors were "uninhabitable", its president, Gerardo Werthein, told reporters in Buenos Aires on Monday.
"It was very bad but it is being repaired," Eduardo Moyano, the team's communications director, told the Post, adding that the problems would probably be resolved in two or three days.
So, the final outcome of Russia's doping thing: Russia isn't banned, but the whistleblower is. As I said in another thread,
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2Fi%2Fpix%2F2016%2F07%2F24%2F23%2F366393C600000578-3706067-image-a-48_1469399994784.jpg&hash=0b9c920d7a1821699ca213792dc3debcbbf84d9c)
Quote from: DGuller on August 02, 2016, 12:25:10 PM
So, the final outcome of Russia's doping thing: Russia isn't banned, but the whistleblower is. As I said in another thread,
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2Fi%2Fpix%2F2016%2F07%2F24%2F23%2F366393C600000578-3706067-image-a-48_1469399994784.jpg&hash=0b9c920d7a1821699ca213792dc3debcbbf84d9c)
If Putin can rig the American presidential election surely it's not surprising that he can control IOC. :P
The water the athletes will swim in is inundated with raw sewage and teaming with bacteria and viruses.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/rio-2016-water-pollution-virus-risk-danger-swimming-sailing-rowing-chance-of-infection-almost-a7165866.html
Quote from: jimmy olsen on August 02, 2016, 10:19:21 PM
The water the athletes will swim in is inundated with raw sewage and teaming with bacteria and viruses.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/rio-2016-water-pollution-virus-risk-danger-swimming-sailing-rowing-chance-of-infection-almost-a7165866.html
Yeah, this has been reported routinely over the last 2 years or so.
Timmay's been inundating Languish with raw sewage for a hell of a lot longer than that.
Is there any bit of inhabited coastline that isn't affected by bacteria, viruses and raw sewage? I mean, think of all the fish that pee in it!
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 03, 2016, 06:00:36 AM
Timmay's been inundating Languish with raw sewage for a hell of a lot longer than that.
His sewage is not raw, it has been treated by his editorials.
It's somewhat odd to see the high energy Olympic intro montage for television only to afterwards go to a wide shot of an almost empty stadium filled with players who aren't good enough for the national team and not important enough for their club team.
Strongest, fastest, whatever, just take out Football from the Olympics, it doesn't make any sense to have it in.
Yep. if there is a larger/more important competition in your sport than the Olympics, you shouldn't be in the Olympics.
Sorry baseball, basketball, golf, soccer. Maybe cycling but who really cares about that?
A Russian diplomat or someone armed with him, takes out a would-be mugger near the Olympics venue.
Quote from: mongers on August 04, 2016, 08:37:39 PM
A Russian diplomat or someone armed with him, takes out a would-be mugger near the Olympics venue.
Fuck, those Ukrainian journalists really do have it rough. Even the sports reporters aren't safe.
Quote from: sbr on August 04, 2016, 06:47:13 PM
Yep. if there is a larger/more important competition in your sport than the Olympics, you shouldn't be in the Olympics.
Sorry baseball, basketball, golf, soccer. Maybe cycling but who really cares about that?
It's funny how that only happens with footie, even NBA players have been going to the Olympics for 20+ years and there hasn't been any movement to go back to the pre-90s time when only college players would go, i'd say that Olympic basketball is roughly on par with the World Championship or even slightly ahead. Yet olympic footie is terribly terribly watered down, and it's not going to improve (with an European championship and a Copa América in the same summer there's simply no way that teams will send even their best U-23 teams).
Quote from: The Larch on August 05, 2016, 04:05:11 AM
Quote from: sbr on August 04, 2016, 06:47:13 PM
Yep. if there is a larger/more important competition in your sport than the Olympics, you shouldn't be in the Olympics.
Sorry baseball, basketball, golf, soccer. Maybe cycling but who really cares about that?
It's funny how that only happens with footie, even NBA players have been going to the Olympics for 20+ years and there hasn't been any movement to go back to the pre-90s time when only college players would go, i'd say that Olympic basketball is roughly on par with the World Championship or even slightly ahead. Yet olympic footie is terribly terribly watered down, and it's not going to improve (with an European championship and a Copa América in the same summer there's simply no way that teams will send even their best U-23 teams).
But that's because FIFA wants it this way. They will never allow the Olympic tournament to rival their World Cup, in the same way the Olympic basketball tournament is probably above the FIBA WC.
Quote from: celedhring on August 05, 2016, 04:59:38 AM
Quote from: The Larch on August 05, 2016, 04:05:11 AM
Quote from: sbr on August 04, 2016, 06:47:13 PM
Yep. if there is a larger/more important competition in your sport than the Olympics, you shouldn't be in the Olympics.
Sorry baseball, basketball, golf, soccer. Maybe cycling but who really cares about that?
It's funny how that only happens with footie, even NBA players have been going to the Olympics for 20+ years and there hasn't been any movement to go back to the pre-90s time when only college players would go, i'd say that Olympic basketball is roughly on par with the World Championship or even slightly ahead. Yet olympic footie is terribly terribly watered down, and it's not going to improve (with an European championship and a Copa América in the same summer there's simply no way that teams will send even their best U-23 teams).
But that's because FIFA wants it this way. They will never allow the Olympic tournament to rival their World Cup, in the same way the Olympic basketball tournament is probably above the FIBA WC.
Yeah, it's definitely by design, never doubted that. Just the fact that the teams are U-23 (with a couple of wildcard exemptions) is already the biggest telling sign.
Man is Neymar going to be pissed if Brazil doesn't win this...to think tha he skipped the Copa América for this and they already lost the first game being the home squad...
Quote from: sbr on August 04, 2016, 06:47:13 PM
Sorry baseball, basketball, golf, soccer. Maybe cycling but who really cares about that?
The British, or at least the Olympics taking place in the UK, killed Olympic Baseball. Which is just as well. I was tired of seeing the US constantly lose to Cuba and Japan. Better to see us lose to them in the World Baseball Classic.
Quote from: Valmy on August 05, 2016, 06:57:56 AM
Quote from: sbr on August 04, 2016, 06:47:13 PM
Sorry baseball, basketball, golf, soccer. Maybe cycling but who really cares about that?
The British, or at least the Olympics taking place in the UK, killed Olympic Baseball. Which is just as well. I was tired of seeing the US constantly lose to Cuba and Japan. Better to see us lose to them in the World Baseball Classic.
I believe Baseball is back on the schedule for the next Games, in Tokyo in 2020.
Quote from: Agelastus on August 05, 2016, 07:01:15 AM
I believe Baseball is back on the schedule for the next Games, in Tokyo in 2020.
Bastards are bringing it back just so they can humiliate us again :weep:
Team sports don't really belong in the Olympics. The games would be better off without them.
One weird thing about the team sports is how the medals are counted. Win a tournament with a team of 22 people? One gold medal. Be a good individual swimmer? You can win up to 39 gold medals in one Olympics.
Don't hate on swimming events, Dimitri.
Team events... hmm...
Stuff like relay and the ilk definitely belongs in the Olympics.
But football, baseball and other sports with their own world cups (or which should have them, does basketball? Not heard of it); no.
Olympic hockey is one of the greatest Olympic events. Granted it is a winter event.
Quote from: Tyr on August 05, 2016, 03:08:45 PM
But football, baseball and other sports with their own world cups (or which should have them, does basketball? Not heard of it); no.
Yeah this is the real Baseball championship: http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/ since the very best players in the world actually get to play unlike the old Olympic tournament.
There is a Basketball "World Cup" but it is always just called the "World Championship" in the US: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIBA_Basketball_World_Cup
But generally the Olympic tournament is considered far more important for Basketball, unlike soccer.
Quote from: Tyr on August 05, 2016, 03:08:45 PM
Team events... hmm...
Stuff like relay and the ilk definitely belongs in the Olympics.
But football, baseball and other sports with their own world cups (or which should have them, does basketball? Not heard of it); no.
I'd be sad if they took Volleyball off the Olympics because it's basically the only time they televise it. But maybe Tyr hasn't heard of the Volleyball World Cup.
First two athletes have been sent home because they tested positive for doping...
A Cypriot and a Greek.
Quote from: DGuller on August 05, 2016, 02:38:28 PM
Be a good individual swimmer? You can win up to 39 gold medals in one Olympics.
We can worry about that when Poseidon rolls out of the locker room wearing Team Greece gear.
A nice ceremony from Brazil and no new doping scandals.
Quote from: Liep on August 05, 2016, 03:36:59 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 05, 2016, 03:08:45 PM
Team events... hmm...
Stuff like relay and the ilk definitely belongs in the Olympics.
But football, baseball and other sports with their own world cups (or which should have them, does basketball? Not heard of it); no.
I'd be sad if they took Volleyball off the Olympics because it's basically the only time they televise it. But maybe Tyr hasn't heard of the Volleyball World Cup.
:huh:
Rowing qualifying heats! Wow that's boring.
Quote from: Liep on August 06, 2016, 06:47:15 AM
Rowing qualifying heats! Wow that's boring.
The fun is to see how much debris they hit.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 06, 2016, 08:44:49 AM
Quote from: Liep on August 06, 2016, 06:47:15 AM
Rowing qualifying heats! Wow that's boring.
The fun is to see how much debris they hit.
The fun picked up with the side wind, the Serbs couldn't handle it.
FUGLSANG!
A girl from my sons' high school made the final in womens 400 IM :cool:
We let Puerto Rico have their own team?
Time to kick them out grant them independence then. :mad:
Quote from: Tonitrus on August 06, 2016, 05:43:21 PM
We let Puerto Rico have their own team?
Time to kick them out grant them independence then. :mad:
We've have had an Olympic team for like ever.
Quote from: Liep on August 06, 2016, 02:03:35 PM
FUGLSANG!
That was a fairly epic one day classic of an olympic road race. :cool:
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 06, 2016, 03:55:51 PM
A girl from my sons' high school made the final in womens 400 IM :cool:
She qualified 8th and finished 5th in the final. Not too bad for an 18 year old :)
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 06, 2016, 09:16:01 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 06, 2016, 03:55:51 PM
A girl from my sons' high school made the final in womens 400 IM :cool:
She qualified 8th and finished 5th in the final. Not too bad for an 18 year old :)
:) Nice. Oleksiak, a 16 year old Canuck, made the final in the 100 fly too. Good young swimmers coming out of Canada, it seems.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 06, 2016, 09:23:09 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 06, 2016, 09:16:01 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 06, 2016, 03:55:51 PM
A girl from my sons' high school made the final in womens 400 IM :cool:
She qualified 8th and finished 5th in the final. Not too bad for an 18 year old :)
:) Nice. Oleksiak, a 16 year old Canuck, made the final in the 100 fly too. Good young swimmers coming out of Canada, it seems.
And the 4x100 just won the bronze with 2 16 year olds, including Oleksiak. The future looks bright :)
Quote from: mongers on August 06, 2016, 09:15:12 PM
Quote from: Liep on August 06, 2016, 02:03:35 PM
FUGLSANG!
That was a fairly epic one day classic of an olympic road race. :cool:
Yep
Also the first time in forever a Dane has been that good. (Without [obvious] medical help, but then I could never really root for Rasmussen because he looked perhaps worse than Froome on a bike.)
That Women's road race was also epic. I hope the Dutch rider is going to be ok after that crash. Looked very bad. :(
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2016, 05:15:36 PM
That Women's road race was also epic. I hope the Dutch rider is going to be ok after that crash. Looked very bad. :(
Concussion and three spinal fractures. Not good.
Watched a chunk of Croatia Espana men's basketball.
How do you pronounce Sergio Llull?
The halftime show was break dancing. Really better to have nothing at all.
Quote from: Liep on August 06, 2016, 06:47:15 AM
Rowing qualifying heats! Wow that's boring.
'Bout like that hockey like sport wil the big puck and brooms.
Quote from: 11B4V on August 07, 2016, 06:50:30 PM
Quote from: Liep on August 06, 2016, 06:47:15 AM
Rowing qualifying heats! Wow that's boring.
'Bout like that hockey like sport wil the big puck and brooms.
Hey man, you're waaaay off. There's nothing "hockey like" about it.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 07, 2016, 06:54:05 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on August 07, 2016, 06:50:30 PM
Quote from: Liep on August 06, 2016, 06:47:15 AM
Rowing qualifying heats! Wow that's boring.
'Bout like that hockey like sport wil the big puck and brooms.
Hey man, you're waaaay off. There's nothing "hockey like" about it.
Curling is what I was thinking of.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 07, 2016, 05:50:14 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2016, 05:15:36 PM
That Women's road race was also epic. I hope the Dutch rider is going to be ok after that crash. Looked very bad. :(
Concussion and three spinal fractures. Not good.
Seeing as how one of the ladies in the race today crashed earlier in the year and lost a kidney I would say she may well have gotten off light...
Quote from: PDH on August 07, 2016, 09:14:46 PM
Seeing as how one of the ladies in the race today crashed earlier in the year and lost a kidney I would say she may well have gotten off light...
Jesus christ, is there a Thunderdome portion that I missed?
E: Oh earlier in the year. Derp.
Quote from: 11B4V on August 07, 2016, 07:46:11 PM
Curling is what I was thinking of.
Calling it "hockey like" is an insult to hockey like thingies.
https://twitter.com/FrankDenneman/status/762379483735359488
Quote@FrankDenneman
If you feel useless today, remember somebody is working as a lifeguard at the olympics:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CpSEE42XEAAUnPI.jpg)
:lol:
Michael Phelps (UofM Alum) has now won gold in four Olympics. I know Carl Lewis did that in track and field, but I'm not aware of any others. I am sure there must be some in winter sports and/or from other countries. Anybody able to help me out?
There's a Norwegian dude who has been to 6 or winter games and has a bunch of medals.
E: Here he is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ole_Einar_Bj%C3%B8rndalen#Olympic_Games
There's a Danish sailor who won gold in four Olympics too, Paul Elvstrøm. He participated in a total of 8 Olympics.
Eskild Ebbesen won medals in 5 Olympics but only 3 of them gold. 4 man rowing.
Quote from: grumbler on August 07, 2016, 10:58:10 PM
Michael Phelps (UofM Alum) has now won gold in four Olympics. I know Carl Lewis did that in track and field, but I'm not aware of any others. I am sure there must be some in winter sports and/or from other countries. Anybody able to help me out?
Steve Redgrave, British rower, won gold five consecutive times between 1984 and 2000.
Matthew Pinsent, another British rower, won four times between 1992 and 2004
Quote from: Gups on August 08, 2016, 03:59:17 AM
Quote from: grumbler on August 07, 2016, 10:58:10 PM
Michael Phelps (UofM Alum) has now won gold in four Olympics. I know Carl Lewis did that in track and field, but I'm not aware of any others. I am sure there must be some in winter sports and/or from other countries. Anybody able to help me out?
Steve Redgrave, British rower, won gold five consecutive times between 1984 and 2000.
Matthew Pinsent, another British rower, won four times between 1992 and 2004
And thank god for the pair of them - without their gold medal in Atlanta in 1996 our unique run of having won at least one gold medal in every summer Olympics since the first in 1896 would have been broken.
Atlanta was, in general, a truly miserable games for British sport. :(
Quote from: Agelastus on August 08, 2016, 06:07:59 AM
Quote from: Gups on August 08, 2016, 03:59:17 AM
Quote from: grumbler on August 07, 2016, 10:58:10 PM
Michael Phelps (UofM Alum) has now won gold in four Olympics. I know Carl Lewis did that in track and field, but I'm not aware of any others. I am sure there must be some in winter sports and/or from other countries. Anybody able to help me out?
Steve Redgrave, British rower, won gold five consecutive times between 1984 and 2000.
Matthew Pinsent, another British rower, won four times between 1992 and 2004
And thank god for the pair of them - without their gold medal in Atlanta in 1996 our unique run of having won at least one gold medal in every summer Olympics since the first in 1896 would have been broken.
Atlanta was, in general, a truly miserable games for British sport. :(
It really was the pits.
Quote from: Agelastus on August 08, 2016, 06:07:59 AM
And thank god for the pair of them - without their gold medal in Atlanta in 1996 our unique run of having won at least one gold medal in every summer Olympics since the first in 1896 would have been broken.
Atlanta was, in general, a truly miserable games for British sport. :(
Hong Kong won our only gold medal in Atlanta. So even if you guys didn't win any, God Save the Queen would still have been played :contract:
A University of Southern California alum (or at least former athlete) has won a gold medal in every Olympics for the last 104 years.
I just came to the realization that the next 3 Olympics are going to be in Asia.
This sucks, everything will happen in the night & when we wake up everything will already be done.
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 08, 2016, 11:11:07 AM
I just came to the realization that the next 3 Olympics are going to be in Asia.
This sucks, everything will happen in the night & when we wake up everything will already be done.
2024 will be in either Europe (Rome, Paris & Budapest are official candidates) or North America (LA).
Samaranch was in something like 12 olympic games. Not sure the exact count, but he came away with a LOT of gold.
Apparently fencer Aladár Gerevich of Hungary holds the record for most gold medals in separate Olympics, at 6.
Steve Redgrave's five appears to be the most for endurance events.
Alfred Oerter, Jr and Carl Lewis are tied at 4 Olympics with gold in individual events.
If Phelps was a country he would be third for all time Gold Medal count in Swimming events, behind the US and Australia.
CB and I watched some of women's gymnastics last night. I've seen wuxia movies where the people can't jump as high or stay aloft as long as Simone Biles did.
I almost felt bad for Aly Raisman :lol:
It must suck to be the very best mortal woman who has ever lost to Simone Biles.
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 11:17:56 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 08, 2016, 11:11:07 AM
I just came to the realization that the next 3 Olympics are going to be in Asia.
This sucks, everything will happen in the night & when we wake up everything will already be done.
2024 will be in either Europe (Rome, Paris & Budapest are official candidates) or North America (LA).
Thank god, I don't think I could stomach 4 in a row.
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 08, 2016, 12:57:01 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 11:17:56 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 08, 2016, 11:11:07 AM
I just came to the realization that the next 3 Olympics are going to be in Asia.
This sucks, everything will happen in the night & when we wake up everything will already be done.
2024 will be in either Europe (Rome, Paris & Budapest are official candidates) or North America (LA).
Thank god, I don't think I could stomach 4 in a row.
