Time for a thread to carry the preparations and results from the 2012 Olympics ?
Oh, and what sports if any are you intending to see/follow ?
I shall endeavour to follow some of the cycling events, the women's vole vault, bits of the marathon and probably out of a perverse sense of 'end of empire' I shall follow the progress of Team GB in the football with patriotic fever. :P
Who's going to occupy the top 10 places in the meddle table ?
I'll probably follow most of it. USA will get most 'meddles'. Mostly looking forward to the track cycling events.
I saw on the news this morning that trampoline is an Olympic sport.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceWZ624wBVA
WTF
The Olympics have finally reached London. Because the IOC and terribly boring pseudo-sports are the enemies of civilized people, this is probably a bad thing.
The London Olympics need to be sterilized. If that means we have to lose The Princess Royal, so be it.
Quote from: Neil on June 18, 2012, 05:28:29 PM
The Olympics have finally reached London. Because the IOC and terribly boring pseudo-sports are the enemies of civilized people, this is probably a bad thing.
The London Olympics need to be sterilized. If that means we have to lose The Princess Royal, so be it.
Beach volleyball.
[do I need to say women's beach volleyball or is that obvious?]
Quote from: Josephus on June 18, 2012, 05:35:57 PM
Beach volleyball.
[do I need to say women's beach volleyball or is that obvious?]
Normally, Yes, ..... but iirc the 'beaches' for the competition are on Horseguards, Whitehall, so that'll be a bit odd.
Plus someone like Neil will be permanently distracted by the splendour of the admiralty buildings. :bowler:
edit:
It'll look like this:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.london2012.com%2Fmm%2FPhoto%2Fspectators%2FVenue%2F01%2F23%2F22%2F97%2F1232297_M02.jpg&hash=bfd1bd92c659e1e66dc6cf820f6a871c8f934a16)
http://www.london2012.com/venue/horse-guards-parade/ (http://www.london2012.com/venue/horse-guards-parade/)
:huh:
I won't be distracted.
Quote from: Josephus on June 18, 2012, 05:35:57 PM
Beach volleyball.
[do I need to say women's beach volleyball or is that obvious?]
I dunno...in the contest between indoor volleyball shorts and beach volleyball bikinis, I favor the shorts. :hmm:
Those shorts do look pretty damn good.
Quote from: Tonitrus on June 18, 2012, 07:04:32 PM
Quote from: Josephus on June 18, 2012, 05:35:57 PM
Beach volleyball.
[do I need to say women's beach volleyball or is that obvious?]
I dunno...in the contest between indoor volleyball shorts and beach volleyball bikinis, I favor the shorts. :hmm:
Oh, yeah, that's pretty hot too. As long as its women.
Quote from: Tonitrus on June 18, 2012, 07:04:32 PM
Quote from: Josephus on June 18, 2012, 05:35:57 PM
Beach volleyball.
[do I need to say women's beach volleyball or is that obvious?]
I dunno...in the contest between indoor volleyball shorts and beach volleyball bikinis, I favor the shorts. :hmm:
Indoor volleyball is also the more interesting sport. If that matters.
That beach volleyball arena is disrupting the shit out of the road my office is on.
I have tickets for the women's water polo quarters, and the men's fours rowing final.
Quote from: Liep on June 19, 2012, 05:28:22 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on June 18, 2012, 07:04:32 PM
Quote from: Josephus on June 18, 2012, 05:35:57 PM
Beach volleyball.
[do I need to say women's beach volleyball or is that obvious?]
I dunno...in the contest between indoor volleyball shorts and beach volleyball bikinis, I favor the shorts. :hmm:
Indoor volleyball is also the more interesting sport. If that matters.
LOL
I'm considering going to see the men's road race, but it means either standing in the outer reaches of London, say Kew to see them pass once or paying £150-£200 for a ticket just to line the route closer into the finish at Hyde Park, Constitution Hill, to see them pass once, possibly catching a bit of the finish.
The other alternative is to drag my arse out to the wilds of Surrey at some ungodly hour, like the day before and hope to occupy a nice roadside sport somewhere to the East of Guilford to catch them 5-6 times climb the approach to a non-PDH approved hill. :hmm:
I like to watch :
Beach Volleyball
Canoe
Diving & Swimming
Judo & Taekwondo
Rowing & Sailing
but I'll watch anything.
I've got tickets to the artistic gymnastics (the real one with men doing staggering strength stuff, not rhythm which is wee girls waving ribbons about). I've already been to warm-up cycling and athletics events in the velodrome and Olympic stadium. The rest I'm happy to watch at home out of the rain and drinking beer that costs less that £8 a pint.
American Ashton Eaton sets the world record in the decathlon! :showoff:
http://espn.go.com/olympics/summer/2012/trackandfield/story/_/id/8089696/2012-olympics-ashton-eaton-sets-world-record-decathlon-us-trials
The fastest man who's ever lived
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u18_-87Pb6U
I got no tickets :weep:
I may go to my parents and see the sailing.
Quote from: Warspite on June 19, 2012, 04:15:40 PM
I have tickets for the men's fours rowing final.
This I might follow as there is a high likelyhood for Danish medals.. even the yellow ones.
Other is Mens Handball, again in which DK, despite terrible seeding, has a good chance as reigning EC and silver WC holders
V
Quote from: mongers on June 18, 2012, 02:47:00 PM
Who's going to occupy the top 10 places in the meddle table ?
US
China
Russia
UK
Germany
Random other countries, probably including Canada
Quote from: Valdemar on June 27, 2012, 06:17:37 AM
Quote from: Warspite on June 19, 2012, 04:15:40 PM
I have tickets for the men's fours rowing final.
This I might follow as there is a high likelyhood for Danish medals.. even the yellow ones.
Other is Mens Handball, again in which DK, despite terrible seeding, has a good chance as reigning EC and silver WC holders
V
I'm going to a handball game with my kid. I have no idea how it is played or what to look out for.
Any youtube vids you'd recommend?
I used to love the Olympics but I have not really had time to watch them in awhile. Since I am going to be playing 'Single Dad' while my wife goes through giving birth to kid #2. Looking forward to sitting back and taking it in like back when I was a kid.
Cheering on the Red, White, and Blue...you know Great Britain, France, and the US. And the Canadians and Mexicans too but Mexico sorta sucks at sports in general and the Big White North is more about the Winter Games.
Quote from: Valmy on June 27, 2012, 09:28:36 AM
I used to love the Olympics but I have not really had time to watch them in awhile. Since I am going to be playing 'Single Dad' while my wife goes through giving birth to kid #2. Looking forward to sitting back and taking it in like back when I was a kid.
Cheering on the Red, White, and Blue...you know Great Britain, France, and the US. And the Canadians and Mexicans too but Mexico sorta sucks at sports in general and the Big White North is more about the Winter Games.
You forgot the insufferable Aussies.
Quote from: Gups on June 27, 2012, 09:21:38 AM
Quote from: Valdemar on June 27, 2012, 06:17:37 AM
Quote from: Warspite on June 19, 2012, 04:15:40 PM
I have tickets for the men's fours rowing final.
This I might follow as there is a high likelyhood for Danish medals.. even the yellow ones.
Other is Mens Handball, again in which DK, despite terrible seeding, has a good chance as reigning EC and silver WC holders
V
I'm going to a handball game with my kid. I have no idea how it is played or what to look out for.
Any youtube vids you'd recommend?
What games are you going to? 'Cause basically any games with UK and African nations will be crap, but high scoring (USians must love this given their comments on soccer :D)
I'll dig up a few vids, but basically in the mens games Scandi, Island, Germany, Poland, Russia, France, Spain and Balkans are good, Tunesia and Egypt can play well, but usually crumble.
The seedings a bit odd this time though, so look for the group with Denmark in, that one should prove feisty as Denmark (current EC gold and WC silver) was only in the third tier or so due to some anormallies in the drawings and UK certain of top spot as host.
V
For Gups forgive for showing Danish ones ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlMguuyfsG4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr_mvu9p39Q&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5Ndzv9DjP4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyV8YIdF7CM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-TvbanMQ7Y&feature=related
Cheers V
Two matches in the women's prelimnary round, whcih is pretty much a shitty as it could be. Main point is to get to wander around the Olympic Park
Quote from: Gups on June 28, 2012, 07:28:19 AM
Cheers V
Two matches in the women's prelimnary round, whcih is pretty much a shitty as it could be. Main point is to get to wander around the Olympic Park
Womens handball is less physical and a tad less direct, you can get lucky and get some very decent technical games in which ball skill, trick shots and feints are more common, try youtubing "Anja Andersen" a former danish star who set a precedence for spectacular goals.
It seems womens handball allows for a wider use of trickery, maybe because they have th size and speed to use the court and aren't tackled as quickly as the men are?
V
bump. :)
Our Olympic TV programme is called London Calling. I just thought I'd share the creativity.
Just watched the Olympic torch going past my office to the sound of Bow bells.
On balance, the girls on the Samsung open top bus were the prettiest, but the Coca Cola chicks had the biggest tits.
I'm rooting for Matthew Mitcham, an Australian diver, otherwise I couldn't care less.
I'm looking forward to cycling events.
Oh and the women's athletics. :perv:
Swimming rules, followed closely by water polo. As usual.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on July 26, 2012, 07:51:06 AM
Swimming rules, followed closely by water polo. As usual.
Ok, Cpt. Archer.
Quote from: Syt on July 26, 2012, 07:59:26 AM
Ok, Cpt. Archer.
:cool: My spaceship is probably better than your spaceship.
E: Wait. Didn't Archer watch water polo matches on tape delay or the futuristic equivalent? That's lame. Gotta watch it live. Also, that Enterprise spaceship kind of sucked, didn't it. Damn.
"With so many Africans in Greece... At least the West Nile mosquitoes will eat home made food!!!"
Twitter is dangerous, Greek triple jumper sent home because of that remark.
Quote from: Martinus on July 26, 2012, 04:12:45 AM
I'm rooting for Matthew Mitcham, an Australian diver, otherwise I couldn't care less.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftowleroad.typepad.com%2F.a%2F6a00d8341c730253ef0133f3770293970b-800wi&hash=00a02f4b2a52f7f26b06c2ccdfec2965327eb43d)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jeffandwill.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F10%2Fscakemitchimg8.jpg&hash=95f2613879e026327fa4a6d2bf717fcecf878104)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2Fimage%2F4149274-3x2-700x467.jpg&hash=3befc0dca80722342c1bde1913020c5cbbee1171)
The guy is cute like a puppy (he is one year younger than my boyfriend), and a very nice person, apparently. And he bats for the right team. :perv:
So yes, this thread just got gayer. Which, considering it's about the olympics, was already quite gay.
Seems kind of wierd to hold some competitions before the opening ceremony.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 26, 2012, 03:37:42 PM
Seems kind of wierd to hold some competitions before the opening ceremony.
Not a new development, though. I'm not sure when they started doing it (maybe they always have) but it's been like that for several Olympiads at least.
Saw the torch on Whitehall today. Infected onlookers around with me with my particular virulent strain of Olympic grumpiness.
If David Beckham lights the torch tomorrow, then England, or GB rather, has officially jumped the shark.
Quote from: Josephus on July 26, 2012, 05:30:28 PM
If David Beckham lights the torch tomorrow, then England, or GB rather, has officially jumped the shark.
He's said he isn't and doesn't deserve to iirc.
Good to see Liverpool's new mayor getting squarely behind the games...
(https://p.twimg.com/Ayz-UY8CYAEOYLX.jpg)
What's "Come 'ed"?
It's a Scouse phrase - come ahead - come on
I wish Mittens would stick around for the Synchronized Insults.
He's got shit to do. Like get Mrs Mittens horse over from Beijing.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carnewschina.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F01%2Fhorse-on-car-china-3-458x348.jpg&hash=7ed7973eff9fa92b265f073075a073809742504d)
Quote from: Gups on July 27, 2012, 10:32:46 AM
It's a Scouse phrase - come ahead - come on
Gotcha, thanks.
I guess I'll be watching the opening ceremony, or at least watching it late evening (it's taped delay over here anyway) so I can forward through the pageantry BS and go straight to the parade of nations, which is one of the coolest things about the Olympics.
10 fake internet quatloos says at least one protestor tries to fuck with the opening ceremony.
Quote from: Gups on July 27, 2012, 10:32:46 AM
It's a Scouse phrase - come ahead - come on
Is that friendly encouragement or a challenge?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 27, 2012, 03:59:28 PM
Quote from: Gups on July 27, 2012, 10:32:46 AM
It's a Scouse phrase - come ahead - come on
Is that friendly encouragement or a challenge?
Coming from a Scouser that's one and the same thing.
I liked that the Olympics went all proggy there for a while with Mike Oldfield. Rest was kinda boring.
Did they light the torch yet? I'm still stuck at work.
Quote from: derspiess on July 27, 2012, 03:10:16 PM
I guess I'll be watching the opening ceremony, or at least watching it late evening (it's taped delay over here anyway) so I can forward through the pageantry BS and go straight to the parade of nations, which is one of the coolest things about the Olympics.
Yeah, parade of nations is the only thing I'm hugely interested in watching. Though I've already seen parts of a couple of soccer matches.
Surfed UAE vs. Uruguay last night but I just couldn't get into it.
Quote from: DGuller on July 27, 2012, 05:50:21 PM
Did they light the torch yet? I'm still stuck at work.
I think they've finally got to it now; not that I can see it - my store of patience for how long they could stretch the damn "lighting ceremony" out finally expired about eight minutes ago.
I'm sure everyone will say that the ceremony was "brilliant"; personally I found it crass in places, generally boring and the less said about the whole palaver around bringing the torch into the stadium and up to the cauldron the better. :(
On the other hand, my TV will be on as soon as the events start tomorrow; I may have been dreading the opening ceremony for the last few years but my anticipatory pleasure concerning the sport has more than balanced that... :)
They played a bit of Floyd at the end. S'all that matters.
Never liked the "group lighting the torch". Pick one person damn it.
Quote from: Josephus on July 27, 2012, 05:41:19 PM
I liked that the Olympics went all proggy there for a while with Mike Oldfield. Rest was kinda boring.
:D
Can us Brits claim to have invented that as well ? :bowler:
Was that really the queen parachuting down?
Quote from: mongers on July 27, 2012, 07:14:08 PM
Quote from: Josephus on July 27, 2012, 05:41:19 PM
I liked that the Olympics went all proggy there for a while with Mike Oldfield. Rest was kinda boring.
:D
Can us Brits claim to have invented that as well ? :bowler:
Prog? Yeah, I think so. the early proggers, Procul Harum, Crimson, Moody Blues, all Brit.
Quote from: DGuller on July 27, 2012, 07:26:03 PM
Was that really the queen parachuting down?
Um....
Yes...Yes, it was. :shifty:
Quote from: DGuller on July 27, 2012, 07:26:03 PM
Was that really the queen parachuting down?
The announcers sure made it sound like it was. She appeared on stage much too quickly though, unless they cut out the landing/removing parachute. Doubt they'd do that.
Edit- apparently they cut most of it, unless I was paying less attention at that point than I thought. I just remember seeing a union jack parachute and then seeing the queen walking to her seat. Lame. Didn't notice if they showed her before/during the jump or not.
You know what I'd like to see as a medal sport? One on one basketball. Considering how many swimming, gymnastic, diving, running, etc events there are, it's only fair. Plus it would be one of the most entertaining.
I was at work tonight so missed the opening ceremony. Just caught up now. Amazing. Best event of its kind I've ever seen.
I think my favourite bits were the national anthems and history lesson, the NHS-children's literature section and Mr. Bean :lol:
Also love that due to it being showed live in Saudi Arabia, they've just been exposed to their first lesbian kiss on state TV. In the US, where it isn't live, NBC cut that moment (and the Sex Pistols) <_<
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 27, 2012, 09:40:45 PM
I was at work tonight so missed the opening ceremony. Just caught up now. Amazing. Best event of its kind I've ever seen.
I think my favourite bits were the national anthems and history lesson, the NHS-children's literature section and Mr. Bean :lol:
Also love that due to it being showed live in Saudi Arabia, they've just been exposed to their first lesbian kiss on state TV. In the US, where it isn't live, NBC cut that moment (and the Sex Pistols) <_<
Yes, for those that missed it, it's here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00w2r5c/Olympic_Ceremonies_London_2012_Online_Opening_Ceremony_no_comm/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00w2r5c/Olympic_Ceremonies_London_2012_Online_Opening_Ceremony_no_comm/)
And luckily without the commentators, who must be the worst 'team' the bbc has ever put together for such an important event.
First chance of a GB medal, Saturdays cycle road race with Mark Cavendish tipped to win.
I think the beeb are covering the event from 10.45 to onward BST, though it starts at 10am and is scheduled to end at 4pm.
Who knew there were so many blacks in ancient agrarian Britain?
As usual, NBC is showing everything on tape delay. I'm sorry for you yanks.
Mark Cavendish interview of the GB road race team prospects:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/sports/cycling-road/events/mens-road-race (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/sports/cycling-road/events/mens-road-race)
I believe it is just the Opening ceremonies is on tape delay, the actual events are airing live. NBC is showing them on like 5 of it's networks (NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, NBC Sports)
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 27, 2012, 09:32:45 PM
You know what I'd like to see as a medal sport? One on one basketball. Considering how many swimming, gymnastic, diving, running, etc events there are, it's only fair. Plus it would be one of the most entertaining.
It always seemed silly to me how a team consisting of a couple of dozen of players can only contribute one gold medal to their country's total, and yet a single swimmer could win half a dozen.
Doreen Lawrence and Shami Chakrabarti got to carry the Olympic flag, nice touch :)
Also what the hell is the 'United Nations Champion of the Earth'? :lol:
Edit: And I loved the reaction when Rogge thanked the volunteers. He even, almost smiled. Many of the volunteers ringing the athletes looked close to tears.
This was my favorite part:
Quote
USA Flexes Muscles with Unannounced Stadium Flyover During London 2012 Opening Ceremonies
July 27, 2012
USA Flexes Muscles with Unannounced Stadium Flyover During London 2012 Opening Ceremonies - Image 1
Five U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors brought the London 2012 Opening Ceremonies to a halt when they roared over top of the Olympic Stadium during a musical number halfway through Friday's show.
Terrified performers and Olympic organizers fled the stadium floor, while the American athletes and fans in attendance stood and applauded.
The White House confirmed the flyover had occurred and was intentional.
"There are a billion people watching on television," President Obama was quoted in a White House press release. "It was a unique opportunity to remind everyone that we run things and can bomb the hell out of you if we want to. But it was mainly just for fun. Me and Dave Cameron are pals. I hope he took it well."
After the jets flew over the stadium and the White House informed British officials that it was merely an exercise, the Opening Ceremonies began again — albeit with much less energy.
"Look, we're no longer naive enough to believe that we are a world power," said one London 2012 official. "But it was incredibly humiliating for that to happen during the Opening Ceremonies. We just wanted to get the show over as quickly as possible after that."
USA! USA! USA!
Quote from: Josephus on July 27, 2012, 07:02:31 PM
They played a bit of Floyd at the end. S'all that matters.
Never liked the "group lighting the torch". Pick one person damn it.
And they didn't even use famous people.
Old people can't sing.
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 27, 2012, 09:40:45 PM
I was at work tonight so missed the opening ceremony. Just caught up now. Amazing. Best event of its kind I've ever seen.
I think my favourite bits were the national anthems and history lesson, the NHS-children's literature section and Mr. Bean :lol:
Also love that due to it being showed live in Saudi Arabia, they've just been exposed to their first lesbian kiss on state TV. In the US, where it isn't live, NBC cut that moment (and the Sex Pistols) <_<
I saw lesbians kiss, but no sex pistols. :huh:
Quote from: katmai on July 27, 2012, 11:10:05 PM
I saw lesbians kiss, but no sex pistols. :huh:
There were snippets of Sex Pistols at start and in the music montage bit. God Save the Queen and Pretty Vacant I think.
Edit: Glad you got the lesbians :)
Watching Denmark - Japan in female double badminton. It's not very exciting, but there's Russia - Angola (f) playing handball on the other channel so I guess it's good enough.
When does the good stuff start?
EDIT: Beachvolley on the secretive 3rd channel. Wooo!
Ah, road cycling at 11. In which way will the Brits win this one?
Quote from: Liep on July 28, 2012, 03:17:28 AM
Watching Denmark - Japan in female double badminton. It's not very exciting, but there's Russia - Angola (f) playing handball on the other channel so I guess it's good enough.
When does the good stuff start?
EDIT: Beachvolley on the secretive 3rd channel. Wooo!
gotta love the itty bitty shorts on the beach volley girls.
Russia just won a great game against China in beachvolley. That blond Russian chick was blocking everything.
EDIT: Commentator knows what it's all about: "Let's watch this slowmotion edit in silence."
The European Broadcasting Union has its own Olympics site.
http://www.eurovisionsports.tv/london2012/index.html
Basically you can watch all events there - unfortunately I can't get any of their streams to work.
P.S.: Love the cycling "Pee Gallery" :lol:
The Russian - Angola match is more exciting than I expected, they're only in front with 1 with 11minutes left
Quote from: Kleves on July 27, 2012, 10:07:17 PM
Who knew there were so many blacks in ancient agrarian Britain?
Even in those days blacks were an urban phenomena specializing in music.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18903391
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbcimg.co.uk%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F61678000%2Fjpg%2F_61678266_trumpetercrop2.jpg&hash=02147b8f777deb8779ccf104090ae61d2119ac6a)
MC John Blanke and his posse
Quote from: Viking on July 28, 2012, 06:30:18 AM
Quote from: Kleves on July 27, 2012, 10:07:17 PM
Who knew there were so many blacks in ancient agrarian Britain?
Even in those days blacks were an urban phenomena specializing in music.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18903391
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbcimg.co.uk%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F61678000%2Fjpg%2F_61678266_trumpetercrop2.jpg&hash=02147b8f777deb8779ccf104090ae61d2119ac6a)
MC John Blanke and his posse
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi707.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww73%2Fblikestro%2Fdavechappellerobinhoodmenintights.jpg&hash=59e30ead6e620f373159949f054db4b4ab1478a5)
Nigger, please.
The Chinese won the first gold. <_< Though any sport in which a woman who is 8-months pregnant can compete in shouldn't really be an Olympic sport.
Bernie Eisel's leading Cav :wub:
Some chap from Kazakhstan won the road race, with a guy from Colombia second.
Looking on the bright side this will be a great opportunity to play the wrong national anthem :D
Some chap? That's Vinokourov! :wub:
Watching indoor ladies volleyball.
Really tall Koreans are actually kinda HOTT.
Quote from: mongers on July 27, 2012, 09:44:24 PM
And luckily without the commentators, who must be the worst 'team' the bbc has ever put together for such an important event.
Oh good heavens yes. 'They've played Abide with Me at every FA cup since 1927' WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH 7/7 YOU TIT. (And now they haven't, it was dropped for one final, in the 70s I think. He wasn't even being clever.)
Quote from: Tonitrus on July 28, 2012, 03:00:37 PM
Watching indoor ladies volleyball.
Really tall Koreans are actually kinda HOTT.
I watched that too. Agree about the cute skyscraper.
Subway Sandwich swimmer pot smoker boy flopping a bit amuses the hell out of me. TAKE ANOTHER TOKE POT BOY.
Quote from: Liep on July 28, 2012, 09:56:51 AM
Some chap? That's Vinokourov! :wub:
Yes a deserved winner, given how hard he tried on the Tour to win a stage and the somewhat sad story I heard about him drinking in the bar alone, the night before the last time trial.
Watching the Chinese girl come from behind in the 400 IM was amazing. Passed the American favourite like she was dead in the water. Best moment so far. Cant imagine how she was able to put on that kind of spurt at the end.
Quote from: Viking on July 28, 2012, 06:30:18 AM
Quote from: Kleves on July 27, 2012, 10:07:17 PM
Who knew there were so many blacks in ancient agrarian Britain?
Even in those days blacks were an urban phenomena specializing in music.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18903391
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbcimg.co.uk%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F61678000%2Fjpg%2F_61678266_trumpetercrop2.jpg&hash=02147b8f777deb8779ccf104090ae61d2119ac6a)
MC John Blanke and his posse
Cool story Viking.
I was down at Poole harbour this evening, 15 miles N.E. of the Olympic sailing venue of Weymouth, and there was a nice stiff Westerly blowing, surface somewhat choppy.
There's an American volleyball player named Destinee Hooker. That's a bit of overkill, don't you think?
Thank hod for the Olympics. I got reminded today by Yahoo about Leryn Franco.
Quote from: PDH on July 28, 2012, 07:02:55 PM
Thank hod for the Olympics. I got reminded today by Yahoo about Leryn Franco.
That you needed to be reminded disgusts me.
Is that the Wop pole vaulter?
Your mother.
Watching a replay of Women's Handball GB vs Montenegro.
Nice sports, alot like basketball, like basketball it needs more tackling.
Some of those Montenegro girls are pretty hot.
Also, forgot to mention the roadrace showed London off quite well. As a tourism advert it worked well in the CC household. We decided we really do need to go back to London for a visit.
Quote from: Kleves on July 28, 2012, 05:08:10 PM
There's an American volleyball player named Destinee Hooker. That's a bit of overkill, don't you think?
In '88 or '92 the U.S. had a male volleyball player called Bob CTVRTLIK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ctvrtlik). Name tripped up commentators rather badly.
WTF: Brazillian and Dutch women's beach volleyball teams wearing body suits :mad:
Quote from: Josephus on July 29, 2012, 02:34:41 PM
WTF: Brazillian and Dutch women's beach volleyball teams wearing body suits :mad:
DISQUALIFIED.
Dear god that argie girl...BUTTERFACE
LOL Spain.
The womens road race was more interesting than the mens, but the organisation of the event and it's coverage lacked a certain something.
Quote from: mongers on July 29, 2012, 05:13:56 PM
The womens road race was more interesting than the mens, but the organisation of the event and it's coverage lacked a certain something.
Wide roads
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 29, 2012, 06:00:16 PM
Quote from: mongers on July 29, 2012, 05:13:56 PM
The womens road race was more interesting than the mens, but the organisation of the event and it's coverage lacked a certain something.
Wide roads
I was thinking more of the time keeping failures and relay the information to the riders, that seemed rather bad.
Also, they should have hired the French to film the races, in comparison the British/BBC bike based crew were a bit naff, the view point seemed too high up. And the helicopter shots weren't anywhere near as 'artistic' as the Tours.
Oh and what was with cutting to a wide angle shot of constitution hill during the last few hundred metres, just to show that the resulting tinny figures of the racers were passing Buck.Pal. You know some of us just want to see the actual race. :rolleyes:
And I think they'd have done much better if they'd got the two channel 4 bike commentators (Phil Leggit and thingy) rather than have the two taciturn ones they went with, even if one was Chris Boardman.
Both road races suffered from the fact that they weren't part of the Tour.
I spent most of the day watching NBC instead of the CTV feed. Why you ask? Because CTV kept showing the Road Race.
It's the worse sport of all the Olympics! FFS. I rather watch Air Rifle.
Quote from: Kleves on July 28, 2012, 08:54:36 AM
The Chinese won the first gold. <_< Though any sport in which a woman who is 8-months pregnant can compete in shouldn't really be an Olympic sport.
You would, of course, be wrong.
I am all of a sudden interested in woman's field hockey thanks to the Dutch national team.
Quote from: katmai on July 29, 2012, 08:44:13 PM
I am all of a sudden interested in woman's field hockey thanks to the Dutch national team.
I think the appropriate smiley would be :PICS
The BBC have pointed out that they aren't actually doing any of the filming or feeds for the Olympics. By order of the IOC, that is all done by Olympic Broadcasting Services, who I understand are pulled-together freelancers and contractors. Danny Boyle had a huge fight with them over the opening ceremony cameras, as Shielbh point out in another thread I think.
After the debacle of the men's road race, you could tell the BBC studio were doing their own time splits for the women's race.
Another case of the high monetarization of the games. I would honestly prefer less glitzy or overhyped games.
Then again, we live in the age of BREAKING NEWS and constant media hysteria, so I guess I'm out of luck.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 28, 2012, 10:24:11 PM
Also, forgot to mention the roadrace showed London off quite well. As a tourism advert it worked well in the CC household. We decided we really do need to go back to London for a visit.
Yeah, I was thinking that just now; perhaps the games lasting achievement ?
I just caught a bit of the horse eventing, and thought that little grove of trees looks familiar, I'm guessing those are the ones in Greenwich park,to the right of the observatory, and turns out it the event was in there in Greenwich Park.
So I all but went on line to book some tickets straight away, just to go to Greenwich, one of my fav bits of London, but I need to consult my calender first.
Quote from: Warspite on July 30, 2012, 07:25:12 AM
The BBC have pointed out that they aren't actually doing any of the filming or feeds for the Olympics. By order of the IOC, that is all done by Olympic Broadcasting Services, who I understand are pulled-together freelancers and contractors. Danny Boyle had a huge fight with them over the opening ceremony cameras, as Shielbh point out in another thread I think.