Guess you're including the winter olympics in that calculation, right?
Yes, of course.
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 08, 2016, 01:28:24 PM
Yes, of course.
I forgot that some people actually care about those. :lol:
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 01:31:18 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 08, 2016, 01:28:24 PM
Yes, of course.
I forgot that some people actually care about those. :lol:
For all intent & purposes, they are more important.
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 01:31:18 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 08, 2016, 01:28:24 PM
Yes, of course.
I forgot that some people actually care about those. :lol:
Um you are talking to a Canadian here :P
But I agree with them, the Winter Olympics is awesome.
Quote from: Valmy on August 08, 2016, 01:32:13 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 01:31:18 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 08, 2016, 01:28:24 PM
Yes, of course.
I forgot that some people actually care about those. :lol:
Um you are talking to a Canadian here :P
But I agree with them, the Winter Olympics is awesome.
Yeah, forgot that for a moment. :P
They are completely ignored over here, the Special Olympics get more coverage than the Winter ones.
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 01:49:46 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 08, 2016, 01:32:13 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 01:31:18 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 08, 2016, 01:28:24 PM
Yes, of course.
I forgot that some people actually care about those. :lol:
Um you are talking to a Canadian here :P
But I agree with them, the Winter Olympics is awesome.
Yeah, forgot that for a moment. :P
They are completely ignored over here, the Special Olympics get more coverage than the Winter ones.
We should merge them back.
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 01:49:46 PM
They are completely ignored over here, the Special Olympics get more coverage than the Winter ones.
It is because you suck at them. I get it.
Quote from: Valmy on August 08, 2016, 01:51:26 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 01:49:46 PM
They are completely ignored over here, the Special Olympics get more coverage than the Winter ones.
It is because you suck at them. I get it.
Of course, if we were any good some attention would be paid to them. Spain only won 2 medals ever in the winter games, a gold in Nagano and a bronze in Albertville, the winners were actually brother & sister. Unless that family produces more competitors we won't ever won another medal in winter games again. We are just not a winter sports country.
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 02:01:46 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 08, 2016, 01:51:26 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 01:49:46 PM
They are completely ignored over here, the Special Olympics get more coverage than the Winter ones.
It is because you suck at them. I get it.
Of course, if we were any good some attention would be paid to them. Spain only won 2 medals ever in the winter games, a gold in Nagano and a bronze in Albertville, the winners were actually brother & sister. Unless that family produces more competitors we won't ever won another medal in winter games again. We are just not a winter sports country.
Oh fickle world. Now Johann Mühlegg never existed. How easily humans forget...
Quote from: The Brain on August 08, 2016, 02:08:16 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 02:01:46 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 08, 2016, 01:51:26 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 01:49:46 PM
They are completely ignored over here, the Special Olympics get more coverage than the Winter ones.
It is because you suck at them. I get it.
Of course, if we were any good some attention would be paid to them. Spain only won 2 medals ever in the winter games, a gold in Nagano and a bronze in Albertville, the winners were actually brother & sister. Unless that family produces more competitors we won't ever won another medal in winter games again. We are just not a winter sports country.
Oh fickle world. Now Johann Mühlegg never existed. How easily humans forget...
He was stripped of his medals for doping. It was very funny, when he joined the team he was nicknamed "Juanito" and everyone called him like that. As soon as he tested positive he was always referred as Johann.
I'd say we suck at the regular Olympics too, and we pay lots of attention to them nonetheless.
Quote from: celedhring on August 08, 2016, 04:41:40 PM
I'd say we suck at the regular Olympics too, and we pay lots of attention to them nonetheless.
Nah, I wouldn't say that we suck. We got 17 medals in 2012 and 18 in 2008, more than decent.
Yeah, that's a good haul.
Yes! The American swimmer King beat the Russian druggie in the 100 breast
Dutch gymnast got sent home for turning up drunk the morning after he qualified for the finals.
This guy is one of the best, he had an excellent shot at a medal. And the finals are ten days from now.
There may well be more to the story, but so far it seems excessively Calvinist.
Quote from: Maladict on August 09, 2016, 12:47:06 PM
Dutch gymnast got sent home for turning up drunk the morning after he qualified for the finals.
This guy is one of the best, he had an excellent shot at a medal. And the finals are ten days from now.
There may well be more to the story, but so far it seems excessively Calvinist.
He had already been banned in the past for testing positive for cocaine, so I guess this wasn't his first strike.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 08, 2016, 09:03:28 PM
Yes! The American swimmer King beat the Russian druggie in the 100 breast
:thumbsup:
I felt bad for the woman in fourth place, since she will almost certainly be awarded the bronze at a later date, but won't have her podium moment.
Quote from: The Larch on August 09, 2016, 12:49:31 PM
Quote from: Maladict on August 09, 2016, 12:47:06 PM
Dutch gymnast got sent home for turning up drunk the morning after he qualified for the finals.
This guy is one of the best, he had an excellent shot at a medal. And the finals are ten days from now.
There may well be more to the story, but so far it seems excessively Calvinist.
He had already been banned in the past for testing positive for cocaine, so I guess this wasn't his first strike.
Oh I know, but that's not the same thing is it? Cocaine is on the doping list, for one.
Quote from: Maladict on August 09, 2016, 02:08:09 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 09, 2016, 12:49:31 PM
Quote from: Maladict on August 09, 2016, 12:47:06 PM
Dutch gymnast got sent home for turning up drunk the morning after he qualified for the finals.
This guy is one of the best, he had an excellent shot at a medal. And the finals are ten days from now.
There may well be more to the story, but so far it seems excessively Calvinist.
He had already been banned in the past for testing positive for cocaine, so I guess this wasn't his first strike.
Oh I know, but that's not the same thing is it? Cocaine is on the doping list, for one.
Yes, yes, but what I mean is that maybe the guy is a hard partier and that goes against the team's code. Apparently they were forbidden from going out while they were competing, and maybe that guy had a history of doing that.
Watched a good chunk of USA Colombia women's fodbol. Cuties on both sides of the ball. That left winger for the US, the little high yalla gamin in particular caught my eye.
http://www.ussoccer.com/womens-national-team/latest-roster#tab-1
Top row, second from left.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 09, 2016, 07:57:50 PM
http://www.ussoccer.com/womens-national-team/latest-roster#tab-1
Top row, second from left.
First female soccer players are probably the hottest group of athletes.
Second I am 99% sure that gal is an 18 year old freshman at UCLA, fwiw
Third as nice looking as they all are (especially Alex Morgan) there is something about Hope Solo that I just can't quit. I know she is married to one of the worst human beings around, and that she would have no qualms about beating me to death with a hubcap but I think it might be worth it.
Weird. I clicked my own link and got a different layout than when I copied and pasted the link.
I'm talking about Mallory Pugh. Site says she plays for Real Colorada FC United Hotspur.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 09, 2016, 08:10:48 PM
Weird. I clicked my own link and got a different layout than when I copied and pasted the link.
I'm talking about Mallory Pugh. Site says she plays for Real Colorada FC United Hotspur.
Yep that's the one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallory_Pugh
She just turned 18 at the end of April and apparently is going to wait a year before she starts playing at UCLA.
Royal Colorado. How retarded is that?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 09, 2016, 08:26:56 PM
Royal Colorado. How retarded is that?
Yeah, that pro/semi-pro US soccer teams seem to have ripped off UK/Euro naming conventions, even when it's absurd, is just silly.
Real Stupid.
Hope Solo is #2 on my list of celebrities to have sex with.
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 09, 2016, 08:49:58 PM
Hope Solo is #2 on my list of celebrities to have sex with.
Who's #1?
EDIT: I am planning on being disappointed with this answer btw
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 09, 2016, 08:49:58 PM
Hope Solo is #2 on my list of celebrities to have sex with.
She's a hothead.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fww4.hdnux.com%2Fphotos%2F30%2F62%2F66%2F6499715%2F5%2F1024x1024.jpg&hash=b2185cb13e1db7d56f06dc28cd29c41fa7be8bd6)
Quote
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Police-Hope-Solo-repeatedly-punched-nephew-5573464.php#photo-6499715 (http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Police-Hope-Solo-repeatedly-punched-nephew-5573464.php#photo-6499715)
Police reports claim that soccer star Hope Solo's family members had just let her back into their lives when she drunkenly assaulted them early Saturday morning in Kirkland, Wash.
Quote from: Tonitrus on August 09, 2016, 08:41:38 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 09, 2016, 08:26:56 PM
Royal Colorado. How retarded is that?
Yeah, that pro/semi-pro US soccer teams seem to have ripped off UK/Euro naming conventions, even when it's absurd, is just silly.
Which king awarded the "Royal" title to Colorado? Burger? Don?
The Olympic pool infested with algae overnight after the filter system got clogged.
Before and after:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fasset.dr.dk%2Fimagescaler%2F%3Ffile%3D%2Fimages%2Fother%2F2016%2F08%2F10%2Fscanpix-20160809-223139-4.jpg%26amp%3Bserver%3Dwww.dr.dk%26amp%3Bw%3D580%26amp%3Bh%3D387%26amp%3BscaleAfter%3Dratio%26amp%3Bquality%3D75%26amp%3Bratio%3D3-2%26amp%3BbgColor%3D000000&hash=9ae7d0963eaa9b7b687eeb89feb2d5ef741b8b2a)
Quote from: celedhring on August 10, 2016, 06:27:25 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on August 09, 2016, 08:41:38 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 09, 2016, 08:26:56 PM
Royal Colorado. How retarded is that?
Yeah, that pro/semi-pro US soccer teams seem to have ripped off UK/Euro naming conventions, even when it's absurd, is just silly.
Which king awarded the "Royal" title to Colorado? Burger? Don?
There are even more ironic "Real" teams around, just witness Sierra Leone's Real Republicans FC! :lol:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Republicans_F.C._(Sierra_Leone) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Republicans_F.C._(Sierra_Leone))
Quote from: celedhring on August 10, 2016, 06:27:25 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on August 09, 2016, 08:41:38 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 09, 2016, 08:26:56 PM
Royal Colorado. How retarded is that?
Yeah, that pro/semi-pro US soccer teams seem to have ripped off UK/Euro naming conventions, even when it's absurd, is just silly.
Which king awarded the "Royal" title to Colorado? Burger? Don?
The Kansas City Royals, they are the kings of baseball.
Quote from: Liep on August 10, 2016, 06:31:19 AM
The Olympic pool infested with algae overnight after the filter system got clogged.
Clogged with what? Michael Phelps' awesomeness?
Superman wears Simone Biles underoos.
Holy shit. Canada's own John Saunders died today in Rio :blink:
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/longtime-espn-host-john-saunders-dead-age-61/story?id=41267652
QuoteJohn Saunders, one of the familiar on-air faces of ESPN for nearly 30 years, has died. He was 61.
Saunders hosted studio and play-by-play programming. He covered college football, basketball and the NHL for the network, in addition to anchoring SportsCenter. He was also host of The Sports Reporters.
Born in Canada, Saunders was an all-star defenseman in the junior hockey leagues of Montreal and played at Western Michigan before becoming one of the most prominent broadcasters of his time.
Saunders was a founding member of The V Foundation for Cancer Research and served on the board of directors.
"John was an extraordinary talent and his friendly, informative style has been a warm welcome to sports fans for decades," said John Skipper, president of ESPN and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks, in a statement. "His wide range of accomplishments across numerous sports and championship events is among the most impressive this industry has ever seen. More importantly, John was a beloved and devoted family man who cared deeply about people and causes, as evidenced by his long-standing efforts as a passionate board member for The V Foundation for Cancer Research.
"He was one of the most significant and influential members of the ESPN family, as a colleague and mentor, and he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this extremely difficult time."
Saunders joined ESPN in December 1986 to anchor SportsCenter. But he became a voice on college basketball and the WNBA and hosted ESPN's coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs from 1993 to 2004. He also worked on coverage of the World Series and Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Saunders' survivors include his wife, Wanda, and daughters Aleah and Jenna.
Wow just completely out of the blue. RIP.
He was in RIO!?!
Quote from: Valmy on August 10, 2016, 07:20:40 AM
Quote from: Liep on August 10, 2016, 06:31:19 AM
The Olympic pool infested with algae overnight after the filter system got clogged.
Clogged with what? Michael Phelps' awesomeness?
Maybe it's from the frogs that left those marks on his back?
All of Canada's medal, so far, have been from women. Our men athletes are very disappointing.
Also, our 16 year old swimmer has now 3 medals, no Canadian has more than 4. [in swimming?]
Spain won its first gold medal for these games yesterday in Women's 200m Butterfly (go Mireia! :cheers: ), and now has one gold and one bronze, also won by the same swimmer. We're finally ahead of powerhouses such as Kosovo and the Independent Olympic Athletes (actually Kuwait under an Olympic flag because their federation is suspended), who already had one gold medal each. :P
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 02:01:46 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 08, 2016, 01:51:26 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 01:49:46 PM
They are completely ignored over here, the Special Olympics get more coverage than the Winter ones.
It is because you suck at them. I get it.
Of course, if we were any good some attention would be paid to them. Spain only won 2 medals ever in the winter games, a gold in Nagano and a bronze in Albertville, the winners were actually brother & sister. Unless that family produces more competitors we won't ever won another medal in winter games again. We are just not a winter sports country.
It doesn't snow in the Pyrenees? :huh:
Quote from: jimmy olsen on August 11, 2016, 07:40:47 AM
It doesn't snow in the Pyrenees? :huh:
Oh it does. I knew a few avid skiers in France and they sometimes went to the Pyrenees though the Alps was more popular for whatever reason.
It amuses me greatly that the Olympics, which were created to showcase individual athletic talent, are now just another means of expressing nationalistic competition.
Of course, it is immensely sad to think that people actually get worked up with joy at the idea that "Canada won a gold medal" when, in fact, it was an individual who just happened to be from Canada that won the medal. Of course, the IOC cynically exploits those nationalistic feeling with their "national teams" and the playing of anthems at award ceremonies, but why do people fall for that shtick? The IOC is known to be corrupt and despicable, except when the anthems get played.
Can't hear you grumbler too busy chanting USA USA USA.
Hey weren't you the guy boasting about how Phelps was a Michigan man? :P
Quote from: grumbler on August 11, 2016, 07:44:23 AM
It amuses me greatly that the Olympics, which were created to showcase individual athletic talent, are now just another means of expressing nationalistic competition.
Of course, it is immensely sad to think that people actually get worked up with joy at the idea that "Canada won a gold medal" when, in fact, it was an individual who just happened to be from Canada that won the medal. Of course, the IOC cynically exploits those nationalistic feeling with their "national teams" and the playing of anthems at award ceremonies, but why do people fall for that shtick? The IOC is known to be corrupt and despicable, except when the anthems get played.
I think there are cases when the whole nation can legitimately feel proud. Russian performance in Sochi was the accomplishment of the entire state apparatus.
Quote from: Valmy on August 11, 2016, 07:45:33 AM
Can't hear you grumbler too busy chanting USA USA USA.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpixel.nymag.com%2Fimgs%2Fdaily%2Fvulture%2F2016%2F08%2F10%2F10-leslie-jones-olympics-2.w529.h352.jpg&hash=ed9802418ce690a6763e945f821c19e5d9deb311)
One a day-by-day basis, Team GB is ahead of its 2012 medal win schedule, surprisingly.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36970388 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36970388)
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2016, 07:55:25 AM
I think there are cases when the whole nation can legitimately feel proud. Russian performance in Sochi was the accomplishment of the entire state apparatus.
:lol: Well done.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on August 11, 2016, 07:40:47 AM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2016, 02:01:46 PM
Of course, if we were any good some attention would be paid to them. Spain only won 2 medals ever in the winter games, a gold in Nagano and a bronze in Albertville, the winners were actually brother & sister. Unless that family produces more competitors we won't ever won another medal in winter games again. We are just not a winter sports country.
It doesn't snow in the Pyrenees? :huh:
It does snow, but there's not a tradition of winter sports. Snow is a very seasonal and localized thing in Spain, and skiing is seen more as a leisure activity for the well off rather than a popular sport.
Quote from: Valmy on August 11, 2016, 07:45:33 AM
Can't hear you grumbler too busy chanting USA USA USA.
Hey weren't you the guy boasting about how Phelps was a Michigan man? :P
I was pleasantly surprised to learn Georgia women won the NCAA Championship in swimming.
Quote from: Valmy on August 11, 2016, 07:45:33 AM
Can't hear you grumbler too busy chanting USA USA USA.
Hey weren't you the guy boasting about how Phelps was a Michigan man? :P
I noted that he was a Michigan Man, yes. I don't see that that has anything to do with my point, but I suppose obfuscation is really the only counter-argument you can make.
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2016, 07:55:25 AM
I think there are cases when the whole nation can legitimately feel proud. Russian performance in Sochi was the accomplishment of the entire state apparatus.
Russia has always been better at luge than Eastasia!
Quote from: grumbler on August 11, 2016, 05:22:21 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 11, 2016, 07:45:33 AM
Can't hear you grumbler too busy chanting USA USA USA.
Hey weren't you the guy boasting about how Phelps was a Michigan man? :P
I noted that he was a Michigan Man, yes. I don't see that that has anything to do with my point, but I suppose obfuscation is really the only counter-argument you can make.
It was a joke. Anyway I am well aware it is probably counter-productive but it is what it is. People do this sort of shit about everything.
Quote from: grumbler on August 11, 2016, 07:44:23 AM
It amuses me greatly that the Olympics, which were created to showcase individual athletic talent, are now just another means of expressing nationalistic competition.
Well, Individual athletic talent and honoring Zeus.
One of our few medal hopes lost her oar in the semi final. This Olympic has just gone downhill since Fuglsang. :(
Quote from: Razgovory on August 11, 2016, 07:46:06 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 11, 2016, 07:44:23 AM
It amuses me greatly that the Olympics, which were created to showcase individual athletic talent, are now just another means of expressing nationalistic competition.
Well, Individual athletic talent and honoring Zeus.
I expect the Corinthians were pleased when their guy beat his Athenian opponent.
We were so close to a final in the four man pursuit.
Norman was riding too fast for the other guys to follow, rookie mistake. :cry:
BRONZE! That's two medals in cycling. :yeah:
Amazing final. Australia really rode their chance and pressed team Wiggins but the invincible Brits set another WR.
USA USA USA women's fodbol out in semis to Swedonia on penalties.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 12, 2016, 05:43:59 PM
USA USA USA women's fodbol out in semis to Swedonia on penalties.
Yeah that was rough. Tough way for the favorites to go out. They can still win the Bronze though.
Hope Solo took it well.
Edit: Actually it was the Quarterfinals so no medal for us :weep:
:lol:
Quote from: Liep on August 12, 2016, 04:54:31 PM
Amazing final. Australia really rode their chance and pressed team Wiggins but the invincible Brits set another WR.
Yeah, real exciting, well done to Australia for pushing them so close. :bowler:
I see Hope Solo is living up to her cunty reputation.
Plus, her nudes weren't that great.
Quote from: mongers on August 12, 2016, 08:18:41 PM
Quote from: Liep on August 12, 2016, 04:54:31 PM
Amazing final. Australia really rode their chance and pressed team Wiggins but the invincible Brits set another WR.
Yeah, real exciting, well done to Australia for pushing them so close. :bowler:
I love track cycling
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cpsg724XgAAlJyG.jpg)
Has any of you ever met/hanged out with an Olympian? Just curious. One of my high school classmates won a silver medal in the 2000s Olympics (men's football). I had the honor of helping him cheat his university admission exams...
Quote from: celedhring on August 13, 2016, 03:54:01 AM
Has any of you ever met/hanged out with an Olympian? Just curious. One of my high school classmates won a silver medal in the 2000s Olympics (men's football). I had the honor of helping him cheat his university admission exams...
Who? Gabri? Luque? Toni Velamazán?
The Olympic diving pool started to smell of fart and a couple of divers complained they got itchy eyes from it. Go RIO!
A Dutch rider just managed to keep her balance after being pushed on to the rail on her bike. She rode a couple of seconds on a vertical side wall. That's insane.
Quote from: The Larch on August 13, 2016, 05:12:58 AM
Quote from: celedhring on August 13, 2016, 03:54:01 AM
Has any of you ever met/hanged out with an Olympian? Just curious. One of my high school classmates won a silver medal in the 2000s Olympics (men's football). I had the honor of helping him cheat his university admission exams...
Who? Gabri? Luque? Toni Velamazán?
Unai Bergara.
Injuries destroyed his career, sadly.
Quote from: Liep on August 13, 2016, 08:16:38 AM
A Dutch rider just managed to keep her balance after being pushed on to the rail on her bike. She rode a couple of seconds on a vertical side wall. That's insane.
I'll have to see that, which event, BMX?
Also when does Peter Sagan go in the mountain bike?
Quote from: mongers on August 13, 2016, 08:43:21 AM
Quote from: Liep on August 13, 2016, 08:16:38 AM
A Dutch rider just managed to keep her balance after being pushed on to the rail on her bike. She rode a couple of seconds on a vertical side wall. That's insane.
I'll have to see that, which event, BMX?
Also when does Peter Sagan go in the mountain bike?
You'd think it was BMX but it was track cycling, in the Keirin event. She was in toe clipped pedals too.
EDIT: Name was Laurine van Riessen
Quote from: Liep on August 13, 2016, 08:53:38 AM
Quote from: mongers on August 13, 2016, 08:43:21 AM
Quote from: Liep on August 13, 2016, 08:16:38 AM
A Dutch rider just managed to keep her balance after being pushed on to the rail on her bike. She rode a couple of seconds on a vertical side wall. That's insane.
I'll have to see that, which event, BMX?
Also when does Peter Sagan go in the mountain bike?
You'd think it was BMX but it was track cycling, in the Keirin event. She was in toe clipped pedals too.
EDIT: Name was Laurine van Riessen
Liep thanks for that, I'll make sure to see the highlights package this evening.
edit:Sagan in the mountain bike on the 21st.
Apparently she was in the vancouver olympic as a speed skater too
Quote from: celedhring on August 13, 2016, 03:54:01 AM
Has any of you ever met/hanged out with an Olympian? Just curious. One of my high school classmates won a silver medal in the 2000s Olympics (men's football). I had the honor of helping him cheat his university admission exams...
I know one of the 2008/2012 Olympian rowers. In fact, I gave him his very first rowing lessons.
Quote from: Liep on August 13, 2016, 08:16:38 AM
A Dutch rider just managed to keep her balance after being pushed on to the rail on her bike. She rode a couple of seconds on a vertical side wall. That's insane.
The Dutch riders have been crashing out (literally and figuratively) all over the place.
Quote from: Maladict on August 13, 2016, 09:08:50 AM
Quote from: Liep on August 13, 2016, 08:16:38 AM
A Dutch rider just managed to keep her balance after being pushed on to the rail on her bike. She rode a couple of seconds on a vertical side wall. That's insane.
The Dutch riders have been crashing out (literally and figuratively) all over the place.
She won the follow up heat and progressed anyway though. I'm a fan.
Quote from: Maladict on August 13, 2016, 09:08:04 AM
Quote from: celedhring on August 13, 2016, 03:54:01 AM
Has any of you ever met/hanged out with an Olympian? Just curious. One of my high school classmates won a silver medal in the 2000s Olympics (men's football). I had the honor of helping him cheat his university admission exams...
I know one of the 2008/2012 Olympian rowers. In fact, I gave him his very first rowing lessons.
:cool:
Quote from: celedhring on August 13, 2016, 08:22:07 AM
Quote from: The Larch on August 13, 2016, 05:12:58 AM
Quote from: celedhring on August 13, 2016, 03:54:01 AM
Has any of you ever met/hanged out with an Olympian? Just curious. One of my high school classmates won a silver medal in the 2000s Olympics (men's football). I had the honor of helping him cheat his university admission exams...
Who? Gabri? Luque? Toni Velamazán?
Unai Bergara.
Injuries destroyed his career, sadly.
The name vaguely rings a bell but I wouldn't be able to say anything about him. Reading his wiki page it seems that after 2000/01 he couldn't do much at the top level because of injuries, such a pity. Are you in touch with him? What is he up to? I always wonder what former footballers that don't achieve stardom do once they retire.
Quote from: The Larch on August 13, 2016, 10:50:01 AM
The name vaguely rings a bell but I wouldn't be able to say anything about him. Reading his wiki page it seems that after 2000/01 he couldn't do much at the top level because of injuries, such a pity. Are you in touch with him? What is he up to? I always wonder what former footballers that don't achieve stardom do once they retire.
Not directly but we still have common acquaintances. He works in player representation.
In case you're curious, this is the agency he works for: http://www.promoesport.es/es/futbolistas
Male gymnast should not do "Dance movements" during their floor exercises (or they should be required to dress up like Christmas elves.)
The algae infestation is spreading to the water polo pool too. How long does it take to fill such a pool? Can't they just clean it?
Quote from: Liep on August 13, 2016, 11:54:29 AM
The algae infestation is spreading to the water polo pool too. How long does it take to fill such a pool? Can't they just clean it?
https://youtu.be/-q_msdWl7qE?t=10m32s
Quote from: Liep on August 13, 2016, 08:16:38 AM
A Dutch rider just managed to keep her balance after being pushed on to the rail on her bike. She rode a couple of seconds on a vertical side wall. That's insane.
I still can't believe she saved that.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CpvyYgmWYAENSN9.jpg)
Is that legal?
Cycling is more thrilling than I thought.
I actually watched a bit of Olympics today. British people can row. Funny contrast between most of the female rowers and the little one
Quote from: Tyr on August 13, 2016, 02:16:17 PM
I actually watched a bit of Olympics today. British people can row.
Once again, you fail at basic 1980's cinema competencies. I'm sorry they didn't have electricity in your hamlet when you were little.
Quote from: Tyr on August 13, 2016, 02:16:17 PM
Is that legal?
It seems everything is legal in Keirin, but then you'd expect that it being a Japanese sport and all.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 13, 2016, 02:22:25 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 13, 2016, 02:16:17 PM
I actually watched a bit of Olympics today. British people can row.
Once again, you fail at basic 1980's cinema competencies. I'm sorry they didn't have electricity in your hamlet when you were little.
Only toffs row.
The Russian v Ukraine female team fencing final features some good slavic hotness.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 13, 2016, 04:11:45 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 13, 2016, 02:22:25 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 13, 2016, 02:16:17 PM
I actually watched a bit of Olympics today. British people can row.
Once again, you fail at basic 1980's cinema competencies. I'm sorry they didn't have electricity in your hamlet when you were little.
Only toffs row.
Maybe they should have the toffs play football to, they clearly are better at winning than the peasants.
British people don't play football. :wacko:
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 13, 2016, 04:41:21 PM
British people don't play football. :wacko:
Osi Umenyiora was British. Well I guess he still is :P
Quote from: Valmy on August 13, 2016, 04:36:58 PM
Maybe they should have the toffs play football to, they clearly are better at winning than the peasants.
You joke but it is a genuine problem with the game. British players overwhelmingly come from the working class and below. Could be a lot of decent middle class talent being lost.
Holy Shit, a Puerto Rican Gold Medal!
Soon to be sold for 25 bucks.
:lol:
That's right ching-chong POS doper. Has to suck real bad getting beat by non-doper.
Same for the Russian's.
Quote
China: Swimmer Chen Xinyi tests positive at Rio Olympics
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/olympics/china-swimmer-chen-xinyi-tests-positive-at-rio-olympics/ar-BBvxai0?ocid=ansmsnsports11
GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! Pernille Blume is the fastest female swimmer at the Olympics!
Quote from: Liep on August 14, 2016, 02:25:42 AM
GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! Pernille Blume is the fastest female swimmer at the Olympics!
:cool:
First swimming gold for Denmark since 1948 no less.
Quote from: mongers on August 14, 2016, 08:18:55 AM
Quote from: Liep on August 14, 2016, 02:25:42 AM
GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! Pernille Blume is the fastest female swimmer at the Olympics!
:cool:
First swimming gold for Denmark since 1948 no less.
:wub: That's so cute.
No big deal...
https://www.buzzfeed.com/emaoconnor/lochte-rio-incident?utm_term=.kbKVlNvoR#.fuN1J9p2D
QuoteRyan Lochte And Teammates Were Robbed At Gunpoint In Rio
US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte and three fellow competitors were robbed by men "posing as armed officers" in Rio early Sunday morning, he and his teammates said.
Lochte confirmed the incident to NBC hours after his mother, Illeana Lochte, told Fox Sports about it.
"The guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, 'Get down,'" Lochte said, describing the incident. "I put my hands up, I was like 'whatever.' He took our money, he took my wallet — he left my cell phone, he left my credentials."
A spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) initially called Lochte's mother's claims "absolutely not true."
However, the US Olympic Committee (USOC) later confirmed to BuzzFeed News that the incident had in fact occurred.
"According to four members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte)," USOC spokesperson Patrick Sandusky said in an email, "they left France House early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village."
Sandusky said the athletes' taxi was stopped by multiple men posing as armed police officers who demanded the Americans' money and "other personal belongings."
He added that the swimmers are now safe and cooperating with authorities.
The 32-year-old Olympic champion's mother told Fox that Lochte called her immediately following the robbery, describing the incident as "terrifying." She said his wallet had been taken but that he and his teammates were unharmed.
In Lochte's description of the incident, he portrayed himself as not so afraid as his mother described.
"We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over," Lochte said. "They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so — I'm not getting down on the ground."
It was then that the man put the gun directly to Lochte's head and Lochte responded, "Whatever," he said.
Lochte's mother said she and Lochte's girlfriend were going to meet Lochte after the incident, and that he was now waiting for them safe at the Olympic village.
Shortly after this report was initially published, however, a spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mark Adams, said at a press conference that the story was "absolutely not true."
Adams said his denial was based on information from the US Olympic Committee (USOC) and Lochte himself.
Hours after this statement, Lochte told NBC that his mother's report was true and the USOC released a statement backing his claims.
Lochte swam in two events at the Rio Games, winning gold in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay.
QuoteJon KrawczynskiVerified account
@APkrawczynski
Quote of the Rio Games from an official on the green diving pool: "Chemistry is not an exact science."
:D
Oh, that's priceless.
Simone Biles must be from a different world. In the vault finals, her distance to 2nd place was almost twice as big as the distance of 2nd place to last place. :wacko:
Quote from: DGuller on August 14, 2016, 01:49:13 PM
Simone Biles must be from a different world. In the vault finals, her distance to 2nd place was almost twice as big as the distance of 2nd place to last place. :wacko:
Yeah she is nuts. It seems almost unfair they have to compete against her.
Her margin over 2nd in the all around was the same (or more) than the 1st to 2nd margin in the last 7 Olympics combined.
I tuned in to watch Biles and the Spanish TV served me up some idiotic horse jumping race where the lone Spaniard competing didn't even finish near the top. Yay Spanish TV!
It is pretty fortunate that we have both the greatest male and female Olympians in US history in the same Olympics eh?
Simone biles maybe the greatest female gymnasts but it's premature to call her the greatest female Olympian.
Yeah, what makes Phelps great is that he's been owning the place since 2004.
Gymnasts careers are way too short for Biles to replicate this kind of record, although she should still be up for it in 2020.
Norman wins the scratch discipline. :w00t:
Quote from: Liep on August 14, 2016, 03:04:41 PM
Norman wins the scratch discipline. :w00t:
He took the bunch by a lap, but only got a few points to show for it against the other favourites... I wonder if it's wasted energy. :hmm:
But he won it! :w00t:
Next up: time trial.
Quote from: celedhring on August 14, 2016, 02:47:59 PM
Yeah, what makes Phelps great is that he's been owning the place since 2004.
Gymnasts careers are way too short for Biles to replicate this kind of record, although she should still be up for it in 2020.
Also a lot of your success depends on how lucky you are with injuries and their timing. Mustafina just won another gold, and she's a shadow of her former self. How much better would she be had she not torn her ACL early into her career? There are probably quite a few great ones like that who never survived in the sport long enough to show their talent.
Quote from: DGuller on August 14, 2016, 03:14:58 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 14, 2016, 02:47:59 PM
Yeah, what makes Phelps great is that he's been owning the place since 2004.
Gymnasts careers are way too short for Biles to replicate this kind of record, although she should still be up for it in 2020.
Also a lot of your success depends on how lucky you are with injuries and their timing. Mustafina just won another gold, and she's a shadow of her former self. How much better would she be had she not torn her ACL early into her career? There are probably quite a few great ones like that who never survived in the sport long enough to show their talent.
You know you live in America, right?
Quote from: garbon on August 14, 2016, 03:26:42 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 14, 2016, 03:14:58 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 14, 2016, 02:47:59 PM
Yeah, what makes Phelps great is that he's been owning the place since 2004.
Gymnasts careers are way too short for Biles to replicate this kind of record, although she should still be up for it in 2020.
Also a lot of your success depends on how lucky you are with injuries and their timing. Mustafina just won another gold, and she's a shadow of her former self. How much better would she be had she not torn her ACL early into her career? There are probably quite a few great ones like that who never survived in the sport long enough to show their talent.
You know you live in America, right?
I believe I do know that. :unsure:
That's okay. She's cuter than the American gymnasts.
Norman wins the 4k pursuit and sets Olympic Record! :w00t:
Norman is eliminated first in the elimination race. :weep:
Omnium is such an unfair sport. :(
Quote from: Brazen on August 11, 2016, 08:41:45 AM
One a day-by-day basis, Team GB is ahead of its 2012 medal win schedule, surprisingly.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36970388 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36970388)
Still doing well. Currently ahead of China in the medals table :w00t:
Bolt wins the 100m, but with a time of 9.81, that had he put up in London, would have left him off the podium. Not sure what the wind was doing. I suspect a new generation of sprinters will take over by 2020.
I like that the stadium booed Gatlin. No mercy for dope cheats.
Quote from: Liep on August 14, 2016, 08:43:45 PM
I like that the stadium booed Gatlin. No mercy for dope cheats.
I'm more than a little suspicious of the Jamaican track program, and always up for an upset, but the thought of Gatlin as the 2016 Olympic champion was not a good one. It is much better for the sport that he didn't win.
Quote from: Liep on August 14, 2016, 05:36:34 PM
Omnium is such an unfair sport. :(
But still well worth mining on Pandora.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 14, 2016, 08:51:02 PM
Quote from: Liep on August 14, 2016, 08:43:45 PM
I like that the stadium booed Gatlin. No mercy for dope cheats.
I'm more than a little suspicious of the Jamaican track program, and always up for an upset, but the thought of Gatlin as the 2016 Olympic champion was not a good one. It is much better for the sport that he didn't win.
But would be utterly hilarious.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 14, 2016, 08:51:02 PM
I'm more than a little suspicious of the Jamaican track program, and always up for an upset, but the thought of Gatlin as the 2016 Olympic champion was not a good one. It is much better for the sport that he didn't win.
Shut up.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 14, 2016, 05:39:35 PM
Still doing well. Currently ahead of China in the medals table :w00t:
Why is China doing so shyte this year?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 14, 2016, 09:21:38 PM
Why is China doing so shyte this year?
I can't figure that out, either. One would think their state-sponsored super-juice labs would've been churning out Michael Phelps counterfeits like a motherfucker this year.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 14, 2016, 09:43:39 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 14, 2016, 09:21:38 PM
Why is China doing so shyte this year?
I can't figure that out, either. One would think their state-sponsored super-juice labs would've been churning out Michael Phelps counterfeits like a motherfucker this year.
Turns out the dope was counterfeit too. :(
China's second as normal. Don't expect Beijing performances from them every time.
Quote from: DGuller on August 14, 2016, 11:14:33 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 14, 2016, 09:43:39 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 14, 2016, 09:21:38 PM
Why is China doing so shyte this year?
I can't figure that out, either. One would think their state-sponsored super-juice labs would've been churning out Michael Phelps counterfeits like a motherfucker this year.
Turns out the dope was counterfeit too. :(
Maybe the IOC's dope-testing program is effective and working, and China decided to mostly play fair, and not try to get around the process? :unsure:
Too optimistic? :P
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 14, 2016, 09:43:39 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 14, 2016, 09:21:38 PM
Why is China doing so shyte this year?
I can't figure that out, either. One would think their state-sponsored super-juice labs would've been churning out Michael Phelps counterfeits like a motherfucker this year.