After the debacle of the men's road race, you could tell the BBC studio were doing their own time splits for the women's race.
Cheers, that explains a lot, so it's not just me, the coverage is noteable inferior; I wonder if the OBS is any less corrupt than the IOC ? :hmm:
I apologise to the Beeb for implying they were responsible. :bowler:
Quote from: Warspite on July 30, 2012, 07:25:12 AM
The BBC have pointed out that they aren't actually doing any of the filming or feeds for the Olympics. By order of the IOC, that is all done by Olympic Broadcasting Services, who I understand are pulled-together freelancers and contractors. Danny Boyle had a huge fight with them over the opening ceremony cameras, as Shielbh point out in another thread I think.
After the debacle of the men's road race, you could tell the BBC studio were doing their own time splits for the women's race.
Thanks for that, I hadn't realised and have been cursing the BBC for their unusual amateurism :huh:
Having learned how the IOC works over the past few weeks I'm starting to have considerable sympathy for the cities that host the games. Looks like they come from the same stable as van Rumpuy and that Porto-Maoist chap.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 28, 2012, 04:31:45 PM
Watching the Chinese girl come from behind in the 400 IM was amazing. Passed the American favourite like she was dead in the water. Best moment so far. Cant imagine how she was able to put on that kind of spurt at the end.
Turns out others were similarly impressed and there are now the inevitable whispers of doping. But the IOC anti doping person has come to her defence.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/ioc-anti-doping-chief-defends-chinese-swim-star/article4448360/
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 30, 2012, 09:08:20 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 28, 2012, 04:31:45 PM
Watching the Chinese girl come from behind in the 400 IM was amazing. Passed the American favourite like she was dead in the water. Best moment so far. Cant imagine how she was able to put on that kind of spurt at the end.
Turns out others were similarly impressed and there are now the inevitable whispers of doping. But the IOC anti doping person has come to her defence.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/ioc-anti-doping-chief-defends-chinese-swim-star/article4448360/
Reading between the lines...he says they are focusing on testing now rather than doing it randomly, and focusing based on countries identified as dopers. And he says China isn't on that list, so...
Quote from: mongers on July 30, 2012, 07:33:54 AM
Yeah, I was thinking that just now; perhaps the games lasting achievement ?
Similarly, I know in the US for marathons the former Olympic courses have a lot of prestige and there is increased interest in those marathons. I would guess it is the same for other outdoor courses, though London may not use them going forward.
Norway is leading the Scandiweenian medal battle with an impressive 1 bronze against Denmark, Sweden and Finland's 0 medals.
Quote from: Liep on July 30, 2012, 11:22:25 AM
Norway is leading the Scandiweenian medal battle with an impressive 1 bronze against Denmark, Sweden and Finland's 0 medals.
Don't you big blond meatheads usually do well in weight lifting? Y'all certainly dominate Strongest Man competitions.
I think rowing, badminton, swimming and sailing is where we'll find our medals. And of course, Wozniacki as a dark horse in tennis.
Quote from: Liep on July 30, 2012, 11:22:25 AM
Norway is leading the Scandiweenian medal battle with an impressive 1 bronze against Denmark, Sweden and Finland's 0 medals.
I remember there was much griping in 2008 that Canada hadn't won any medals in the first week.
Turns out all the events we are good at were in the second week, and we had an acceptable (but not great) result. Perhaps the Scandiweenies are the same.
I'm not really worried, not winning any medals usually leads to a funnier debate in the Danish newspapers than the "Wooo! We won in this sport we've never heard about before" articles.
For the Danes, I'm looking forward to Liberalkuglestøder.dk saying we need more funding for athletes if they don't win anything.
Wozzy is playing a Belgian chick and the current game has gone for over 15 minutes, advantage just keep changing. 9 game points for Wozniacki so far.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/30/olympic-policing-own-goal-wembley
QuoteOlympic policing own goal after Wembley keys go missing
Locks at one of London 2012's main football venues have had to be changed after Metropolitan police lost set of internal keys
An investigation is under way into how police conducting searches at Wembley Stadium before the Olympics last week lost a set of internal keys, forcing security chiefs to change locks.
Officers checking the venue ahead of matches in the men's and women's football competitions reported the loss last Tuesday, but Games organisers insist security has not been compromised. Scotland Yard is not treating the incident as criminal.
A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan police said: "On the morning of Tuesday 24 July, officers on Olympic police operations at Wembley Stadium reported that internal security keys, being used by them as part of searches, were missing."
Other officers attended the scene to help look for the missing keys but in vain.
"Detectives also attended to ascertain if there was any evidence of criminal offences," the spokeswoman said. "There's none at this time."
Wembley officials were made aware of the incident, said the spokewoman. "There is absolutely no security concern in relation to the stadium as measures were taken immediately to secure all key areas of the venue."
A spokesman for London 2012 moved to quell any fears that there had been a security breach. "These were internal keys, locks have been changed and the security of the venue has not been compromised in any way."
The first Wembley fixtures in the men's tournament were held on Sunday, with Senegal beating Uruguay 2-0 and Great Britain beating United Arab Emirates 3-1. Crowds were left hungry, thirsty and frustrated when Wembley's concessions were unable to accept credit cards.
A Visa spokesman said: "We understand that Wembley's systems failed and therefore they were only accepting cash at the food and beverage kiosks. This cash only decision was made by Wembley management and not Visa. We are working with the Wembley team to help them fix this as soon as possible."
England will play Brazil in the women's competition on Tuesday – one of six first-round matches on the day.
:lol:
A 15 year old Lithuanian girl won the women's 100m breaststroke. What the hell? :O
Quote from: Liep on July 30, 2012, 02:27:00 PM
A 15 year old Lithuanian girl won the women's 100m breaststroke. What the hell? :O
Sounds hot.
Quote from: DGuller on July 30, 2012, 02:33:47 PM
Quote from: Liep on July 30, 2012, 02:27:00 PM
A 15 year old Lithuanian girl won the women's 100m breaststroke. What the hell? :O
Sounds hot.
Siege? Is that you?
Oh, come one! Like none of you would watch a 15-year old breaststroking on TV? :rolleyes:
You can look down to 14 but you can't mention it out loud.
Quote from: DGuller on July 30, 2012, 04:03:58 PM
Oh, come one! Like none of you would watch a 15-year old breaststroking on TV? :rolleyes:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.qkme.me%2Frnu.jpg&hash=c4c7ea2a8edbd1001c59ba8478710bc10d9edd61)
I guess we found out who voted with Siege in my poll.
What poll? :homestar:
http://languish.org/forums/index.php/topic,8054.0.html
Quote from: FunkMonk on July 30, 2012, 04:43:28 PM
http://languish.org/forums/index.php/topic,8054.0.html
I didn't vote.
But I did now.
Quote from: Liep on July 30, 2012, 03:22:46 PM
Quote from: DGuller on July 30, 2012, 02:33:47 PM
Sounds hot.
Definitely not.
Just watched it, she looks like a girl next door. If you live a trailer park, that is. Those suits they all wear also squash the fantasies quite effectively, if the abundant muscles on display didn't do that already.
Just watched chick footie, US vs. Colombia, US won 3-0. US women are looking sharp.
Next up: North Korea. :ph34r:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 30, 2012, 11:56:59 PM
Just watched chick footie, US vs. Colombia, US won 3-0. US women are looking sharp.
Next up: North Korea. :ph34r:
Did you catch that Colombian chick socking Wambach in the eye?
Missed it.
That was the best part. Those chicks don't fuck around (though that Colombian chick may as well, since she ain't going to be playing no more in these Olympics).
Quote from: DGuller on July 30, 2012, 10:14:40 PM
Just watched it, she looks like a girl next door. If you live a trailer park, that is. Those suits they all wear also squash the fantasies quite effectively, if the abundant muscles on display didn't do that already.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmultimedia.pol.dk%2Farchive%2F00663%2FLondon_Olympics_Swi_663435y.jpg&hash=97b7b9c15562c53fb70531482e1a333b21f43f34)
Maybe I could've found a more flattering photo, but this'll serve more purposefully.
Quote from: Liep on July 30, 2012, 11:30:27 AM
I think rowing, badminton, swimming and sailing is where we'll find our medals. And of course, Wozniacki as a dark horse in tennis.
And handball, Mens for DK and womens for NO
V
Went to the Olympic Park yesterday. Transport and security good. People very friendly. Food and beer an expected rip off.
Saw the women's handball Brazil v Montenegro and Sweden v Norway. It's a very exciting sport (although there isn't much tactical depth to it that I could work out) shame it's not more popular over here. The Scandi handball players were, almost without exception, very, very hot.
I think I grasped the rules pretty quickly but one thing I couldn't work out is whether there is anything to stop a team from time wasting. The defending team I think can't step past the dotted line and it looked as if the attacking team could just pass the ball between themselves for as long as they want.
Yes, there's little against playing for time, except the audience booing against you. With better teams that doesn't happen too much, though, and it also requires a lot of discipline on the defense to create such a stalemate and not open any gaps. The field players can't enter the quasi-semicircle around the goal (that's why they jump into it for their goal attempts).
Watched a little bit of women's roundball, GB vs. Canada. Everything looked like a reasonable approximation of the sport except the shooting. You have to make the ball go through the hoop ladies, there are no points for hitting the iron.
But for a country with no real history of the sport and then pushed on to the world stage with a host country auto seed GB did well enough.
The dotted line is know as the three meter, it is the line where minor penalities like pushing or obstruction is taken from, but only when there is a penalty the defending teram has to stay on the solid line.
the defenders are free to roam as they will, but may not block the path of the attacker, say during a fast break, unless the defender was there first (a bit like basket i think?)
there is a penalty for playing for time. If the ref thinks the attackers are stalling and not truly trying to attack he will raise his arms, giving the attacker a short time to complete the attack, if they fail to do so he will call a turn over.
try catching mens game tonight, DEN vs. SPA around 19.30 UK time IIRC, then you'll see a faster and far more physical game, with more tackle and more direct gaming.
There IS a lot of tactics in how they play the ball around to break the defence, and for defence to make the attack make an attacking error, like running into the defence standing their ground, hitting with a knee as the jump, running in the goal field, things like that.
Oh and for beatiful trick shots watch the danish wing Anders Eggert, he is one of the best in the world at this, plays in Kiel IIRC in the german league, watch him take a penalty, lobbing the goalie, or making a twister that just rolls into the goal must be so frustraring for the goalie :D
V
Cheers guys, that make ssense. I also watched a few games on telly - is there some rule about the two refs having to look like twins? Every game I saw it was like two women who looked the same, two middle aged white blokes, two bald black guys!
Wnet with my 10 year old boy yesterday who now wants to play. Unfortunately a quick google shows there are no clubs anywhere in South London, so he'll have to stick to being an average football player unfortunately.
I've been preferring listening to the olympics on the radio over seeing it live. Mainly because of Erik Nielsen, a commentator who also made the Euro 12 much better. Hilarious.
Commentators on TV are just boring. :(
Watch the TV with the sound down and the radio on. That's what I do with the cricket, wher ethe TV commentary isn't bad but the radio is superb.
Quote from: Gups on July 31, 2012, 03:48:38 AM
Cheers guys, that make ssense. I also watched a few games on telly - is there some rule about the two refs having to look like twins? Every game I saw it was like two women who looked the same, two middle aged white blokes, two bald black guys!
Wnet with my 10 year old boy yesterday who now wants to play. Unfortunately a quick google shows there are no clubs anywhere in South London, so he'll have to stick to being an average football player unfortunately.
Hehe, its an old sport, but the current form is only from 1948 or some such and for some reason centered on North eastern europe and Spain/France
When UK got the OL they got a free ride into the tournament, but didn't have a national team, so they went to DK to train and learn. When they got a team they tried on a few danish teams and even lost to school teams :D but that was a few years ago :)
I doubt there can be more than a handful of clubs in UK in total, even less with a proper youth section
Another handball note, the largest, and most ambitious Danish handball club just went bancrupt after the main owner lost all his moeny due to other financial issues (looks hard at Brøndby and Pandora) A third of the danish players getting ready for tonights game may need new employers... not the best prep for an important game...
V
German Bundesliga will gladly take them. ;)
I liked going to the games in Kiel now and then. And there was a pretty strong grassroots level of play in my area as well.
This is kinda funny as it makes it look worse. :D
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/tom-daley-gets-unnecessarily-censored
First medal! Silver in skeet shooting. Wooo!
Nobody can synchronize their dives like Chinese people.
Speaking of China, I watched them lose to the South Korean women in archery and I couldn't help but think there should be Olympic Horse Archery. Man that would be awesome.
Who cares if we get a medal or not, we stuffed Serbia in the handball :yeah:
Quote from: Valdemar on July 31, 2012, 04:33:52 AM
When UK got the OL they got a free ride into the tournament, but didn't have a national team, so they went to DK to train and learn. When they got a team they tried on a few danish teams and even lost to school teams :D but that was a few years ago :)
Not exactly. FIBA was originally going to deny them the automatic berth because of the state of British basketball, but the Brits managed to convince FIBA that they could actually put together a competitive team.
Quote from: Liep on July 30, 2012, 02:27:00 PM
A 15 year old Lithuanian girl won the women's 100m breaststroke. What the hell? :O
And a 16 year old Chinese swims her last 50m faster than Ryan Lochte or Michael Phelps with 30 pounds less of muscle, beats the record by more than 1 and a half second, yet she doesn't dope. :mellow:
Well they were predicting a lot of swimming records would be broken - swimsuit technology has changed a lot since 2008. :mellow:
Quote from: Barrister on July 31, 2012, 02:17:34 PM
Well they were predicting a lot of swimming records would be broken - swimsuit technology has changed a lot since 2008. :mellow:
They were banned in 2010.
I don't get the deal with shock over teen girls winning Olympic swimming events. They have for years. I remember a 14 year old American girl won a gold once...I think it was in Athens. That is just something see alot in Women's sports, they reach their physical primes alot younger.
Quote from: Drakken on July 31, 2012, 02:11:34 PM
And a 16 year old Chinese swims her last 50m faster than Ryan Lochte or Michael Phelps with 30 pounds less of muscle, beats the record by more than 1 and a half second, yet she doesn't dope. :mellow:
Maybe she is a physical freak with massive flipper-like feet and hands like Phelps has.
Quote from: Valmy on July 31, 2012, 02:20:06 PM
I don't get the deal with shock over teen girls winning Olympic swimming events. They have for years. I remember a 14 year old American girl won a gold once...I think it was in Athens. That is just something see alot in Women's sports, they reach their physical primes alot younger.
I don't mind teens winning, but seeing totally unknown teenage girls going faster than adult young men twice their size and with thirty pounds more of muscle, and destroying records while doing that, should give pause. It's like seeing a 15 year old chinese run the 100m sprint faster than Usain Bolt and beat the OR by almost one second.
And let's not be idealistic, China is today's DDR and Soviets, sport-wise.
I was speaking more about the Lithuanian girl there Drakken. Not really sure what is up with that Chinese girl.
Quote from: Valmy on July 31, 2012, 02:21:00 PM
Maybe she is a physical freak with massive flipper-like feet and hands like Phelps has.
She's 5'8" and 140 pounds.
Quote from: Valmy on July 31, 2012, 12:50:45 PM
Speaking of China, I watched them lose to the South Korean women in archery and I couldn't help but think there should be Olympic Horse Archery. Man that would be awesome.
Mongolia would dominate.
Japan would do pretty well also.
Quote from: derspiess on July 31, 2012, 02:52:25 PM
Quote from: Valmy on July 31, 2012, 12:50:45 PM
Speaking of China, I watched them lose to the South Korean women in archery and I couldn't help but think there should be Olympic Horse Archery. Man that would be awesome.
Mongolia would dominate.
Or Japan would dig up some Takeda and give them a run for their money.
Also, I'd like to commend NBC for the upskirt shot of the American girl on the bench during the field hockey game. When I can see black fur under the white cotton panties, NBC is perving out a bit much.
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:56:03 PM
Also, I'd like to commend NBC for the upskirt shot of the American girl on the bench during the field hockey game. When I can see black fur under the white cotton panties, NBC is perving out a bit much.
You know, you don't have to look, perv.
Quote from: DGuller on July 31, 2012, 02:58:03 PM
You know, you don't have to look, perv.
<-----
Yes I do.
Quote from: DGuller on July 31, 2012, 02:58:03 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:56:03 PM
Also, I'd like to commend NBC for the upskirt shot of the American girl on the bench during the field hockey game. When I can see black fur under the white cotton panties, NBC is perving out a bit much.
You know, you don't have to look, perv.
Might as well ask him not to breathe!
Quote from: Barrister on July 31, 2012, 02:17:34 PM
Well they were predicting a lot of swimming records would be broken - swimsuit technology has changed a lot since 2008. :mellow:
Beeb, its the other way around. People were expecting the WR set during the era of high tech suits to stand for a long time. Those suits have since been banned. Nobody actually predicted those records would fall during these olympics. That fact that they are is indeed surprising since the suits gave such a large advantage.
I know the young Chinese swimmer has had fellow swimmers come to her defense but to beat her own personal best by 5 secs is going to cause suspicion.
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:56:03 PM
Also, I'd like to commend NBC for the upskirt shot of the American girl on the bench during the field hockey game. When I can see black fur under the white cotton panties, NBC is perving out a bit much.
Pictures please.
Let me engage my magic TV.
Michael Phelps has now won more Olympic medals than anyone in history.
Spoilers you ass YI!
Seriously?
Bela Karoly was on NPR talking about the vault. One of the all-time great accents. :cheers:
Anyone know how old the one cute US gymnast is?
When have i ever been serious? And i have no idea you perv.
Quote from: katmai on July 31, 2012, 06:30:58 PM
When have i ever been serious?
Your last meal? :P
Harsh toke.
OOOSA! OOOSA! OOOSA!
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 31, 2012, 06:25:31 PM
Michael Phelps has now won more Olympic medals than anyone in history.
Fucking bullshit! :mad: Phelps should've gotten gold. Didn't they learn after Beijing, after that Serb touched the wall too lightly, that you need much more sensitive sensors there?
Quote from: DGuller on July 31, 2012, 09:48:48 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 31, 2012, 06:25:31 PM
Michael Phelps has now won more Olympic medals than anyone in history.
Fucking bullshit! :mad: Phelps should've gotten gold. Didn't they learn after Beijing, after that Serb touched the wall too lightly, that you need much more sensitive sensors there?
:huh:
Had nothing to do with the sensors. He glided in and got beat to the wall.
@Yi,
Glad to see Phelps beat the record by winning the gold in the relay. In the interview he did with the Canadian broadcaster he was a very gracious winner. Nice to see.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 31, 2012, 03:03:15 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 31, 2012, 02:17:34 PM
Well they were predicting a lot of swimming records would be broken - swimsuit technology has changed a lot since 2008. :mellow:
Beeb, its the other way around. People were expecting the WR set during the era of high tech suits to stand for a long time. Those suits have since been banned. Nobody actually predicted those records would fall during these olympics. That fact that they are is indeed surprising since the suits gave such a large advantage.
Yeah, I saw a stat that there were something like 40 world records broken between 2008 and 2010, when they were using the suits, and only one since they were banned on January 1st, 2011.
Then again, they didn't take into account the massive amounts of drugs being pumped into the Chinese team.
Quote from: Drakken on July 31, 2012, 02:11:34 PM
And a 16 year old Chinese swims her last 50m faster than Ryan Lochte or Michael Phelps with 30 pounds less of muscle, beats the record by more than 1 and a half second, yet she doesn't dope. :mellow:
Lochte* and Phelps ran out of steam, while the Chinese girl was hanging around the pack until the last leg. Kind of disingenuous to only compare parts of races.
*Yeah, he won, but he'd been ahead of WR pace until the last leg where he fell well behind it.
Hearing Ruslana's Wild Dances music during Jordyn Wieber's floor routine was a big WTF for me. Who knew Americans knew Ukrainian hits? Then again, maybe they just picked it up from GTA IV.
One of my favorite Euovision winners. :)
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 31, 2012, 10:14:41 PM
Quote from: Drakken on July 31, 2012, 02:11:34 PM
And a 16 year old Chinese swims her last 50m faster than Ryan Lochte or Michael Phelps with 30 pounds less of muscle, beats the record by more than 1 and a half second, yet she doesn't dope. :mellow:
Lochte* and Phelps ran out of steam, while the Chinese girl was hanging around the pack until the last leg. Kind of disingenuous to only compare parts of races.
*Yeah, he won, but he'd been ahead of WR pace until the last leg where he fell well behind it.
I dont know. By the end of that race everyone is pretty much spent. It is one of the most demanding sporting events. Too short of a race to really hold back in any stroke but longer than a sprint. Those middle distance races are killers. The thing that impressed was she had so much left after such a difficult race that she passed the leader like she was dead in the water. Truly impressive. Especially since she cut down her time by 5 seconds in a sport where cutting a time by tenths of a second impressive.
It may not be drug assisted. She just might be hitting her peak of performance at the very right time. it does happen. Rarely. Problem is history has shown that more often than not such performances have been drug assisted.
The thing about being 16 is you are still developing and growing. It is possible that, combined with holding back until the Olympics, everything just came together at the right time. Not saying it is legit, but being 16 is a fact in her favor.
Spain has some very good basketball players. Just watched Spain put away Australia.
Iorm, Larch, is hoops a very popular recreational sport in Spain?
Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on July 31, 2012, 01:05:23 PM
Quote from: Valdemar on July 31, 2012, 04:33:52 AM
When UK got the OL they got a free ride into the tournament, but didn't have a national team, so they went to DK to train and learn. When they got a team they tried on a few danish teams and even lost to school teams :D but that was a few years ago :)
Not exactly. FIBA was originally going to deny them the automatic berth because of the state of British basketball, but the Brits managed to convince FIBA that they could actually put together a competitive team.
Except we aren't talking basket ball but handball here :) IHF IIRC made no obstacle to the UK in this game
V
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 02:44:29 AM
Spain has some very good basketball players. Just watched Spain put away Australia.
Iorm, Larch, is hoops a very popular recreational sport in Spain?
I think its the most popular team sport after football (although a long way behind). Some of the big footie clubs like Barca and Real Madrid have hoops teams.
Quote from: Gups on August 01, 2012, 04:27:52 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 02:44:29 AM
Spain has some very good basketball players. Just watched Spain put away Australia.
Iorm, Larch, is hoops a very popular recreational sport in Spain?
I think its the most popular team sport after football (although a long way behind). Some of the big footie clubs like Barca and Real Madrid have hoops teams.
They also have very strong handball teams ;) Barca wins alot of handball thropies :)
V
Romanian girl did floor routine to Floyd's Shine On.
Very progtatstic olympics indeed. :bowler:
My God, fencing is a ridiculous sport. First one to dart in: wins. Where are the parries? Where's the swordplay? Where's the art?
Fucking rock-paper-scissors would be more interesting.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 31, 2012, 10:14:41 PM
Quote from: Drakken on July 31, 2012, 02:11:34 PM
And a 16 year old Chinese swims her last 50m faster than Ryan Lochte or Michael Phelps with 30 pounds less of muscle, beats the record by more than 1 and a half second, yet she doesn't dope. :mellow:
Lochte* and Phelps ran out of steam, while the Chinese girl was hanging around the pack until the last leg. Kind of disingenuous to only compare parts of races.
*Yeah, he won, but he'd been ahead of WR pace until the last leg where he fell well behind it.
Everyone talks about how she was faster the last 50 meters or so, what they don't mention is that she was 23 seconds slower in the first part of the race. And she was not unknown, she has won medals in the world championship.
Every time I see the ping pong on the TV, I see Christopher Walken hamming it up.
Quote from: Threviel on August 01, 2012, 08:33:10 AM
Everyone talks about how she was faster the last 50 meters or so, what they don't mention is that she was 23 seconds slower in the first part of the race.
Exactly. She had a different strategy for the race, that doesn't mean she outswam the men.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 01, 2012, 09:19:34 AM
Every time I see the ping pong on the TV, I see Christopher Walken hamming it up.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fls.rts.edu%2Fuploads%2FJackson%2FInformer%2FForrest%2520Gump%2520Ping%2520Pong.jpg&hash=d1b67bd368d100b4a60ac38588ca8893cc01e2d3)
Quote from: katmai on July 31, 2012, 03:06:53 PM
I know the young Chinese swimmer has had fellow swimmers come to her defense but to beat her own personal best by 5 secs is going to cause suspicion.
Not when she's that age. Ian Thorpe was talking about this and said he did that sort of leap more than once when he was 15/16.
The BBC interviewed Chad Le Clos's (South African who beat Phelps) dad after lots of footage of him crying, shouting and waving the flag. It was hilarious, and very sweet. He was just repeating things like 'look at him! look at my boy!' :lol:
Edit: Incidentally Phelps was an absolute gent (he's Le Clos's hero). He reminded him to hold up his medal for the cameras and then walked him round to all the different press points etc. Really good to see.
Some sort of betting thing or whatever going on with three four women's doubles badminton teams. China, South Korea, and Indonesia were all tossed out of the games for trying to lose on purpose.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/worlds-top-badminton-pair-play-to-lose-group-match-at-london-olympics/2012/07/31/gJQAPoerNX_story.html
Did anyone actually see this?
I wish I did. It sounded like fun, with both teams trying to lose.
Wiggins takes gold in the individual time trial. :bowler:
He literally put Froome in his place, bronze that is.
Bad luck to Sanchez, his chain broke on the start, the team where slow to arrive with the spare bike and later he had a puncture. :(
Cancellara wasn't in contention, clearly affected by his crash in Saturday's road race.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 02:44:29 AM
Spain has some very good basketball players. Just watched Spain put away Australia.
Iorm, Larch, is hoops a very popular recreational sport in Spain?
As Gups said, Basketball is probably Spain's 2nd most followed sport after footie (and definitely the 2nd team sport in following). Plenty of players in the national team have NBA experience too. Calderón, the Gasols and Ibaka are all there now. Rudy Fernández played there for several seasons and will come back to Spain next season, Sergio Fernández and Navarro played there for a few years before coming back, and Claver will be a rookie there next season.
Quote from: The Larch on August 01, 2012, 12:55:35 PM
As Gups said, Basketball is probably Spain's 2nd most followed sport after footie (and definitely the 2nd team sport in following). Plenty of players in the national team have NBA experience too. Calderón, the Gasols and Ibaka are all there now. Rudy Fernández played there for several seasons and will come back to Spain next season, Sergio Fernández and Navarro played there for a few years before coming back, and Claver will be a rookie there next season.
I was asking more about mass participation. How common is it see kids playing unorganized ball in the park? How common is it for a family with kids to put a net up in their driveway? That kind of thing.
Quote from: alfred russel on July 31, 2012, 11:24:22 PM
The thing about being 16 is you are still developing and growing. It is possible that, combined with holding back until the Olympics, everything just came together at the right time. Not saying it is legit, but being 16 is a fact in her favor.
Yes, when young swimmers are developing they are expected to drop seconds from their time; however that is when they are still developing into a competitive althlete. Once they reach the elite level it is very rare to drop that kind of time. She could be a phenom but there seems to be a more ready explanation.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 01:25:08 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 01, 2012, 12:55:35 PM
As Gups said, Basketball is probably Spain's 2nd most followed sport after footie (and definitely the 2nd team sport in following). Plenty of players in the national team have NBA experience too. Calderón, the Gasols and Ibaka are all there now. Rudy Fernández played there for several seasons and will come back to Spain next season, Sergio Fernández and Navarro played there for a few years before coming back, and Claver will be a rookie there next season.
I was asking more about mass participation. How common is it see kids playing unorganized ball in the park? How common is it for a family with kids to put a net up in their driveway? That kind of thing.
That sort of stuff's common even in the UK where the pro game's not got a massive following. I suppose it's pretty easy and cheap for a sporty kid to start and, like football, you can play with just a few people.
So I guess we no longer wait until someone's proven guilty to put someone in the stockade? If this was a 16 year old American, or western, girl who did so well, there would be two movies already in the works about her, and a stamp in her honour, obviously. But because she's Chinese....well.
So far as I know she hasn't failed any doping tests. I know that there are ways around that, perhaps, but the fact is, let the poor girl take her medals.
Wonder what happens when a Chinese athlete wins more than 19 medals. Shock and horror, no doubt.
Prior to Beijing, incidently, the Chinese invested a lot into their swim program. She's probably the result of that.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 01, 2012, 01:50:01 PM
That sort of stuff's common even in the UK where the pro game's not got a massive following. I suppose it's pretty easy and cheap for a sporty kid to start and, like football, you can play with just a few people.
How come there are so few good British or Irish Basketball players then? :hmm:
Quote from: Josephus on August 01, 2012, 01:56:53 PM
So I guess we no longer wait until someone's proven guilty to put someone in the stockade?