Dude, they are second only to the US. Quite obviously, their chem labs are also second only to the US.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 14, 2016, 11:20:40 PM
China's second as normal. Don't expect Beijing performances from them every time.
GB is second at the moment. Turns out that lavishing funding on a few selected sports really does produce a competitive advantage.
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 03:51:40 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 14, 2016, 11:20:40 PM
China's second as normal. Don't expect Beijing performances from them every time.
GB is second at the moment. Turns out that lavishing funding on a few selected sports really does produce a competitive advantage.
Gymnastics and that jump-to-the-water-in-a-fancy-way are not sports, they are performance arts :rolleyes:
Quote from: Tamas on August 15, 2016, 03:55:01 AM
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 03:51:40 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 14, 2016, 11:20:40 PM
China's second as normal. Don't expect Beijing performances from them every time.
GB is second at the moment. Turns out that lavishing funding on a few selected sports really does produce a competitive advantage.
Gymnastics and that jump-to-the-water-in-a-fancy-way are not sports, they are performance arts :rolleyes:
It's cycling and rowing that are really getting the medals in for GB. The Chinese seem to do well in diving, weight-lifting and ping pong. Yanks kill it on swim and gym.
Gymnastics is a proper sport - these people push the human body to the limit when performing those acrobatics. I don't see the point in Rythmic Gymnastics, though, outside ogling cute girls dancing.
Quote from: celedhring on August 15, 2016, 04:04:11 AM
Gymnastics is a proper sport - these people push the human body to the limit when performing those acrobatics. I don't see the point in Rythmic Gymnastics, though, outside ogling cute girls dancing.
Yeah gymnasts are always the athletes I think are most impressive. The stuff they're doing is just super-human.
I'm getting slightly tired of the BBC's fixation on the medal table rankings. :bowler:
I'm enjoying the fact that the UK is doing well in the medal table, but also feel slightly embarrassed by my enjoyment, it feels a bit reductive, perhaps even unsporting :Embarrass:
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on August 15, 2016, 06:45:04 AM
I'm enjoying the fact that the UK is doing well in the medal table, but also feel slightly embarrassed by my enjoyment, it feels a bit reductive, perhaps even unsporting :Embarrass:
Indeed. :bowler:
And Grumbler made a good point in the other thread or earlier in this one about the oddity of us taking pride in someone else's individual achievement.
Quote from: mongers on August 15, 2016, 07:01:13 AM
And Grumbler made a good point in the other thread or earlier in this one about the oddity of us taking pride in someone else's individual achievement.
That always bothered me about the public's take on this.
It is one thing to cheer for your nation's athletes, but it is an entirely different thing to handle their achievements as your own. The only remote connection is that they used your tax money to train (which is another issue for another day), but that's hardly justification enough to stand behind a guy/gal who dedicated his/her entire life to achieve that result and declare it "our" victory.
Quote from: mongers on August 15, 2016, 07:01:13 AM
And Grumbler made a good point in the other thread or earlier in this one about the oddity of us taking pride in someone else's individual achievement.
It is irrational but there is nothing odd about it.
I suppose that a nation's sporting prowess is a proxy for its economic, educational and cultural success - to which we all contribute as law-abiding citizens and taxpayers :hmm:
Quote from: Valmy on August 15, 2016, 07:05:18 AM
Quote from: mongers on August 15, 2016, 07:01:13 AM
And Grumbler made a good point in the other thread or earlier in this one about the oddity of us taking pride in someone else's individual achievement.
It is irrational but there is nothing odd about it.
Well that may not be an exact representation of his post, you'll have to forum search to find the words used.
Quote from: Valmy on August 15, 2016, 07:05:18 AM
Quote from: mongers on August 15, 2016, 07:01:13 AM
And Grumbler made a good point in the other thread or earlier in this one about the oddity of us taking pride in someone else's individual achievement.
It is irrational but there is nothing odd about it.
Is it that irrational though? I'd think it as irrational or rational as anything involving national pride.
Quote from: Tamas on August 15, 2016, 07:04:53 AM
Quote from: mongers on August 15, 2016, 07:01:13 AM
And Grumbler made a good point in the other thread or earlier in this one about the oddity of us taking pride in someone else's individual achievement.
That always bothered me about the public's take on this.
It is one thing to cheer for your nation's athletes, but it is an entirely different thing to handle their achievements as your own. The only remote connection is that they used your tax money to train (which is another issue for another day), but that's hardly justification enough to stand behind a guy/gal who dedicated his/her entire life to achieve that result and declare it "our" victory.
Do you have support that the bit in bold is happening?
Quote from: Tamas on August 15, 2016, 07:04:53 AM
Quote from: mongers on August 15, 2016, 07:01:13 AM
And Grumbler made a good point in the other thread or earlier in this one about the oddity of us taking pride in someone else's individual achievement.
That always bothered me about the public's take on this.
It is one thing to cheer for your nation's athletes, but it is an entirely different thing to handle their achievements as your own. The only remote connection is that they used your tax money to train (which is another issue for another day), but that's hardly justification enough to stand behind a guy/gal who dedicated his/her entire life to achieve that result and declare it "our" victory.
But who does that really? Nobody thinks that Justin Rose winning a gold in golf is their achievement apart from Justin Rose. It's no different to you celebrating Chelsea winning the champions league.
Quote from: Tamas on August 15, 2016, 07:04:53 AM
It is one thing to cheer for your nation's athletes, but it is an entirely different thing to handle their achievements as your own. The only remote connection is that they used your tax money to train (which is another issue for another day), but that's hardly justification enough to stand behind a guy/gal who dedicated his/her entire life to achieve that result and declare it "our" victory.
That strikes me as an interesting distinction. :hmm:
Since I do a lot of genealogy people will ask me at certain points if I am proud of my heritage or if being descended from so and so filled me with pride. I always thought that was a weird question. I mean why would I be proud of them? For the most part I barely know them. But I am fond of them. We have a connection, those dead people and myself, and it is an enjoyable way to tie myself into something I love which is history. But to actually be proud of them? I always found that a weird question. I mean there are many who did things I wouldn't approve of if they were done today.
So perhaps it is similar here. I really enjoy sports and fanboying over the best athletes and the communal and tribal enjoyment of it all. But I know that does not have a lot to do with me.
In the Olympics though sometimes I think it is a vindication of our University athletics system which comes under so much scrutiny here in the US. But look at how many people from so many countries are achieving greatness in athletics who came through that system? Surely that is part of the role of a University is to help humans attain greatness? I mean even with all the politics and doping and shit going on. But even here I didn't have much to do with setting up that system :P
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 07:17:40 AM
But who does that really? Nobody thinks that Justin Rose winning a gold in golf is their achievement apart from Justin Rose. It's no different to you celebrating Chelsea winning the champions league.
Yep.
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 07:17:40 AM
But who does that really? Nobody thinks that Justin Rose winning a gold in golf is their achievement apart from Justin Rose. It's no different to you celebrating Chelsea winning the champions league.
There is a big difference.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on August 15, 2016, 07:09:27 AM
I suppose that a nation's sporting prowess is a proxy for its economic, educational and cultural success - to which we all contribute as law-abiding citizens and taxpayers :hmm:
Which is the exact reasoning why the shittier the everday life of the average citizen is, the more the ruling regime emphasizes and pushes the national sport achievements.
Quote from: garbon on August 15, 2016, 07:12:30 AM
Quote from: Valmy on August 15, 2016, 07:05:18 AM
Quote from: mongers on August 15, 2016, 07:01:13 AM
And Grumbler made a good point in the other thread or earlier in this one about the oddity of us taking pride in someone else's individual achievement.
It is irrational but there is nothing odd about it.
Is it that irrational though? I'd think it as irrational or rational as anything involving national pride.
Actually I don't know if it is irrational or not. I kind of feels irrational. But I enjoy doing it anyway :P
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on August 15, 2016, 06:45:04 AM
I'm enjoying the fact that the UK is doing well in the medal table, but also feel slightly embarrassed by my enjoyment, it feels a bit reductive, perhaps even unsporting :Embarrass:
It's less fun when we're this far ahead of the Australians :(
We need a new Olympics nemesis. China seems ambitious. Maybe Russia?
QuoteIs it that irrational though? I'd think it as irrational or rational as anything involving national pride.
Or, as Gups says, supporting a football team. I'd say supporting anyone or any team in a sporting event. It doesn't make it less enjoyable.
QuoteI suppose that a nation's sporting prowess is a proxy for its economic, educational and cultural success - to which we all contribute as law-abiding citizens and taxpayers :hmm:
A lot of that depends on if you play the lottery :contract:
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 07:17:40 AM
It's no different to you celebrating Chelsea winning the champions league.
is that really true, though? Many people throughout the UK celebrate Chelsea winning the champions league, because Chelsea is the team they have chosen to cheer for. How many non-Brits celebrate a "British" gold medal win, though?
You support your national team not because that's the team you have chosen to support, but because there is a massive media barrage telling you that that's the only team you
should support. it's entirely different than which football club or college basketball team or city hockey team you cerebrate.
That's true to an extent. But lots of sports are fairly deeply grounded in local communities. You support them because they're your local team, whether it's the GAA county teams, county cricket or, say, friends of mine who support York who have now been relegated out of the Football League or who supported Southampton from Premier League to down two tiers and back. It's not a media barrage it's just who they are and where they're from.
I think generally there's only choice in terms of your sporting teams until you're about 12 - when the media barrage does matter (Chelsea, Man United, Liverpool etc).
And on the point of celebrating actual athletes' achievements it's exactly the same. I've never heard a football fan refer to their team as 'they' rather than 'we'.
Speaking of which I did cheer when that Texas Longhorn beat your Michigan man grumbler in the 100m butterfly. Even if it was national treason :P
Quote from: grumbler on August 15, 2016, 07:44:36 AM
You support your national team not because that's the team you have chosen to support, but because there is a massive media barrage telling you that that's the only team you should support.
So there is no free will? FWIW, I've yet to be barraged by media telling me to support the US this year.
Quote from: grumbler on August 15, 2016, 07:44:36 AM
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 07:17:40 AM
It's no different to you celebrating Chelsea winning the champions league.
is that really true, though? Many people throughout the UK celebrate Chelsea winning the champions league, because Chelsea is the team they have chosen to cheer for. How many non-Brits celebrate a "British" gold medal win, though?
You support your national team not because that's the team you have chosen to support, but because there is a massive media barrage telling you that that's the only team you should support. it's entirely different than which football club or college basketball team or city hockey team you cerebrate.
I don't think it is really different at all.
We support teams because we have some connection to them. This is often somewhat "fake", but it doesn't really matter as long as you convince yourself enough that it feels real.
I support Arizona Wildcats because I went to school there. Is that meaningful? Not really. I don't actually have any connection to any of those athletes, but sports are more fun to follow when there is a rooting interest.
I support US athletes in the Olympics because I am an American in the same fashion - if anything, it is MORE 'valid' in that it isn't something I chose. Or less valid. It is all kind of arbitrary, but all that really matters is that it works for you.
I definitely know it works for me anyway, I really want the Americans to win 99% of the time I am watching Olympic sports, and I enjoy watching it more when there is someone I can root for.
I don't really think this is because the media tells me I should though. I think the media in the US gives preferential coverage to Americans because most of their audience wants them to...
Quote from: grumbler on August 15, 2016, 07:44:36 AM
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 07:17:40 AM
It's no different to you celebrating Chelsea winning the champions league.
is that really true, though? Many people throughout the UK celebrate Chelsea winning the champions league, because Chelsea is the team they have chosen to cheer for. How many non-Brits celebrate a "British" gold medal win, though?
I've no idea, but plenty of Brits celebrate non-Brit medal wins. Usain Bolt is a hero in the UK - him winning the gold was the lead Olympic story when I listened to the news this morning, above the five golds won by British competitors. Phelps and Biles get a lot of love as well.
Most people don't choose their football teams either (although there is a significant minority who do choose one of the big teams). They are born into them - they support their local team or their dad's team. I sure as hell wouldn't have chosen my bunch of no-hopers if I'd had a real choice.
Yeah. I've no issue with home team bias. And likewise I want Team GB to do as well as possible. Only way I want someone else to win is if they're particularly charming (the O'Donovans, Bolt), they're just incredible (Bolt, Biles) or there's some sort of really impressive backstory :P
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 07:58:51 AM
Usain Bolt is a hero in the UK - him winning the gold was the lead Olympic story when I listened to the news this morning, above the five golds won by British competitors.
Everybody loves Bolt. The guy is a legend. And being a Jamaican means there is nothing really political bout it either.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 15, 2016, 07:59:18 AM
Yeah. I've no issue with home team bias. And likewise I want Team GB to do as well as possible. Only way I want someone else to win is if they're particularly charming (the O'Donovans, Bolt), they're just incredible (Bolt, Biles) or there's some sort of really impressive backstory :P
Indeed - there has to be something to catch your interest, and absent that something, they come from my country is a great substitute.
That is one thing that is really cool about the Olympics though - it is mostly individual, so you can get some really great individual stories.
I kind of assume that anyone not American by default roots against the US?
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 15, 2016, 07:59:18 AM
Yeah. I've no issue with home team bias. And likewise I want Team GB to do as well as possible. Only way I want someone else to win is if they're particularly charming (the O'Donovans, Bolt), they're just incredible (Bolt, Biles) or there's some sort of really impressive backstory :P
There are lots of teams I cheer for besides the US. I want to see Mexico, Canada, Great Britain, and France all do well. If the US cannot win it then I want one of them to do so.
But obviously a fellow alumni of UT Austin supercedes all of that.
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:02:36 AM
I kind of assume that anyone not American by default roots against the US?
Maybe but not particularly. And as you say only if there's not something special about them, so for example Phelps, Biles and the Williams sisters are all pretty popular.
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:02:36 AM
I kind of assume that anyone not American by default roots against the US?
I root against Russia and China, but other than that I don't care that much. I'll root for small countries that hardly get any medals.
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:01:58 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 15, 2016, 07:59:18 AM
Yeah. I've no issue with home team bias. And likewise I want Team GB to do as well as possible. Only way I want someone else to win is if they're particularly charming (the O'Donovans, Bolt), they're just incredible (Bolt, Biles) or there's some sort of really impressive backstory :P
Indeed - there has to be something to catch your interest, and absent that something, they come from my country is a great substitute.
That is one thing that is really cool about the Olympics though - it is mostly individual, so you can get some really great individual stories.
For sure, and there is no reason to find any rationality in it. Watching sports is having your tribalist instincts satisfied, plus just clear fun.
I was not talking about supporting your nation in general. I was talking about the cases where one feels they are of better value because they share the nationality of a successful athlete. Which is a thing.
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 08:08:03 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:02:36 AM
I kind of assume that anyone not American by default roots against the US?
I root against Russia and China, but other than that I don't care that much. I'll root for small countries that hardly get any medals.
That is what I mean - the US wins the most, so I assume that absent some reason otherwise, most people are rooting for someone to knock off the Americans. I know I would...well, not over the godless Commies of course, but other than that...
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:02:36 AM
I kind of assume that anyone not American by default roots against the US?
Yeah :P
I'm big on rooting for underdogs, and you just are never the underdog.
Quote from: Valmy on August 15, 2016, 08:03:17 AM
There are lots of teams I cheer for besides the US. I want to see Mexico, Canada, Great Britain, and France all do well. If the US cannot win it then I want one of them to do so.
Mainly Ireland. It's mostly cheering effort ("We're seventeen!"). But occasionally it pays off like with the O'Donovans - "steak, spuds and pull like a dog" :wub:
Quote from: Tamas on August 15, 2016, 08:08:29 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:01:58 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 15, 2016, 07:59:18 AM
Yeah. I've no issue with home team bias. And likewise I want Team GB to do as well as possible. Only way I want someone else to win is if they're particularly charming (the O'Donovans, Bolt), they're just incredible (Bolt, Biles) or there's some sort of really impressive backstory :P
Indeed - there has to be something to catch your interest, and absent that something, they come from my country is a great substitute.
That is one thing that is really cool about the Olympics though - it is mostly individual, so you can get some really great individual stories.
For sure, and there is no reason to find any rationality in it. Watching sports is having your tribalist instincts satisfied, plus just clear fun.
It's pretty easy to find the rationality in it, actually. It's fun, and is harmless.
Quote
I was not talking about supporting your nation in general. I was talking about the cases where one feels they are of better value because they share the nationality of a successful athlete. Which is a thing.
Well yeah, it is kind of weird when people actually start thinking that it means something more than it does, that there is substantial meaning behind those preferences.
It is why I really appreciate Arizona State University. Most rivals have to kind of fake their disgust for the rival, but ASU makes it so easy by actually, objectively, and truly being a stereotype of nearly everything trite, shallow, and embarrassing about higher education in America. I feel badly for other people who have to basically make up things to hate about their rivals.
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:02:36 AM
I kind of assume that anyone not American by default roots against the US?
There is usually someone else that one would prefer to root for. I have a soft spot for most of the Commonwealth countries for example, Ireland is a home nation as far as I am concerned, Jamaica is also British :lol:
Back in the cold war I used to root for the USA to get more medals than the USSR.
In the beach volleyball I just root for the prettiest girls :P
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:13:52 AM
It is why I really appreciate Arizona State University. Most rivals have to kind of fake their disgust for the rival, but ASU makes it so easy by actually, objectively, and truly being a stereotype of nearly everything trite, shallow, and embarrassing about higher education in America. I feel badly for other people who have to basically make up things to hate about their rivals.
Yeah, literally the only good thing about being a Charlton fan is that our local rivals Millwall are objectively speaking the nastiest, most thuggish, racist twats in a competitive English field. Even their anthem is "Nobody likes us...we don't care"
Sports following is probably the most harmless manifestation of our tribal instincts one could find in our modern societies. Nothing wrong with it as long as people keep perspective.
Besides that, Real Madrid are the spawn of Satan and it's the duty of all the kind-earthed to wish utter destruction upon them.
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:13:52 AM
It is why I really appreciate Arizona State University. Most rivals have to kind of fake their disgust for the rival, but ASU makes it so easy by actually, objectively, and truly being a stereotype of nearly everything trite, shallow, and embarrassing about higher education in America. I feel badly for other people who have to basically make up things to hate about their rivals.
In rivalries I've lucked out in being an Everton fan :)
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 15, 2016, 08:30:55 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:13:52 AM
It is why I really appreciate Arizona State University. Most rivals have to kind of fake their disgust for the rival, but ASU makes it so easy by actually, objectively, and truly being a stereotype of nearly everything trite, shallow, and embarrassing about higher education in America. I feel badly for other people who have to basically make up things to hate about their rivals.
In rivalries I've lucked out in being an Everton fan :)
Really? Its always seemed a bit unrequited to me. Everton fans hate Liverpool but most Liverpool fans quite like Everton is a bit of a patronising way.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cp5BZ7vXgAAoc_w.jpg)
Interesting conversation. I rooted to Bolt last night, but I would not shed a tear for him, while national pride has had a bigger effect on me this week. Actually, it surprised me how I reacted to Monica Puig's gold.
:lol:
Damn I am going to miss him after this Olympics.
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 08:34:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 15, 2016, 08:30:55 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:13:52 AM
It is why I really appreciate Arizona State University. Most rivals have to kind of fake their disgust for the rival, but ASU makes it so easy by actually, objectively, and truly being a stereotype of nearly everything trite, shallow, and embarrassing about higher education in America. I feel badly for other people who have to basically make up things to hate about their rivals.
In rivalries I've lucked out in being an Everton fan :)
Really? Its always seemed a bit unrequited to me. Everton fans hate Liverpool but most Liverpool fans quite like Everton is a bit of a patronising way.
Everton sucks. Boring.
Quote from: lustindarkness on August 15, 2016, 08:42:00 AM
Interesting conversation. I rooted to Bolt last night, but I would not shed a tear for him, while national pride has had a bigger effect on me this week. Actually, it surprised me how I reacted to Monica Puig's gold.
Come be a state! America need more golds :P
Fuck PR.
I did notice the BBC morning show commentators prettty much handled Bolt's success as it was a British victory.
Quote from: Tamas on August 15, 2016, 08:49:34 AM
I did notice the BBC morning show commentators prettty much handled Bolt's success as it was a British victory.
I know I feel that way about the Philippines. Ok not really.
Quote from: celedhring on August 15, 2016, 08:10:56 AM
I'm big on rooting for underdogs, and you just are never the underdog.
You know what we suck ass at? Weightlifting. Does America even lift bro?
It's been top news in all Spanish media today too. Everybody loves Bolt. Gatlin is a perfect villain too.
Quote from: celedhring on August 15, 2016, 08:52:30 AM
It's been top news in all Spanish media today too. Everybody loves Bolt. Gatlin is a perfect villain too.
Yeah Bolt is the new...um...has there ever been an athlete so universally popular?
Georgia Tech are a bunch of nerds.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 15, 2016, 08:57:53 AM
Georgia Tech are a bunch of nerds.
I remember their advertisement during their football games was some student who had programmed a robot to play their fight song. NERDS!!
I find it funny, and maybe a little disturbing, that the result of my fanboying for Simone Biles of Facebook is I get all these ads intended for black women now.
Quote from: Valmy on August 15, 2016, 09:01:37 AM
I find it funny, and maybe a little disturbing, that the result of my fanboying for Simone Biles of Facebook is I get all these ads intended for black women now.
I'm getting a "Favorite holiday destinations for gymnasts!" ad from Etihad. Seems a bit forced. :hmm:
Quote from: Valmy on August 15, 2016, 09:01:37 AM
I find it funny, and maybe a little disturbing, that the result of my fanboying for Simone Biles of Facebook is I get all these ads intended for black women now.
Somebody is getting hair extensions!
Speaking of Simone Biles, I just found one thing I'm slightly better at than her. :yeah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az3ytVFM7ew
My shrieks aren't as high pitched in such situations.
I'm taking DG's man card and ripping it up.
Also, how Americans should enter events:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmh6jzy3TmQ
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 15, 2016, 09:31:50 AM
I'm taking DG's man card and ripping it up.
That's okay, I've got a whole stack of them. :yeah:
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 08:34:57 AM
Really? Its always seemed a bit unrequited to me. Everton fans hate Liverpool but most Liverpool fans quite like Everton is a bit of a patronising way.
I think out of town fans like Everton. Scouse Liverpool fans have plenty of hate for bitter blues because they're exposed to actually how bitter we are :lol:
But we are definitely their second rivalry, while they're our main one. I meant it's helpful in that there's so much material if your rivals are Liverpool. They're not as repulsive as Millwall but are probably the most deluded, needy, cultish team in the Premier League - especially now Newcastle have gone.
North Korea Best Korea :showoff:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww4.pictures.zimbio.com%2Fgi%2FWeightlifting%2BOlympics%2BDay%2B4%2BrUNCEEKAdBbl.jpg&hash=4207b902272234658c075614f953f90be46baf77)
Simone Biles falls! Only bronze. :o Crush over. :mad:
Quote from: DGuller on August 15, 2016, 02:29:57 PM
Simone Biles falls! Only bronze. :o Crush over. :mad:
Gold! And first gymnastics medal ever.
It looked like Cavendish purposefully took out the leading rider in the point race. He literally tackled him with the bike.
These guys from Ireland were pretty funny: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/irish-brothers-odonovan-interview-rio-2016_us_57af02d5e4b071840411980b?
So much to love with their interviews not least that they signed one off with 'our day will come' :lol:
Norman gets bronze, Cavendish silver and Viviano gold. Brilliant points race.
Quote from: Gups on August 15, 2016, 08:08:03 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 15, 2016, 08:02:36 AM
I kind of assume that anyone not American by default roots against the US?
I root against Russia and China, but other than that I don't care that much. I'll root for small countries that hardly get any medals.
Well, of course I root for the USA, but beyond that, yeah, I like to root for athletes from the smaller countries that don't get many medals. And of course I'll root against athletes from countries that have EVIL governments, like Red China or Russia or Iran.
OTOH, there are exceptions to everything. I remember that even at the height of the Cold War, some Americans quite openly rooted for Sergey Bubka against Billy Olson in the pole vault, 'cause Olsen was seen as a complete jerk (though I don't remember why).
Spanish men's basketball team is facing elimination against Argentina right now.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 15, 2016, 05:12:55 PM
Spanish men's basketball team is facing elimination against Argentina right now.
Because of one man?
It appears the the Brazilian woman's diving pair has broken up because one of the women kicked to roommate out so that she could hook up with someone :D
Quote from: Liep on August 15, 2016, 04:21:23 PM
Norman gets bronze, Cavendish silver and Viviano gold. Brilliant points race.
Yeah, great excitement and nail-biting, the Italian deserved the win.
Great performance from Norman, he tried all the way through the race. :cool:
Quote from: Drakken on August 15, 2016, 01:35:49 PM
North Korea Best Korea :showoff:
Rim Jong-sim? I'm sure CdM could make a pithy, dirty pun out of that name.
I think I'm in love.
She's not hot.
But I love this girl's style :lol:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fu-yuanhui-olympics_us_57aa0ecae4b0ba7ed23da025
Being told she actually came 3rd when she thought she was 4th:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.huffingtonpost.com%2Fasset%2Fscalefit_630_noupscale%2F57aa1fe21700002600c72237.gif&hash=bee95542863d37609178554885c55bfeac35709a)
Its like a nerd somehow became a world class athlete.
Mono said she was hot.
I don't follow the Olympics much, but by pure random chance my wife and I watched the Gold heavyweight bout yesterday, with the Russian vs. the Kazak boxers. Did any of you see it?
At the end of the fight, it looked obvious to this total non-expert that the Kazak guy won it: I don't know how boxing is scored, but the Kazak appeared to be beating the crap out of the Russian, including bunching him hard in the face, and the Russian looked like he could barely stand up. Halfway through the final bout, the Russian was beaten in a way that opened a cut in his head, and got a lengthy time out for medical attention.
Yet the gold was awarded to the Russian.
The entire stadium erupted in boos (with the exception of a small group of Russian fans). I guess it looked to them like it did to us: that the judging was wonky.
But then, I readily admit that what I know about boxing judging could be written on a thumb-nail, so who knows?
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tishchenko-wins-controversial-boxing-heavyweight-gold-rio-232055413--oly.html
I'm not an expert on scoring, but Olympic boxing is a joke. To get the subjectivity out of it, it is scored based on the number of punches that connect, which is defined as the white part of the gloves making contact with the opponent in a predefined area. Considering that with the helmets and limited number of rounds it is very difficult to get a knockout, it basically makes Olympic boxing an elaborate game of tag.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 16, 2016, 09:02:46 AM
I'm not an expert on scoring, but Olympic boxing is a joke. To get the subjectivity out of it, it is scored based on the number of punches that connect, which is defined as the white part of the gloves making contact with the opponent in a predefined area. Considering that with the helmets and limited number of rounds it is very difficult to get a knockout, it basically makes Olympic boxing an elaborate game of tag.
Pretty sure it is scored similarly to pro boxing nowadays.
EDIT: There you have, http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/2016/0807/807551-olympic-boxings-new-scoring-system-explained/
Personally I think that with such short bouts, the subjectiveness of judges becomes more of an issue.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 16, 2016, 09:02:46 AM
I'm not an expert on scoring, but Olympic boxing is a joke. To get the subjectivity out of it, it is scored based on the number of punches that connect, which is defined as the white part of the gloves making contact with the opponent in a predefined area. Considering that with the helmets and limited number of rounds it is very difficult to get a knockout, it basically makes Olympic boxing an elaborate game of tag.
They've got rid of the helmets this year. And they've dropped punch counting scoring - it's now decided by the judges 10-8 or 10-9 as for pro boxing.
Quote from: Malthus on August 16, 2016, 08:31:07 AM
I don't follow the Olympics much, but by pure random chance my wife and I watched the Gold heavyweight bout yesterday, with the Russian vs. the Kazak boxers. Did any of you see it?
At the end of the fight, it looked obvious to this total non-expert that the Kazak guy won it: I don't know how boxing is scored, but the Kazak appeared to be beating the crap out of the Russian, including bunching him hard in the face, and the Russian looked like he could barely stand up. Halfway through the final bout, the Russian was beaten in a way that opened a cut in his head, and got a lengthy time out for medical attention.
Yet the gold was awarded to the Russian.
The entire stadium erupted in boos (with the exception of a small group of Russian fans). I guess it looked to them like it did to us: that the judging was wonky.
But then, I readily admit that what I know about boxing judging could be written on a thumb-nail, so who knows?
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tishchenko-wins-controversial-boxing-heavyweight-gold-rio-232055413--oly.html
I wouldn't question the integrity of the judges. It sounds like they kept their promise even when it was very hard to do.
Quote from: celedhring on August 16, 2016, 09:09:01 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 16, 2016, 09:02:46 AM
I'm not an expert on scoring, but Olympic boxing is a joke. To get the subjectivity out of it, it is scored based on the number of punches that connect, which is defined as the white part of the gloves making contact with the opponent in a predefined area. Considering that with the helmets and limited number of rounds it is very difficult to get a knockout, it basically makes Olympic boxing an elaborate game of tag.
Pretty sure it is scored similarly to pro boxing nowadays.
EDIT: There you have, http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/2016/0807/807551-olympic-boxings-new-scoring-system-explained/
Personally I think that with such short bouts, the subjectiveness of judges becomes more of an issue.
That is good to hear. :)
Quote from: DGuller on August 16, 2016, 09:14:24 AM
Quote from: Malthus on August 16, 2016, 08:31:07 AM
I don't follow the Olympics much, but by pure random chance my wife and I watched the Gold heavyweight bout yesterday, with the Russian vs. the Kazak boxers. Did any of you see it?
At the end of the fight, it looked obvious to this total non-expert that the Kazak guy won it: I don't know how boxing is scored, but the Kazak appeared to be beating the crap out of the Russian, including bunching him hard in the face, and the Russian looked like he could barely stand up. Halfway through the final bout, the Russian was beaten in a way that opened a cut in his head, and got a lengthy time out for medical attention.
Yet the gold was awarded to the Russian.
The entire stadium erupted in boos (with the exception of a small group of Russian fans). I guess it looked to them like it did to us: that the judging was wonky.
But then, I readily admit that what I know about boxing judging could be written on a thumb-nail, so who knows?
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tishchenko-wins-controversial-boxing-heavyweight-gold-rio-232055413--oly.html
I wouldn't question the integrity of the judges. It sounds like they kept their promise even when it was very hard to do.
:yes:
Quote from: DGuller on August 16, 2016, 09:14:24 AM
I wouldn't question the integrity of the judges. It sounds like they kept their promise even when it was very hard to do.
Of course you wouldn't, cossack. Fuck, why are you even on this side of the fucking planet? I'm just going to start editing all your posts with .ru already, fuck almighty. #
[email protected]Oh, and it's not like we've seen this before in Olympic boxing:
http://deadspin.com/5931226/was-this-disgraceful-olympic-boxing-match-fixed
I enjoyed watching women's volleyball, US vs Japan.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 16, 2016, 06:48:01 PM
I enjoyed watching women's volleyball, US vs Japan.
Slopes lost.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 16, 2016, 06:35:55 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 16, 2016, 09:14:24 AM
I wouldn't question the integrity of the judges. It sounds like they kept their promise even when it was very hard to do.
Of course you wouldn't, cossack. Fuck, why are you even on this side of the fucking planet? I'm just going to start editing all your posts with .ru already, fuck almighty. #[email protected]
Oh, and it's not like we've seen this before in Olympic boxing:
http://deadspin.com/5931226/was-this-disgraceful-olympic-boxing-match-fixed
Eh, I would have to watch it before going all spastic about it.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 16, 2016, 06:35:55 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 16, 2016, 09:14:24 AM
I wouldn't question the integrity of the judges. It sounds like they kept their promise even when it was very hard to do.
Of course you wouldn't, cossack. Fuck, why are you even on this side of the fucking planet? I'm just going to start editing all your posts with .ru already, fuck almighty. #[email protected]
Oh, and it's not like we've seen this before in Olympic boxing:
http://deadspin.com/5931226/was-this-disgraceful-olympic-boxing-match-fixed
I think we need an irony tag here. You missed it, bro.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 16, 2016, 06:35:55 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 16, 2016, 09:14:24 AM
I wouldn't question the integrity of the judges. It sounds like they kept their promise even when it was very hard to do.
Of course you wouldn't, cossack. Fuck, why are you even on this side of the fucking planet? I'm just going to start editing all your posts with .ru already, fuck almighty. #[email protected]
:lol:
whoosh
I have no patience for pro-Russian trolls anymore--not in the Ukraine and not on Languish. :mad: :mad: :mad:
Russians don't do irony.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 16, 2016, 08:13:53 PM
I have no patience for pro-Russian trolls anymore--not in the Ukraine and not on Languish. :mad: :mad: :mad:
Come on now, I thought it was a class AAA anti-Russian/corruption troll. :(
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 16, 2016, 08:13:53 PM
I have no patience for pro-Russian trolls anymore--not in the Ukraine and not on Languish. :mad: :mad: :mad:
But... but... it wasn't pro Russian. He was saying the judges were bribed.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 16, 2016, 08:13:53 PM
I have no patience for pro-Russian trolls anymore--not in the Ukraine and not on Languish.
:hmm: Now who's pro-Russian?
US women's beach volleyball out in the semis to Brazil. The end of the American Century. :(
Is it me or are the Brazilian spectators being a bunch of jerks? Whenever there's a Brazilian competing with chances of winning metal, the crowds often jeer the rivals pretty loudly. Heck, I saw them cheer when an American gymnast made a mistake the other day that gave one of their countrymen a medal.
I don't remember the crowds in past Olympics being so brazenly un-sporting. Supporting the home team? Sure, but respecting the rivals.
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 04:06:26 AM
Is it me or are the Brazilian spectators being a bunch of jerks? Whenever there's a Brazilian competing with chances of winning metal, the crowds often jeer the rivals pretty loudly. Heck, I saw them cheer when an American gymnast made a mistake the other day that gave one of their countrymen a medal.
I don't remember the crowds in past Olympics being so brazenly un-sporting. Supporting the home team? Sure, but respecting the rivals.
It is not you, they are being dicks. IOC even had to apologize to the French pole jumper after the Brazilians booed him on his final try yesterday and then again when he received the silver medal because he said after the competition that booing was something you did at football not at athletics.
Usually Olympic crowds are phenomenal at cheering on everyone.
But I must admit I somewhat enjoy it when they boo the former convicted dope cheats. :blush:
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 04:06:26 AM
Is it me or are the Brazilian spectators being a bunch of jerks? Whenever there's a Brazilian competing with chances of winning metal, the crowds often jeer the rivals pretty loudly. Heck, I saw them cheer when an American gymnast made a mistake the other day that gave one of their countrymen a medal.
I don't remember the crowds in past Olympics being so brazenly un-sporting. Supporting the home team? Sure, but respecting the rivals.
They were mentioning that last night in the TVE feed, but they were talking about Athletics. Some Brazilian had taken gold and a French silver, and they were booing the French when he was receiving his medal. Even the Brazilian athlete looked distressed by the spectators' reaction.
Were they expecting to sweep the board? The world cup should have taught them hosting is no insurance against dismal failure.
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 04:06:26 AM
Is it me or are the Brazilian spectators being a bunch of jerks? Whenever there's a Brazilian competing with chances of winning metal, the crowds often jeer the rivals pretty loudly. Heck, I saw them cheer when an American gymnast made a mistake the other day that gave one of their countrymen a medal.
I don't remember the crowds in past Olympics being so brazenly un-sporting. Supporting the home team? Sure, but respecting the rivals.
I didn't know Oakland Raiders and Filthydelphia fans made the trip to Brazil.
Our last two medals have been won by a Cuban runner that defected in 2013, and an Oxford-born rower with the very Spanish name of "Marcus Walz". :hmm:
Ah well, the army of the Duke of Alba were mostly Italians and Germans, too. We are used to employing foreigners to bring us glory.
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 10:53:06 AM
Our last two medals have been won by a Cuban runner that defected in 2013,
Jesus. Can someone get him some prunes?
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 10:53:06 AM
Our last two medals have been won by a Cuban runner that defected in 2013, and an Oxford-born rower with the very Spanish name of "Marcus Walz". :hmm:
Ah well, the army of the Duke of Alba were mostly Italians and Germans, too. We are used to employing foreigners to bring us glory.