When was it that we waited until someone's proven guilty?
I have to see this Chinese girl. I am still convinced she is just some sort of physical freak.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 01, 2012, 01:50:01 PM
That sort of stuff's common even in the UK where the pro game's not got a massive following. I suppose it's pretty easy and cheap for a sporty kid to start and, like football, you can play with just a few people.
The difference is the Spaniards seem to get better from their playing. :P
Quote from: Josephus on August 01, 2012, 01:56:53 PM
So I guess we no longer wait until someone's proven guilty to put someone in the stockade? If this was a 16 year old American, or western, girl who did so well, there would be two movies already in the works about her, and a stamp in her honour, obviously. But because she's Chinese....well.
So far as I know she hasn't failed any doping tests. I know that there are ways around that, perhaps, but the fact is, let the poor girl take her medals.
Wonder what happens when a Chinese athlete wins more than 19 medals. Shock and horror, no doubt.
Prior to Beijing, incidently, the Chinese invested a lot into their swim program. She's probably the result of that.
Wow just wow.
What stockade has anyone placed her in. She still has her medal doesnt she?
As far as you know she hasnt failed any doping tests? Do you know whether she has ever been tested?
Prior to the Biejing olympics the Chinese swim program was heavily using doping. In fact this girl's training partner has been banned because of doping.
But you are probably right. We should probably have no concern about this at all because of some odd theory that if she was American nobody would bat an eye. :rolleyes:
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 01, 2012, 02:06:21 PM
But you are probably right. We should probably have no concern about this at all because of some odd theory that if she was American nobody would bat an eye. :rolleyes:
Of course they wouldn't. You do not see people questioning Lance Armstrong do you?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 02:02:56 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 01, 2012, 01:50:01 PM
That sort of stuff's common even in the UK where the pro game's not got a massive following. I suppose it's pretty easy and cheap for a sporty kid to start and, like football, you can play with just a few people.
The difference is the Spaniards seem to get better from their playing. :P
Soccer players make great basketball players. Still, that doesnt leave the Brits with an excuse.
Quote from: Valmy on August 01, 2012, 02:07:53 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 01, 2012, 02:06:21 PM
But you are probably right. We should probably have no concern about this at all because of some odd theory that if she was American nobody would bat an eye. :rolleyes:
Of course they wouldn't. You do not see people questioning Lance Armstrong do you?
:D
Jo Jo: What CC said. You seem to be proposing a rule that we can't speculate about doping if the athlete is nonwestern.
Yeah, so about this Chinese swimmer: The five seconds was off the time she swam in 2010 at the Asian Games (4:33.79). 4:28.43 would actually be about 6.5 - 7 seconds off of what she swam one year ago in the finals of the 2011 World Championships (4:35.15). In the heats, she swam 4:38.18, meaning she just barely qualified.
This is why the questions popped up.
E: 200 IM Times (finals):
2010 Asian Games: 2.09.37
2011 World Championships: 2.08.90
2012 Olympics: 2:07.57
The 200 improvement was excellent, but nothing wild and crazy. The 400 improvement was...well she got worse from 2010 to 2011, then suddenly dominated everyone in 2012. vOv
E2: Anyway, assuming she isn't some roided up monster, I don't understand why she wouldn't be competing in various middle-ish distance freestyle swims as well as the IMs. She is clearly a good freestyler and doesn't seem to have any issues with stamina, etc.
Woot Wooot Woooooooot!!!!!
Brent Heyden from my home town just won a bronze medal. I remember him as a small kid hanging around the pool swimming for the same club I swam for.
Its a very good feeling to see him succeed.
The Polish were so proud of the Gold medal they just won, they went and had it bronzed.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 01, 2012, 02:42:46 PM
The Polish were so proud of the Gold medal they just won, they went and had it bronzed.
:D Did you just make that up?
Man, lots of ugly on the Chinese women's volleyball team.
Yi's Olympic picks.
Men's volleyball no. Womens' volleyball yes.
Men's soccer no, women's soccer yes.
Men's basketball yes, women's basketball hell no.
Picks of what?
I don't know. Men's Volleyball is such a novelty I find it just weird and therefore entertaining to see.
Unless you are talking beach Volleyball here.
And um what is so especially entertaining about women's soccer?
Quote from: Valmy on August 01, 2012, 04:06:03 PM
And um what is so especially entertaining about women's soccer?
Not monumentally entertaining, just more so than men's.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 04:11:01 PM
Not monumentally entertaining, just more so than men's.
Ah I thought it was an absolute scale of entertainment.
Quote from: Valmy on August 01, 2012, 04:18:33 PM
Ah I thought it was an absolute scale of entertainment.
That too. Entertaining enough to keep watching, at least if some of the better teams are playing. Or the US is ass-raping some sacrifical lamb.
How's that for a sweet mixed metaphor.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 01:25:08 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 01, 2012, 12:55:35 PM
As Gups said, Basketball is probably Spain's 2nd most followed sport after footie (and definitely the 2nd team sport in following). Plenty of players in the national team have NBA experience too. Calderón, the Gasols and Ibaka are all there now. Rudy Fernández played there for several seasons and will come back to Spain next season, Sergio Fernández and Navarro played there for a few years before coming back, and Claver will be a rookie there next season.
I was asking more about mass participation. How common is it see kids playing unorganized ball in the park? How common is it for a family with kids to put a net up in their driveway? That kind of thing.
It's very common, it's a very popular sport. Plenty of courts around any city, teams at every level, etc. No driveways, though, we don't have them over here.
Quote from: The Larch on August 01, 2012, 04:21:09 PM
It's very common, it's a very popular sport. Plenty of courts around any city, teams at every level, etc. No driveways, though, we don't have them over here.
How about pickup games? You and I walk over to the park, yell out that we have next game, and assemble a team from people waiting for a game?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 04:27:02 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 01, 2012, 04:21:09 PM
It's very common, it's a very popular sport. Plenty of courts around any city, teams at every level, etc. No driveways, though, we don't have them over here.
How about pickup games? You and I walk over to the park, yell out that we have next game, and assemble a team from people waiting for a game?
Pretty common too.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 04:20:46 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 01, 2012, 04:18:33 PM
Ah I thought it was an absolute scale of entertainment.
That too. Entertaining enough to keep watching, at least if some of the better teams are playing. Or the US is ass-raping some sacrifical lamb.
How's that for a sweet mixed metaphor.
Well we certainly lack that capability on the Men's side since our U-23 team seriously crapped the bed in qualifiers.
My God, Olympic boxing scoring is a fucking, fucking joke.
And that Turkmenistani judge virtually gave that fight to the Azerbajani when the Japanese boxer totally whaled the fuck out of him in the 3rd round. Guy goes down about 7 times in the 3rd round on punches, no counts, no fight stopped.
Fucking international competition is such fucking bullshit.
I tend to think that, if a sport needs a judge, is it really a sport?
Though I don't care for boxing, or other blood sports, if you're going to do it, it should be "last man standing".
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 01, 2012, 05:02:55 PM
My God, Olympic boxing scoring is a fucking, fucking joke.
And that Turkmenistani judge virtually gave that fight to the Azerbajani when the Japanese boxer totally whaled the fuck out of him in the 3rd round. Guy goes down about 7 times in the 3rd round on punches, no counts, no fight stopped.
Fucking international competition is such fucking bullshit.
Yeah this evening I caught some of it and the first two bouts I saw, I guy, Italian ? was disqualified for holding and the very next match the guy turns up and gets a walk thru as his opponent didn't turn up or hadn't been given one for that round.
Quote from: Valmy on August 01, 2012, 04:41:34 PM
Well we certainly lack that capability on the Men's side since our U-23 team seriously crapped the bed in qualifiers.
The JV teams is part of the reason men's fodbol is not doing it for me.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 04:20:46 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 01, 2012, 04:18:33 PM
Ah I thought it was an absolute scale of entertainment.
That too. Entertaining enough to keep watching, at least if some of the better teams are playing. Or the US is ass-raping some sacrifical lamb.
How's that for a sweet mixed metaphor.
I have to say, I'm becoming quite a fan of Abby Wambach. There is something about a woman who can take a punch to the eye and shrug it off. Wait, that didn't come out right...
Quote from: DGuller on August 01, 2012, 06:34:13 PM
I have to say, I'm becoming quite a fan of Abby Wambach. There is something about a woman who can take a punch to the eye and shrug it off. Wait, that didn't come out right...
I like the two Irish girls on the team. And Alex Morgan. She looks like a lesbian Barbie.
How come I've managed to miss all of the beach volleyball etc; Someone, Yi, needs to give me some links to the 'worthwhile' games that I should catch up on. :)
Yi doesn't have to do much of anything. :)
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 07:54:26 PM
Yi doesn't have to do much of anything. :)
You've finally joined the ranks of the idle rich?
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 01, 2012, 02:42:46 PM
The Polish were so proud of the Gold medal they just won, they went and had it bronzed.
:lol:
Both me and my wife laughed our asses off.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 06:26:37 PM
The JV teams is part of the reason men's fodbol is not doing it for me.
Yeah this has always annoyed me. Why do we only have one meaningful tournament every four years? This is not so bad for the Euros since their confederation tournament is also considered a major but for us in CONCACAF this means we have exactly one shot every four years and that blows. And don't act like anybody really cares about Copa America outside of South America. ESPN does not cover that one live for a reason. Heck even the Confederation Cup is a joke. Pretty much whenever the US beats somebody outside of the WC I am always told it was meaningless. Meh.
The Olympics would be a perfect midpoint for another major championship I just do not get why that doesn't happen. Probably some political garbage between the IOC and FIFA.
Quote from: Valmy on August 01, 2012, 08:17:17 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 06:26:37 PM
The JV teams is part of the reason men's fodbol is not doing it for me.
Yeah this has always annoyed me. Why do we only have one meaningful tournament every four years? This is not so bad for the Euros since their confederation tournament is also considered a major but for us in CONCACAF this means we have exactly one shot every four years and that blows. And don't act like anybody really cares about Copa America outside of South America. ESPN does not cover that one live for a reason. Heck even the Confederation Cup is a joke. Pretty much whenever the US beats somebody outside of the WC I am always told it was meaningless. Meh.
The Olympics would be a perfect midpoint for another major championship I just do not get why that doesn't happen. Probably some political garbage between the IOC and FIFA.
The European leagues are close to starting. I'm sure ManU would be PISSED if Rooney blew out a knee at the Olympics 3 weeks before the season starts. Or that eggplant that Mart swoons over that is a big crybaby for that Dago team.
Incidentally todays event's haven't exactly given the lie to the old adage that the Brits are only good at sports were they can sit down. :bowler:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.thesun.co.uk%2Fmultimedia%2Farchive%2F01558%2FSNA02FRONT1-_1558994a.jpg&hash=a945292f25db9977aed87e8c12ce380413ce50fb)
Quote from: Neil on August 01, 2012, 08:14:35 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 01, 2012, 02:42:46 PM
The Polish were so proud of the Gold medal they just won, they went and had it bronzed.
:lol:
Both me and my wife laughed our asses off.
:)
And Yi asked if I made it up. Nope, stolen from the interweb somewhere.
Some nice looking birds on the Russian roundball team.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 01, 2012, 12:05:45 PM
Some sort of betting thing or whatever going on with three four women's doubles badminton teams. China, South Korea, and Indonesia were all tossed out of the games for trying to lose on purpose.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/worlds-top-badminton-pair-play-to-lose-group-match-at-london-olympics/2012/07/31/gJQAPoerNX_story.html
Did anyone actually see this?
Yeah, I saw a bit of the Chinese - S. Korea, it was ridiculous. The entire Wembley arena booed at both teams who were competing in most net hits, serve errors and what not. All in all a horrible attitude and they were rightly thrown out of the competition.
Also, it wasn't a betting thing, they tried to get into an easier bracket for the quarterfinals.
Quote from: mongers on August 01, 2012, 07:49:52 PM
How come I've managed to miss all of the beach volleyball etc; Someone, Yi, needs to give me some links to the 'worthwhile' games that I should catch up on. :)
They've mostly been wearing full body suits. Blood English weather.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 01, 2012, 02:38:47 PM
Woot Wooot Woooooooot!!!!!
Brent Heyden from my home town just won a bronze medal. I remember him as a small kid hanging around the pool swimming for the same club I swam for.
Its a very good feeling to see him succeed.
:)
Quote from: Liep on August 02, 2012, 04:53:49 AM
Yeah, I saw a bit of the Chinese - S. Korea, it was ridiculous. The entire Wembley arena booed at both teams who were competing in most net hits, serve errors and what not. All in all a horrible attitude and they were rightly thrown out of the competition.
Also, it wasn't a betting thing, they tried to get into an easier bracket for the quarterfinals.
Yeah, they didn't want to match up with the Chinese pair in the doubles or something. Very silly overall.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 01, 2012, 05:02:55 PM
My God, Olympic boxing scoring is a fucking, fucking joke.
And that Turkmenistani judge virtually gave that fight to the Azerbajani when the Japanese boxer totally whaled the fuck out of him in the 3rd round. Guy goes down about 7 times in the 3rd round on punches, no counts, no fight stopped.
Fucking international competition is such fucking bullshit.
The ruling has been overturned in favor of the Japanese.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19088420
what i've seen of the sports bores me.
Though I did catch some gymnastics last night and found one of the Japanese gymnasts to be teh hotness.
Considering gymnasts have a reputation of being about 15 this therefore makes me a bad, bad man.
The 2 man canoe slalom was pretty neat. Congrats Brits. :bowler:
Quote from: Tyr on August 02, 2012, 09:45:42 AM
what i've seen of the sports bores me.
Though I did catch some gymnastics last night and found one of the Japanese gymnasts to be teh hotness.
Considering gymnasts have a reputation of being about 15 this therefore makes me a bad, bad man.
They actually have to be 16 to compete.
Quote from: Octavian on August 02, 2012, 07:10:05 AM
The ruling has been overturned in favor of the Japanese.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19088420
Good! Now they just need to buy that ref a plane ticket home.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 01, 2012, 08:58:47 PM
Some nice looking birds on the Russian roundball team.
The Norgy handball team comprises clunge of the highest quality, all in tight little shorts. Except the goalie who's a bit of a minger.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 01, 2012, 08:31:54 PM
Quote from: Neil on August 01, 2012, 08:14:35 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 01, 2012, 02:42:46 PM
The Polish were so proud of the Gold medal they just won, they went and had it bronzed.
:lol:
Both me and my wife laughed our asses off.
:)
And Yi asked if I made it up. Nope, stolen from the interweb somewhere.
I remember that one from elementary school. Still funny, as are most Polack jokes.
Quote from: Gups on August 02, 2012, 10:01:37 AM
The Norgy handball team comprises clunge of the highest quality, all in tight little shorts. Except the goalie who's a bit of a minger.
Thanks for the heads up.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 02, 2012, 09:57:20 AM
Quote from: Octavian on August 02, 2012, 07:10:05 AM
The ruling has been overturned in favor of the Japanese.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19088420
Good! Now they just need to buy that ref a plane ticket home.
Don't know if they bought his ticket but he has been sent home.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/londonspy/boxing-referee-sent-home-gaffe-170430947.html
If I heard correctly Spain only beat UK by one point in men's basketball. :o
Might have been a meaningless game but still.
FYI Luol Deng plays for the Ukes.
Yep Deng is only NBA player on the GB roster.
USA basketball is taking it easy vs Nigeria. :lol:
Quote from: katmai on August 02, 2012, 05:42:23 PM
USA basketball is taking it easy vs Nigeria. :lol:
That game was fucking hilarious. Nigeria gave up even trying to play defense and the US kept hitting threes even when they were up by 77 in the 4th quarter.
Quote from: derspiess on August 02, 2012, 05:54:12 PM
Quote from: katmai on August 02, 2012, 05:42:23 PM
USA basketball is taking it easy vs Nigeria. :lol:
That game was fucking hilarious. Nigeria gave up even trying to play defense and the US kept hitting threes even when they were up by 77 in the 4th quarter.
Apparently Coach K. was annoyed by post game questions on why US ran up the score, the US team is damned if they don't play their best, damned if they do play their best. :lmfao:
I've found out the attractive Japanese gymnast is actually in her 20s.
My honour is restored.
And glad they've overturned the decision about that Japanese boxer who smacked his opponent down but still lost. That was mad.
Its weird but there seems to be a tonne of support from the British crowds for the Japanese athletes.
(I'm mostly watching on J-TV hence the focus tends to be on Japan)
Rumours over half of Pink Floyd reuniting for closing ceremonies. Defintely the prog olympics.
Quote from: katmai on August 02, 2012, 09:29:36 PM
Apparently Coach K. was annoyed by post game questions on why US ran up the score, the US team is damned if they don't play their best, damned if they do play their best. :lmfao:
Meh if you don't want games like this do not let shitty teams like Nigeria qualify.
:lmfao:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFBHjgpIq7I
I thought I was the only one who noticed the less than ideal ad choice to come right after the inspiring speech about Gabby's race being a non-issue.
At least it was doing a male Olympic event. Nobody has any problem with people being racist against the men's team since they are a bunch of miserable chokers.
Trampoline? WTF? When did they add this bullshit?
What the fuck is next, kiddie pool Jell-O wrestling?
Goddamn, I hate the summer Olympics. Give me luge wipeouts at 68mph any day.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 02, 2012, 04:04:32 PM
If I heard correctly Spain only beat UK by one point in men's basketball. :o
Might have been a meaningless game but still.
FYI Luol Deng plays for the Ukes.
Haven't seen any of their games, but from the final scores it appear the UK team has at least been respectible, though they have lost every time out.
Canada's basketball team beat Brazil for the first time in over a decade to advance to the quarter finals. Now they have to beat the Aussies to avoid meeting the US in the cross over.
Quote from: Josephus on August 03, 2012, 07:44:33 AM
Rumours over half of Pink Floyd reuniting for closing ceremonies. Defintely the prog olympics.
Dude, there are only two left. Three if you count Roger Waters.
Quote from: Drakken on August 03, 2012, 12:49:28 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 03, 2012, 07:44:33 AM
Rumours over half of Pink Floyd reuniting for closing ceremonies. Defintely the prog olympics.
Dude, there are only two left. Three if you count Roger Waters.
Zombies in the closing ceremony? I'd watch that.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 03, 2012, 08:42:03 AM
Trampoline? WTF? When did they add this bullshit?
What the fuck is next, kiddie pool Jell-O wrestling?
Goddamn, I hate the summer Olympics. Give me luge wipeouts at 68mph any day.
Seriously the Keirin must be the silliest event in the Olympics.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpedalevivaemequilibrio.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F01%2Fmens-keirin-019.jpg%3Fw%3D640%26amp%3Bh%3D432&hash=bb0dadd5fd6f38e85e9f334f68cb8f549c5f3ae8)
:blink:
GB wins gold and sets a world record in the men's pursuit title and looks set to win more medals in the cycling. :bowler:
Okay, the Cali Chinamen girls aren't bad.
Next Month they will be back in High School
WHOOPS. OH SNAP
Man, these little yellow bastards are downright vicious with badminton. They attack that net like it's the fucking Yalu.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 03, 2012, 02:40:54 PM
Man, these little yellow bastards are downright vicious with badminton. They attack that net like it's the fucking Yalu.
Later on, they will gold farm in their rooms.
Tough, gritty, inspiring performance by an undersized British women's basketball team against France. France wins by 1 in OT. English coach Eddie the Eagle blows the chance at a first ever win by telling his team not to foul up 3 with 5 to play.
Hats off to the Pomettes.
Quote from: Drakken on August 03, 2012, 12:49:28 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 03, 2012, 07:44:33 AM
Rumours over half of Pink Floyd reuniting for closing ceremonies. Defintely the prog olympics.
Dude, there are only two left. Three if you count Roger Waters.
Yes exactly. The drummer is half the band now. ;)
Canada's women's football team beat not-so-Great Britain and for the first time in over a decade advance to the semi finals. Now we have to beat the Americans at Old Trafford on Monday. If we do , it will be the first Canadian team medal since the 30s or somethign, not counting the 84 Olympics that weren't.
One thing that was weird about the GB-FR chicks' b-ball game was they had a girl at center court with a mike exhorting the crowd to dance along to YMCA during period breaks. :huh:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 03, 2012, 02:40:54 PM
Man, these little yellow bastards are downright vicious with badminton. They attack that net like it's the fucking Yalu.
Their racquets are backed with NUCLEAR WEAPONS!
Amusing that the Australians are doing so badly and the Kiwis are winning so much more than them. :cool:
What is it with New Zealand performing so well, what with only have 3-4 million people.
That Bulgarian runner chick with the 7 surgeries on her leg is pretty cute.
Quote from: Josephus on August 03, 2012, 04:13:08 PM
If we do , it will be the first Canadian team medal since the 30s or somethign, not counting the 84 Olympics that weren't.
Why weren't the 84 Olympics? Do you mean the 44 Olympics or something? :hmm:
Well, all the good teams, other than the USA, boyotted them. Which is why Canada did reasonably well that time.
Quote from: mongers on August 03, 2012, 01:02:09 PM
Seriously the Keirin must be the silliest event in the Olympics.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpedalevivaemequilibrio.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F01%2Fmens-keirin-019.jpg%3Fw%3D640%26amp%3Bh%3D432&hash=bb0dadd5fd6f38e85e9f334f68cb8f549c5f3ae8)
:blink:
Hahaha I just watched the women's <distance I guess> Keirin just now. I don't understand the purpose of the motorized thingy. Why can't they just get up to speed on their own and go 7 laps by themselves?
Quote from: mongers on August 03, 2012, 01:02:09 PM
Seriously the Keirin must be the silliest event in the Olympics.
All the team bicycling-in-a-circle events are pretty silly. :contract:
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 04, 2012, 12:05:41 AM
Hahaha I just watched the women's <distance I guess> Keirin just now. I don't understand the purpose of the motorized thingy. Why can't they just get up to speed on their own and go 7 laps by themselves?
My thought exactly. What a fucking retard sport.
Did you guys see the 15 year old swimmer chick blubbering away during the national anthem? That was awesome.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2012, 01:17:21 AM
Did you guys see the 15 year old swimmer chick blubbering away during the national anthem? That was awesome.
Yeah.
She looks older than 15.
Speaking of swimmers knocking off big chunks off their personal best.
Meh, she dominated the competition in quals too (her qualifying time would have gotten her a bronze, I believe). It's a long distance event. Bigger time gaps aren't really weird, especially when they're relatively new and have only swum the event a couple of times against world class competition.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2012, 01:07:55 AM
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 04, 2012, 12:05:41 AM
Hahaha I just watched the women's <distance I guess> Keirin just now. I don't understand the purpose of the motorized thingy. Why can't they just get up to speed on their own and go 7 laps by themselves?
My thought exactly. What a fucking retard sport.
The wind resistant at 50km/h is a big factor, so whoever had to lead would be at a disadvantage. If you've ever seen a sprint event they battle about not going first in the beginning, I've seen riders stand absolutely still on their bikes trying to avoid it.
Photo finish in ladies triathlon.
Quote from: katmai on August 04, 2012, 01:22:21 AM
Speaking of swimmers knocking off big chunks off their personal best.
But the chinese ones are doping. :glare:
Quote from: katmai on August 04, 2012, 01:22:21 AM
Speaking of swimmers knocking off big chunks off their personal best.
I was actually surprised Phelps recovered from early in the Olympics with his silvers and started snatching golds; after all, since Beijing it's been all bongs and Vegas cocktail waitress necksnappers.
Didn't think he had taken his training seriously for these games.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 04, 2012, 07:43:15 AM
Quote from: katmai on August 04, 2012, 01:22:21 AM
Speaking of swimmers knocking off big chunks off their personal best.
I was actually surprised Phelps recovered from early in the Olympics with his silvers and started snatching golds; after all, since Beijing it's been all bongs and Vegas cocktail waitress necksnappers.
Didn't think he had taken his training seriously for these games.
He ate fresh, unlike Tiger Woods.
Man, I said it last week, and I'm saying it again: this Jap soccer team is fucking fast. They're like a swarm of little Kamikazes that aren't allowed to use their hands.
GOLD!
Team GB's women's 3000m pursuit team is quite fine. And fast.
Wow, the German ref of the Brazil-Honduras game must think that yellow (and red) goes great with his uniform.
Quote from: Liep on August 04, 2012, 02:25:57 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2012, 01:07:55 AM
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 04, 2012, 12:05:41 AM
Hahaha I just watched the women's <distance I guess> Keirin just now. I don't understand the purpose of the motorized thingy. Why can't they just get up to speed on their own and go 7 laps by themselves?
My thought exactly. What a fucking retard sport.
The wind resistant at 50km/h is a big factor, so whoever had to lead would be at a disadvantage. If you've ever seen a sprint event they battle about not going first in the beginning, I've seen riders stand absolutely still on their bikes trying to avoid it.
Ah ok that makes sense.
Quote from: Josephus on August 04, 2012, 07:36:04 AM
Quote from: katmai on August 04, 2012, 01:22:21 AM
Speaking of swimmers knocking off big chunks off their personal best.
But the chinese ones are doping. :glare:
Only Chinese people like Lance Armstrong have ever been accused of doping. OMG TEH RACIZM
The Chinese win medals like crazy and ONE gets suspected of doping and you get all insulted what a joke.
Quote from: Liep on August 04, 2012, 10:36:35 AM
Team GB's women's 3000m pursuit team is quite fine. And fast.
Okay, to correct myself, 2/3 of the team look fine, that one with the hair-loss decease looks, yeah, well.. sick. :P
Any soccer pros care to weigh in on Brazil-Honduras? Did that game really warrant 10+ yellow cards, and in seemingly one direction? Or did the ref just go on a power trip?
Soccer should really not be an Olympic sport.
Quote from: Liep on August 04, 2012, 02:25:57 AM
The wind resistant at 50km/h is a big factor, so whoever had to lead would be at a disadvantage. If you've ever seen a sprint event they battle about not going first in the beginning, I've seen riders stand absolutely still on their bikes trying to avoid it.
In the moped pursuit there was a portion at the end when the cyclists started racing. Make the race that long. The laps when they are following the moped are meaningless.
Quote from: DGuller on August 04, 2012, 01:11:42 PM
Any soccer pros care to weigh in on Brazil-Honduras? Did that game really warrant 10+ yellow cards, and in seemingly one direction? Or did the ref just go on a power trip?
Honduras really sucks and they were fouling every chance they got. It helps when a Brazillian rolls on the grass sixty times every time he is fouled too. Fair number of cards imo. The shit commentators were just trying to fill time with manufactured outrage.
Quote from: FunkMonk on August 04, 2012, 02:42:02 PM
Honduras really sucks and they were fouling every chance they got. It helps when a Brazillian rolls on the grass sixty times every time he is fouled too. Fair number of cards imo. The shit commentators were just trying to fill time with manufactured outrage.
Well they beat Spain's U-23 so they cannot be too terrible.
Farrah and Rupp winning the 10K was pretty awesome. One moment from these games that will stick with me for awhile.
Whoever wins this South Korean/Great Britain marathon match ain't going to have the legs to move on.
Quote from: Valmy on August 04, 2012, 03:52:03 PM
Farrah and Rupp winning the 10K was pretty awesome. One moment from these games that will stick with me for awhile.
I didn't think white guys could still get medals in that event.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 04, 2012, 03:54:43 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 04, 2012, 03:52:03 PM
Farrah and Rupp winning the 10K was pretty awesome. One moment from these games that will stick with me for awhile.
I didn't think white guys could still get medals in that event.
Raciss :angry:
Besides surely you mean the 100m :P
Well, shit. Sorry, London.
Good to see doesn't matter if it is England or GB, they will fail at PK's
Quote from: katmai on August 04, 2012, 04:14:04 PM
Good to see doesn't matter if it is England or GB, they will fail at PK's
Well it was just England and Wales. Wales may suck at PKs as well for all I know I have never seen them play.
I thought they had a NI on team, might have been Women's squad :unsure:
Quote from: Valmy on August 04, 2012, 04:10:55 PM
Raciss :angry:
Besides surely you mean the 100m :P
Then I would be shocked instead of merely surprised.
Quite the ragepout by the British dude who missed his shot.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 04, 2012, 03:54:43 PM
I didn't think white guys could still get medals in that event.
Didn't the Finns used to dominate this distance?
Man, that Jessica Ennis is a fabulously hot piece of woman, and a great athlete too. she totally deserved her Gold in woman's heptathlon. Too bad for the other Jessica (Zelinka). :cry:
A magic night for GB's in track and field tonight. First Ennis, then Rutherford in long-jumping, and finally Farah in 10K.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 04, 2012, 04:13:51 PM
Well, shit. Sorry, London.
No need to console them. They're used to crashing out on penalties in the quarters.
The American 100 m chick is kind of cute. The one with the huge choppers.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2012, 04:27:59 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 04, 2012, 03:54:43 PM
I didn't think white guys could still get medals in that event.