The US wins a lot of medals, but truth be told very few of our winners have Native American names either.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 17, 2016, 12:04:17 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 10:53:06 AM
Our last two medals have been won by a Cuban runner that defected in 2013, and an Oxford-born rower with the very Spanish name of "Marcus Walz". :hmm:
Ah well, the army of the Duke of Alba were mostly Italians and Germans, too. We are used to employing foreigners to bring us glory.
The US wins a lot of medals, but truth be told very few of our winners have Native American names either.
I'm hardly a nativist, it's just that our government really really loves fast tracking citizenships for any half-decent athlete that somehow ends up in Spanish soil. Johan Mühlegg was particularly hilarious.
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 02:52:16 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 17, 2016, 12:04:17 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 10:53:06 AM
Our last two medals have been won by a Cuban runner that defected in 2013, and an Oxford-born rower with the very Spanish name of "Marcus Walz". :hmm:
Ah well, the army of the Duke of Alba were mostly Italians and Germans, too. We are used to employing foreigners to bring us glory.
The US wins a lot of medals, but truth be told very few of our winners have Native American names either.
I'm hardly a nativist, it's just that our government really really loves fast tracking citizenships for any half-decent athlete that somehow ends up in Spanish soil. Johan Mühlegg was particularly hilarious.
He's making a joke ("Native American" = descendants of the pre-Columbian aboriginal population).
Quote from: Malthus on August 17, 2016, 03:03:07 PM
He's making a joke ("Native American" = descendants of the pre-Columbian aboriginal population).
I presume he knows that :P
But I hear Jim Thorpe was always annoyed when some non-American immigrant won.
I thought that AR was just pointing out the fact that every country is made up of immigrants if you look far enough. We are really brazen about giving out passports to guys that wouldn't remotely qualify under our standard citizenship rules though.
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 03:16:55 PM
I thought that AR was just pointing out the fact that every country is made up of immigrants if you look far enough. We are really brazen about giving out passports to guys that wouldn't remotely qualify under our standard citizenship rules though.
At least you're not Qatar'ing it and outright buying athletes.
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 10:53:06 AM
Our last two medals have been won by a Cuban runner that defected in 2013, and an Oxford-born rower with the very Spanish name of "Marcus Walz". :hmm:
Ah well, the army of the Duke of Alba were mostly Italians and Germans, too. We are used to employing foreigners to bring us glory.
At least Walz has been living in Mallorca since he was a baby. Brits and Germans are not foreigners there. :P
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 10:53:06 AMWe are used to employing foreigners to bring us glory.
The Romans did a lot of that. It didn't work out in the end. :P
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 17, 2016, 07:35:54 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 10:53:06 AMWe are used to employing foreigners to bring us glory.
The Romans did a lot of that. It didn't work out in the end. :P
You can have too much of a good thing :P
So they're not letting some US swimmers leave the country...pulling them off the plane..?
I heard Brazil wanted to detain lochte and the guy(s?) he was with over the claims they were held at gunpoint claim, but it thought they were already in the states?
Yeah, apparently Lochte left early, is already in the US. The other guys were on their way, apparently they took them off their plane.
I wonder if the robbed-at-gunpoint claim is bullshit, and they were out whoring and something went wrong. I could believe either story...
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 17, 2016, 09:13:00 PM
Yeah, apparently Lochte left early, is already in the US. The other guys were on their way, apparently they took them off their plane.
I wonder if the robbed-at-gunpoint claim is bullshit, and they were out whoring and something went wrong. I could believe either story...
looked it up and daileymail (great source I know :P) has photos of them coming back on that night and going through a checkpoint with the stuff they said was stolen.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3746324/U-S-Olympic-swimmers-Gunnar-Bentz-Jack-Conger-REMOVED-flight-Brazilian-authorities-following-Ryan-Lochte-s-claim-robbed-gunpoint.html
Quote from: HVC on August 17, 2016, 09:15:39 PM
looked it up and daileymail (great source I know :P)
Hey, they may not be the bestest, but sometimes those rags are the fastest.
Apparently a bit of a wrestling scandal.
Russia beats Ukraine. ...where the ukrainian guy should have won- the judge it turns out is a Georgian-Russian.
Even having a Georgian judge seems a bad idea before you get into the Russian part.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 17, 2016, 09:13:00 PM
Yeah, apparently Lochte left early, is already in the US. The other guys were on their way, apparently they took them off their plane.
I wonder if the robbed-at-gunpoint claim is bullshit, and they were out whoring and something went wrong. I could believe either story...
Lochte didn't "leave early," he left on the flight arranged for him before the games even started. Ditto Phelps.
I think they likely did make up the robbery story to cover something that went wrong at, say, a whorehouse or drug den and resulted in Lochte losing his credit cards. They never filed a police report, and never went public with this until Lochte's mother reported this to the press.
Sounds like Lochte wanted to keep his mom from finding out how he really lost his credit cards, but also needed her to cancel said credit cards, so he made up a story. when she went public with this scandal, he got his buddies to back up his little white lie, and then had to lie again to the press. Bad decisions led to unforeseen (but foreseeable) consequences.
Also sounds like some Brazilian judge or prosecutor got their panties in a knot and decided to try to force the swimmers to admit they had made up the story, even though the Brazilian authorities concede they did nothing illegal. These bad decisions also led to unforeseen (but foreseeable) consequences. Now it is the Brazilian authorities that look like the punks, not the swimmers (especially Lochte).
Quote from: grumbler on August 18, 2016, 11:37:39 AM
Now it is the Brazilian authorities that look like the punks, not the swimmers (especially Lochte).
Lochte looks like a punk. With his dyed hair he also looks completely ridiculous.
Lochte is 32 years old... Dude should know better than to drunkenly vandalize a gas station and then lie about it.
Everyone gets drunk and does things they regret. Own up to it. Now he just seems like a total douche. *
*if these allegations are true
And I imagine the Brazilian police haven't exactly been delicate investigating the alleged armed robbery of a world-famous athlete at one of the biggest events Brazil's ever held.
Quote from: FunkMonk on August 18, 2016, 11:57:12 AM
Lochte is 32 years old... Dude should know better than to drunkenly vandalize a gas station and then lie about it.
Everyone gets drunk and does things they regret. Own up to it. Now he just seems like a total douche. *
*if these allegations are true
I got the douche vibe from him in London as well. Hope this is the last time we have to hear from this guy.
Quote from: FunkMonk on August 18, 2016, 11:57:12 AM
Lochte is 32 years old... Dude should know better than to drunkenly vandalize a gas station and then lie about it.
Everyone gets drunk and does things they regret. Own up to it. Now he just seems like a total douche. *
*if these allegations are true
He should know better than to drunkenly shoot down airliners, as well.
the Brazilian police have confirmed they are not investigating anyone for any crimes, so I don't know where the gas station vandalism story comes from.
And, yes, Lochte was a total douche before these games, during the games, and after the games. But that is not, unfortunately, a crime.
Quote from: grumbler on August 18, 2016, 12:12:53 PM
But that is not, unfortunately, a crime.
I feel like you wouldn't really want to be in prison though. :unsure:
Quote from: Liep on August 17, 2016, 04:15:20 AM
Quote from: celedhring on August 17, 2016, 04:06:26 AM
Is it me or are the Brazilian spectators being a bunch of jerks? Whenever there's a Brazilian competing with chances of winning metal, the crowds often jeer the rivals pretty loudly. Heck, I saw them cheer when an American gymnast made a mistake the other day that gave one of their countrymen a medal.
I don't remember the crowds in past Olympics being so brazenly un-sporting. Supporting the home team? Sure, but respecting the rivals.
It is not you, they are being dicks.
What do you expect from people descended from beach rubbers.
Quote from: grumbler on August 18, 2016, 12:12:53 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on August 18, 2016, 11:57:12 AM
Lochte is 32 years old... Dude should know better than to drunkenly vandalize a gas station and then lie about it.
Everyone gets drunk and does things they regret. Own up to it. Now he just seems like a total douche. *
*if these allegations are true
He should know better than to drunkenly shoot down airliners, as well.
the Brazilian police have confirmed they are not investigating anyone for any crimes, so I don't know where the gas station vandalism story comes from.
And, yes, Lochte was a total douche before these games, during the games, and after the games. But that is not, unfortunately, a crime.
Got it from the Guardian and WaPo. I'm inclined to believe the vandalism stories are true, but of course leave open the possibility it's bullshit. As you said, the police aren't bothering to investigate any further, for whatever reasons they may have.
He's still a douche though. Don't need a full investigation for that :D
Quote from: FunkMonk on August 18, 2016, 02:51:00 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 18, 2016, 12:12:53 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on August 18, 2016, 11:57:12 AM
Lochte is 32 years old... Dude should know better than to drunkenly vandalize a gas station and then lie about it.
Everyone gets drunk and does things they regret. Own up to it. Now he just seems like a total douche. *
*if these allegations are true
He should know better than to drunkenly shoot down airliners, as well.
the Brazilian police have confirmed they are not investigating anyone for any crimes, so I don't know where the gas station vandalism story comes from.
And, yes, Lochte was a total douche before these games, during the games, and after the games. But that is not, unfortunately, a crime.
Got it from the Guardian and WaPo. I'm inclined to believe the vandalism stories are true, but of course leave open the possibility it's bullshit. As you said, the police aren't bothering to investigate any further, for whatever reasons they may have.
He's still a douche though. Don't need a full investigation for that :D
Apparently Lochte and company paid the gas station for the damages, so the station isn't interested in filing charges. And since it seems that the swimmers never actually filed a complaint with the police stating that they'd been robbed, either, there's no charges possible for filing a phony report with the police. Lying to your mommy about where your money went and then repeating the lie with somewhat different details to the media isn't a crime.
I'm quite amused that a 32-year old sports star still has to report to his mom what he spends his money on :lol:
Quote from: celedhring on August 18, 2016, 04:00:32 PM
I'm quite amused that a 32-year old sports star still has to report to his mom what he spends his money on :lol:
Says something about his character. Maybe explains a bit of it too.
Quote from: garbon on August 18, 2016, 12:58:52 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 18, 2016, 12:12:53 PM
But that is not, unfortunately, a crime.
I feel like you wouldn't really want to be in prison though. :unsure:
I'll bet that gag actually worked for you in third grade. :console:
Quote from: grumbler on August 18, 2016, 04:35:21 PM
I'll bet that gag actually worked for you in third grade. :console:
So a perfect fit for the languish audience as well.
Quote from: FunkMonk on August 18, 2016, 02:51:00 PM
Got it from the Guardian and WaPo. I'm inclined to believe the vandalism stories are true, but of course leave open the possibility it's bullshit. As you said, the police aren't bothering to investigate any further, for whatever reasons they may have.
He's still a douche though. Don't need a full investigation for that :D
Just saw that. Didn't really drunkenly vandalize a gas station, though; he just apparently broke the lock on the restroom door when the attendant wouldn't let him have the key. Security objected, and there was some kind of scuffle, by the accounts I am seeing.
Inexcusable behavior, for sure, and a crime to boot. I do find it hilarious, though, that some commentators are arguing that his lies are "an embarrassment for the US," as though he had been appointed the US Ambassador or something before this happened. He's embarrassed himself and whoever decided to let him be on the team in Rio, but "the US" shouldn't be embarrassed at all.
Quote from: Jacob on August 18, 2016, 04:38:45 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 18, 2016, 04:35:21 PM
I'll bet that gag actually worked for you in third grade. :console:
So a perfect fit for the languish audience as well.
A perfect fit for part of it.
Quote from: grumbler on August 18, 2016, 04:41:34 PM
I do find it hilarious, though, that some commentators are arguing that his lies are "an embarrassment for the US," as though he had been appointed the US Ambassador or something before this happened. He's embarrassed himself and whoever decided to let him be on the team in Rio, but "the US" shouldn't be embarrassed at all.
Yes, I don't see how this is supposed to be an embarrassment for the US, or for the IOC, or for the sport of swimming. In any large group of people, you're going to get some jackasses. Just like if he had actually been robbed, it wouldn't really be an embarrassment for Rio, or Brazil in general, or the Brazilian police. You can't provide 100% security 24/7, and with that many people in town for the Olympics, there's going to be some crimes taking place.
Quote from: celedhring on August 18, 2016, 04:00:32 PM
I'm quite amused that a 32-year old sports star still has to report to his mom what he spends his money on :lol:
It's not unheard of for top sportsmen to be quite immature/childish because of having had an extremely sheltered upbringing, focusing only/mostly in their sport and ending up being man-babies. If you couple that with a controlling family what you describe is not such a far fetched scenario.
Quote from: dps on August 18, 2016, 04:51:27 PM
Yes, I don't see how this is supposed to be an embarrassment for the US, or for the IOC, or for the sport of swimming. In any large group of people, you're going to get some jackasses. Just like if he had actually been robbed, it wouldn't really be an embarrassment for Rio, or Brazil in general, or the Brazilian police. You can't provide 100% security 24/7, and with that many people in town for the Olympics, there's going to be some crimes taking place.
Agreed. The only thing I thought embarrassing for the Brazilians was that, with all the crime they have, they spent so many resources investigating a "crime" that no one even officially reported.
Quote from: celedhring on August 18, 2016, 04:00:32 PM
I'm quite amused that a 32-year old sports star still has to report to his mom what he spends his money on :lol:
Where did you read that? My understanding was that he called her to ask her to cancel his credit cards, because it would cost him a lot to make all those calls from Rio.
Quote from: The Larch on August 18, 2016, 04:51:44 PM
It's not unheard of for top sportsmen to be quite immature/childish because of having had an extremely sheltered upbringing, focusing only/mostly in their sport and ending up being man-babies. If you couple that with a controlling family what you describe is not such a far fetched scenario.
Yep. The number of professional athletes that make millions and blow them within a few years of leaving sports is surprisingly high. Man-babies, as you say (I almost never hear about this from female athletes, though the lower numbers of those that make million may be partly responsible for that).
Quote from: grumbler on August 18, 2016, 04:53:48 PM
Quote from: dps on August 18, 2016, 04:51:27 PM
Yes, I don't see how this is supposed to be an embarrassment for the US, or for the IOC, or for the sport of swimming. In any large group of people, you're going to get some jackasses. Just like if he had actually been robbed, it wouldn't really be an embarrassment for Rio, or Brazil in general, or the Brazilian police. You can't provide 100% security 24/7, and with that many people in town for the Olympics, there's going to be some crimes taking place.
Agreed. The only thing I thought embarrassing for the Brazilians was that, with all the crime they have, they spent so many resources investigating a "crime" that no one even officially reported.
I guess that it also touched a nerve with the Brazilians, what with all the concerns about security in Rio in the build up for the Olympics. Never a good sign to get a world famous sportsman claiming to having been robbed at gunpoint, so somebody might have gone all "we're going to get to the bottom of this to save face" on this investigation, only to come up with this.
Quote from: The Larch on August 18, 2016, 05:01:53 PM
I guess that it also touched a nerve with the Brazilians, what with all the concerns about security in Rio in the build up for the Olympics. Never a good sign to get a world famous sportsman claiming to having been robbed at gunpoint, so somebody might have gone all "we're going to get to the bottom of this to save face" on this investigation, only to come up with this.
As I said, the response was embarrassingly over the top. The Brazilian authorities could just have noted that, if these guys really thought they were robbed at gunpoint, they'd have filed a police report and that, since the supposed victims did not, the police were going to assume that it was just a fabrication on the part of the athletes. Case closed, in Brazil's favor, unless the athletes come back and try to deny that they failed to file a report - but the Brazilian police knew they'd not do that. In the end, this videotape would have come forward when it did (the police didn't find it; the gas station owners brought it to them) and the swimmers' case would have collapsed in mockery of them. Brazil wins a total knockout, without spending a dime on anything but spokespersons.
So, the Brazilian authority (whoever it was, but for sure it was a government official) spent vast resources in a fit of pique to prove what they could have proved in a statement, but in the meantime got to stormtrooper an airplane and arrest people who, the police themselves admitted, had committed no crime and were suspected of no crime.
Quote from: grumbler on August 18, 2016, 04:42:26 PM
A perfect fit for part of it.
True enough.
Not everyone has reached the third grade stage yet.
Quote from: Jacob on August 18, 2016, 04:38:45 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 18, 2016, 04:35:21 PM
I'll bet that gag actually worked for you in third grade. :console:
So a perfect fit for the languish audience as well.
:mad: Take that back! :mad:
Sara Slott wins silver in the women's 400m hurdles!! :yeah:
First medal in athletics in forever, last woman to get a medal in athletic for Denmark was in 1948.
:w00t:
QuoteDPRK News Service
2h2 hours ago
DPRK News Service @DPRK_News
Imbecilic US women drop relay race baton, yet somehow are permitted to vote and drive automobiles.
Attention seeking athletes or German authorities being fun-hating pricks? You decide. :p
QuoteRio 2016: German twins who crossed marathon finish line holding hands spark outrage
Instead of being interpreted as sisterly love, the gesture was seen as a way of gaining 'media attention'
Two German twins, both participating in the women's marathon at the Rio Olympics, have sparked outrage after crossing the finishing line holding hands.
Instead of being interpreted as sisterly love, the gesture was seen as a way of gaining "media attention".
Anna and Lisa Hahner, both 26, finished 15 minutes under their personal best times, coming in 81 and 82 place respectively - giving further fuel to the criticism.
Sports director of the German Athletics Federation, Thomas Kurschilgen, highlighted their slow times and said the hand holding made the race look like a "fun run".
"Victory and medals are not the only goal," Mr Kurschilgen told the New York Times. "Still, every athlete in the Olympic competitions should be motivated to demonstrate his or her best performance and aim for the best possible result."
"Their main aim was to generate media attention. That is what we criticize."
If this was the twins' goal, it apparently succeeded - there was another German runner in the race, Anja Scherl, who came in 44th place but received little attention for her superior performance.
The Hahner sisters also received negative coverage in the German press. Columnist Lars Wallrodt said the act was "ingenious self-marketing".
"The Olympics is the meeting of the best athletes, measuring the peak performance of each country's best," Mr Wallrodt wrote in Die Welt. "If the Hahners jointly want to cross the finish line, beaming and holding hands, then they can - in the countryside home run in St. Pölten or the Miss-Braided run in Solingen."