Didn't the Finns used to dominate this distance?
I don't think the Kenyans and Ethiopians were competing at their full potential in those days.
US medals in chick fencing, in overtime against the Cossacks to boot.
She ripped off her helmet when she scored the winning kill, I was expecting to see a flag on that.
Quote from: Josephus on August 03, 2012, 10:15:39 PM
Well, all the good teams, other than the USA, boyotted them. Which is why Canada did reasonably well that time.
Yeah well all those teams cleaned up in 1980 so it just evened things out ;)
Lithuania took USA basketball down to the wire. Had a brief 2 point lead in the 4th.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2012, 08:13:23 PM
Lithuania took USA basketball down to the wire. Had a brief 2 point lead in the 4th.
That is pretty common when they play the really serious Basketball countries. Argentina took them down to the wire as well in the exhibition pre-Olympic games....and hey look who is next for USA Basketball.
WHat I really appreciate about Bradley Wiggins, btw, is that with his hairstyle and face he wouldn't look out of place playing an officer in a Sharpe movie.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic2.kleinezeitung.at%2Fsystem%2Fgalleries_520x335%2Fupload%2F5%2F0%2F2%2F3082562%2Fwiggins_030812_APA726.jpg&hash=f9fbb63d9f83b1d3c2fade6e7254ab5b38d0a4f4)
What's with the "rubber face" slow-mo shots in the running events? Were they a new edition, or did I just not notice it before?
Well, Murray finally did it.
Quote from: Valmy on August 04, 2012, 12:27:53 PM
The Chinese win medals like crazy and ONE gets suspected of doping and you get all insulted what a joke.
The head coach of US swimming publicly suggested she was cheating. It was disgracefully bad sportsmanship. The suspicion does seem to be because she's Chinese too (despite having spent most of her life in Oz for training, and the Aussies have pretty strong anti-doping tests), when a similarly aged Lithuanian girl did much the same there was no accusations.
Also Armstrong as well as being a rather unpleasant man was definitely a cheat.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 05, 2012, 12:02:36 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 04, 2012, 12:27:53 PM
The Chinese win medals like crazy and ONE gets suspected of doping and you get all insulted what a joke.
The head coach of US swimming publicly suggested she was cheating. It was disgracefully bad sportsmanship. The suspicion does seem to be because she's Chinese too (despite having spent most of her life in Oz for training, and the Aussies have pretty strong anti-doping tests), when a similarly aged Lithuanian girl did much the same there was no accusations.
Also Armstrong as well as being a rather unpleasant man was definitely a cheat.
This is total garbage. There are circumstances that make her performance out of the ordinary. Nothing in the Lithuanian girls performance was out of the range of what one would reasonable expect her to do. She only beat her PB by a few hundredths of a second not full seconds. So I do not see WTF you are talking about besides they are both women who won golds who were not Americans and because it is convenient to link the two because it helps your baseless case here. What do we now have to have a coach imply every single gold medalist is doping for every event going forward regardless of circumstances to prove we are consistent? Whatever. Please explain why it seems that she was accused because she is Chinese. Chinese have won many gold medals and we have not had coaches make speculations like this before.
This is precisely why Armstrong is suspected as well of course, his performances were way beyond what he was doing before and beyong what one would reasonable expect a world class cyclist to do in his era. But it seems suspecting him is definite while suspecting a similar situation involving somebody who is Chinese can only be based on national hatred. FOr some reason.
Quote from: Valmy on August 05, 2012, 01:58:00 PMThis is total garbage. There are circumstances that make her performance out of the ordinary. Nothing in the Lithuanian girls performance was out of the range of what one would reasonable expect her to do. She only beat her PB by a few hundredths of a second not full seconds. So I do not see WTF you are talking about besides they are both women who won golds who were not Americans and because it is convenient to link the two because it helps your baseless case here.
They're both untipped 15-16 year olds who won the gold while getting new PBs. I thought the Lithuanian girl had cut her PB by 3 seconds? But as I say Ian Thorpe says that he'd cut his PB by 5 seconds between meets when he was a teenager because that's when you're able to do it.
Maybe she cheated, and certainly China's got a history of doping. But she's been training in Australia for years, is at an age when you make immense physical gains quickly and has been through all the Olympics anti-doping tests. The very least a fellow competitor should do is show a bit of class and give her the benefit of the doubt. Until there's actual official allegations she should be celebrated and not have slurs thrown at her like this. For me I think the public allegations by a head coach are one of those things in sport that's just really distasteful, like the hounding of Caster Semenya.
QuoteWhat do we now have to have a coach imply every single gold medalist is doping for every event going forward regardless of circumstances to prove we are consistent?
No. You don't have a head coach implying anyone's cheating until there's a factual basis to do it.
Clare Balding (BBC host) did the same and should apologise for it, but she's not quite as important.
QuoteThis is precisely why Armstrong is suspected as well of course, his performances were way beyond what he was doing before and beyong what one would reasonable expect a world class cyclist to do in his era.
It was also that Armstrong's team doctor was implicated in a huge number of doping scandals throughout the 90s and eventually given a lifetime ban from the sport, 5 years later Armstrong finally severed that relationship. In addition there's repeated allegations by team-mates and the rumours in other teams through the period.
Some of those Turkish volleyball girls: :perv:
Spellus is still a chump though.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 05, 2012, 02:27:06 PM
Some of those Turkish volleyball girls: :perv:
Too tall.
Shelf: did you feel the same way about public accusations of East German steroid use?
US passed China in golds last time I checked. Thank God there's 300 swimming events. :D
Course China wins all the lameass diving medals.
Darnel of Turkey. :licklips:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F0%2F0e%2FNeslihan_Darnel_1.jpg%2F200px-Neslihan_Darnel_1.jpg&hash=58bc5e5c5754a7f6524935dae6a860517a4bd379)
Volleyball players, the choice of "legs" men the world over.
And turdcutters.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 05, 2012, 02:27:06 PM
Some of those Turkish volleyball girls: :perv:
Spellus is still a chump though.
I can get behind this.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 05, 2012, 02:46:58 PM
Shelf: did you feel the same way about public accusations of East German steroid use?
I wasn't around then. But I think head coaches should be an example of sportsmanship, including losing well.
Although I think there's a big difference between her and a random 80s East German because she's spent so much time training in Australia. Would yo view an East German athlete differently, with regards to doping, if you knew they were generally based in Canada?
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 05, 2012, 03:33:17 PM
I wasn't around then. But I think head coaches should be an example of sportsmanship, including losing well.
Although I think there's a big difference between her and a random 80s East German because she's spent so much time training in Australia. Would yo view an East German athlete differently, with regards to doping, if you knew they were generally based in Canada?
It's a point in their favor, but not an ironclad defense in my view, unless you think the Ozzie coach has them under 24 hour lockdown.
Are you sure the accusee has been training in Australia? I saw a profile of the Chinese male 1,500 meter dude and it made no mention of the chick.
Thumbs up on the Turkish hotties. Two clear hits and one near miss. Sort of a young unfat Kirstie Alley vibe.
Interesting that over half of the USA's medals have come from just one sport, swimming.
GB is a bit more balanced with rowing making up 25% (9 of 37medals) , with cycling track (5), athletics (4) , gymnastics (3), swimming (3)and cycling road (3) each making up around 10% of the medal total.
China had a more diverse range of medals with swimming accounting for 10 of their 61 medals, followed by Badminton 8, Weightlifting 7 Shooting 7 and diving 6.
Quote from: mongers on August 05, 2012, 03:47:14 PM
Interesting that over half of the USA's medals have come from just one sport, swimming.
GB is a bit more balanced with rowing making up 25% (9 of 37medals) , with cycling track (5), athletics (4) , gymnastics (3), swimming (3)and cycling road (3) each making up around 10% of the medal total.
China had a more diverse range of medals with swimming accounting for 10 of their 61 medals, followed by Badminton 8, Weightlifting 7 Shooting 7 and diving 6.
China has very consciously been pursuing a strategy of putting heavy resources into unpopular (i.e. lame-ass) sports with lots of medals to give.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 05, 2012, 03:58:15 PM
China has very consciously been pursuing a strategy of putting heavy resources into unpopular (i.e. lame-ass) sports with lots of medals to give.
Sneaky bastards.
A shitload of American gold in swimming, and we haven't even started really getting into the track stuff yet.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 05, 2012, 04:03:04 PM
A shitload of American gold in swimming, and we haven't even started really getting into the track stuff yet.
Jamaicans own short distance now. Don't get your hopes up.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 05, 2012, 04:07:32 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 05, 2012, 04:03:04 PM
A shitload of American gold in swimming, and we haven't even started really getting into the track stuff yet.
Jamaicans own short distance now. Don't get your hopes up.
Asafa Powell seems to have injuried himself during the 100m finals, so maybe the US can challenge Jamaica for the 4x100m relays gold now. Then again Bolt and Blake are quite ahead of everyone else, so it'll still be quite difficult.
Btw, they just interviewd Blake in tv and fuck me if I managed to understand more than two sentences.
Quote from: The Larch on August 05, 2012, 04:11:19 PM
Btw, they just interviewd Blake in tv and fuck me if I managed to understand more than two sentences.
:D And that's him making an effort to speak school English. Imagine what it's like when they switch to patois.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 05, 2012, 04:07:32 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 05, 2012, 04:03:04 PM
A shitload of American gold in swimming, and we haven't even started really getting into the track stuff yet.
Jamaicans own short distance now. Don't get your hopes up.
True, Bolt is in town, but whatserface barely beat out our girl yesterday. There's plenty of runs left.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 05, 2012, 04:18:54 PM
True, Bolt is in town, but whatserface barely beat out our girl yesterday. There's plenty of runs left.
Compare that to the olden days, when we used to have a lock on the golds and the only question was if we would sweep or some Carribean dude would sneak in for the bronze.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 05, 2012, 03:44:33 PM
It's a point in their favor, but not an ironclad defense in my view, unless you think the Ozzie coach has them under 24 hour lockdown.
Not quite, but for her to train as a pro with the best Aussie coaches she has to be in the Australian anti-doping regime. After all if it's found out that she's been doping and training in Australia then it's a big blow to their reputation too.
QuoteAre you sure the accusee has been training in Australia? I saw a profile of the Chinese male 1,500 meter dude and it made no mention of the chick.
I believe she's been training in Australia and China in 12 week bouts for the past 2-3 years.
Edit: Also Bolt is awesome. But I love his interactions with the volunteers and their coy, really excited smiles. He's great :)
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 05, 2012, 04:14:04 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 05, 2012, 04:11:19 PM
Btw, they just interviewd Blake in tv and fuck me if I managed to understand more than two sentences.
:D And that's him making an effort to speak school English. Imagine what it's like when they switch to patois.
Bolt was much more understandable, though. I don't know if it's because he's been training in the US longer or not.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 05, 2012, 04:27:52 PM
Not quite, but for her to train as a pro with the best Aussie coaches she has to be in the Australian anti-doping regime. After all if it's found out that she's been doping and training in Australia then it's a big blow to their reputation too.
Is this inference or a statement of fact?
Mo Farris trained in the US. The Russian basketball coach is American. You think that means the US OC is now responsible for guaranteeing they don't dope or otherwise cheat?
The US jailbait gmynastics coach is Romanian. Is it on Romania if a US gymnast is underage?
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 05, 2012, 04:27:52 PMEdit: Also Bolt is awesome. But I love his interactions with the volunteers and their coy, really excited smiles. He's great :)
When he was being interviewed for Spanish tv the US anthem started playing, as they had just given the gold medal to a female athlete, and he asked for the interview to stop while the cerimony lasted, and stood up in respect of it. Classy.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 05, 2012, 04:35:45 PM
Is this inference or a statement of fact?
It's a statement of fact. To train in Australia with Australian pro-swimming coaches she has to participate in Australian anti-doping regulations.
QuoteMo Farris trained in the US. The Russian basketball coach is American. You think that means the US OC is now responsible for guaranteeing they don't dope or otherwise cheat?
Do you mean Mo Farrah? The US OC isn't responsible for anything but enforcing their anti-doping regulations, that probably means that Mo Farrah had to be tested by the US OC as well as GB OC.
The Russian basketball comparison I don't get. Do they train in the US too? :mellow:
Some drunk threw an empty bottle onto the field before the 100m. Apparently he was sat next to Dutch Judo champ Edith Bosch who punched him :lol:
Then security kicked him out.
And the Police near the stadium got excited too:
(https://twitpic.com/show/large/afxkyr)
:lol:
The one on the left has never run 100m.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 05, 2012, 04:41:03 PM
It's a statement of fact. To train in Australia with Australian pro-swimming coaches she has to participate in Australian anti-doping regulations.
OK then. Josephus is off the hook for his Maoist sympathies. :)
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 05, 2012, 02:50:20 PM
Course China wins all the lameass diving medals.
Yeah, that's a head-scratcher. You'd think Italians would sweep those events.
America is letting us down. The Czechs, Germans & Spanish all have better looking beach volleyball teams then ours.
Quote from: mongers on August 03, 2012, 08:36:39 PM
Amusing that the Australians are doing so badly and the Kiwis are winning so much more than them. :cool:
What is it with New Zealand performing so well, what with only have 3-4 million people.
Just saw on Yahoo!Sports that apparantly Aussie TV was censoring the NZ medal totals when they Kiwis were ahead of them.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 05, 2012, 04:47:17 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 05, 2012, 04:41:03 PM
It's a statement of fact. To train in Australia with Australian pro-swimming coaches she has to participate in Australian anti-doping regulations.
OK then. Josephus is off the hook for his Maoist sympathies. :)
:hmm:
Thanks Sheilbh. :lol:
Quote from: katmai on August 05, 2012, 05:48:58 PM
America is letting us down. The Czechs, Germans & Spanish all have better looking beach volleyball teams then ours.
Hard to tell. Generally I been cheering for the team that wears the bikinis. The whole full body suits suck.
Quote from: dps on August 05, 2012, 05:55:49 PM
Quote from: mongers on August 03, 2012, 08:36:39 PM
Amusing that the Australians are doing so badly and the Kiwis are winning so much more than them. :cool:
What is it with New Zealand performing so well, what with only have 3-4 million people.
Just saw on Yahoo!Sports that apparantly Aussie TV was censoring the NZ medal totals when they Kiwis were ahead of them.
The Aussies are having a appalling games, one is tempted to feel sorry for them, which would be inconceivable back in the old days.
I like this new habit that the British team seems to be developing, that of grabbing rather a lot of medals, keep it up boys and girls :bowler:
Quote from: katmai on August 05, 2012, 05:48:58 PM
America is letting us down. The Czechs, Germans & Spanish all have better looking beach volleyball teams then ours.
It might seem unimportant now, but future historians will undoubtedly identify this as the moment that the USA lost its position as sole super-power and started an irrevocable decline :(
Nah, the US will just go for having a super heavy weight category added to all events :P
On the medal note, if you go by number of medals relative to population then NZ is leading, with Slovenia second and Denmark third.
US is then no 30 and China no 45
V
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on August 06, 2012, 02:51:44 AM
I like this new habit that the British team seems to be developing, that of grabbing rather a lot of medals, keep it up boys and girls :bowler:
Have the Brits always been this strong in rowing? Not a sport I've usually paid tons of attention to.
There is a list of their Olympic record over here :
http://www.britishrowing.org/gb-rowing-team/events/olympic-games
Notice the poor record in the period 1950-84. I think that may be due to many countries relaxing the rules on amateurism and Britain still applying them. Since 1997 money from the National Lottery has been used to improve British sports and all talk of amateurism has been ditched. The money is quite modest, perhaps £60m a year for the Olympic sports, but it allows promising athletes the luxury of not having to earn a living and access to decent training.
Medal count:
http://www.london2012.com/medals/medal-count/
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on August 06, 2012, 05:13:51 AM
There is a list of their Olympic record over here :
http://www.britishrowing.org/gb-rowing-team/events/olympic-games
Notice the poor record in the period 1950-84. I think that may be due to many countries relaxing the rules on amateurism and Britain still applying them. Since 1997 money from the National Lottery has been used to improve British sports and all talk of amateurism has been ditched. The money is quite modest, perhaps £60m a year for the Olympic sports, but it allows promising athletes the luxury of not having to earn a living and access to decent training.
Yeah, we had the same limitations in that period. In particullar it hit our football teams as we started to get pros going to England and italy, and then being barred from the national team, not just for the OL, but also for EC and WC
V
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on August 06, 2012, 05:13:51 AM
There is a list of their Olympic record over here :
http://www.britishrowing.org/gb-rowing-team/events/olympic-games
Notice the poor record in the period 1950-84. I think that may be due to many countries relaxing the rules on amateurism and Britain still applying them. Since 1997 money from the National Lottery has been used to improve British sports and all talk of amateurism has been ditched. The money is quite modest, perhaps £60m a year for the Olympic sports, but it allows promising athletes the luxury of not having to earn a living and access to decent training.
The biggest sponsor of Olympic athletes in Germany is probably the Bundeswehr - a lot of the athletes Germany sends to summer and winter games are part of a special sports support program. This mostly goes for sports where athletes have hardly any chance of making a living from it.
Quote from: Octavian on August 06, 2012, 05:22:20 AM
Medal count:
http://www.london2012.com/medals/medal-count/
Poor Putin...the USSR would be leading right now. :(
Quote from: Tonitrus on August 06, 2012, 05:43:58 AM
Poor Putin...the USSR would be leading right now. :(
I only got 58 totaling up the SSRs. :nerd:
I have 66. Did you count all the 'stans, Moldova, Lithuania?
Quote from: Syt on August 06, 2012, 05:55:39 AM
I have 66. Did you count all the 'stans, Moldova, Lithuania?
Missed Moldava for sure.
HAY SEEDY!
Japan-China women's field hockey on MSNBC. NOW.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 06, 2012, 08:18:33 AM
HAY SEEDY!
Japan-China women's field hockey on MSNBC. NOW.
IM ON IT
ACTIVATE HIGH DEFINITION!
Damn, those girls have some thick ass athletic legs. All those centuries in rice paddies paid off.
Holy crap, the yelling from the players on the Jap and Chink teams sound like a Jap porno.
BRB.
(Damn multiple olympic threads....)
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 06, 2012, 08:18:33 AM
HAY SEEDY!
Japan-China women's field hockey on MSNBC. NOW.
Blue turf. :bleeding:
Quote from: Neil on August 06, 2012, 08:47:35 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 06, 2012, 08:18:33 AM
HAY SEEDY!
Japan-China women's field hockey on MSNBC. NOW.
Blue turf. :bleeding:
It is Boise State-ish, isn't it? :lol:
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 06, 2012, 08:48:41 AM
It is Boise State-ish, isn't it? :lol:
Even Boise doesn't have the bright pink borders and walls around their disgusting field. Good God.
DON'T DEFEND BOISE STATE.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 06, 2012, 08:57:24 AM
DON'T DEFEND BOISE STATE.
The Boise field is better than this hideous blue/pink field hockey abomination. It's also better than the Eastern Washington red field. That's about it though.
The Japanese chicks beat the Chinese chicks.
Only thing cooler would be to see the Japanese team decapitate them with their field hockey sticks for the dishonor of being eliminated for medal contention.
The German chicks are in black.
CSW forum: OMG NAZI GLORIFICATION!
Germany vs New Zealand now. Some German chick just lost a hand or something while I was walking by the TV.
Are these revolting turf colours quite common then? Me and the missus were rather shocked when we first saw the pitch, we'd assumed it would be green :hmm:
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on August 06, 2012, 09:35:56 AM
Are these revolting turf colours quite common then? Me and the missus were rather shocked when we first saw the pitch, we'd assumed it would be green :hmm:
There are at least three NCAA football teams with non-green fields, with Boise State being the most well known one (theirs is blue). Eastern Washingon University has a red field that is pretty awful:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_ldm30pgylc1qzu9hao1_500.jpg&hash=82b25cf8eed0ea00ac7eceffee841bc0aa2abb0a)
Central Arkansas has a purple and grey field:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblacksportsonline.com%2Fhome%2Fwp-content%2Fgallery%2Fpurple-field%2Fpurple-field-2.jpg&hash=d9a97e0d75696975eb592b9ebda712377934800e)
I can't think of any others though. It's not all that common, thankfully.
E: Oh right, there's the blue one in Alaska too:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.bleacherreport.net%2Fimages_root%2Fslides%2Fphotos%2F000%2F325%2F623%2F10-barrow_display_image.jpg&hash=e4b5a42817c51eb923af106792be2778c7251c13)
But that is a high school. There are probably other high schools with gimmicky fields, but that's not something I keep track of.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 06, 2012, 09:40:22 AMCentral Arkansas has a purple and grey field:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblacksportsonline.com%2Fhome%2Fwp-content%2Fgallery%2Fpurple-field%2Fpurple-field-2.jpg&hash=d9a97e0d75696975eb592b9ebda712377934800e)
What. The. Fuck.
Quote from: Syt on August 06, 2012, 09:44:46 AM
What. The. Fuck.
I'm waiting for someone to throw down a black field, then wonder why players are dropping from heat exhaustion during September games.
Jesus H Christ, can't we go back to the days of grass, or in Cleveland Municipal's case, green spray-painted dirt?
I think the red field may be the worst, it is rather hard to see the players apart from anything else :hmm:
Quote from: Syt on August 06, 2012, 09:44:46 AM
What. The. Fuck.
Indeed. Sweet Jesus :blink:
Wimbledon's the only sporting venue I can think of that really pulls off purple.
One argument for keeping football in the Olympics is women's football, which I'd never see otherwise. The US-Canada game's good fun.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 06, 2012, 03:43:36 PM
One argument for keeping football in the Olympics is women's football, which I'd never see otherwise. The US-Canada game's good fun.
Is there an argument for removing football from the Olympics? Dear God. Is there some law we are only allowed to enjoy international competition every four years and every other opportunity must be destroyed? :P
I don't know if it is just because I have all this time to watch the Olympics with the new baby but I don't think I have enjoyed the Olympics this much since Barcelona 1992. Just tons of fun so far.
Quote from: Valmy on August 06, 2012, 04:01:08 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 06, 2012, 03:43:36 PM
One argument for keeping football in the Olympics is women's football, which I'd never see otherwise. The US-Canada game's good fun.
Is there an argument for removing football from the Olympics? Dear God. Is there some law we are only allowed to enjoy international competition every four years and every other opportunity must be destroyed? :P
The argument is that an Olympic medal should be the peak in any Olympic sport. So no more football or tennis.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 06, 2012, 04:03:37 PM
The argument is that an Olympic medal should be the peak in any Olympic sport. So no more football or tennis.
Tennis? Surely those two singles final were worthy of any other Major. I think only Football has this ridiculous pretension that only one tournament counts. In Tennis there have always been multiple major tournaments of equal standing.
And even for Football this is the top U-23 tournament.
Quote from: Valmy on August 06, 2012, 04:08:28 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 06, 2012, 04:03:37 PM
The argument is that an Olympic medal should be the peak in any Olympic sport. So no more football or tennis.
Tennis? Surely those two singles final were worthy of any other Major. I think only Football has this ridiculous pretension that only one tournament counts. In Tennis there have always been multiple major tournaments of equal standing.
And even for Football this is the top U-23 tournament.
In large part I think that's down to the fans, it's just the way international football is, the World Cup is paramount because by now it is.
Quote from: mongers on August 06, 2012, 04:13:30 PM
In large part I think that's down to the fans, it's just the way international football is, the World Cup is paramount because by now it is.
I think FIFA has something to do with making the WC a big deal as well. Also football organizations love pyramids and championships of ascending importance. They love their org charts.
But football fans are a weird group if they demand we get to see as little football as we can.
Its always a shame when ref makes a bad call to decide a game. Particularly bad in the Olympics.
Quote from: Valmy on August 06, 2012, 04:08:28 PM
Tennis? Surely those two singles final were worthy of any other Major. I think only Football has this ridiculous pretension that only one tournament counts. In Tennis there have always been multiple major tournaments of equal standing.
They were great games and I'm delighted for Murray but I think everyone would agree a grandslam matters more.
Brilliant game. Well done USA.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 06, 2012, 04:21:34 PM
They were great games and I'm delighted for Murray but I think everyone would agree a grandslam matters more.
I don't know man. Those top players were all there for reason. Besides we play the grandslams every year.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 06, 2012, 04:20:24 PM
Its always a shame when ref makes a bad call to decide a game. Particularly bad in the Olympics.
Two bad calls in a row, you mean.
Hands to ball, not ball to hands.
Quote from: Valmy on August 06, 2012, 04:15:47 PM
Quote from: mongers on August 06, 2012, 04:13:30 PM
In large part I think that's down to the fans, it's just the way international football is, the World Cup is paramount because by now it is.
I think FIFA has something to do with making the WC a big deal as well. Also football organizations love pyramids and championships of ascending importance. They love their org charts.
But football fans are a weird group if they demand we get to see as little football as we can.
A lot of fans I've noticed seem to be really snobby about soccer tournaments, particularly the euroweeners. Not here mind you but on other forums I've visited.
Also those people tend to be the same people who look down on Americans and Asians who take an interest in the sport. Really just assholes generally.
I'm always amused by some of the engrish fans on message boards claiming not to care wining the Premier league, only caring to finish in the top four. WE MUST GET INTO THE EUROS WANKER!
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 06, 2012, 04:20:24 PM
Its always a shame when ref makes a bad call to decide a game. Particularly bad in the Olympics.
A crying shame. A terrible way to lose and a terrible way to win.
If it had been up to me I would have conceded. Or kicked the penalty wide.
Who the hell ever heard of a ref calling the six second goalie rule? And top that off by calling a dubious penalty. Nothing the Canadian defender could have done to get her hand out of the way. Worse still, there was a similar handball in the US defensive zone earlier that wasn't called.
Canada got robbed out of a medal.
Great entertaining game, though. These women's games are far more exciting than the male counterparts.
If Canada beats France and takes the bronze, it will be the first team medal for Canada since 1936 (in Summer games).
When did Olympic boxers start going for it? :o
Argentinian player punches Carmelo in the nuts.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 06, 2012, 06:04:14 PM
Argentinian player punches Carmelo in the nuts.
Carmelo needs to be punched in the nuts more often.
That's a good strategy for the Dream Teams. Just beat the shit out of them, and maybe next time fewer NBA guys will come out.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 06, 2012, 06:32:23 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 06, 2012, 06:04:14 PM
Argentinian player punches Carmelo in the nuts.
Carmelo needs to be punched in the nuts more often.
Fo sho. He isn't as much of a douce as he used to be but still deserving or repeated nut-punches.
Whew, just watched the Canada-USA game. I was utterly exhausted just after watching the game. I imagine the players must be totally wiped out. Great performance by Rapinoe, Morgan, and Pedersen.
Quote from: DGuller on August 06, 2012, 08:15:23 PM
Whew, just watched the Canada-USA game. I was utterly exhausted just after watching the game. I imagine the players must be totally wiped out. Great performance by Rapinoe, Morgan, and Pedersen.
Over here, it would be described as end-to-end stuff. :bowler:
Some people forget what a physically demanding game football is and why the early Italian concentration on fitness paid such dividends for them in the early to mid 20th century.
Quote from: DGuller on August 06, 2012, 08:15:23 PM
Whew, just watched the Canada-USA game. I was utterly exhausted just after watching the game. I imagine the players must be totally wiped out. Great performance by Rapinoe, Morgan, and Pedersen.
...and the ref. don't forget the ref whose bad call gave the US the tying goal.
:(
FWIW, I thought it was a penno. Not the bird in the wall - she had no chance to get her hand out of teh way - but the second girl from the ricochet. She had time to move out of the way.
I just think Canadian tears are delicious. Nom Nom
Soccer is a cruel, cruel sport.
So suck it, leafblowers.
Those eyes. :wub:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Ffiles%2Fsport%2Fmustafina-he-tweddle-gymnastics-uneven-bars-london-olympics-984%2Fgold-medalist-gymnast-aliya-840.jpg&hash=8ecd33324d8da36bb6e0b397445b818dd02fb1db)
Quote from: Gups on August 07, 2012, 02:55:07 AM
FWIW, I thought it was a penno. Not the bird in the wall - she had no chance to get her hand out of teh way - but the second girl from the ricochet. She had time to move out of the way.
Never mind the penalty though. It's that odd six second violation rule the ref called just before that. I've never seen that one given before...normally you get warned, possibly get a yellow, but an indirect kick in the box? I've never seen taht. Canadian goalie says she was never warned.
Quote from: Josephus on August 07, 2012, 07:18:35 AM
Quote from: Gups on August 07, 2012, 02:55:07 AM
FWIW, I thought it was a penno. Not the bird in the wall - she had no chance to get her hand out of teh way - but the second girl from the ricochet. She had time to move out of the way.
Never mind the penalty though. It's that odd six second violation rule the ref called just before that. I've never seen that one given before...normally you get warned, possibly get a yellow, but an indirect kick in the box? I've never seen taht. Canadian goalie says she was never warned.
Yep, that's a legitimate beef. When the six second rule was introduced (10?) years ago, there were a lot of indirect free kicks in the box, but it seems to have been enforced less and less often in recent years and that was the first time I'd seen one in ages. Might be diifferent with women's footie though.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.zeit.de%2Fsport%2F2012-08%2Ffs-olympia-wasserspringen-bilder%2F07-149629937.jpg&hash=b89318d18ff7be5ff7589a5fc3b1b3cca2632c02)
:ph34r:
Cry Chinamen volleyball girls, cry. Your tears feed me.
Quote from: Josephus on August 07, 2012, 07:18:35 AM
Never mind the penalty though. It's that odd six second violation rule the ref called just before that. I've never seen that one given before...normally you get warned, possibly get a yellow, but an indirect kick in the box? I've never seen taht. Canadian goalie says she was never warned.
Strange I heard she said she was warned at the half that they were going to call it.
What's with the constant whistle blowing in water polo? Seems like they don't have any effect 2/3 of the time. :hmm:
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 07, 2012, 10:17:07 AM
What's with the constant whistle blowing in water polo? Seems like they don't have any effect 2/3 of the time. :hmm:
They're fouls. Most of the time they just require the guy to back off long enough for the offensive player to make a pass.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 07, 2012, 09:27:35 AM
Cry Chinamen volleyball girls, cry. Your tears feed me.
I spooged.
Quote from: Gups on August 07, 2012, 07:44:30 AM
Quote from: Josephus on August 07, 2012, 07:18:35 AM
Quote from: Gups on August 07, 2012, 02:55:07 AM
FWIW, I thought it was a penno. Not the bird in the wall - she had no chance to get her hand out of teh way - but the second girl from the ricochet. She had time to move out of the way.
Never mind the penalty though. It's that odd six second violation rule the ref called just before that. I've never seen that one given before...normally you get warned, possibly get a yellow, but an indirect kick in the box? I've never seen taht. Canadian goalie says she was never warned.
Yep, that's a legitimate beef. When the six second rule was introduced (10?) years ago, there were a lot of indirect free kicks in the box, but it seems to have been enforced less and less often in recent years and that was the first time I'd seen one in ages. Might be diifferent with women's footie though.
The first call was from bizarro land. Everyone seems to agree with that assessment. Even the American coach commented that you dont see that kind of call very often. Its like the ref forgot where she was.
As to the handball call. I agree with you Gups that it was a matter of descretion and one cannot complain too much about that if viewed in isolation. But the problem with the call was that just a few minutes prior an American woman had hit down a cross into the box with her arm which would have resulted in a great scoring opportunity.
And speaking of inconsistency the Americans had much to complain about regarding missed calls on tackles and then phantom calls.
At this level one would hope a competant ref could be found. That game was one of the best sporting events I have seen and all sullied by the ref who broke the golden rule - dont make the game about you.
Enough about the ref, about the game - I was amazed at the mental toughness of both sides. The Americans never stopped coming and the Canadians fought back each attempt. It was one of the most physical soccer games I have ever seen in either mens or womens play. And one thing I particularly enjoyed was that rather than diving the women played through obvious pain and injury.
Both sides should be commended for playing with such skill, grit and determination.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 07, 2012, 10:32:35 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 07, 2012, 10:17:07 AM
What's with the constant whistle blowing in water polo? Seems like they don't have any effect 2/3 of the time. :hmm:
They're fouls. Most of the time they just require the guy to back off long enough for the offensive player to make a pass.
And that's just the visible ones. What goes on under water is downright nasty by all accounts.
Quote from: Valdemar on August 06, 2012, 03:50:54 AM
On the medal note, if you go by number of medals relative to population then NZ is leading, with Slovenia second and Denmark third.
What reasonable person does that?
He's out of date anyway, Grenada is way ahead.
Quote from: Syt on August 07, 2012, 11:54:53 AM
And that's just the visible ones. What goes on under water is downright nasty by all accounts.
It is indeed. I wore at least three suits (four against Churchill and Alamo Heights because fuck them) for water polo matches so as they got shredded, I would stay...legal. :P
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 11:54:46 AM
At this level one would hope a competant ref could be found.
Competent officiating? At the Olympics? :yeahright:
Quote from: Syt on August 07, 2012, 11:54:53 AM
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 07, 2012, 10:32:35 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 07, 2012, 10:17:07 AM
What's with the constant whistle blowing in water polo? Seems like they don't have any effect 2/3 of the time. :hmm:
They're fouls. Most of the time they just require the guy to back off long enough for the offensive player to make a pass.
And that's just the visible ones. What goes on under water is downright nasty by all accounts.
I saw an Australian boob the other day. They were playing China. Womens' waterpolo. Underwater shot. Chinese player grabbing Aussi player. Boob slipped out.
Quote from: Barrister on August 07, 2012, 12:46:03 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 11:54:46 AM
At this level one would hope a competant ref could be found.
Competent officiating? At the Olympics? :yeahright:
Yeah. Shitty countries produce shitty officials.
Also, Belgium might not have a government, but they have a great field hockey goalie. I'm watching them play India at Boise State, and that guy is pretty impressive.
Quote from: Josephus on August 07, 2012, 12:55:29 PM
I saw an Australian boob the other day. They were playing China. Womens' waterpolo. Underwater shot. Chinese player grabbing Aussi player. Boob slipped out.
I would say that the summer Olympics are an assman's best sporting event.
Quote from: Neil on August 07, 2012, 01:35:15 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 07, 2012, 12:55:29 PM
I saw an Australian boob the other day. They were playing China. Womens' waterpolo. Underwater shot. Chinese player grabbing Aussi player. Boob slipped out.
I would say that the summer Olympics are an assman's best sporting event.
I agree
Quote from: Octavian on August 07, 2012, 01:42:41 PM
Quote from: Neil on August 07, 2012, 01:35:15 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 07, 2012, 12:55:29 PM
I saw an Australian boob the other day. They were playing China. Womens' waterpolo. Underwater shot. Chinese player grabbing Aussi player. Boob slipped out.
I would say that the summer Olympics are an assman's best sporting event.
I agree
:yes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r51E4Rb2PgU
Borderline NSFW. No nudity or anything but might be awkward if someone were to be watching over your shoudler.
Quote from: Neil on August 07, 2012, 01:35:15 PM
I would say that the summer Olympics are an assman's best sporting event.
Debatable. Maybe in quantity, but as far as quality goes, figure skating has the best legs and asses.
Girls, too.
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 01:45:24 PM
:yes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r51E4Rb2PgU
Borderline NSFW. No nudity or anything but might be awkward if someone were to be watching over your shoudler.
I need more info--say someone is to start randomly looking over my shoulder. Would it be more awkward to be viewing that, or some random languish thread with racist language and homophobia?
Quote from: alfred russel on August 07, 2012, 01:52:04 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 01:45:24 PM
:yes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r51E4Rb2PgU
Borderline NSFW. No nudity or anything but might be awkward if someone were to be watching over your shoudler.
I need more info--say someone is to start randomly looking over my shoulder. Would it be more awkward to be viewing that, or some random languish thread with racist language and homophobia?
it's a video of a female triple jumper warming up and the camera spends about 1:30 focused completely on her ass.
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 01:53:01 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 07, 2012, 01:52:04 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 01:45:24 PM
:yes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r51E4Rb2PgU
Borderline NSFW. No nudity or anything but might be awkward if someone were to be watching over your shoudler.
I need more info--say someone is to start randomly looking over my shoulder. Would it be more awkward to be viewing that, or some random languish thread with racist language and homophobia?
it's a video of a female triple jumper warming up and the camera spends about 1:30 focused completely on her ass.
:P Thanks.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 07, 2012, 01:48:10 PM
Quote from: Neil on August 07, 2012, 01:35:15 PM
I would say that the summer Olympics are an assman's best sporting event.
Debatable. Maybe in quantity, but as far as quality goes, figure skating has the best legs and asses.
Girls, too.
I'm not so sure. The various athletic events are full of nice little hardbodies in tiny little shorts.
God bless us all
http://www.crazyamigo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/world-flag-butts.jpg
NSFW
Beautiful. :cry:
We should probably also recognize the talent and dedication of all those (un)professional photographers and cameramen focusing on the asses :P
For the first time since 1976 Germany hasn't won the team dressage event (except 1980 where they didn't compete). :(
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 01:45:24 PM
Quote from: Octavian on August 07, 2012, 01:42:41 PM
Quote from: Neil on August 07, 2012, 01:35:15 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 07, 2012, 12:55:29 PM
I saw an Australian boob the other day. They were playing China. Womens' waterpolo. Underwater shot. Chinese player grabbing Aussi player. Boob slipped out.
I would say that the summer Olympics are an assman's best sporting event.
I agree
:yes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r51E4Rb2PgU
Borderline NSFW. No nudity or anything but might be awkward if someone were to be watching over your shoudler.
How do pervs get Olympic camera accreditation?
How did Mitten's horse fare? Did he at least back a winner?
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 01:45:24 PM
:yes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r51E4Rb2PgU
Borderline NSFW. No nudity or anything but might be awkward if someone were to be watching over your shoudler.
I prefer the young Susen Tiedtke. :P
http://www.abload.de/img/susen_tiedtke4c2u.jpg
The cameramen at the women's indoor volleyball have also been doing a very good job of holding shots of hotties and flashing through the fugs.
Disagree about ice skater poopers. Too gigantic.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 07, 2012, 02:49:28 PM
Disagree about ice skater poopers. Too gigantic.
Agreed. The only ice skater I found hot was Surya Bonaly, despite her ample ham-bits.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa35.idata.over-blog.com%2F0%2F20%2F00%2F95%2F070131180713.77cdv5e70_la-patineuse-fran-aise-surya-bonaly--le-31-janvierb.jpg&hash=476f5e175d0e5da03daacfb385065063a5bb56ec)
I was thinking of speed skaters actually. IMO figure skaters have great cans. Only positive thing about the "sport."
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 07, 2012, 01:48:10 PM
Quote from: Neil on August 07, 2012, 01:35:15 PM
I would say that the summer Olympics are an assman's best sporting event.
Debatable. Maybe in quantity, but as far as quality goes, figure skating has the best legs and asses.
Girls, too.
And summer Olympics track and field: the best abs and legs. :licklips:
Also, another bronze medal for Canada in high jumping. Alas for Zelinka (yum yum) she'll be sloppy seconds again, this time not winning Canada's first track and field medal of the game.
Canada does what it does best, though: dominating the "best losers" category finishing 3rd to 6th.
:hmm: http://trib.com/sports/olympics/blogs/abby-wambach-s-brains-provided-crucial-assist-to-u-s/article_9fc622fa-47fd-5482-9db1-688dc2e2a5a6.html
My respect for the American side just cratered.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 03:28:35 PM
My respect for the American side just cratered.
So basically Wambach hounded the referee and incited her to call a foul by counting in her vicinity? That's rather unsportsmanlike, how the ref calls his or her game is the ref's own business.
I think next time "Tank-ready" should ram her into the goal post. Bet she was itching to do just that during the whole game, that Canadian soccer player is one mean girl. :showoff:
More tears Nom Nom Nom
Anyway, all Wambach managed to get for Americans is the indirect free kick. It's not like her cunning tricked Canadians into putting players with arms into the penalty box.
Quote from: Drakken on August 07, 2012, 03:38:35 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 03:28:35 PM
My respect for the American side just cratered.
So basically Wambach hounded the referee and incited her to call a foul by counting in her vicinity? That's rather unsportsmanlike, how the ref calls his or her game is the ref's own business.
I think next time "Tank-ready" should ram her into the goal post. Bet she was itching to do just that during the whole game, that Canadian soccer player is one mean girl. :showoff:
But Canada was apparently repeatedly breaking a rule to gain an advantage, and she was just repeatedly pointing it out. Isn't lobbying the ref in such a situation common in every sport?
It is a good reason not to have rules that aren't commonly enforced.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F0bmfDl.png&hash=c45ffecba89243ca68c3a125353cd9cb6e60586a)
All American women's beach volleyball gold medal round.
USA USA USA
Quote from: alfred russel on August 07, 2012, 03:44:34 PM
Quote from: Drakken on August 07, 2012, 03:38:35 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 03:28:35 PM
My respect for the American side just cratered.
So basically Wambach hounded the referee and incited her to call a foul by counting in her vicinity? That's rather unsportsmanlike, how the ref calls his or her game is the ref's own business.
I think next time "Tank-ready" should ram her into the goal post. Bet she was itching to do just that during the whole game, that Canadian soccer player is one mean girl. :showoff:
But Canada was apparently repeatedly breaking a rule to gain an advantage, and she was just repeatedly pointing it out. Isn't lobbying the ref in such a situation common in every sport?
It is a good reason not to have rules that aren't commonly enforced.
Well apparently the common response would be to warn her first.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 07, 2012, 03:44:34 PM
Quote from: Drakken on August 07, 2012, 03:38:35 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 03:28:35 PM
My respect for the American side just cratered.
So basically Wambach hounded the referee and incited her to call a foul by counting in her vicinity? That's rather unsportsmanlike, how the ref calls his or her game is the ref's own business.
I think next time "Tank-ready" should ram her into the goal post. Bet she was itching to do just that during the whole game, that Canadian soccer player is one mean girl. :showoff:
But Canada was apparently repeatedly breaking a rule to gain an advantage, and she was just repeatedly pointing it out. Isn't lobbying the ref in such a situation common in every sport?
It is a good reason not to have rules that aren't commonly enforced.
I agree, great move by Abby.
I love the people, mostly NBA fans but they are everywhere, who get pissed that the refs "affects" the outcome of a game by calling a violation, that is really a violation. On the other hand they have no problem with the refs affecting the outcome by
NOT calling a violation, that is really a violation.
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 04:14:52 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 07, 2012, 03:44:34 PM
Quote from: Drakken on August 07, 2012, 03:38:35 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 03:28:35 PM
My respect for the American side just cratered.
So basically Wambach hounded the referee and incited her to call a foul by counting in her vicinity? That's rather unsportsmanlike, how the ref calls his or her game is the ref's own business.
I think next time "Tank-ready" should ram her into the goal post. Bet she was itching to do just that during the whole game, that Canadian soccer player is one mean girl. :showoff:
But Canada was apparently repeatedly breaking a rule to gain an advantage, and she was just repeatedly pointing it out. Isn't lobbying the ref in such a situation common in every sport?
It is a good reason not to have rules that aren't commonly enforced.
I agree, great move by Abby.
I love the people, mostly NBA fans but they are everywhere, who get pissed that the refs "affects" the outcome of a game by calling a violation, that is really a violation. On the other hand they have no problem with the refs affecting the outcome by NOT calling a violation, that is really a violation.
You're talking to Canadians, most of whom are NHL fans. Thus we are evry familiar with refs "not affecting the outcome of the game" by putting away their whistles.
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 04:14:52 PM
I love the people, mostly NBA fans but they are everywhere, who get pissed that the refs "affects" the outcome of a game by calling a violation, that is really a violation. On the other hand they have no problem with the refs affecting the outcome by NOT calling a violation, that is really a violation.
I agree refs should call a travel, or a 3 second, or a foul when it affects the game late. But how much does a goalie holding the ball in a tie game affect the outcome?
What Waumbag did was gamesmanship. Nothing wrong with that. No different than everytime the ball goes out, players from both sides put their hands up as if to say "It's our ball." Part of the game is to try to influence the ref. The ref however didn't have to listen to her.
I just have a couple more things to say on this.
1. AS I said before, this is never called in any other game of footie that I've seen, and I've been following soccer probably since I was six in 1972. That said, it is a rule. The ref didn't have to call it. Shouldn't have called it. But she can call it. Odd that it would be in a crucial moment of a high stakes game.
2. The USA was the better team anyways. There was still 10 minutes + 30 minutes of overtime left for Canada to get a goal, but the US dominated.
3. The handball was a dicey call. But the Canadian defenders should know to keep their arms behind them in a situation like that. Not like they had to cover their nuts for the free kick.
4. Candian women are hotter.
5. The Women's Soccer semifinal was the #2 most-watched Olympic event ever on #TSN - only behind Vancouver 2010 Hockey Gold Medal game. 3.84 million. In Toronto, anyways, they even moved the CFL game that was scheduled to start to their lesser watched TSN2.
Hah, so the goalkeeper was warned by the linesman, apparantly (according to Wambach) warned by the ref (and you could see her acknowledging this with the mentioned raised arm), and then bitches she was not warned?
The rule is to try and stop such gamesmanship, and I for one think that it should be called - just as cards for diving should be given (or given when the miracle healing on the sideline happens). Wambach was not gaming the ref, she was letting her know that the rules were constantly being fudged.
My respect for Canadian fair play has just cratered.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 07, 2012, 04:25:27 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 04:14:52 PM
I love the people, mostly NBA fans but they are everywhere, who get pissed that the refs "affects" the outcome of a game by calling a violation, that is really a violation. On the other hand they have no problem with the refs affecting the outcome by NOT calling a violation, that is really a violation.
I agree refs should call a travel, or a 3 second, or a foul when it affects the game late. But how much does a goalie holding the ball in a tie game affect the outcome?
At what point does the ref call it is the devil's advocate argument? Theoretically the goalie can then hold the ball till the final whistle.
Quote from: Josephus on August 07, 2012, 04:36:54 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 07, 2012, 04:25:27 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 04:14:52 PM
I love the people, mostly NBA fans but they are everywhere, who get pissed that the refs "affects" the outcome of a game by calling a violation, that is really a violation. On the other hand they have no problem with the refs affecting the outcome by NOT calling a violation, that is really a violation.
I agree refs should call a travel, or a 3 second, or a foul when it affects the game late. But how much does a goalie holding the ball in a tie game affect the outcome?
At what point does the ref call it is the devil's advocate argument? Theoretically the goalie can then hold the ball till the final whistle.
Exactly. Canada knew that the US was the better team, so the Canucks went with the standard run the clock defence; limit the number of possessions the better team gets to limit their ability to score. Same reason there is a shot clock in basketball and a play clock in football.
Quote from: Josephus on August 07, 2012, 04:36:54 PM
At what point does the ref call it is the devil's advocate argument? Theoretically the goalie can then hold the ball till the final whistle.
There's a wide margin between holding the ball forever, and holding it a few seconds more while dribbling it to the ground, waiting for the players to place themselves further. The time that it would add to the clock after regular time would be only marginal, trickling about 30 seconds more to the clock in total.
It's all about common sense, and on this the ref was badly missing some because McLeod wasn't upholding the game, but waiting for players to move further in-field.
I would think more Americans would be sensitive to the issue, having been on the short end so many times.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 07, 2012, 03:44:34 PM
Quote from: Drakken on August 07, 2012, 03:38:35 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 03:28:35 PM
My respect for the American side just cratered.
So basically Wambach hounded the referee and incited her to call a foul by counting in her vicinity? That's rather unsportsmanlike, how the ref calls his or her game is the ref's own business.
I think next time "Tank-ready" should ram her into the goal post. Bet she was itching to do just that during the whole game, that Canadian soccer player is one mean girl. :showoff:
But Canada was apparently repeatedly breaking a rule to gain an advantage, and she was just repeatedly pointing it out. Isn't lobbying the ref in such a situation common in every sport?
It is a good reason not to have rules that aren't commonly enforced.
It might be hard for you yanks to get this but there is the letter of a rule and the spirit of the rule. What ought to have occured is the Yank should have been given a yellow card for doing that.
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 04:45:47 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 07, 2012, 04:36:54 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 07, 2012, 04:25:27 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 04:14:52 PM
I love the people, mostly NBA fans but they are everywhere, who get pissed that the refs "affects" the outcome of a game by calling a violation, that is really a violation. On the other hand they have no problem with the refs affecting the outcome by NOT calling a violation, that is really a violation.
I agree refs should call a travel, or a 3 second, or a foul when it affects the game late. But how much does a goalie holding the ball in a tie game affect the outcome?
At what point does the ref call it is the devil's advocate argument? Theoretically the goalie can then hold the ball till the final whistle.
Exactly. Canada knew that the US was the better team, so the Canucks went with the standard run the clock defence; limit the number of possessions the better team gets to limit their ability to score. Same reason there is a shot clock in basketball and a play clock in football.
If you had watched the game you would realize that is utter bullshit.
When the ref blew her whistle everyone, including the broadcast announcers, had no idea what was happening or what the ref could have possibly seen.
If you want to use a basketball analogy - it would be like a ref blowing a whistle to call a foul for contact that never ever gets called.
Meh, tuck rule.
When sports are played, sometimes bullshit happens. Just put an asterisk on the win and leave it at that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rafxT0zNQ4I
Here you go. 1:00 in. Same call on Hope Solo. Seems like it is called significantly more than "never ever."
Want to be sure it isn't called? Don't hold the ball more than six seconds because you're trying to burn clock and hold a lead. Seems pretty clear.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 05:00:24 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 07, 2012, 03:44:34 PM
Quote from: Drakken on August 07, 2012, 03:38:35 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 03:28:35 PM
My respect for the American side just cratered.
So basically Wambach hounded the referee and incited her to call a foul by counting in her vicinity? That's rather unsportsmanlike, how the ref calls his or her game is the ref's own business.
I think next time "Tank-ready" should ram her into the goal post. Bet she was itching to do just that during the whole game, that Canadian soccer player is one mean girl. :showoff:
But Canada was apparently repeatedly breaking a rule to gain an advantage, and she was just repeatedly pointing it out. Isn't lobbying the ref in such a situation common in every sport?
It is a good reason not to have rules that aren't commonly enforced.
It might be hard for you yanks to get this but there is the letter of a rule and the spirit of the rule. What ought to have occured is the Yank should have been given a yellow card for doing that.
A yellow card for counting out loud? :huh:
How about 3 seconds in the key in basketball? Is there anything wrong witha defender counting out loud while Shaq is camped in the key? Or should the defender get a technical foul?
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 05:04:06 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 04:45:47 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 07, 2012, 04:36:54 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 07, 2012, 04:25:27 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 04:14:52 PM
I love the people, mostly NBA fans but they are everywhere, who get pissed that the refs "affects" the outcome of a game by calling a violation, that is really a violation. On the other hand they have no problem with the refs affecting the outcome by NOT calling a violation, that is really a violation.
I agree refs should call a travel, or a 3 second, or a foul when it affects the game late. But how much does a goalie holding the ball in a tie game affect the outcome?
At what point does the ref call it is the devil's advocate argument? Theoretically the goalie can then hold the ball till the final whistle.
Exactly. Canada knew that the US was the better team, so the Canucks went with the standard run the clock defence; limit the number of possessions the better team gets to limit their ability to score. Same reason there is a shot clock in basketball and a play clock in football.
If you had watched the game you would realize that is utter bullshit.
When the ref blew her whistle everyone, including the broadcast announcers, had no idea what was happening or what the ref could have possibly seen.
If you want to use a basketball analogy - it would be like a ref blowing a whistle to call a foul for contact that never ever gets called.
Why don't they change the rule then? Why haves rule on the books that no one enforces and everyone get pissed when they do?
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 05:12:23 PM
A yellow card for counting out loud? :huh:
How about 3 seconds in the key in basketball? Is there anything wrong witha defender counting out loud while Shaq is camped in the key? Or should the defender get a technical foul?
That is actually a very good example sbr. Coaches often get warned that they will recieve a technical foul for doing exactly that...
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 05:20:17 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 05:12:23 PM
A yellow card for counting out loud? :huh:
How about 3 seconds in the key in basketball? Is there anything wrong witha defender counting out loud while Shaq is camped in the key? Or should the defender get a technical foul?
That is actually a very good example sbr. Coaches often get warned that they will recieve a technical foul for doing exactly that...
I am pretty sure I have heard players doing it though.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 07, 2012, 05:09:56 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rafxT0zNQ4I
Here you go. 1:00 in. Same call on Hope Solo. Seems like it is called significantly more than "never ever."
Want to be sure it isn't called? Don't hold the ball more than six seconds because you're trying to burn clock and hold a lead. Seems pretty clear.
Yeah, there is no way of guarding against unreasonable judgments if those judgments are able to be made.
Here is a good description of what occurred from the Globe and Mail.
QuoteThe U.S. tied the game on a penalty kick by Abby Wambach after referee Christina Pedersen gave the U.S. a free kick in the 78th minute, ruling Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod had taken more than six seconds to put the ball in play. Megan Rapinoe's subsequent free kick struck Canadian defender Marie-Eve Nault on the arm, which Pedersen ruled to be a hand-ball. They were highly literal interpretations of rules that are usually viewed in a more obtuse manner, especially given the time and the significance of the match.
The link you gave was not the Semi finals of the olympic games in the last 10 minutes of a one goal game.
It would be like calling a technical foul for something a player had been doing all game long in the final moments of a baskball game to allow the other team to tie from the free throw line.
What is most shameful about the whole episode is that the Yank who cause this disgrace of a call seems rather proud of herself. Its disgraceful conduct.
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 05:22:16 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 05:20:17 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 05:12:23 PM
A yellow card for counting out loud? :huh:
How about 3 seconds in the key in basketball? Is there anything wrong witha defender counting out loud while Shaq is camped in the key? Or should the defender get a technical foul?
That is actually a very good example sbr. Coaches often get warned that they will recieve a technical foul for doing exactly that...
I am pretty sure I have heard players doing it though.
Good for you. When I was playing and coaching it was a big no no.
:lol:
Apparently even Prime Minister Harper weighed in on the issue. Didn't hear the whole thing, my TV auto-mutes when he comes on, but unless he said, "We will invade Norway tomorrow," I won't vote for him.
Here's a no call for you canucks to feel all warm and happy.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7128%2F7736024018_5b3b82f6a1.jpg&hash=a7de61f2c761bdfd052fe074ab74697139d863bc)
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 05:24:56 PM
Yeah, there is no way of guarding against unreasonable judgments if those judgments are able to be made.
Here is a good description of what occurred from the Globe and Mail.
QuoteThe U.S. tied the game on a penalty kick by Abby Wambach after referee Christina Pedersen gave the U.S. a free kick in the 78th minute, ruling Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod had taken more than six seconds to put the ball in play. Megan Rapinoe's subsequent free kick struck Canadian defender Marie-Eve Nault on the arm, which Pedersen ruled to be a hand-ball. They were highly literal interpretations of rules that are usually viewed in a more obtuse manner, especially given the time and the significance of the match.
The link you gave was not the Semi finals of the olympic games in the last 10 minutes of a one goal game.
It would be like calling a technical foul for something a player had been doing all game long in the final moments of a baskball game to allow the other team to tie from the free throw line.
What is most shameful about the whole episode is that the Yank who cause this disgrace of a call seems rather proud of herself. Its disgraceful conduct.
So, it's a real, actual rule, right? One that says the goalie can't hold on to the ball for more than six seconds, right? The goalie held the ball for more than 6 seconds, right? The goalie did this a bunch of times but only got nailed for it once? Seems like fans of the other team should be the ones pissed about all the blatant no calls.
But it's never called so she shouldn't have called it now, get your facts straight mbm!
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 05:25:53 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 05:22:16 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 05:20:17 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 05:12:23 PM
A yellow card for counting out loud? :huh:
How about 3 seconds in the key in basketball? Is there anything wrong witha defender counting out loud while Shaq is camped in the key? Or should the defender get a technical foul?
That is actually a very good example sbr. Coaches often get warned that they will recieve a technical foul for doing exactly that...
I am pretty sure I have heard players doing it though.
Good for you. When I was playing and coaching it was a big no no.
Well the Canadian Ambassador and I have discussed it over dinner and things are worked out.
Anyway, the job of the referee is to ensure that the game is conducted fairly. To have a superior team lose because one of the players on the inferior team scored three goals would be a travesty.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 05:24:56 PM
What is most shameful about the whole episode is that the Yank who cause this disgrace of a call seems rather proud of herself. Its disgraceful conduct.
Don't worry CC, they will get eaten alive by the little Jappo critters next game. :console:
QuoteOlympic gold medal favorite Liu Xiang failed to clear the first hurdle during heats on Tuesday and was disqualified, likely bringing an end to an Olympic career that would have been remembered as much for injuries as his 2004 gold medal.
But Liu changed the narrative after his fall on Tuesday. He limped off the track after clipping the opening obstacle and then, suddenly, changed his mind. Instead, he hopped 100 meters on one foot to what would have been his final hurdle, gently bent down and kissed it, a symbolic end to an Olympic career that began with a gold medal in Athens but was overshadowed by the disappointment of Beijing, when he was China's great track hope but could barely get out of the starting block due to injury.
Liu was met at the finish line by his fellow competitors, who helped him off the track into a wheelchair. It was a tragic triumph.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/hurdler-falls-clutching-his-achilles-refuses-to-q
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 07, 2012, 05:44:59 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 05:24:56 PM
Yeah, there is no way of guarding against unreasonable judgments if those judgments are able to be made.