However, the pair defended their actions. "We trained the last four years to participate in this marathon," Anna Hahner said. "Neither the time nor the position was what made us happy but to know that we did the best that was possible that day."
They insisted the hand holding was not planned but said it was "magical" that they could finish the marathon together.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.independent.co.uk%2Fs3fs-public%2Fstyles%2Fstory_large%2Fpublic%2Fthumbnails%2Fimage%2F2016%2F08%2F17%2F18%2Fhahner-twins.jpg&hash=66371798026aad2ddc4928cc2c25b86c5fdd7672)
QuoteAnna and Lisa Hahner, both 26, finished 15 minutes under their personal best times, coming in 81 and 82 place respectively - giving further fuel to the criticism.
Why would running a race 15 minutes faster than your personal best fuel criticism? :hmm:
Quote from: Valmy on August 19, 2016, 06:04:29 AM
QuoteAnna and Lisa Hahner, both 26, finished 15 minutes under their personal best times, coming in 81 and 82 place respectively - giving further fuel to the criticism.
Why would running a race 15 minutes faster than your personal best fuel criticism? :hmm:
15 minutes worse than their personal best.
Quote from: The Larch on August 19, 2016, 06:14:59 AM
15 minutes worse than their personal best.
Wouldn't that be 15 minutes over their personal best time?
In that case I suppose I get it. But come on those women were not going to win anyway.
Quote from: Valmy on August 19, 2016, 06:18:34 AM
Quote from: The Larch on August 19, 2016, 06:14:59 AM
15 minutes worse than their personal best.
Wouldn't that be 15 minutes over their personal best time?
In that case I suppose I get it. But come on those women were not going to win anyway.
The writing on the article might be unclear but the bottom line is that they didn't do as well as expected. They came at 81 and 82 with 2h 45 mins timing. If they performed around their personal bests they would have finished around the bottom half of the Top 10.
Quote from: The Larch on August 19, 2016, 06:21:49 AM
The writing on the article might be unclear but the bottom line is that they didn't do as well as expected. They came at 81 and 82 with 2h 45 mins timing. If they performed around their personal bests they would have finished around the bottom half of the Top 10.
Wait so they were actual contenders? Well that is just puzzling why they would take the race off.
Quote from: Valmy on August 19, 2016, 06:25:06 AM
Quote from: The Larch on August 19, 2016, 06:21:49 AM
The writing on the article might be unclear but the bottom line is that they didn't do as well as expected. They came at 81 and 82 with 2h 45 mins timing. If they performed around their personal bests they would have finished around the bottom half of the Top 10.
Wait so they were actual contenders? Well that is just puzzling why they would take the race off.
Well, it's not as if this is an exact science, if they did their best or exceeded it they could have been contenders for the top spots (but not the medals, I guess), but who knows what happened to them on the day of the race. Maybe they were not in the best possible form, maybe the weather affected them, who knows. In any case, I doubt they threw the race, you just don't do that at the Olympics, but once they realized they couldn't aim for the first positions, and were close in the race (it seems they agreed to do the entrance when one of the two caught up with the other with 2 km to finish the race), they went for that and a heartwarming moment came up. Then again I don't know anything about these girls' background or if they have a history of publicity stunts. My personal take is that the German press and authorities are coming up as a bit of a bunch of sourpusses and buzzkills. :P
Quote from: The Larch on August 19, 2016, 06:53:03 AMMy personal take is that the German press and authorities are coming up as a bit of a bunch of sourpusses and buzzkills. :P
I'm shocked, shocked to hear that.
:hmm:
Is it really appropriate to call that a donation?
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-rio-summer-olympics/jimmy-feigen-u-s-swimmer-lochte-scandal-pays-leave-rio-n634201
QuoteJimmy Feigen, U.S. Swimmer in Lochte Scandal, Pays to Leave Rio
One of the U.S. Olympic swimmers caught up in Ryan Lochte's fabricated tale of robbery in Rio reached a deal with authorities to donate almost $11,000 in order to leave Brazil, his lawyer said early Friday.
Gold medal winner Jimmy Feigen will have his passport returned as part of the agreement.
Feigen was one of four swimmers whose taxi ride back from a late-night party ended in a confrontation in at a gas station, where police say the swimmers damaged a door, a mirror and a soap dispenser.
Feigen was prevented from leaving Rio on Wednesday after Lochte's story about being robbed at gunpoint by men posing as police began to unravel under scrutiny from investigators.
"After a long deliberation, this agreement was reached ... he will donate 35,000 real [approximately $10,800] to an institute, and with that the case is resolved," Feigen's lawyer Breno Melaragno told reporters.
He added: "After this donation is done, his passport will be given back to him, and he will be free to return home."
Melaragno did not specify which charity would receive the money.
Two other swimmers who were also implicated — Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger — were removed from a flight Wednesday as they tried to leave, but they eventually departed Thursday night after their attorney insisted they had nothing to do with Lochte's story. They arrived in Miami, Florida, sometime early Friday.
Lochte left the country earlier this week.
Police announced Thursday that the four swimmers had not been held at gunpoint after a night of partying, as Lochte first claimed on Sunday.
They said the the men, while intoxicated, were questioned by security guards over the damaged bathroom door before handing over some cash and leaving in their taxi.
"No robbery was committed against these athletes. They were not victims of the crimes they claimed," Civil Police Chief Fernando Veloso said during a news conference.
He said investigating officers grew suspicious when security video showed the swimmers returning to the athletes' village wearing watches, which would have likely been taken in a robbery.
Eventually, a judge issued search and seizure warrants for the passports of Lochte and Feigen, but Lochte had already flown to the U.S.
The saga is an embarrassment for American Olympians, who had otherwise dominated the games, and prompted an apology from U.S. Olympic officials.
"We apologize to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal in the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence," the U.S. Olympic Committee said.
Bentz and Conger were questioned "only as witnesses," their lawyer Sergio Riera told The Associated Press. "They did not make any untruthful testimony. They did not lie in their statements."
I know I would be feeling extremely philanthropic in such a situation.
My takeaway from this Olympics is that I don't think I'm like to visit Brazil of my own volition (which I kind of already knew). I was sad yesterday though when I looked at the 10 most populous countries and thought that Japan is the only country (outside my home country) that I'd likely ever visit on personal choice.
Brazil's great in my limited experience.
What made you think that from the Olympics? I've been thinking how good it looks.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 19, 2016, 07:45:37 AM
Brazil's great in my limited experience.
What made you think that from the Olympics? I've been thinking how good it looks.
Really the same as what happened when the hosted World Cup. More articles about Brazil in mainstream media which were exposing more of the issues facing the country. And then of course, all the negative articles around site of Olympics and the problems therein.
Sounds far removed from the rosy picture being painted during the days of the narrative of BRIC ascendancy.
I'm going to go against the grain here, and say that Brazilian reaction to the made up robbery is perfectly understandable. That was a pretty damaging piece of lie for them, and who knows how much economic damage was done by all those safety precautions instituted in the wake of someone really famous having a gun "cocked" against his head?
BTW, is it just me, or did the whole thing reek of BS when Lochte talked about the gun being cocked? Do guns ever get cocked in real life in such situations? I imagine fake Brazilian police officers don't walk around with single action revolvers.
Quote from: garbon on August 19, 2016, 07:43:43 AM
My takeaway from this Olympics is that I don't think I'm like to visit Brazil of my own volition (which I kind of already knew). I was sad yesterday though when I looked at the 10 most populous countries and thought that Japan is the only country (outside my home country) that I'd likely ever visit on personal choice.
You wouldn't visit China? Lots of greats stuff to see and experience there, and I don't get the feeling it's particularly dangerous or inconvenient for foreigners. I might be wrong.
Quote from: DGuller on August 19, 2016, 07:59:44 AM
I'm going to go against the grain here, and say that Brazilian reaction to the made up robbery is perfectly understandable. That was a pretty damaging piece of lie for them, and who knows how much economic damage was done by all those safety precautions instituted in the wake of someone really famous having a gun "cocked" against his head?
Yep. I agree. I think it's entirely understandable that they would have investigated it despite no-one officially reporting the crime. And as I say I imagine Brazilian police were not delicate in poorer neighbourhoods looking for thieves who've just disrupted the biggest show on earth and caused a lot of embarrassment.
QuoteReally the same as what happened when the hosted World Cup. More articles about Brazil in mainstream media which were exposing more of the issues facing the country. And then of course, all the negative articles around site of Olympics and the problems therein.
Sounds far removed from the rosy picture being painted during the days of the narrative of BRIC ascendancy.
Yeah but I think those issues have always been there it's just the world pays attention during these events and, unlike Beijing 2008, Brazil's got free press. I suppose if you never really wanted to visit I can see this not changing anything, but I've been impressed at the Olympics.
Quote from: celedhring on August 19, 2016, 08:03:58 AM
Quote from: garbon on August 19, 2016, 07:43:43 AM
My takeaway from this Olympics is that I don't think I'm like to visit Brazil of my own volition (which I kind of already knew). I was sad yesterday though when I looked at the 10 most populous countries and thought that Japan is the only country (outside my home country) that I'd likely ever visit on personal choice.
You wouldn't visit China? Lots of greats stuff to see and experience there, and I don't get the feeling it's particularly dangerous or inconvenient for foreigners. I might be wrong.
No. Perhaps if they had a different gov't, I might consider it but I don't think I'd feel all that great visiting China.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 19, 2016, 08:19:52 AM
Yeah but I think those issues have always been there it's just the world pays attention during these events and, unlike Beijing 2008, Brazil's got free press. I suppose if you never really wanted to visit I can see this not changing anything, but I've been impressed at the Olympics.
Oh it isn't about not wanting to visit. It is about feeling safe when taking a holiday. I don't get the feeling that I would feel that way in Brazil.
I have this fear of traveling abroad and getting kidnapped for ransom so prefer to go to places where I could at least feasibly be mistaken for a local. Fortunately Brazil fits this profile.
When I was in France I always made sure I dressed like I was a Frenchman. This also had the fun side effect that people kept talking to me on the streets and asking me for directions. If it was a foreigner I would play along, French people would pick up I wasn't from there pretty fast. For some reason Americans would presume I couldn't speak English. 'Don't speak to him in English Maude those Frogs hate that shit'
Quote from: Valmy on August 19, 2016, 08:32:12 AM
I have this fear of traveling abroad and getting kidnapped for ransom so prefer to go to places where I could at least feasibly be mistaken for a local. Fortunately Brazil fits this profile.
When I was in France I always made sure I dressed like I was a Frenchman. This also had the fun side effect that people kept talking to me on the streets and asking me for directions. If it was a foreigner I would play along, French people would pick up I wasn't from there pretty fast. For some reason Americans would presume I couldn't speak English. 'Don't speak to him in English Maude those Frogs hate that shit'
I am a terrible tourist. I make no effort to blend in, but sometimes without any effort I do. :hmm:
Back in my more irresponsible days, before I gave up alcohol, I was in Italy, and got hammered. My buddy had even more to drink and got taken to the hospital with alcohol poisoning. I was making a scene in the hospital so they threw me out. I left the hospital, still hammered, not wanting to call it a day, so I just wandered around. I saw a cute girl in front of her apartment, so I went to talk to her. I speak less than 5 words in Italian, so I just spoke english. She started, "Oh, so you want to speak english? Okay," and we had a conversation. After 10 minutes of talking, I asked a question about Italy. She was like, "wait you aren't italian? I thought you were italian and just wanted to speak english for practice."
Probably not the smartest young lady. Cute though.
Quote from: garbon on August 19, 2016, 08:21:12 AM
Quote from: celedhring on August 19, 2016, 08:03:58 AM
Quote from: garbon on August 19, 2016, 07:43:43 AM
My takeaway from this Olympics is that I don't think I'm like to visit Brazil of my own volition (which I kind of already knew). I was sad yesterday though when I looked at the 10 most populous countries and thought that Japan is the only country (outside my home country) that I'd likely ever visit on personal choice.
You wouldn't visit China? Lots of greats stuff to see and experience there, and I don't get the feeling it's particularly dangerous or inconvenient for foreigners. I might be wrong.
No. Perhaps if they had a different gov't, I might consider it but I don't think I'd feel all that great visiting China.
So it's a philosophical/ political kind of thing?
Quote from: DGuller on August 19, 2016, 07:59:44 AM
I'm going to go against the grain here, and say that Brazilian reaction to the made up robbery is perfectly understandable. That was a pretty damaging piece of lie for them, and who knows how much economic damage was done by all those safety precautions instituted in the wake of someone really famous having a gun "cocked" against his head?
BTW, is it just me, or did the whole thing reek of BS when Lochte talked about the gun being cocked? Do guns ever get cocked in real life in such situations? I imagine fake Brazilian police officers don't walk around with single action revolvers.
You can cock self-loading pistols. When you pull back on the slide, it loads a round in the chamber and cocks the hammer.
Quote from: Jacob on August 19, 2016, 09:49:48 AM
Quote from: garbon on August 19, 2016, 08:21:12 AM
Quote from: celedhring on August 19, 2016, 08:03:58 AM
Quote from: garbon on August 19, 2016, 07:43:43 AM
My takeaway from this Olympics is that I don't think I'm like to visit Brazil of my own volition (which I kind of already knew). I was sad yesterday though when I looked at the 10 most populous countries and thought that Japan is the only country (outside my home country) that I'd likely ever visit on personal choice.
You wouldn't visit China? Lots of greats stuff to see and experience there, and I don't get the feeling it's particularly dangerous or inconvenient for foreigners. I might be wrong.
No. Perhaps if they had a different gov't, I might consider it but I don't think I'd feel all that great visiting China.
So it's a philosophical/ political kind of thing?
Yes.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 19, 2016, 08:19:52 AM
Quote from: DGuller on August 19, 2016, 07:59:44 AM
I'm going to go against the grain here, and say that Brazilian reaction to the made up robbery is perfectly understandable. That was a pretty damaging piece of lie for them, and who knows how much economic damage was done by all those safety precautions instituted in the wake of someone really famous having a gun "cocked" against his head?
Yep. I agree. I think it's entirely understandable that they would have investigated it despite no-one officially reporting the crime. And as I say I imagine Brazilian police were not delicate in poorer neighbourhoods looking for thieves who've just disrupted the biggest show on earth and caused a lot of embarrassment. .
grumbler's right though - it's one thing to purse the investigation intensively, but pulling people off of airplanes for allegedly failing to make a police report of a non-existent occurrence was ridiculous.
Quote from: Razgovory on August 19, 2016, 09:58:01 AM
Quote from: DGuller on August 19, 2016, 07:59:44 AM
I'm going to go against the grain here, and say that Brazilian reaction to the made up robbery is perfectly understandable. That was a pretty damaging piece of lie for them, and who knows how much economic damage was done by all those safety precautions instituted in the wake of someone really famous having a gun "cocked" against his head?
BTW, is it just me, or did the whole thing reek of BS when Lochte talked about the gun being cocked? Do guns ever get cocked in real life in such situations? I imagine fake Brazilian police officers don't walk around with single action revolvers.
You can cock self-loading pistols. When you pull back on the slide, it loads a round in the chamber and cocks the hammer.
Cal can't cock his weapon, since parts are missing.
MAH SLIDE
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 19, 2016, 08:19:52 AM
Quote from: DGuller on August 19, 2016, 07:59:44 AM
I'm going to go against the grain here, and say that Brazilian reaction to the made up robbery is perfectly understandable. That was a pretty damaging piece of lie for them, and who knows how much economic damage was done by all those safety precautions instituted in the wake of someone really famous having a gun "cocked" against his head?
Yep. I agree. I think it's entirely understandable that they would have investigated it despite no-one officially reporting the crime. And as I say I imagine Brazilian police were not delicate in poorer neighbourhoods looking for thieves who've just disrupted the biggest show on earth and caused a lot of embarrassment.
I disagree. If the Brazilian police were thugs in poor neighborhoods, they were thugs. No great surprise, but their thuggishness wasn't caused by the lack of candor or intelligence on the part of Lochte and company (who were, it turns out, robbed at gunpoint, but not the way they
said they were robbed at gunpoint). And, of course, the police have taken no such high-profile action in the case of the Australian swimmer who
was, while the police were busily investigating the non-reported non-crime,
robbed at gunpoint! :lol:
Crime + nobody famous = inaction
Non-crime + somebody famous = all-out effort.
Pretty pathetic, and I don't know why everyone is letting the Brazilian authorities off the hook The $10,000 ransom they are "negotiating" for the US swimmer doesn't seem to bother people much.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 19, 2016, 10:13:57 AM
grumbler's right though - it's one thing to purse the investigation intensively, but pulling people off of airplanes for allegedly failing to make a police report of a non-existent occurrence was ridiculous.
We're seeing now that they pulled the swimmers off the plane so that they could collect ransoms for them. I wonder if any of that money will ever make it into the state coffers?
Quote from: grumbler on August 19, 2016, 11:19:00 AM
The $10,000 ransom they are "negotiating" for the US swimmer doesn't seem to bother people much.
Well it bothered me!
It certainly bothers me, I can't imagine how that can be justified.
On the other hand, I am not at all surpised at their over-reaction.
Claiming not just that you were robbed, but you were robbed by people pretending to be law enforcement officers, is a pretty direct attack on the integrity of the country. Now, it works because that integrity is pretty questionably to begin with, but I am not at all surprised at how sensitive they would be to what turns out to be a false accusation.
Quote from: Berkut on August 19, 2016, 11:26:41 AM
It certainly bothers me, I can't imagine how that can be justified.
On the other hand, I am not at all surpised at their over-reaction.
Claiming not just that you were robbed, but you were robbed by people pretending to be law enforcement officers, is a pretty direct attack on the integrity of the country. Now, it works because that integrity is pretty questionably to begin with, but I am not at all surprised at how sensitive they would be to what turns out to be a false accusation.
Yeah agreed on no surprise. Ultimately no one comes away looking good - with Brazil looking bad not because of the smear but because of the over reaction + extortion.
Quote from: Razgovory on August 19, 2016, 09:58:01 AM
Quote from: DGuller on August 19, 2016, 07:59:44 AM
I'm going to go against the grain here, and say that Brazilian reaction to the made up robbery is perfectly understandable. That was a pretty damaging piece of lie for them, and who knows how much economic damage was done by all those safety precautions instituted in the wake of someone really famous having a gun "cocked" against his head?