Here is a good description of what occurred from the Globe and Mail.
QuoteThe U.S. tied the game on a penalty kick by Abby Wambach after referee Christina Pedersen gave the U.S. a free kick in the 78th minute, ruling Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod had taken more than six seconds to put the ball in play. Megan Rapinoe's subsequent free kick struck Canadian defender Marie-Eve Nault on the arm, which Pedersen ruled to be a hand-ball. They were highly literal interpretations of rules that are usually viewed in a more obtuse manner, especially given the time and the significance of the match.
The link you gave was not the Semi finals of the olympic games in the last 10 minutes of a one goal game.
It would be like calling a technical foul for something a player had been doing all game long in the final moments of a baskball game to allow the other team to tie from the free throw line.
What is most shameful about the whole episode is that the Yank who cause this disgrace of a call seems rather proud of herself. Its disgraceful conduct.
So, it's a real, actual rule, right? One that says the goalie can't hold on to the ball for more than six seconds, right? The goalie held the ball for more than 6 seconds, right? The goalie did this a bunch of times but only got nailed for it once? Seems like fans of the other team should be the ones pissed about all the blatant no calls.
For those of you who dont quite get it. Here is a quote from a FIFA ref from the Globe and Mail. While he cant come out and outright say the ref screwed up he did say this:
QuoteAs for the delay-of-play, the rules specifically state a player cannot hold onto a ball for more than six seconds when putting it back into play. "But sometimes there's some common sense that has to go with it and spirit of the game," Vergara said. "We have to use the same laws but at the same time, there has to flexibility within the laws to have a little more common sense."
Quote from: sbr on August 07, 2012, 08:48:14 PM
QuoteOlympic gold medal favorite Liu Xiang failed to clear the first hurdle during heats on Tuesday and was disqualified, likely bringing an end to an Olympic career that would have been remembered as much for injuries as his 2004 gold medal.
But Liu changed the narrative after his fall on Tuesday. He limped off the track after clipping the opening obstacle and then, suddenly, changed his mind. Instead, he hopped 100 meters on one foot to what would have been his final hurdle, gently bent down and kissed it, a symbolic end to an Olympic career that began with a gold medal in Athens but was overshadowed by the disappointment of Beijing, when he was China's great track hope but could barely get out of the starting block due to injury.
Liu was met at the finish line by his fellow competitors, who helped him off the track into a wheelchair. It was a tragic triumph.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/hurdler-falls-clutching-his-achilles-refuses-to-q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kW4uYInAFE
This wouldn't have happened if Soccer was a proper score & stopped the clock once in a while.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 09:11:27 PM
As for the delay-of-play, the rules specifically state a player cannot hold onto a ball for more than six seconds when putting it back into play.
There's the part that is actually important, for those who don't quite get it.
She held the ball for more than six seconds. The rules specifically state you can't do that. It was called correctly. Period.
Next time maybe your goalie should stop the shot that came later. Or not hold the ball for 10 or 15 seconds.
This soccer thing is cracking me the hell up, with Canuckleheads essentially complaining that they got away with breaking a rule for almost the entire game.
Shit, I remember being taught when I was 7 years old that the goalie can't hold on to the ball forever.
I know a guy who was speeding on I-80, he was going 80 mph. He always goes about 80, and finally he got a ticket. He was livid, as he and many others go that speed. The funny thing is the speed limit is 75 mph, but that day the highway patrol officer just wanted to pick on him.
On second thought...
HA HA! Canada lost, and they were caught cheating!
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/cheater-swimming-gold-medalist-admits-taking-illegal-kicks-162450535--oly.html
QuoteGold-medal swimmer admits to cheating in 100 breaststroke
South African gold medalist Cameron van der Burgh admitted to taking extra underwater kicks during his world-record performance in the 100-meter breaststroke at the Olympics, an illegal move that would have earned him a disqualification if judges had caught him.
Swimmers are allowed one underwater dolphin kick during their underwater breaststroke pullouts. Replays show van der Burgh took three on the start.
He told the Sydney Morning Herald that he took extra kicks, but defends himself by insisting he's not the only one.
''If you're not doing it, you're falling behind," he said. "It's not obviously - shall we say - the moral thing to do, but I'm not willing to sacrifice my personal performance and four years of hard work for someone that is willing to do it and get away with it."
Allowing dolphin kicks during breaststroke is relatively new. The rules were changed, in part, because of four-time gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima, a Japanese breaststroke star who routinely added rogue kicks underwater. When swimmers push off a wall and tighten into a streamline, their legs can arch slightly and resemble a kick. Kitajima and others tried to make this natural movement into an advantage by adding some force behind it. It was illegal and the move angered rivals, like American Brendan Hansen. But the kick was tough to enforce, so FINA changed the rule to allow it.
But the old "give 'em an inch" rule came into play and now breaststrokers are trying to sneak in as many kicks as possible, hoping to do it without drawing the attention of officials.
''It's got to the sort of point where if you're not doing it you're falling behind or you're giving yourself a disadvantage so everyone's pushing the rules and pushing the boundaries, so if you're not doing it, you're not trying hard enough," the South African said.
Van der Burgh can get away with the kicks because there is no underwater video review of swimming races. After testing the technology at a meet in 2010 to great success, FINA, the international swimming body, has yet to incorporate it in international meets.
After these comments and the potential uproar they'll create, expect that to change by next year's world championships.
In theory, van der Burgh shouldn't be in danger of losing his gold medal. Swimming doesn't have replay review and the time for appeal has long passed. But the IOC has shown a willingness to impart its own interpretation of fair play so far in London, banning badminton players for tanking matches and attempting to expel a runner who jogged during a race in order to rest for another. Nothing is off the table.
That knee-jerk reaction should be resisted. Throwing in an extra butterfly kick doesn't put van der Burgh on a level with blood dopers and steroid users. It's the equivalent of taking some extra steps in basketball or flopping in soccer: athletes trying to get away with as much as possible under the rules.
His biggest crime was admitting the kicks. Who admits to cheating? What's the benefit? Deny, deny, deny, brother! It's easy:
Reporter: "We saw you took three kicks on your pullout. Did you?"
Van der burgh: "No, I only took one."
If you're morally loose enough to try to justify cheating by giving the "everybody else is doing it defense," lying to some journalist isn't going to be too difficult.
I am sure the resident Canucks will be outraged.
Quote from: garbon on August 07, 2012, 12:05:39 PM
Quote from: Valdemar on August 06, 2012, 03:50:54 AM
On the medal note, if you go by number of medals relative to population then NZ is leading, with Slovenia second and Denmark third.
What reasonable person does that?
Journalists from small nations :D
V
Quote from: Valdemar on August 08, 2012, 02:18:37 AM
Journalists
He clearly specified
reasonable persons. :P
Quote from: alfred russel on August 07, 2012, 03:44:34 PM
Quote from: Drakken on August 07, 2012, 03:38:35 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 03:28:35 PM
My respect for the American side just cratered.
So basically Wambach hounded the referee and incited her to call a foul by counting in her vicinity? That's rather unsportsmanlike, how the ref calls his or her game is the ref's own business.
I think next time "Tank-ready" should ram her into the goal post. Bet she was itching to do just that during the whole game, that Canadian soccer player is one mean girl. :showoff:
But Canada was apparently repeatedly breaking a rule to gain an advantage, and she was just repeatedly pointing it out. Isn't lobbying the ref in such a situation common in every sport?
It is a good reason not to have rules that aren't commonly enforced.
Actually jockying the ref can get you a yellow for interfering/complaining IIRC
V
It is really funny to see two relatively novice soccer nations get upset and discuss the finer issues of football refereing :D :D
On that note, the 6 second rule does get called in other games too, but usually only if it is late in the game. Danish 101 game goalie Thomas Sørensen got a yellow in an internation match for taking too long to kick out with 3 min left on the clock. he obviously had been warned as the expert commentators seemd to have anticipated it.
Denmark won the match
V
Quote from: Valdemar on August 08, 2012, 02:34:31 AM
It is really funny to see two relatively novice soccer nations get upset and discuss the finer issues of football refereing :D :D
Novice soccer nation? Olympic women's soccer has only been there since 1996 and we have won it 3 out of 4 times. It is a girls' sport after all. :P
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 08, 2012, 02:46:53 AM
Quote from: Valdemar on August 08, 2012, 02:34:31 AM
It is really funny to see two relatively novice soccer nations get upset and discuss the finer issues of football refereing :D :D
Novice soccer nation? Olympic women's soccer has only been there since 1996 and we have won it 3 out of 4 times. It is a girls' sport after all. :P
The soccer rules are the same.. and in football tems both nations are novices :)
V
Too bad about the German weightlifter's accident. He's the guy who won in Beijing and emotionally showed the photo of his then recently deceased wife during the ceremony, dedicating the gold medal to her.
Quote from: Drakken on August 07, 2012, 08:03:09 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 07, 2012, 05:24:56 PM
What is most shameful about the whole episode is that the Yank who cause this disgrace of a call seems rather proud of herself. Its disgraceful conduct.
Don't worry CC, they will get eaten alive by the little Jappo critters next game. :console:
I'm going to be cheering for the Nips so hard, you're gonna mistake me for Lettow.
Quote from: Valdemar on August 08, 2012, 02:34:31 AM
It is really funny to see two relatively novice soccer nations get upset and discuss the finer issues of football refereing :D :D
On that note, the 6 second rule does get called in other games too, but usually only if it is late in the game. Danish 101 game goalie Thomas Sørensen got a yellow in an internation match for taking too long to kick out with 3 min left on the clock. he obviously had been warned as the expert commentators seemd to have anticipated it.
Denmark won the match
V
A yellow's not like a foul in the penalty box. A yellow is worth taking for the team if you have to. You can't score a goal from a yellow.
No but you can get banned from the upcoming match.. which isn't good for goalies
V
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 12:53:49 AM
QuoteIf you're morally loose enough to try to justify cheating by giving the "everybody else is doing it defense," lying to some journalist isn't going to be too difficult.
I have never in my life understood this retarded logic. What's so morally loose about breaking the rule that everyone is breaking? If 5% of the people break the rule, the problem is with the rule-breakers. If 95% of the people break the rule, the problem is with the rule.
Anyone know how long the Canadian goalie held the ball?
I was watching the women's gymnastics stuff last night, and quite frankly, as good as Aly Raisman is, I thought that Romanian hottie Catalina Ponor bested her in the floor event; she was so much more fluid and elegant. I dunno, I can't figure out the scoring for that stuff.
All I can tell is when they mess up the landings.
If it is anything like the dressage events with horses, then it is also something with the difficult level adding bonuses and whether they keep their lines straight.. ie when they go from corner to corner
V
Talking of dressage, the post box outside my home town train station has just been painted gold today to celebrate our local girl winning. Funny, I've never met any dressage riders in the pub in all my years here.
Quote from: Brazen on August 08, 2012, 08:20:04 AM
Talking of dressage, the post box outside my home town train station has just been painted gold today to celebrate our local girl winning. Funny, I've never met any dressage riders in the pub in all my years here.
I expect they drink in the saloon bar :P
I thought you lived in London? :huh:
Or they don't drink at all? :D
Or, they were still kids when B drank in the local pub (I assume you are talking about the town where you grew up, not your local pub of today?)
V
Quote from: katmai on August 07, 2012, 05:36:15 PM
Here's a no call for you canucks to feel all warm and happy.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7128%2F7736024018_5b3b82f6a1.jpg&hash=a7de61f2c761bdfd052fe074ab74697139d863bc)
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8d36jeueO1qkp54eo1_500.gif
Why does that need to be called?
I watched the EURO, that's a regular play!
Quote from: lustindarkness on August 08, 2012, 08:52:34 AM
Quote from: katmai on August 07, 2012, 05:36:15 PM
Here's a no call for you canucks to feel all warm and happy.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7128%2F7736024018_5b3b82f6a1.jpg&hash=a7de61f2c761bdfd052fe074ab74697139d863bc)
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8d36jeueO1qkp54eo1_500.gif
I like her more and more. She was a
butch female Sean Avery during that match. :lol:
American player stuck her head in Canadian player's foot. Not sure what the problem is. :D
Quote from: PDH on August 07, 2012, 10:00:53 PM
I know a guy who was speeding on I-80, he was going 80 mph. He always goes about 80, and finally he got a ticket. He was livid, as he and many others go that speed. The funny thing is the speed limit is 75 mph, but that day the highway patrol officer just wanted to pick on him.
I know this guy who lives in a community where the police always allow motorists go 80. Everyone knows this. In fact the police always give a warning in the form of a yellow slip before issuing an actual ticket.
One day this guy was on his way to the hospital with his wife who was about to give birth. He was driving 80. A police officer who had no common sense at all pulled him over and even though he saw the impotance of the moment didnt give the yellow slip (as was the custom) but instead took his time writing a ticket. The guy's wife went into labour but undetered the police officer mindlessly applied the letter of the law. The mother didnt make it to the hospital in time and both mother and baby died.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 07, 2012, 09:42:46 PM
There's the part that is actually important, for those who don't quite get it.
the important part was the bit about having common sense.
"But sometimes there's some common sense that has to go with it and spirit of the game," Vergara said. "We have to use the same laws but at the same time, there has to flexibility within the laws to have a little more common sense."Something you are determined to ignore...
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 08, 2012, 09:54:30 AM
One day this guy was on his way to the hospital with his wife who was about to give birth. He was driving 80. A police officer who had no common sense at all pulled him over and even though he saw the impotance of the moment didnt give the yellow slip (as was the custom) but instead took his time writing a ticket. The guy's wife went into labour but undetered the police officer mindlessly applied the letter of the law. The mother didnt make it to the hospital in time and both mother and baby died.
Was the dream of Olympic gold in women's soccer your baby? How sad. :console:
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 08, 2012, 09:54:30 AM
I know this guy who lives in a community where the police always allow motorists go 80. Everyone knows this. In fact the police always give a warning in the form of a yellow slip before issuing an actual ticket.
One day this guy was on his way to the hospital with his wife who was about to give birth. He was driving 80. A police officer who had no common sense at all pulled him over and even though he saw the impotance of the moment didnt give the yellow slip (as was the custom) but instead took his time writing a ticket. The guy's wife went into labour but undetered the police officer mindlessly applied the letter of the law. The mother didnt make it to the hospital in time and both mother and baby died.
Whatever, Mart :rolleyes:
Too mean.
Why do we still call it common sense? Its not that common anymore.
Damn were the frogs dirty in the Spain - France QF basketball game. At least Good prevailed. :showoff:
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 08, 2012, 09:56:06 AM
the important part was the bit about having common sense.
"But sometimes there's some common sense that has to go with it and spirit of the game," Vergara said. "We have to use the same laws but at the same time, there has to flexibility within the laws to have a little more common sense."
Something you are determined to ignore...
No, see, the rule doesn't seem to mention anything about not being able to call it at such and such time, because I'm sure that would have been brought up a while ago if it did. It simply prohibits a player from holding on to the ball for more than six seconds.
So it comes down to this simple, easy to answer question: Did the player hold on to the ball for longer than six seconds? The answer is yes, which means it was able to be correctly called. That's it. Just because it isn't always called doesn't mean it's incorrect when the rule is actually properly applied.
Stop the shots next time.
The closest analogy I could come up with is the pine tar incident.
Man, the Michigan Wolverine track and field girl was a doughy slow white ball. I think she was the Stay Puft entry.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 08, 2012, 12:40:12 PM
The closest analogy I could come up with is the pine tar incident.
This didn't change the scoreboard. This one is also apparently designed to prevent goalies and players from standing around and wasting a bunch of time because they have a lead, instead of just not wanting to make the ball gross and forcing them to get a new one every time they do it.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 08, 2012, 12:43:46 PM
This didn't change the scoreboard.
Neither did the Bulgarian ref when he put 8 seconds on the clock in 72.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 08, 2012, 01:23:19 PM
Neither did the Bulgarian ref when he put 8 seconds on the clock in 72.
:lol:
After seeing that head stomp, I really don't feel sorry at all for Canadians. They should've been playing with 10 after that, that was downright disgusting behavior. Karma is a bitch.
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 12:29:07 PM
Damn were the frogs dirty in the Spain - France QF basketball game. At least Good prevailed. :showoff:
My ridiculously overpaid boy Batum did to that Spanish guy, what Ed has wet dreams about doing to Timmay.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ktlincoln/a-french-basketball-player-savagely-punched-a-span
The Brazilian beach volleyball chicks just won the bronze over the Chinese.
And the head stomper chick is not penalized. :rolleyes: Punching someone in the eye is bad, very bad, but stomping someone on the head with a cleated shoe is just fine.
Quote from: DGuller on August 08, 2012, 02:06:15 PM
And the head stomper chick is not penalized. :rolleyes: Punching someone in the eye is bad, very bad, but stomping someone on the head with a cleated shoe is just fine.
Everyone does it and it is never penalized. :yes:
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 01:37:19 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 12:29:07 PM
Damn were the frogs dirty in the Spain - France QF basketball game. At least Good prevailed. :showoff:
My ridiculously overpaid boy Batum did to that Spanish guy, what Ed has wet dreams about doing to Timmay.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ktlincoln/a-french-basketball-player-savagely-punched-a-span
And just before that Turiaf had clotheslined Rudy Fernández, which had to withdraw to the game because of back pain (he had had surgery on it months ago).
Huge game for the Croatian goalie. Not a shutout, but he dominated team USA all the same.
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 02:17:44 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 01:37:19 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 12:29:07 PM
Damn were the frogs dirty in the Spain - France QF basketball game. At least Good prevailed. :showoff:
My ridiculously overpaid boy Batum did to that Spanish guy, what Ed has wet dreams about doing to Timmay.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ktlincoln/a-french-basketball-player-savagely-punched-a-span
And just before that Turiaf had clotheslined Rudy Fernández, which had to withdraw to the game because of back pain (he had had surgery on it months ago).
Rudy is a whiny little bitch anyway.
Batum's post-game comment was "I wanted to give him a good reason to flop." :D
Humans keep getting faster.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/08/05/sports/olympics/the-100-meter-dash-one-race-every-medalist-ever.html
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 03:07:21 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 02:17:44 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 01:37:19 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 12:29:07 PM
Damn were the frogs dirty in the Spain - France QF basketball game. At least Good prevailed. :showoff:
My ridiculously overpaid boy Batum did to that Spanish guy, what Ed has wet dreams about doing to Timmay.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ktlincoln/a-french-basketball-player-savagely-punched-a-span
And just before that Turiaf had clotheslined Rudy Fernández, which had to withdraw to the game because of back pain (he had had surgery on it months ago).
Rudy is a whiny little bitch anyway.
Batum's post-game comment was "I wanted to give him a good reason to flop." :D
So much hatin'. :(
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 08, 2012, 05:02:14 PM
Humans keep getting faster.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/08/05/sports/olympics/the-100-meter-dash-one-race-every-medalist-ever.html
I read/heard somewhere that someone figured out that 8.99 was physically possible but they don't think anyone could go faster than that naturally.
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 06:38:03 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 03:07:21 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 02:17:44 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 01:37:19 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 12:29:07 PM
Damn were the frogs dirty in the Spain - France QF basketball game. At least Good prevailed. :showoff:
My ridiculously overpaid boy Batum did to that Spanish guy, what Ed has wet dreams about doing to Timmay.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ktlincoln/a-french-basketball-player-savagely-punched-a-span
And just before that Turiaf had clotheslined Rudy Fernández, which had to withdraw to the game because of back pain (he had had surgery on it months ago).
Rudy is a whiny little bitch anyway.
Batum's post-game comment was "I wanted to give him a good reason to flop." :D
So much hatin'. :(
I live right outside of Portland and could probably be considered a Trailblazers fan.
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 07:04:15 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 06:38:03 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 03:07:21 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 02:17:44 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 01:37:19 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 12:29:07 PM
Damn were the frogs dirty in the Spain - France QF basketball game. At least Good prevailed. :showoff:
My ridiculously overpaid boy Batum did to that Spanish guy, what Ed has wet dreams about doing to Timmay.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ktlincoln/a-french-basketball-player-savagely-punched-a-span
And just before that Turiaf had clotheslined Rudy Fernández, which had to withdraw to the game because of back pain (he had had surgery on it months ago).
Rudy is a whiny little bitch anyway.
Batum's post-game comment was "I wanted to give him a good reason to flop." :D
So much hatin'. :(
I live right outside of Portland and could probably be considered a Trailblazers fan.
Then don't blame him for McMillan misusing him while there. :P
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 07:14:10 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 07:04:15 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 06:38:03 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 03:07:21 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 02:17:44 PM
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2012, 01:37:19 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 08, 2012, 12:29:07 PM
Damn were the frogs dirty in the Spain - France QF basketball game. At least Good prevailed. :showoff:
My ridiculously overpaid boy Batum did to that Spanish guy, what Ed has wet dreams about doing to Timmay.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ktlincoln/a-french-basketball-player-savagely-punched-a-span
And just before that Turiaf had clotheslined Rudy Fernández, which had to withdraw to the game because of back pain (he had had surgery on it months ago).
Rudy is a whiny little bitch anyway.
Batum's post-game comment was "I wanted to give him a good reason to flop." :D
So much hatin'. :(
I live right outside of Portland and could probably be considered a Trailblazers fan.
Then don't blame him for McMillan misusing him while there. :P
Oh shit. :D He couldn't play a lick of NBA defense and I don't think he hit shot in the playoffs in his 3 years here.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 08, 2012, 01:55:28 PM
The Brazilian beach volleyball chicks just won the bronze over the Chinese.
:showoff:
2 medal pickup for US
Brazillian...beach volleyball....That I wanna see.
Frenchie soccer chicks are hot.
About 10 minutes left in regulation. France 0-Canada0. France shots 22. Canada 2. Must find way to blame ref.
Karma baby. Çanada scores in the last minute.
First team medal since 1936
Now hopefully Japan can finish off what they started in December, 1941.
Awesome crashing in the BMX quarterfinals.
They wiped out? Nooooooo that's the only reason to watch that shit and I missed it!
Quote from: Josephus on August 09, 2012, 08:52:49 AM
Now hopefully Japan can finish off what they started in December, 1941.
Rooting for Japan in that game is rooting for China. :mad:
Huh. I don't think I've ever seen this freestyle dressage (equestrian event) before.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 09, 2012, 09:18:03 AM
Huh. I don't think I've ever seen this freestyle dressage (equestrian event) before.
I did. Right before I changed the channel.
:lol: Yeah, I'm scrolling through channels while the horse is "dancing" around in the little preview window in the corner.
E: Ugh. Synchronized swimming on regular NBC.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 09, 2012, 09:11:42 AM
They wiped out? Nooooooo that's the only reason to watch that shit and I missed it!
Crashes in all races so far, one took all out but one. Interesting event. :P
Quote from: Liep on August 09, 2012, 09:30:04 AM
Crashes in all races so far, one took all out but one. Interesting event. :P
Only one rider left out of the whole field? That's pretty awesome.
The damn stream isn't working for me for some reason.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 09, 2012, 09:34:28 AM
Quote from: Liep on August 09, 2012, 09:30:04 AM
Crashes in all races so far, one took all out but one. Interesting event. :P
Only one rider left out of the whole field? That's pretty awesome.
The damn stream isn't working for me for some reason.
Yep definitely worth catching, it was like a cartoon comedy crash, everyone but the out-front Kiwi imploded into this mass of bikes and riders. :)
So the U.S women soccer team is wearing shirts reading "Greatness has been found" (and they wonder why no one likes them?)
By no one you mean Canadians.
Canadian tears are making me like US women's soccer. FUCK YOU CANADA
Quote from: PDH on August 09, 2012, 04:05:08 PM
By no one you mean Canadians.
are they hot? Female athletes should be judged on attractiveness alone... And maybe sandwich making skills.
Quote from: Josephus on August 09, 2012, 08:52:49 AM
Karma baby. Çanada scores in the last minute.
First team medal since 1936
Now hopefully Japan can finish off what they started in December, 1941.
:nelson: Canada sucks!
Quote from: HVC on August 09, 2012, 04:08:36 PM
Quote from: PDH on August 09, 2012, 04:05:08 PM
By no one you mean Canadians.
are they hot? Female athletes should be judged on attractiveness alone... And maybe sandwich making skills.
And the tightness of their hoo-hah's.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 08, 2012, 07:29:53 AM
I was watching the women's gymnastics stuff last night, and quite frankly, as good as Aly Raisman is, I thought that Romanian hottie Catalina Ponor bested her in the floor event; she was so much more fluid and elegant. I dunno, I can't figure out the scoring for that stuff.
WTF - next you going to try to take away one of Koufax's no hitters?
Koufax was a known Jewser.
Get it? Jewser? That's a joke, son. A flag waver. You're built too low. The fast ones go over your head. Ya got a hole in your glove. I keep pitchin' 'em and you keep missin' 'em. Ya gotta keep your eye on the ball. Eye. Ball. I almost had a gag, son. Joke, that is.
:lol:
:lol:
:pinch:
QuoteManteo Mitchell felt the pop in his leg and knew it wasn't good. "It felt like somebody literally just snapped my leg in half," he said.
The American sprinter had half a lap to go in the first leg of the 4x400-meter relay preliminaries Thursday and a choice to make: keep running or stop and lose the race. To him, it was never much of a choice.
He finished the lap and limped to the side to watch the Americans finish the race and qualify easily for the final. A few hours later, doctors confirmed what he suspected: He had run the last 200 meters with a broken left fibula.
"I heard it and I felt it," Mitchell told The Associated Press. "But I figured it's what almost any person would've done in that situation."
Mitchell finished his heat in a more-than-respectable 46.1 seconds, and the United States tied the Bahamas in the second heat in 2 minutes, 58.87 seconds - the fastest time ever run in the first round of the relay at the Olympics.
Pretty ballsy.
Then again, Bernie Joseph Kosar Jr played three quarters against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football with a broken ankle; so there's balls, and then there's Bernie Balls.
Oh god, that popping sound. :cry:
Olympic games are a pagan celebration.
I refuse to post in this thread.
Uh....
Quote from: Josephus on August 09, 2012, 03:56:28 PM
So the U.S women soccer team is wearing shirts reading "Greatness has been found" (and they wonder why no one likes them?)
How long did it take them to find that ref? :hmm:
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 09, 2012, 05:20:26 PM
Oh god, that popping sound. :cry:
I'm sure yours sounded like a series of claymores going off.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 09, 2012, 05:32:21 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 09, 2012, 03:56:28 PM
So the U.S women soccer team is wearing shirts reading "Greatness has been found" (and they wonder why no one likes them?)
How long did it take them to find that ref? :hmm:
As long as it took to count to 10. :P
Quote from: Siege on August 09, 2012, 05:27:49 PM
Olympic games are a pagan celebration.
I refuse to post in this thread.
Israelis and Jews suck, eh? That's why you have your very own Olympics. Next year I think.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 09, 2012, 05:32:21 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 09, 2012, 03:56:28 PM
So the U.S women soccer team is wearing shirts reading "Greatness has been found" (and they wonder why no one likes them?)
How long did it take them to find that ref? :hmm:
:D
Incidently they had another incident of handling the ball in their own penalty box and not being called by the ref today.
I sure hope the US hasn't used up its officiating lucky break karma in Olympic Women's Soccer.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 09, 2012, 05:34:31 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 09, 2012, 05:20:26 PM
Oh god, that popping sound. :cry:
I'm sure yours sounded like a series of claymores going off.
a long ripping sound. A MG42.
Quote from: katmai on August 09, 2012, 05:05:38 PM
and the United States tied the Bahamas in the second heat in 2 minutes, 58.87 seconds - the fastest time ever run in the first round of the relay at the Olympics.
You'd think with all that speed we'd have managed to get somebody in the finals in the individual 400.
The amount of vaginal distress in this thread over some loser third place soccer team is really quite impressive, and has really made me appreciate the US team a lot more than I normally would have.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.i.com.com%2Fcnwk.1d%2Fi%2Ftim%2F2012%2F08%2F09%2F150062736_540x359.jpg&hash=da753e3e9f5534fe1835c02fb9788b0894a7ecff)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.i.com.com%2Fcnwk.1d%2Fi%2Ftim%2F2012%2F08%2F09%2F150054159_540x359.jpg&hash=bb014b321fe9a93147fbf5adeb7a78809671d49e)
Maybe next Olympics I'll even watch a game.
E: Oh yeah:
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2012/08/07/olympics-us-canada-soccer-ref.html
Quotewarned Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod twice for holding the ball beyond the allowable six seconds before whistling her for it.
QuoteMcLeod was holding the ball for up to 11 seconds when Canada was in the lead.
Quote"When the score was 0-0, 1-1, 2-2," he said, "the goalie was much faster."
Here's more!
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fl.yimg.com%2Fbt%2Fapi%2Fres%2F1.2%2Fbegilx.Lv1p4Pe_1nF.UQA--%2FYXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fblogs%2Fsptusolyexperts%2Ftancredi1.jpg&hash=4ee2c19efe8f32f239398ae2082e4d9be5b942a2)
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/canada-melissa-tancredi-got-away-stomping-carli-lloyd-173222381--oly.html
QuoteThe fuzzy image above (and the clearer one below) shows Canada's Melissa Tancredi, who finished the match with just one yellow card despite being called for at least seven fouls, stomping on the head of fallen U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd in the box. You can see a gif of the incident here for context. Tancredi appears to deliberately step back in order to plant a boot on Lloyd's head, but what could have very well been a straight red card that wasn't called at all. The referee did stop play soon after to check on Lloyd's condition, though.
Suck it, Canada.
Canadians are so cute when they get that chip on their shoulder.
Canadians butthurt about their betters to the south. News at 11.
Meh. It's women's soccer. Canada should take pride in beating the US at real football, and ignore these losses in less worthy sports.
Quote from: Neil on August 09, 2012, 07:11:54 PM
Meh. It's women's soccer.
Still counts! As do women's water polo and volleyball. :cool:
Beating the PRC.
Quote from: Neil on August 09, 2012, 07:11:54 PM
Meh. It's women's soccer. Canada should take pride in beating the US at real football, and ignore these losses in less worthy sports.
See, now that's the correct attitude to have. Pity the other Canuckleheads can't seem to figure that out.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 09, 2012, 06:44:17 PM
The amount of vaginal distress in this thread over some loser third place soccer team is really quite impressive, and has really made me appreciate the US team a lot more than I normally would have.
Yup, those girls rock. And those scoring shots--and the goalie play--against Japan were works of art.
QuoteSuck it, Canada.
Lulz.
The general dominance of the American women in the Olympics for the past 20 years or so is a great vindication of Title IX and College Football money. The men are getting left behind in Olympic sports (I mean they do well but nothing like the women do) but really male athletes have NBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL glory so really I think our current policies work great. I mean it is starting to look like the USA might beat the PRC both in golds and in total medals :yeah:
Quote from: Valmy on August 09, 2012, 08:32:46 PM
I mean it is starting to look like the USA might beat the PRC both in golds and in total medals :yeah:
Anything less is unacceptable.
There is no might, with the events left to award medals we will beat them on both counts.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 09, 2012, 08:21:00 PM
Beating the PRC.
The PRC is already beaten. Is it so important that your drugs are better than theirs?
Besides, it'll all be irrelevant if China ever lands a man on the moon.
Quote from: Neil on August 09, 2012, 08:41:10 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 09, 2012, 08:21:00 PM
Beating the PRC.
The PRC is already beaten. Is it so important that your drugs are better than theirs?
Besides, it'll all be irrelevant if China ever lands a man on the moon.
And yet Canada can't get an Astronaut into space without our help. :console:
Quote from: katmai on August 09, 2012, 08:43:29 PM
Quote from: Neil on August 09, 2012, 08:41:10 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 09, 2012, 08:21:00 PM
Beating the PRC.
The PRC is already beaten. Is it so important that your drugs are better than theirs?
Besides, it'll all be irrelevant if China ever lands a man on the moon.
And yet Canada can't get an Astronaut into space without our help. :console:
Actually, Canada has an identical ability to put a man into space as the US. :console:
Better to have regressed than never progressed i say!
Quote from: katmai on August 09, 2012, 08:43:29 PM
Quote from: Neil on August 09, 2012, 08:41:10 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 09, 2012, 08:21:00 PM
Beating the PRC.
The PRC is already beaten. Is it so important that your drugs are better than theirs?
Besides, it'll all be irrelevant if China ever lands a man on the moon.
And yet Canada can't get an Astronaut into space without our help. :console:
I'm sure they cheated then too. :mad:
Quote from: Josephus on August 09, 2012, 06:16:01 PM
:D
Incidently they had another incident of handling the ball in their own penalty box and not being called by the ref today.
I think that was a good no-call. Calling an inadvertent handball in a penalty area in a one goal game is a travesty.
Quote from: Neil on August 09, 2012, 09:16:45 PM
Quote from: katmai on August 09, 2012, 08:43:29 PM
Quote from: Neil on August 09, 2012, 08:41:10 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 09, 2012, 08:21:00 PM
Beating the PRC.
The PRC is already beaten. Is it so important that your drugs are better than theirs?
Besides, it'll all be irrelevant if China ever lands a man on the moon.
And yet Canada can't get an Astronaut into space without our help. :console:
Actually, Canada has an identical ability to put a man into space as the US. :console:
Actually, the US can afford to pay the Russians to send someone into space much more than Canada can.
Wait, what...BMX is an Olympic sport??!!?!
Quote from: katmai on August 10, 2012, 01:31:22 AM
Wait, what...BMX is an Olympic sport??!!?!
Yes, it was introduced back in Pékin.
Anybody other than redneck Americans in it?
Quote from: Josephus on August 10, 2012, 08:36:21 AM
Anybody other than redneck Americans in it?
None of them are Rednecks, it's not Skeet shooting.
It's a proper sport, like Snowboarding or skateboarding.
#oldpeoplesuck
Synchronized swimming. If you overlook the ridiculous nose clamps and the weird makeup, it's a rather good looking sport.
Quote from: Liep on August 10, 2012, 09:30:15 AM
Synchronized swimming. If you overlook the ridiculous nose clamps and the weird makeup, it's a rather good looking sport.
Not as good looking as rhythmic gymnastics, however.
Just in case anyone has forgotten, the US women's team won gold in Soccer and Canada sucks.
Quote from: derspiess on August 10, 2012, 09:39:34 AM
Just in case anyone has forgotten, the US women's team won gold in Soccer and Canada sucks.
Wait soccer? I thought they won gold in Water Polo.
FYP:
Quote from: derspiess on August 10, 2012, 09:39:34 AM
Just in case anyone has forgotten, the US women's team cheated twice and bought gold in Soccer.
:rolleyes: Refereeing mistakes are part of the game, and so is making sure that they happen to the right team at the right time.
Canada sucks at cheating, they could only cheat into a shameful, shameful bronze medal.
Funny how an event which is supposed to enhance peace and harmony can turn someone who was once an admirer of the US into someone who wants nothing more than for them to fail at everything.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 10, 2012, 11:24:29 AM
someone who was once an admirer of the US
Surely you're not talking about yourself or Josephus. :yeahright:
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 10, 2012, 11:24:29 AM
Funny how an event which is supposed to enhance peace and harmony can turn someone who was once an admirer of the US into someone who wants nothing more than for them to fail at everything.
Indeed it is funny when one's opinion of an entire country is affected by something as insignificant as a sports event.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 10, 2012, 11:24:29 AM
Funny how an event which is supposed to enhance peace and harmony can turn someone who was once an admirer of the US into someone who wants nothing more than for them to fail at everything.
:cheers:
Grudge Match Rd. 2- US wrestler beats US/Canadian wrestler wearing maple leaf :showoff:
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 10, 2012, 11:24:29 AM
Funny how an event which is supposed to enhance peace and harmony can turn someone who was once an admirer of the US into someone who wants nothing more than for them to fail at everything.
Whatever, Mart :rolleyes:
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 10, 2012, 11:24:29 AM
Funny how an event which is supposed to enhance peace and harmony can turn someone who was once an admirer of the US into someone who wants nothing more than for them to fail at everything.
:D
Quote from: Maximus on August 10, 2012, 11:46:37 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 10, 2012, 11:24:29 AM
Funny how an event which is supposed to enhance peace and harmony can turn someone who was once an admirer of the US into someone who wants nothing more than for them to fail at everything.
Indeed it is funny when one's opinion of an entire country is affected by something as insignificant as a sports event.
Wars have been fought over less.
i haven't watched one event yet. I never really like the summer olympics. Probably becasue as a general rule canada doesn't do well in the summer.
Quote from: Josephus on August 10, 2012, 12:06:18 PM
Quote from: Maximus on August 10, 2012, 11:46:37 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 10, 2012, 11:24:29 AM
Funny how an event which is supposed to enhance peace and harmony can turn someone who was once an admirer of the US into someone who wants nothing more than for them to fail at everything.
Indeed it is funny when one's opinion of an entire country is affected by something as insignificant as a sports event.
Wars have been fought over less.
Good old south america. They take their soccer seriously.
Agonizing victory over Russia in the semis, but Spain will be in the basketball final on sunday! :showoff:
Wow, new WR set by the American women's 4x100m. They trumphed the DDR's 1985 record. :D
Quote from: Liep on August 10, 2012, 02:42:57 PM
Wow, new WR set by the American women's 4x100m. They trumphed the DDR's 1985 record. :D
So how did Canada do in that event? Anyone know?
Quote from: derspiess on August 10, 2012, 02:59:03 PM
Quote from: Liep on August 10, 2012, 02:42:57 PM
Wow, new WR set by the American women's 4x100m. They trumphed the DDR's 1985 record. :D
So how did Canada do in that event? Anyone know?
You expect them to make it to the finals? :nelson:
;)
Quote from: derspiess on August 10, 2012, 02:59:03 PM
Quote from: Liep on August 10, 2012, 02:42:57 PM
Wow, new WR set by the American women's 4x100m. They trumphed the DDR's 1985 record. :D
So how did Canada do in that event? Anyone know?
We don't have any female sprinters for 100m.
Now that it is clear that we are going to have an exceptional Olympics (we have 8 gold medals so far and are placed 8th place on the rankings!), government politicans are coming out being busy of taking the spotlight.
Too bad, leaves a sour taste after is indeed a big success for the athletes.
The women's hammer throw was more entertaining than I thought. Only because of the Heidler incident, her 5th throw was later re-measured and gave a bronze pushing the Chinese girl down on 4th place.
Quote from: Tamas on August 10, 2012, 03:24:14 PM
Now that it is clear that we are going to have an exceptional Olympics (we have 8 gold medals so far and are placed 8th place on the rankings!), government politicans are coming out being busy of taking the spotlight.
Too bad, leaves a sour taste after is indeed a big success for the athletes.
I noticed that Hungary was doing rather well. Like the UK though you had a reasonable swimming team that got a lot of 4ths and 5ths, need a bit extra to beat the USA :cool:
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 10, 2012, 03:22:07 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 10, 2012, 02:59:03 PM
Quote from: Liep on August 10, 2012, 02:42:57 PM
Wow, new WR set by the American women's 4x100m. They trumphed the DDR's 1985 record. :D
So how did Canada do in that event? Anyone know?
We don't have any female sprinters for 100m.
Thanks. Was just checking :whistle:
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 10, 2012, 03:22:07 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 10, 2012, 02:59:03 PM
Quote from: Liep on August 10, 2012, 02:42:57 PM
Wow, new WR set by the American women's 4x100m. They trumphed the DDR's 1985 record. :D
So how did Canada do in that event? Anyone know?
We don't have any female sprinters for 100m.
:o Shocking!
I never really much liked cycling, I always found to be a very dull sport to watch. However, watching the BMX races gave me some appreciation for the sport.
Quote from: derspiess on August 10, 2012, 03:58:05 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 10, 2012, 03:22:07 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 10, 2012, 02:59:03 PM
Quote from: Liep on August 10, 2012, 02:42:57 PM
Wow, new WR set by the American women's 4x100m. They trumphed the DDR's 1985 record. :D
So how did Canada do in that event? Anyone know?
We don't have any female sprinters for 100m.
Thanks. Was just checking :whistle:
Well we did. But the American athletes knifed them before the race. It was in all the papers.
You know what I wanted to see during the jap-Sk soccer game? Apolo Ohno, South Korea's arch enemy, jumping out of the stands and beating a South Korean player to a pulp.
Just because.
It's a shame South Koreans scored so soon and had to settle down. I was pretty sure we would see the first on-field murder in soccer (maybe even the first and second). Those peoples seem to have some unresolved issues. :hmm:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/08/medal-count-economics-what-factors-explain-the-olympics-biggest-winners/260951/
Interesting that India is so bad at winning medals despite having a population of over a billion people to draw talent from.
As a prize for winning the bronze, the Korean mens' soccer team is exempt from the draft.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 10, 2012, 05:38:39 PM
As a prize for winning the bronze, the Korean mens' soccer team is exempt from the draft.
Seems like they've already been drafted and sent to fight Japan in hand-to-hand combat.
Quote from: Maximus on August 10, 2012, 11:46:37 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 10, 2012, 11:24:29 AM
Funny how an event which is supposed to enhance peace and harmony can turn someone who was once an admirer of the US into someone who wants nothing more than for them to fail at everything.
Indeed it is funny when one's opinion of an entire country is affected by something as insignificant as a sports event.
Not so much the event itself. But the total lack of class which followed it.
Quote from: HVC on August 10, 2012, 12:12:07 PM
i haven't watched one event yet. I never really like the summer olympics. Probably becasue as a general rule canada doesn't do well in the summer.
Que? They did good this year. :huh:
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 10, 2012, 11:24:29 AM
Funny how an event which is supposed to enhance peace and harmony can turn someone who was once an admirer of the US into someone who wants nothing more than for them to fail at everything.
You'll get the last laugh when Romney wins the election and everyone in the US loses their job.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 10, 2012, 05:32:30 PM
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/08/medal-count-economics-what-factors-explain-the-olympics-biggest-winners/260951/
Interesting that India is so bad at winning medals despite having a population of over a billion people to draw talent from.
Well a country with chronic malnutrition isn't going to produce a lot of word class athletes.
Quote from: Tamas on August 10, 2012, 03:24:14 PM
Now that it is clear that we are going to have an exceptional Olympics (we have 8 gold medals so far and are placed 8th place on the rankings!), government politicans are coming out being busy of taking the spotlight.
Too bad, leaves a sour taste after is indeed a big success for the athletes.
At least we beet you in the handball. Suck it losers! :yeah:
Quote from: Valmy on July 31, 2012, 12:50:45 PM
Speaking of China, I watched them lose to the South Korean women in archery and I couldn't help but think there should be Olympic Horse Archery. Man that would be awesome.
The bows they use these days look absolutely ridiculous. Those big counterweights that stick out of the front are preposterous and should be banned! :mad:
Quote from: jimmy olsen on August 10, 2012, 11:52:13 PM
The bows they use these days look absolutely ridiculous. Those big counterweights that stick out of the front are preposterous and should be banned! :mad:
Did you see the 10m air rifle shooting event toward the beginning of the Olympics? Dudes were all geared up with these high tech pellet guns with some sort of scopes on them, etc, to shoot 30 fuckin feet.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.pictures.zimbio.com%2Fgi%2FTao%2BWang%2BOlympics%2BDay%2B3%2BShooting%2B_Z5VT30LqJbl.jpg&hash=d41ca1856e62dbe18236b00cf6f8900e528bae77)
e: Good to see you again, Tim, btw. :)
Scopes should be banned as well!
Forget scopes. For only 10m, everyone should have to use one of those Daisy Red Riders. uh Ryders. Whatever.
Yeah, Olympic shooting competitions are a bit pussified, esp. when compared to biathlon where the athletes have to shoot between laps of cross country skiing:
QuoteThe biathlete carries the small bore rifle, which weighs at least 3.5 kilograms (7.7 lb), excluding ammunition and magazines. The rifles use .22 LR ammunition and are bolt action or Fortner (straight-pull bolt) action.
The target range shooting distance is 50 metres (160 ft). There are five circular targets to be hit in each shooting round. When shooting in the prone position the target diameter is 45 millimetres (1.8 in), when shooting in the standing position the target diameter is 115 millimetres (4.5 in). On all modern biathlon ranges, the targets are self-indicating, in that they flip from black to white when hit, giving the biathlete as well as the spectators instant visual feedback for each shot fired.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydaynodaysoff.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F02%2FBiathlon-gun-anschutz.jpg&hash=0b60f4a9a6fcbdb603825f9d3edb4d4dcbbc2fe2)
WTF a black dude on the Italian water polo team? :huh:
Quote from: sbr on August 11, 2012, 03:10:44 AM
WTF a black dude on the Italian water polo team? :huh:
This guy? :P
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fp4.focus.de%2Fimg%2Fgen%2FX%2FU%2FHBXUkHAC_Pxgen_r_300xA.JPG&hash=79c9c01d45947a6b6ab0f7e8145ddb50bb957a82)
Watching rhythmic gymnastic and those Eastern European girls are downright unbelievable. Can't wait to see what they do with the clubs. :yes:
¡Viva México!
Canada loses in Men's Kayak double.
CANADA LOSES!
SEEDY! ASIAN CHICK VOLLEYBALL! NBC NOW!
ON IT
Bonus women's fruit of the loom women's underwear ad.
THIS IS INDEED A GOLDEN AGE WE LIVE IN.
This is what I like about asian chick volleyball: these are the lanky, leggy ones, a refreshing alternative to those meaty rice-paddy quads that could collapse your chest cavity.
Some of the Japanese are real cuties, but you've got some woofer-sans in there.
You would have liked the petite, demure Asian girl with glasses in the black+white catholic dress I saw in the subway the other day.
Yes. Yes, I would.
But I see it every day, reading Lettow's posts. Mew. Squee. Banzai.
There's also a group of chattering young Korean girls on the tram recently. Despite their slightly overdone make-up it's a welcome change from the usual South-East European + Turkish bimbos (our equivalent of your dazzling urbanites).
Aahahahahahahahahahahahahah fuck Brazil forever viva Mexico
I just listened to a webcast of a Russian radio show, where they had Aliya Mustafina, her dad Farhat Mustafin, and her coach Alexander Alexandrov on. Her dad tells the story of how he convinced Alexandrov to coach her daughter. Her old coach left, because she and Mustafina couldn't get along, and no one else wanted to coach her. Her father approaches Alexandrov, and asks him to coach his daughter, but asks him to not have a heart attack on the job, because his daughter could drive any man into having a stroke. :lol: He said all that while having his daughter sit right next to him. :XD:
I'm starting to think that for once, NBC may not have been exaggerating things when they kept harping on Mustafina being a diva. :hmm: Oh, well, she's still the prettiest gymnast out there, on and off the floor.
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 11:03:21 AM
I'm starting to think that for once, NBC may not have been exaggerating things when they kept harping on Mustafina being a diva. :hmm: Oh, well, she's still the prettiest gymnast out there, on and off the floor.
I don't know, man...that Ponor chick from Romania is pretty fucking smoking hot.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fweb-images.chacha.com%2Fimages%2FGallery%2F4356%2Folympic-female-hottties1008126467-aug-9-2012-1-600x400.jpg&hash=023a98bc16847894ea8389f5f17a163562ee0868)
And she's 24. An actual woman, not Siegy whack material.
:mad: Mustafina is whack-eligible, she's 17.
I'd take a rhythmic gymnast over a real gymnast, they aren't so solidly built.
There is something wrong with you people.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 11, 2012, 11:24:34 AM
There is something wrong with you people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ_LHyx2odc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ_LHyx2odc)
Great women's volleyball match on. Brazil! :wub:
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 11, 2012, 01:27:12 PM
Great women's volleyball match on. Brazil! :wub:
I'm watching that too. Indoor volleyball is a better sport than beach volleyball.
Boris Johnson: "We tend to do well at sports that involve sitting down."
:D
NBC also showed a great clip of the BBC announcers completely spazzing out when Mo Farrah-Fawcett won the 10K.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 11, 2012, 02:19:21 PM
NBC also showed a great clip of the BBC announcers completely spazzing out when Mo Farrah-Fawcett won the 10K.
They did :lol:
Mo just won the 5k too, an awesome race. First Brit to win two athletic golds since 1908.
Slightly disappointed by the Norwegian handball team Gups. You and I might just have different tastes.
Tom Broakaw is doing a show on the Battle of Britain tonight at 8 Eastern in a plot to make anti-American Brits feel bad about themselves.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 11, 2012, 02:55:47 PM
Tom Broakaw is doing a show on the Battle of Britain tonight at 8 Eastern in a plot to make anti-American Brits feel bad about themselves.
No joke. If there's anything or butthurt to American sensibilities, it's busting the illusion that we needed to save them from Hitler in the first place.
I caught the womens mountain bike race/final, and despite me not like any bike sport that isn't road racing, it was pretty good entertainment and an excellent advert if you happen to own a cycle shop.
Nice looking course, good weather and an interesting mix of young and old competitors; won by a pedal perfect 23 year old french women, 2nd a 40+ German. :cool:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2012, 02:59:38 PM
No joke. If there's anything or butthurt to American sensibilities, it's busting the illusion that we needed to save them from Hitler in the first place.
There's a strange tendency in your posts of the last few days to express agreement then go on to make a point opposite to that of the poster you claim to be agreeing with. :hmm:
French coach said in his pre-game press conference that France had no chance to beat the US in basketball.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 11, 2012, 03:45:42 PM
French coach said in his pre-game press conference that France had no chance to beat the US in basketball.
I approve of his truthfulness. After all, no US player wants to repeat the disgrace of 2004, a shame which none of the players could ever live down. 2004, more than anything else, is what branded LeBron forever as a loser.
I was talking about chick ball.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 11, 2012, 03:21:40 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2012, 02:59:38 PM
No joke. If there's anything or butthurt to American sensibilities, it's busting the illusion that we needed to save them from Hitler in the first place.
There's a strange tendency in your posts of the last few days to express agreement then go on to make a point opposite to that of the poster you claim to be agreeing with. :hmm:
ITS A TRAP
Canadian 4x100 relay team dq'ed for stepping on the line. How often to they call that?:nelson:
Quote from: sbr on August 11, 2012, 04:57:22 PM
Canadian 4x100 relay team dq'ed for stepping on the line. How often to they call that?:nelson:
Clearly an American plot against them.
It was an American player who pointed it out to the ref. ;)
I'm curious, do other countries' broadcasters spend shitloads of time showing medal ceremonies? US broadcasters can't get enough of it, and IMO it's the most boring and worthless part of the show. Except maybe those breathy background stories about the spunky gymnast who bounced back from a mistake on the uneven beam to win gold on the vault.
We get medals ceremony and sports live. Thank God there's no segments about their 'journey' :bleeding:
I do sort of like the stories about penniless refugees going on to realize the American dream and representing their country. :blush:
We have that before, in the news and papers, and no doubt afterwards (there'll be a biopic of Mo) but during the games, just sport.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 11, 2012, 11:19:56 AM
I'd take a rhythmic gymnast over a real gymnast, they aren't so solidly built.
I have to say, there is something to rhythmic gymnastics. It makes artistic gymnasts look like cats high on catnip.
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 06:02:48 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 11, 2012, 11:19:56 AM
I'd take a rhythmic gymnast over a real gymnast, they aren't so solidly built.
I have to say, there is something to rhythmic gymnastics. It makes artistic gymnasts look like cats high on catnip.
It makes me all tingly in my Stranger-No-Go places.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 11, 2012, 05:36:58 PM
We get medals ceremony and sports live. Thank God there's no segments about their 'journey' :bleeding:
I have to admit, all of our networks will do that crap, but I still say NBC is the worst about it. and they've got the Olympic contract through 2020m, or is it 2024? Sheesh.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 11, 2012, 05:36:58 PM
We get medals ceremony and sports live. Thank God there's no segments about their 'journey' :bleeding:
I don't know I've seen at least one, there was a rather naff one about Bradley Wiggins, before the time trial, sufficently long along with all of the other studio bound presenter crap, that they didn't bother show many of the starts. :rolleyes:
Quote from: dps on August 11, 2012, 06:24:42 PM
I have to admit, all of our networks will do that crap, but I still say NBC is the worst about it. and they've got the Olympic contract through 2020m, or is it 2024? Sheesh.
Really? It seemed like we had less of that this year than in years past. Or maybe I am just better at tuning it out.
Quote from: Valmy on August 11, 2012, 06:30:46 PM
Quote from: dps on August 11, 2012, 06:24:42 PM
I have to admit, all of our networks will do that crap, but I still say NBC is the worst about it. and they've got the Olympic contract through 2020m, or is it 2024? Sheesh.
Really? It seemed like we had less of that this year than in years past. Or maybe I am just better at tuning it out.
I also noticed that it seems like they have much, much less of that crap than in the past.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2012, 06:04:52 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 06:02:48 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 11, 2012, 11:19:56 AM
I'd take a rhythmic gymnast over a real gymnast, they aren't so solidly built.
I have to say, there is something to rhythmic gymnastics. It makes artistic gymnasts look like cats high on catnip.
It makes me all tingly in my Stranger-No-Go places.
What does? Rhythmic gymnastics, or the imagery of cats?
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 06:38:04 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2012, 06:04:52 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 06:02:48 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 11, 2012, 11:19:56 AM
I'd take a rhythmic gymnast over a real gymnast, they aren't so solidly built.
I have to say, there is something to rhythmic gymnastics. It makes artistic gymnasts look like cats high on catnip.
It makes me all tingly in my Stranger-No-Go places.
What does? Rhythmic gymnastics, or the imagery of cats?
Maybe it;s the catnip.
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 06:38:04 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2012, 06:04:52 PM
It makes me all tingly in my Stranger-No-Go places.
What does? Rhythmic gymnastics, or the imagery of cats?
:ph34r:
NBC gets bonus points for their actions at the boxing venue. :)
Quote from: dps on August 11, 2012, 06:24:42 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 11, 2012, 05:36:58 PM
We get medals ceremony and sports live. Thank God there's no segments about their 'journey' :bleeding:
I have to admit, all of our networks will do that crap, but I still say NBC is the worst about it. and they've got the Olympic contract through 2020m, or is it 2024? Sheesh.
NBC does that for everything. See: Sunday Night Football.
Cris Collingsworth is your god.
I just Wiki'd Yevgeniya Kanayeva, after watching the rhythmic gymnastics finals. Her medal count is :o :blink:.
Funny how in Tom Brokaw's history lesson, the German invasion of Soviet Union was mentioned in passing just once. Soviet Union was even edited out of the continental Europe map, to make Hitler's domination seem more impressive. :lol: On the other hand, getting America involved in the war was what the whole war strategy was about, and it finally paid off in Pearl Harbor.
Oh, well, maybe they'll get it right in Sochi.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 11, 2012, 05:21:34 PM
It was an American player who pointed it out to the ref. ;)
No doubt.
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 09:55:16 PM
Funny how in Tom Brokaw's history lesson, the German invasion of Soviet Union was mentioned in passing just once. Soviet Union was even edited out of the continental Europe map, to make Hitler's domination seem more impressive. :lol: On the other hand, getting America involved in the war was what the whole war strategy was about, and it finally paid off in Pearl Harbor.
Oh, well, maybe they'll get it right in Sochi.
Jesus H Christ, DG; the games are in London. Of course it's going to be Anglo-centric.
Maybe if these Olympic games were being held in Moscow, Tom would've done a relevant piece on Russia. In an ADIDAS track suit. For Moose and Squirrel.
I hate those "journey" docs. They do it here too.
"Up next we have Cynthia Lovejugs from Saskatoon who will be competing in the women's relay. Cynthia's journey is nothing short of a miracle. Raped by her father at the age of two she was sent to a convent where she was raped by the nuns. Escaping from the convent she was hit by a truck and lost the use of both her legs. She was raped by the trucker. At 14, she ran into a track and field coach who after raping her taught her to run. This is her journey."
After the race...
"Cynthia Lovejugs from Saskatoon finished 40th in a race of 35. She would have finished 38th but she was raped by the American and DQ'd. They never call that."
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2012, 09:58:14 PM
Jesus H Christ, DG; the games are in London. Of course it's going to be Anglo-centric.
Maybe if these Olympic games were being held in Moscow, Tom would've done a relevant piece on Russia. In an ADIDAS track suit. For Moose and Squirrel.
It wasn't even that Anglo-Centric. The whole story was about British trying to hold on until Americans would arrive and rescue them. Doesn't exactly seem like an unambiguous endorsement of British strength.
In any case, I understand things like focus, but there is a difference between focusing on something, and distorting the story to the point it becomes a falsehood.
Quote from: Josephus on August 11, 2012, 10:00:00 PM
I hate those "journey" docs. They do it here too.
"Up next we have Cynthia Lovejugs from Saskatoon who will be competing in the women's relay. Cynthia's journey is nothing short of a miracle. Raped by her father at the age of two she was sent to a convent where she was raped by the nuns. Escaping from the convent she was hit by a truck and lost the use of both her legs. She was raped by the trucker. At 14, she ran into a track and field coach who after raping her taught her to run. This is her journey."
After the race...
"Cynthia Lovejugs from Saskatoon finished 40th in a race of 35. She would have finished 38th but she was raped by the American and DQ'd. They never call that."
:lmfao: :lmfao: :lmfao:
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 10:02:38 PM
It wasn't even that Anglo-Centric. The whole story was about British trying to hold on until Americans would arrive and rescue them. Doesn't exactly seem like an unambiguous endorsement of British strength.
In any case, I understand things like focus, but there is a difference between focusing on something, and distorting the story to the point it becomes a falsehood.