BTW, is it just me, or did the whole thing reek of BS when Lochte talked about the gun being cocked? Do guns ever get cocked in real life in such situations? I imagine fake Brazilian police officers don't walk around with single action revolvers.
You can cock self-loading pistols. When you pull back on the slide, it loads a round in the chamber and cocks the hammer.
Do people in Brazil really walk around with rounds unchambered? Seems like a fatal mistake to me.
So some american swimmers, and Ryan Lochte in particular, are dumbasses prone to drink too much and stay out to late. And Brazilian authorities can be a bit heavy handed with a touch of banana republic flair to them.
Not seeing a significant news story in any of this.
Quote from: Berkut on August 19, 2016, 11:26:41 AM
Claiming not just that you were robbed, but you were robbed by people pretending to be law enforcement officers, is a pretty direct attack on the integrity of the country.
And now
real law enforcement officers got $10K out of them. :D
'See what happens when you falsely claim to have been robbed by officials?'
Quote from: Malthus on August 19, 2016, 01:17:51 PM
Quote from: Berkut on August 19, 2016, 11:26:41 AM
Claiming not just that you were robbed, but you were robbed by people pretending to be law enforcement officers, is a pretty direct attack on the integrity of the country.
And now real law enforcement officers got $10K out of them. :D
'See what happens when you falsely claim to have been robbed by officials?'
It really is quite the racket they have going! :P
Quote from: Berkut on August 19, 2016, 11:26:41 AM
Claiming not just that you were robbed, but you were robbed by people pretending to be law enforcement officers, is a pretty direct attack on the integrity of the country. Now, it works because that integrity is pretty questionably to begin with, but I am not at all surprised at how sensitive they would be to what turns out to be a false accusation.
Also, I suspect, though I don't actually know (perhaps CdM can confirm) that police pretty much anywhere aren't happy when people falsely claim to be victims of crimes.
Quote from: Berkut on August 19, 2016, 11:26:41 AM
It certainly bothers me, I can't imagine how that can be justified.
On the other hand, I am not at all surpised at their over-reaction.
Claiming not just that you were robbed, but you were robbed by people pretending to be law enforcement officers, is a pretty direct attack on the integrity of the country. Now, it works because that integrity is pretty questionably to begin with, but I am not at all surprised at how sensitive they would be to what turns out to be a false accusation.
But, in reality, the false story wasn't that far from what's now being reported as apparently the true story as to what happened:
(1) the swimmers needed to use the restroom at the gas station their taxi stopped at (whether the taxi stopped to get gas or let them use the can isn't clear and isn't important)
(2) the restroom was closed, or something, so lunkheads decided to either tear down the "do not use" sign, or just piss on the exterior wall, or both. Plus, somehow, a soap dispenser and another fixture got damaged. This was the vandalism we've heard about.
(3) the gas station employees called "security." The police say this security wasn't a cop, but it may have been one. Pictures are not clear. May have been more than one rent-a-cop or cop.
(4) the rent-a-cop/cop pulled a gun during this process. After that, the swimmers paid the rent-a-cop/cop for "damages." They apparently felt like they had been shaken down.
(5) naturally, in telling his side of it to his mom (still not clear why he was telling her anthing), lunkhead Lochte leaves out all the part where he vandalizes the restroom, instead turning this into a straight robbery.
The story the Brazilians are putting out, that the pulling of the gun was just to calm the Americans down, and that they voluntarily paid several hundred dollars for a broken soap dispenser and a torn "do not use" sign, stinks about as much as Lochte's. Add in the "voluntary" payment of a $10,000 ransom, and I'm even less sympathetic to them.
Lochte acted like an ass at the gas station, and Brazil would be entirely correct to ban him for five years or whatever. But the country's officials have made it clear that only a moron would go to Brazil with any money (and that only a moron would go there without any). The IOC should make it clear they will never award the games to Brazil again. Brazilian authorities' phony "hurt feelings" don't impress me at all.
Quote from: DGuller on August 19, 2016, 12:27:23 PM
Do people in Brazil really walk around with rounds unchambered? Seems like a fatal mistake to me.
Walking around with a chambered round in a non-locking holster seems even more like a fatal mistake, though. The guy the cop is wrestling with seems far more likely to want to shoot instantly than the cop.
Quote from: dps on August 19, 2016, 03:16:19 PM
Quote from: Berkut on August 19, 2016, 11:26:41 AM
Claiming not just that you were robbed, but you were robbed by people pretending to be law enforcement officers, is a pretty direct attack on the integrity of the country. Now, it works because that integrity is pretty questionably to begin with, but I am not at all surprised at how sensitive they would be to what turns out to be a false accusation.
Also, I suspect, though I don't actually know (perhaps CdM can confirm) that police pretty much anywhere aren't happy when people falsely claim to be victims of crimes.
Do they typically then turn to extortion?
Quote from: grumbler on August 19, 2016, 03:42:24 PM
But the country's officials have made it clear that only a moron would go to Brazil with any money (and that only a moron would go there without any). The IOC should make it clear they will never award the games to Brazil again. Brazilian authorities' phony "hurt feelings" don't impress me at all.
Because of this? :huh:
Thousands of Americans go to Brazil without serious incident. There are hot women there. Michigan Man Tom Brady even found a wife from Brazil that some people classify as attractive.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 19, 2016, 04:16:27 PM
Thousands of Americans morons go to Brazil without serious incident. There are hot women there.
There are probably hot women in North Korea, as well.
Now, odds are not even 50-50 that you will get shaken down by a corrupt cop or government official if you go to Brazil, but only a moron takes the risk.
QuoteMichigan Man Tom Brady even found a wife from Brazil that some people classify as attractive.
Ah, yes, he married her in that most Brazilian of cities, Santa Monica, California.
Only 2 brunettes on the Swedish women's fodbol starting 11.
Women's 4X100 meter relay: smokin hotties running a smokin hott race. USA USA USA!
US got disqualified on the Men's 4x100 relay. Japan got second place, fair and square.
Tennô Heika Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! :showoff:
Didn't the US's women get disqualified too for dropping the stick? :huh:
No, Brazil impeded them.
Quote from: dps on August 19, 2016, 03:16:19 PM
Also, I suspect, though I don't actually know (perhaps CdM can confirm) that police pretty much anywhere aren't happy when people falsely claim to be victims of crimes.
Yes, they find that tremendously irksome, regardless of nationality or years of non-stop criticism in anticipation of something like the Olympics.
I just finally got my TV setup and the Olympics were on. Apart from the US women's gymnastics team crushing it, watching Tom Daley choke just now are the only bits I've seen. -_-
NBC ratings are down, 20% in some cases, maybe that will make them learn to just show the damn things & stop trying to build stories.
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 20, 2016, 12:47:08 PM
NBC ratings are down, 20% in some cases, maybe that will make them learn to just show the damn things & stop trying to build stories.
I think their biggest problem is everything is time delayed. Why would anyone want to tune in to watch something on American network TV when they can stream it live - or watch a better network from another country that shows the events live (like the CBC and TSN)
Overall, NBC is the worst American network when it comes to covering sports.
Quote from: dps on August 20, 2016, 04:19:18 PM
Overall, NBC is the worst American network when it comes to covering sports.
All the more depressing considering once upon a time it wasn't that way.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 20, 2016, 04:50:10 PM
Quote from: dps on August 20, 2016, 04:19:18 PM
Overall, NBC is the worst American network when it comes to covering sports.
All the more depressing considering once upon a time it wasn't that way.
I miss NBC AFC football. Fuck Fox.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 20, 2016, 08:13:24 PM
I miss NBC AFC football. Fuck Fox.
Yeah, the NBC coverage of the AFC in the 1980s had it all over today's goofy CBS bullshit. From Bryant Gumbel at the beginning of the decade to Bob Costas at the end.
But NBC Sports officially died when they euthanized the iconic "NBA on NBC" theme. Nobody puts John Tesh in a corner.
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 20, 2016, 10:04:53 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 20, 2016, 08:13:24 PM
I miss NBC AFC football. Fuck Fox.
Yeah, the NBC coverage of the AFC in the 1980s had it all over today's goofy CBS bullshit. From Bryant Gumbel at the beginning of the decade to Bob Costas at the end.
But NBC Sports officially died when they euthanized the iconic "NBA on NBC" theme. Nobody puts John Tesh in a corner.
Nah, NBC sports went off the rails before that. I hated watching them televise Steelers games while Bubby Brister was the starting QB there. 'Cause we absolutely need to see shots of his mother in the stands, even if we miss seeing plays on the field.
Quote from: Liep on August 21, 2016, 01:33:11 PM
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Can you explain the excitement? :)
Rather surprising result for the US in the men's marathon--a bronze medal from one of our runners who was running just his second competitive marathon ever--his first was the US olympic qualifying trials. He is a 30 year old professional runner that has focused on shorter distances (generally 5k and 10k).
The marathon is such a high profile and competitive distance; I wouldn't expect someone to medal from out of no where like that. Probably a shame this guy didn't discover the marathon distance sooner.
Quote from: dps on August 21, 2016, 01:57:27 PM
I hated watching them televise Steelers games while Bubby Brister was the starting QB there. 'Cause we absolutely need to see shots of his mother in the stands, even if we miss seeing plays on the field.
It's not like you were missing anything to begin with. They never showed Bernie Joseph Kosar, Sr,
And they never hesitated to show replays of Red Right 88, The Drive or The Fumble on a constant loop, so I don't want to hear it. :mad:
Serbia is getting destroyed
Quote from: alfred russel on August 21, 2016, 02:10:39 PM
Quote from: Liep on August 21, 2016, 01:33:11 PM
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Can you explain the excitement? :)
Denmark won the men's handball final, rather unexpectedly.
Quote from: Liep on August 21, 2016, 01:33:11 PM
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Congratulations on the win. The way the refs were calling it at the end it was very difficult for me to figure out what was a foul, what deserved a free shot and what was just good contact. But that probably just because I watch it every 4 years.
Spain wraps up with 17 medals, same as London. Not bad given the diminishing public support. Many more golds, too.
Quote from: celedhring on August 21, 2016, 04:12:13 PM
Spain wraps up with 17 medals, same as London. Not bad given the diminishing public support. Many more golds, too.
We got 15, best in many many decades. Also we beat Sweden.
Now we will see if they manage to pull off the para lympics.
Signs are not good
Brazil :wub:
Looking forward to the Paralympics now :w00t:
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 21, 2016, 06:04:11 PM
Looking forward to the Paralympics now :w00t:
Those are the retards, right?
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 21, 2016, 06:47:39 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 21, 2016, 06:04:11 PM
Looking forward to the Paralympics now :w00t:
Those are the retards, right?
No, mental handicapped individuals compete in the special olympics. The paralympics are the "parallel olympics" for people with physical handicaps.
America should be poised for a strong performance. In addition to the strong sporting culture we have (at least at elite levels) that helps us succeed during the traditional olympics, our military adventurism ensures that we have a substantial supply of athletically oriented young men with physical disabilities.
After that segment at the closing ceremony I'm already looking forward to Tokyo 2020.
The opening ceremony is gonna be an anime/videogame wankaton, isn't it? With some samurai thrown in I guess. I'm sold.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 21, 2016, 06:53:39 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 21, 2016, 06:47:39 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 21, 2016, 06:04:11 PM
Looking forward to the Paralympics now :w00t:
Those are the retards, right?
No, mental handicapped individuals compete in the special olympics. The paralympics are the "parallel olympics" for people with physical handicaps.
America should be poised for a strong performance. In addition to the strong sporting culture we have (at least at elite levels) that helps us succeed during the traditional olympics, our military adventurism ensures that we have a substantial supply of athletically oriented young men with physical disabilities.
:pinch:
Excellent point though....
It does make that invictus games thing even dumber.
Thinking about this, I guess it's a good thing that the paralympics aren't so popular internationally. Were they as well regard as the Olympics I could imagine dictatorships specially "creating" competitors <_<
Medals Population Population per Medal
1 Grenada 1 106,825 106,825
2 Bahamas 2 388,019 194,009
3 Jamaica 11 2,725,941 247,812
4 New Zealand 18 4,595,700 255,316
5 Denmark 15 5,676,002 378,400
6 Croatia 10 4,224,404 422,440
7 Slovenia 4 2,063,768 515,942
8 Georgia 7 3,679,000 525,571
9 Azerbaijan 18 9,651,349 536,186
10 Hungary 15 9,844,686 656,312
This was a great Olympics for the US and the UK. And once again everybody was hand wringing before the games started and everything was great...well except for that weird algae in the pool thing.
Excited to see the games go back to Tokyo in 2020. Japan always does an amazing job at these things.
Quote from: Liep on August 22, 2016, 05:03:33 AM
Medals Population Population per Medal
1 Grenada 1 106,825 106,825
2 Bahamas 2 388,019 194,009
3 Jamaica 11 2,725,941 247,812
4 New Zealand 18 4,595,700 255,316
5 Denmark 15 5,676,002 378,400
6 Croatia 10 4,224,404 422,440
7 Slovenia 4 2,063,768 515,942
8 Georgia 7 3,679,000 525,571
9 Azerbaijan 18 9,651,349 536,186
10 Hungary 15 9,844,686 656,312
The problem with per-capita statistics like this is that it doesn't take much of a population to saturate the events with competitors, since there are a limited number of slots. Team sizes start to plateau once populations get into the tens of millions. Thus, any nation in the 8 - 12 million range with a well-developed national sports program will always dominate this measure. Medals per athlete sent would be more interesting.
Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on August 22, 2016, 10:26:59 AM
The problem with per-capita statistics like this is that it doesn't take much of a population to saturate the events with competitors, since there are a limited number of slots. Team sizes start to plateau once populations get into the tens of millions. Thus, any nation in the 8 - 12 million range with a well-developed national sports program will always dominate this measure. Medals per athlete sent would be more interesting.
I tend to disagree. If we keep the focus on individual sports, the Olympics (theoretically) identify the best person in the discipline. Big countries can generally get in 3 people if they meet qualification standards, and the 4th best American is unlikely to go to the Olympics and win the 100m, for instance.
On team sports, big countries have an advantage, because a cluster of decent players is likely, while a small country is very unlikely to get a cluster of decent players, on a per capita basis they are just as likely to get a brilliant player (to excel in individual events).
Where small countries may have an advantage is disproportionate funding on focus for promising athletes.
Suppose Luxembourg has a decent guy at javelin. That guy may get funding and encouragement. If nothing else he will likely be an Olympian, which would give him the reason to stick with the sport. Maybe he would only be the #7 guy in the US, in which case he would get left out and likely drop out of the sport.
5, 6, or 7 years later, that guy who would be extremely marginal in the US program may have developed well, and might turn into a medal contender.
Quote from: Valmy on August 22, 2016, 07:57:37 AM
Excited to see the games go back to Tokyo in 2020. Japan always does an amazing job at these things.
I simply cannot wait for the PRC's media offensive for that one, and how Japan refuses to apologize for World War II during a press conference on the construction status of the Olympic gymnastics center.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 22, 2016, 10:36:18 AM
I tend to disagree. If we keep the focus on individual sports, the Olympics (theoretically) identify the best person in the discipline. Big countries can generally get in 3 people if they meet qualification standards, and the 4th best American is unlikely to go to the Olympics and win the 100m, for instance.
On team sports, big countries have an advantage, because a cluster of decent players is likely, while a small country is very unlikely to get a cluster of decent players, on a per capita basis they are just as likely to get a brilliant player (to excel in individual events).
Well, I think that is more supporting what I said rather than refuting it. At some point, without some genetic predisposition for a certain country's population, the chances of the best in a particular sport even out and it becomes about the quality and maturity of the development programs. On that note, a significant number of Olympic athletes today are going through the same basic development programs (the NCAA and various major pro sports leagues around the world), meaning that any relatively well-off nation with a large enough pool and sufficient interest from the population should have roughly equal chances. At some point it ceases to matter of the pool is 10 million, 100 million, or 1 billion.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 22, 2016, 11:11:13 AM
I simply cannot wait for the PRC's media offensive for that one, and how Japan refuses to apologize for World War II during a press conference on the construction status of the Olympic gymnastics center.
It will be even funnier after the Japanese men's gymnastics team makes the Chinese look stupid again. #ThirdSinoJapaneseWar
The lap pool is contested waters, come in the next day they'll have built an artificial island in it with its own diving platform overnight, you watch. #SkeetSurfin'SouthChinaSea
Cold War Olympics, best Olympics.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 21, 2016, 06:53:39 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 21, 2016, 06:47:39 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 21, 2016, 06:04:11 PM
Looking forward to the Paralympics now :w00t:
Those are the retards, right?
No, mental handicapped individuals compete in the special olympics. The paralympics are the "parallel olympics" for people with physical handicaps.
Timmay could compete in both!
Spanish weightlifter Lidia Valentín has been awarded a bronze medal from Beijing 2008 after some of her rivals got officially DQed for doping today. She already got awarded a post-facto gold for the same reason after London 2012. She won bronze in Rio, with any luck that will too get turned to silver or gold in a few years...
Quote from: celedhring on August 24, 2016, 12:56:13 PM
Spanish weightlifter Lidia Valentín has been awarded a bronze medal from Beijing 2008 after some of her rivals got officially DQed for doping today. She already got awarded a post-facto gold for the same reason after London 2012. She won bronze in Rio, with any luck that will too get turned to silver or gold in a few years...
It will be awesome, until she gets DQed for doping.
Weightlifting...doping is so good at making you stronger. Of 7 billion people on earth, I'm skeptical the top handful at the Olympics are really clean.
The good thing about Olympic weightlifting is that everyone gets their turn being a medalist just from a single competition.
Quote from: celedhring on August 24, 2016, 12:56:13 PM
Spanish weightlifter Lidia Valentín has been awarded a bronze medal from Beijing 2008 after some of her rivals got officially DQed for doping today. She already got awarded a post-facto gold for the same reason after London 2012. She won bronze in Rio, with any luck that will too get turned to silver or gold in a few years...
She's also pretty cute for a woman that can snap most of us in half if she wanted to. :P
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.es%2Fmedia%2Fdeportes%2F2016%2F08%2F12%2Flydia-valentin-bronce-kt7E--620x349%40abc.jpg&hash=634e3668f33634b7b4672897a76d8feec5306787)