And where, exactly, in telling the story of Churchhill's ascent, the Blitz, the Battle of Britain, and interviewing the 85 year old who lost his mother at age 7, were the falsehoods?
Hey, maybe you'll luck out at the next Winter Olympics, and Brokaw will do a piece in Sochi on the cossack pogroms in murdering a half million Circassians? Will that make you feel better?
Fucking Russians, man. ZOMG THEY DIDNT MENTION STALINGRAD IN A STORY ON THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2012, 10:11:31 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 10:02:38 PM
It wasn't even that Anglo-Centric. The whole story was about British trying to hold on until Americans would arrive and rescue them. Doesn't exactly seem like an unambiguous endorsement of British strength.
In any case, I understand things like focus, but there is a difference between focusing on something, and distorting the story to the point it becomes a falsehood.
And where, exactly, in telling the story of Churchhill's ascent, the Blitz, the Battle of Britain, and interviewing the 85 year old who lost his mother at age 7, were the falsehoods?
Hey, maybe you'll luck out at the next Winter Olympics, and Brokaw will do a piece in Sochi on the cossack pogroms in murdering a half million Circassians? Will that make you feel better?
Fucking Russians, man. ZOMG THEY DIDNT MENTION STALINGRAD IN A STORY ON THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
The setting of the story. If British lost the Battle of Britain, Britain would be invaded and occupied, and Hitler would be unstoppable. :o :o :o Let's forget that somewhat sizable and populous country in the east on the same fucking continent, that's irrelevant. Churchill getting FDR on his side, that was the reason for Hitler's defeat.
EDIT: And this has nothing to do with me being a Russian. I just hate the trend in pop history lessons where ever single event in history was shaped and determined solely by the subject of this hour's special.
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 10:15:42 PM
The setting of the story. If British lost the Battle of Britain, Britain would be invaded and occupied, and Hitler would be unstoppable. :o :o :o Let's forget that somewhat sizable and populous country in the east on the same fucking continent, that's irrelevant. Churchill getting FDR on his side, that was the reason for Hitler's defeat.
That's not how it was portrayed, and you know it. It mentioned concerns about the very real possibility of an invasion, and knocking Britain out of the war.
AND BESIDES THE SETTING OF THE STORY WAS THE SUMMER OF 19 FUCKING 40 WHEN STALIN HAD ALREADY SIGNED MOLOTOV-RIBBONTROP HOWS THAT FOR RELEVANT YOU FUCKING COSSACK ASSFUCK
Now fuck off, and go steal some cars or kill some Jews or something. You weary me with your Slavic bullshit.
Quote from: Josephus on August 11, 2012, 10:00:00 PM
I hate those "journey" docs. They do it here too.
"Up next we have Cynthia Lovejugs from Saskatoon who will be competing in the women's relay. Cynthia's journey is nothing short of a miracle. Raped by her father at the age of two she was sent to a convent where she was raped by the nuns. Escaping from the convent she was hit by a truck and lost the use of both her legs. She was raped by the trucker. At 14, she ran into a track and field coach who after raping her taught her to run. This is her journey."
After the race...
"Cynthia Lovejugs from Saskatoon finished 40th in a race of 35. She would have finished 38th but she was raped by the American and DQ'd. They never call that."
Does anyone remember the time Martim explained that Canadian women are the most rapeable in the world? He might have been on to something after all...
DG made me have to go get a cigarette. Fuck.
:hmm: I still don't believe that that South African dude is a girl.
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 10:31:05 PM
:hmm: I still don't believe that that South African dude is a girl.
Me neither. There's masculine, there's feminine, and then there's her.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2012, 10:32:07 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 10:31:05 PM
:hmm: I still don't believe that that South African dude is a girl.
Me neither. There's masculine, there's feminine, and then there's her.
It also looked like he/she laid back, and didn't even try to run fast, until the very end. I've seen some impressive sprinting near the end of long races, but that was something else entirely.
Usain Bolt may be a very fast runner, but he's no champion. :thumbsdown:
It's a shame the Decathletes get hardly any coverage whereas the sprint events have turned into the main stage for track & field. Usain Bolt the greatest athlete ever? I wantot o seem him do the shot put, javelin, discus, 1500m, pole vault etc. to see how he really measures up outside his niche. Or do a triathlon.
Quote from: Syt on August 11, 2012, 10:50:59 PM
It's a shame the Decathletes get hardly any coverage whereas the sprint events have turned into the main stage for track & field. Usain Bolt the greatest athlete ever? I wantot o seem him do the shot put, javelin, discus, 1500m, pole vault etc. to see how he really measures up outside his niche. Or do a triathlon.
:thumbsup:
Decathalon took a permanent hit in the US when Bruce Jenner decided to buy Michael Jackson's face and financed it by doing as many retard infomercials as possible.
I guess it's also a sport that's a bit complicated for mainstream viewers - in the singles events you understand quickly what's going on: who runs faster/throws farther/jumps higher or farther. In decathlon it's translated into opaque point scores, and on top of that you have a lot of tactics involved (which athlete puts how much effort into which event to maximize chances and scores).
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 10:15:42 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2012, 10:11:31 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 10:02:38 PM
It wasn't even that Anglo-Centric. The whole story was about British trying to hold on until Americans would arrive and rescue them. Doesn't exactly seem like an unambiguous endorsement of British strength.
In any case, I understand things like focus, but there is a difference between focusing on something, and distorting the story to the point it becomes a falsehood.
And where, exactly, in telling the story of Churchhill's ascent, the Blitz, the Battle of Britain, and interviewing the 85 year old who lost his mother at age 7, were the falsehoods?
Hey, maybe you'll luck out at the next Winter Olympics, and Brokaw will do a piece in Sochi on the cossack pogroms in murdering a half million Circassians? Will that make you feel better?
Fucking Russians, man. ZOMG THEY DIDNT MENTION STALINGRAD IN A STORY ON THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
The setting of the story. If British lost the Battle of Britain, Britain would be invaded and occupied, and Hitler would be unstoppable. :o :o :o Let's forget that somewhat sizable and populous country in the east on the same fucking continent, that's irrelevant. Churchill getting FDR on his side, that was the reason for Hitler's defeat.
EDIT: And this has nothing to do with me being a Russian. I just hate the trend in pop history lessons where ever single event in history was shaped and determined solely by the subject of this hour's special.
Maybe we are indifferent as to which evil empire gets to dominate Europe?
Because Britain survived in 1940 the western allies were at least able to liberate Western Europe, without Britain as a base it is hard to see what the USA could have done to help countries like France, Netherlands and so on.
I just read that the jolly white-mustached guy and the dried out old lady with the glasses, who were always shown on TV when US gymnasts were competing, were beating their students savagely when they were coaches in Romania. My faith in the humanity of communist block gymnastics is shaken. :(
Quote from: mongers on August 11, 2012, 06:28:23 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 11, 2012, 05:36:58 PM
We get medals ceremony and sports live. Thank God there's no segments about their 'journey' :bleeding:
I don't know I've seen at least one, there was a rather naff one about Bradley Wiggins, before the time trial, sufficently long along with all of the other studio bound presenter crap, that they didn't bother show many of the starts. :rolleyes:
I didn't see that. You could probably have red buttoned past it.
What happens to all the specialist commentators for the next four years?
Thorpe and Johnson were a great relief compared to some of the British presenters, they both behaved with decorum and allowed their expertise to inform their comments, they were worth listening to. Denise Lewis and that Jackson fellow were bloody ridiculous :mad:
I thought Boardman did pretty well and Steve Redgrave was also calm and informative.
Thorpe and Johnson have been great. I like Denise Lewis though. A good team explains the sport or the technical details, but also give a sense of the excitement and atmosphere of the event. I think Lewis is just maybe a bit better at the latter :lol:
And even Thorpe was referring to Britain as 'we' by the end of the swimming.
Except for the Ye Shiwen thing, I think Clare Balding's been brilliant too.
Yes, I wish she hadn't said that, it verges on the slanderous.
There was little film about Denise Lewis's roots in Birmingham and her family's in Jamaica which I found interesting. I found her comments in the studio to be a vast collection of platitudes - maybe I'm being too harsh, she is a personable enough woman and there is no reason why a former athlete should be a wizard with the spoken word.
The most important thing now, though, is to stop McCartney from "singing" during the closing ceremony :D
Rumours as the Closing Ceremony has lots b the Kinks, the Stones, Adele, the Spice Girls and a hologram Freddy Mercury.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 12, 2012, 06:22:05 AM
hologram Freddy Mercury.
Like the 2Pac thing a few months or so ago? That was pretty interesting.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 12, 2012, 06:23:54 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 12, 2012, 06:22:05 AM
hologram Freddy Mercury.
Like the 2Pac thing a few months or so ago? That was pretty interesting.
According to rumours, yes :mmm:
That's cool. Everybody loves Freddie Mercury.
Quote from: Neil on August 12, 2012, 07:58:34 AM
That's cool. Everybody loves Freddie Mercury.
Not everybody, I imagine NBC will decide to cut it for an interview with Ryan Seacrest.
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 10:48:12 PM
Usain Bolt may be a very fast runner, but he's no champion. :thumbsdown:
He's a legend. :D
False modesty isn't that great either. He just needs to learn to be more subtle with his arrogance, a la Phelps or Jordan.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 12, 2012, 08:46:00 AM
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 10:48:12 PM
Usain Bolt may be a very fast runner, but he's no champion. :thumbsdown:
He's a legend. :D
False modesty isn't that great either. He just needs to learn to be more subtle with his arrogance, a la Phelps or Jordan.
Subtle? :yeahright:
He knew how to let other people toot his horn for him.
Also, there's a big difference between trash talking other players and dealing with reporters.
Why? He is a legend and charming with it - interacting with the volunteers, taking photos with a spectator's camera, doing the Mo-thing in a tribute to Farah. I'd far rather that personality than an airbrushed false modesty.
Quote from: DGuller on August 11, 2012, 10:31:05 PM
:hmm: I still don't believe that that South African dude is a girl.
He had a great comeback, though.
Quote from: Syt on August 11, 2012, 10:50:59 PM
It's a shame the Decathletes get hardly any coverage whereas the sprint events have turned into the main stage for track & field. Usain Bolt the greatest athlete ever? I wantot o seem him do the shot put, javelin, discus, 1500m, pole vault etc. to see how he really measures up outside his niche. Or do a triathlon.
I was havign this discussion at work the other day. Totally agree. I think the decathalon is the classic Olympian event and greater honours should go to it.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 12, 2012, 09:07:38 AM
Why? He is a legend and charming with it - interacting with the volunteers, taking photos with a spectator's camera, doing the Mo-thing in a tribute to Farah. I'd far rather that personality than an airbrushed false modesty.
Well, yeah, I like the guy in spite of his arrogance; I just think he went a bit overboard.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 12, 2012, 09:33:13 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 12, 2012, 09:07:38 AM
Why? He is a legend and charming with it - interacting with the volunteers, taking photos with a spectator's camera, doing the Mo-thing in a tribute to Farah. I'd far rather that personality than an airbrushed false modesty.
Well, yeah, I like the guy in spite of his arrogance; I just think he went a bit overboard.
Yeah, Bolt has a bit of an edge to him; but when you're the fastest thing on two legs on the fucking planet, you can afford to be a bit ballsy about it. He's no TO or Randy Moss about it, though.
So, I'm watching what I think is handball, and it seems to be more of a game of positioning than anything else. It seems like a better sport than basketball though, and penalties are handled better than in soccer.
Brazil must have felt bad about losing volleyball to the filthy Russians.
Highly underrated sport, handball. Surprised it never caught on here. Fast, high scoring. Better than basketball to watch for sure.
Quote from: Josephus on August 12, 2012, 10:48:30 AM
Highly underrated sport, handball. Surprised it never caught on here. Fast, high scoring. Better than basketball to watch for sure.
Looks like something that's played in PE when it's raining out, or it's a Friday and the teacher's looking forward to the weekend.
Croatia must be happy, winning a gold medal against the hated Italians.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 12, 2012, 09:07:38 AM
Why? He is a legend and charming with it - interacting with the volunteers, taking photos with a spectator's camera, doing the Mo-thing in a tribute to Farah. I'd far rather that personality than an airbrushed false modesty.
I agree. He is awesome at 100m and 200m and says so, don't see what is wrong with that :hmm:
Now, if he is nasty to waitresses or hotel staff because they are "mere mortals" then that is a different matter, but there are no reports of that sort of behaviour.
As silly and irritating as the Olympics can be this is why they are still good
http://twitpic.com/aia7gx
Quote from: sbr on August 12, 2012, 11:51:39 AM
As silly and irritating as the Olympics can be this is why they are still good
http://twitpic.com/aia7gx
:lol: Awesomest pic of the day. Thanks.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on August 12, 2012, 11:22:01 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 12, 2012, 09:07:38 AM
Why? He is a legend and charming with it - interacting with the volunteers, taking photos with a spectator's camera, doing the Mo-thing in a tribute to Farah. I'd far rather that personality than an airbrushed false modesty.
I agree. He is awesome at 100m and 200m and says so, don't see what is wrong with that :hmm:
Now, if he is nasty to waitresses or hotel staff because they are "mere mortals" then that is a different matter, but there are no reports of that sort of behaviour.
And he parties with three chicks from the Swedish handball team after earning gold medals. What's not to like and admire? :lol:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic3.businessinsider.com%2Fimage%2F501fbd576bb3f78b1400000d%2Fusain-bolt-swedish-handball-players.jpg&hash=c120e571fb5fffc18d203b89492e6cf383cfaef6)
Awesome game by Spain in the basketball final. To be able to compete on a similar footing with the US team, which has such an embarrassment of riches on its roster that a second team could reasonably compete for a medal on its own, is a huge accolade, even moreso after the dissapointing performances they turned out during qualification. I doubt that this current generation of players can get much further, as our starts are on their way out and the youngsters won't be able to fill their shoes.
I found team handball pretty boring and one dimensional. There's no real way to steal the ball from someone who's holding it, and if you overplay a pass that leaves the backdoor for a relatively easy shot, so defense is waving your arms around on the edge of that no go circle.
It reminded me of an endless succession of hockey power plays. Pass it back and forth for a while, then either the shot goes in or it doesn't.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 12, 2012, 09:07:38 AM
Why? He is a legend and charming with it - interacting with the volunteers, taking photos with a spectator's camera, doing the Mo-thing in a tribute to Farah. I'd far rather that personality than an airbrushed false modesty.
Who says he needs to be falsely modest? There is a classy way to be arrogant, and then there is Usain Bolt way. Dignity is equally important in winning and in losing.
Damn, it sucks to have the games end. :( I haven't paid that much attention to Olympic games in a long, long time. For some reason, it feels like these games had something that was missing from many previous Olympic games.
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2012, 05:57:43 PM
For some reason, it feels like these games had something that was missing from many previous Olympic games.
A gold medal for Grenada?
NBC competence, for one. Yes, NBC was horrific, but not as horrific as it usually was. The sob stories were mostly gone, and the ones that were left were generally not eyeroll-inducing. They actually focused on sports much more this time around.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 12, 2012, 06:17:04 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2012, 05:57:43 PM
For some reason, it feels like these games had something that was missing from many previous Olympic games.
A gold medal for Grenada?
A crap load of Canadian whining and butthurt?
QuoteTwo wrestlers from Egypt forfeited their matches on Sunday when they didn't show up in time. Abdou Omar Abdou Ahmed missed his 66kg first-round match and Saleh Emera missed his 96kg match, unaware that Sunday's schedule started at 8:30 a.m.
All week, wrestling started at 1 p.m. in London. However, because of the Closing Ceremony, the last three weight classes to be wrestled at freestyle were started earlier. The Egyptians showed up to the arena late, saying, "every day one-o'clock." But it was too late. They were out. One of the wrestlers reportedly fell to his knees crying when he learned the news.
The schedule for wrestling has been posted for months. Every other wrestler, official, media member, coach, volunteer and fan at the ExCeL arena knew to show up early.
The worst part of this is that the biggest victim of Egypt's negligence is the wrestlers themselves. When an athlete comes to the Olympics, the only thing he or she should be worried about is competing. Details like schedules, tickets, meals and media requests should be handled by coaches and national organizing committees. Though neither wrestler was favored for gold, it's heartbreaking that they didn't even get the chance.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 12, 2012, 06:36:05 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 12, 2012, 06:17:04 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2012, 05:57:43 PM
For some reason, it feels like these games had something that was missing from many previous Olympic games.
A gold medal for Grenada?
A crap load of Canadian whining and butthurt?
He said something missing from previous games. ;)
Quote from: The Larch on August 12, 2012, 12:54:51 PM
And he parties with three chicks from the Swedish handball team after earning gold medals. What's not to like and admire? :lol:
Catching low hanging fruits is not something inherently admirable nor likable.
Canadian butthurt was definitely nice. I still have the game DVR'ed, just for the "WTF?!?!" expression on the #20's face, and Tancredi's quietly furious march to the referee to get her yellow card. I must've rewinded it like 50 times. :)
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2012, 06:45:17 PM
Canadian butthurt was definitely nice. I still have the game DVR'ed, just for the "WTF?!?!" expression on the #20's face, and Tancredi's quietly furious march to the referee to get her yellow card. I must've rewinded it like 50 times. :)
:)
We'll turn you into an American yet!
Now, you need to go post this stuff at canoe.ca.
Quote from: Drakken on August 12, 2012, 06:44:59 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 12, 2012, 12:54:51 PM
And he parties with three chicks from the Swedish handball team after earning gold medals. What's not to like and admire? :lol:
Catching low hanging fruits is not something inherently admirable nor likable.
Low hanging fruits? :huh:
Quote from: The Larch on August 12, 2012, 07:06:37 PM
Quote from: Drakken on August 12, 2012, 06:44:59 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 12, 2012, 12:54:51 PM
And he parties with three chicks from the Swedish handball team after earning gold medals. What's not to like and admire? :lol:
Catching low hanging fruits is not something inherently admirable nor likable.
Low hanging fruits? :huh:
He called them sluts.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 12, 2012, 07:07:31 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 12, 2012, 07:06:37 PM
Quote from: Drakken on August 12, 2012, 06:44:59 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 12, 2012, 12:54:51 PM
And he parties with three chicks from the Swedish handball team after earning gold medals. What's not to like and admire? :lol:
Catching low hanging fruits is not something inherently admirable nor likable.
Low hanging fruits? :huh:
He called them sluts.
Pfft. Athletes during the Olympics hump like bunnies, to call someone a slut in that context is stupid.
Quote from: The Larch on August 12, 2012, 07:18:39 PM
Pfft. Athletes during the Olympics hump like bunnies, to call someone a slut in that context is stupid.
No shit. That Olympic Village sees more uglies bumping in 2 weeks than most state university dorms see an entire year.
These closing ceremonies are gay and stupid.
:huh: They are just in a picture with Usain Bolt.
WHORES!
Since they were Swedish, it was a wonder they didn't accuse him of rape by sitting next to them.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 12, 2012, 07:24:12 PM
:huh: They are just in a picture with Usain Bolt.
Yeah, I'm sure they were all there debating the legacy of Charles XII.
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2012, 07:26:07 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 12, 2012, 07:24:12 PM
:huh: They are just in a picture with Usain Bolt.
Yeah, I'm sure they were all there debating the legacy of Charles XII.
Maybe they saw him in the village and just wanted to pose for a picture (or vice versa)? If Usain Bolt had sex with half the women he was in a picture with over the past couple of weeks, his running is just a sidebar next to his other talents.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 12, 2012, 07:22:55 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 12, 2012, 07:18:39 PM
Pfft. Athletes during the Olympics hump like bunnies, to call someone a slut in that context is stupid.
No shit. That Olympic Village sees more uglies bumping in 2 weeks than most state university dorms see an entire year.
In the immortal words of Ryan Lochte, "I used to have a girlfriend during the Beijing Olympics. Big mistake. Now I'm single so I expect to have plenty of fun".
Quote from: alfred russel on August 12, 2012, 07:32:54 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2012, 07:26:07 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 12, 2012, 07:24:12 PM
:huh: They are just in a picture with Usain Bolt.
Yeah, I'm sure they were all there debating the legacy of Charles XII.
Maybe they saw him in the village and just wanted to pose for a picture (or vice versa)? If Usain Bolt had sex with half the women he was in a picture with over the past couple of weeks, his running is just a sidebar next to his other talents.
None of them bothered to hide it. That picture was tweeted from Bolt's room at 3 am the night after he won the gold at 100 m. The girls had approached his coach in the canteen and asked him to introduce them to Bolt, which he did.
disgusting.
Well, after all this shitty Brit Pop in the closing ceremony, at least they had the presence of taste to include John Lennon, so it's not a total loss.
Quote from: The Larch on August 12, 2012, 08:01:55 PM
None of them bothered to hide it. That picture was tweeted from Bolt's room at 3 am the night after he won the gold at 100 m. The girls had approached his coach in the canteen and asked him to introduce them to Bolt, which he did.
It's a plot to produce a generation of mocha Swedish athletes.
Quote from: The Larch on August 12, 2012, 08:01:55 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 12, 2012, 07:32:54 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2012, 07:26:07 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 12, 2012, 07:24:12 PM
:huh: They are just in a picture with Usain Bolt.
Yeah, I'm sure they were all there debating the legacy of Charles XII.
Maybe they saw him in the village and just wanted to pose for a picture (or vice versa)? If Usain Bolt had sex with half the women he was in a picture with over the past couple of weeks, his running is just a sidebar next to his other talents.
None of them bothered to hide it. That picture was tweeted from Bolt's room at 3 am the night after he won the gold at 100 m. The girls had approached his coach in the canteen and asked him to introduce them to Bolt, which he did.
I googled the story. Supposedly they wanted to meet Bolt, hung out in his room for an hour, and went home. Maybe they had an orgy in that hour, maybe they just hung out.
Maybe they took care of business with Nordic effciency in order to create a generation of mocha athletes.
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2012, 06:45:17 PM
Canadian butthurt was definitely nice. I still have the game DVR'ed, just for the "WTF?!?!" expression on the #20's face, and Tancredi's quietly furious march to the referee to get her yellow card. I must've rewinded it like 50 times. :)
2016. Rio. Canada gets Revenge. :lol:
Quote from: The Larch on August 12, 2012, 08:01:55 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 12, 2012, 07:32:54 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2012, 07:26:07 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 12, 2012, 07:24:12 PM
:huh: They are just in a picture with Usain Bolt.
Yeah, I'm sure they were all there debating the legacy of Charles XII.
Maybe they saw him in the village and just wanted to pose for a picture (or vice versa)? If Usain Bolt had sex with half the women he was in a picture with over the past couple of weeks, his running is just a sidebar next to his other talents.
None of them bothered to hide it. That picture was tweeted from Bolt's room at 3 am the night after he won the gold at 100 m. The girls had approached his coach in the canteen and asked him to introduce them to Bolt, which he did.
Wouldn't you want to fuck the fastest man on earth.
I mean if you were a woman.
Or gay.
Hands up who noticed the recreation of the cover art for Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. :) :) :)
Also: "Who are these old dudes doing the CSI theme song?" spoken by millions of under 25s around the world.
Quote from: Josephus on August 12, 2012, 09:12:46 PM
Wouldn't you want to fuck the fastest man on earth.
I mean if you were a woman.
Or gay.
No, I prefer a man who takes his time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGEQ-ly9rnM
Quote from: Josephus on August 12, 2012, 09:14:32 PM
Hands up who noticed the recreation of the cover art for Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. :) :) :)
Also: "Who are these old dudes doing the CSI theme song?" spoken by millions of under 25s around the world.
I haven't seen that bit yet, I'm watching it on replay, but I notice the 1/4 Pink Floyd earlier. :)
edit:
Just seen the imagery, it was a bit obvious, though I noticed the commentators missed it.
I happened to like the closing ceremonies, I found it kicked ass. Even with the Spice Girls lipsync singing for five minutes. Even with Liam Gallagher half-assing Wonderwall with his pseudo-Oasis band. :blush:
Ed: Who's the pouty Sarah Silverman look-a-like in your avatar? Me likey.
Watched a lot of the olympics I see Drakken.
:lol: i have been on the mobile vrtsion all weekend and didn't see ed's avatar. What a great picture.
Quote from: Drakken on August 12, 2012, 10:11:34 PM
I happened to like the closing ceremonies, I found it kicked ass. Even with the Spice Girls lipsync singing for five minutes. Even with Liam Gallagher half-assing Wonderwall with his pseudo-Oasis band. :blush:
Ed: Who's the pouty Sarah Silverman look-a-like in your avatar? Me likey.
Isn't it all of the band minus Noel ? :bowler:
Quote from: mongers on August 12, 2012, 10:38:37 PM
Isn't it all of the band minus Noel ? :bowler:
I seem to recognize the drummer and the guitarist were those from Oasis at the time of
Morning Glory.
The Olympic spirit didn't work on the Gallagher brothers, if only for five damn minutes. :(
Quote from: katmai on August 12, 2012, 10:31:20 PM
Watched a lot of the olympics I see Drakken.
We in Canada don't lose time showing the medal ceremonies when the Americans win and no Canadian is on the podium, save when Phelps wins.
Quote from: katmai on August 12, 2012, 10:31:20 PM
Watched a lot of the olympics I see Drakken.
:yes:
Ed's even rocking her meme.
While I like Olympic Games in general, I think one reason why I prefer the Winter Games is that they have less events (86 in Vancouver vs. 302 in London), which makes it much easier to follow and "get into" for me, with more focus on each event. The Summer Games have much greater diversity between track & field, gymnastics, swimming, to team sports, rowing, cycling, skeet shot, boxing, or archery, but it's a bit overwhelming.
Now that it is all over one can say it.............one indisputable good thing about the games.............no terrorist attacks :cool:
Not the case if you ask Canadian soccer fans Tricky. :P
While German athletes weren't quite as successful as functionaries had hoped (vast understatement), it's a bit of a catastrophe in Austria. While Austria is not really a summer sports superpower, this is the first time in 48 years, since the games of Tokyo 1964, that Austrians go home without a single medal.
A German economist made a prognosis about the medal count before the games, using economical and socio-economic factors for his prediction. This is how his forecast measures up (forecast left, real life data right):
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fscience.orf.at%2Fv2static%2Fstoryimages%2Fsite%2Fscience%2F20120833%2FUnbenannt-1_body.gif&hash=ae1af37e704b33dea8baa87a6ab8689c9968360d)
Bielorussia's "sexiest woman" lost her Gold Medal in shotput today, she tested positive. :nelson:
Now we can start focussing on the paraolympics....
Or not :)
V
Quote from: mongers on August 12, 2012, 10:10:32 PM
Just seen the imagery, it was a bit obvious, though I noticed the commentators missed it.
I think a lot of people missed it.
NOt sure if anyone caught it but at the very end, after the Who left the stage, someone inadverently hit the play button, and you could hear The Who sing again. I wonder why the whole thing is lip synched?
Quote from: Drakken on August 13, 2012, 07:00:08 AM
Bielorussia's "sexiest woman" lost her Gold Medal in shotput today, she tested positive. :nelson:
Seeing her made me think of the old DDR athletes and a program I saw on how they fared twenty years after their olympic competitions :(
V
Quote from: Syt on August 13, 2012, 05:59:54 AM
A German economist made a prognosis about the medal count before the games, using economical and socio-economic factors for his prediction. This is how his forecast measures up (forecast left, real life data right):
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fscience.orf.at%2Fv2static%2Fstoryimages%2Fsite%2Fscience%2F20120833%2FUnbenannt-1_body.gif&hash=ae1af37e704b33dea8baa87a6ab8689c9968360d)
We beat the spread!
Quote from: Josephus on August 13, 2012, 07:33:53 AM
NOt sure if anyone caught it but at the very end, after the Who left the stage, someone inadverently hit the play button, and you could hear The Who sing again. I wonder why the whole thing is lip synched?
Because having good sound in an open air 80k places stadium is next to impossible. Especially with multiple performers & stages.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 10, 2012, 11:54:33 PM
Did you see the 10m air rifle shooting event toward the beginning of the Olympics? Dudes were all geared up with these high tech pellet guns with some sort of scopes on them, etc, to shoot 30 fuckin feet.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.pictures.zimbio.com%2Fgi%2FTao%2BWang%2BOlympics%2BDay%2B3%2BShooting%2B_Z5VT30LqJbl.jpg&hash=d41ca1856e62dbe18236b00cf6f8900e528bae77)
Quote from: jimmy olsen on August 11, 2012, 12:05:02 AM
Scopes should be banned as well!
Those are open-air sights. If fact, non-electronic open-air sights are required in all international shooting competitions.
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 13, 2012, 08:00:54 AM
Quote from: Josephus on August 13, 2012, 07:33:53 AM
NOt sure if anyone caught it but at the very end, after the Who left the stage, someone inadverently hit the play button, and you could hear The Who sing again. I wonder why the whole thing is lip synched?
Because having good sound in an open air 80k places stadium is next to impossible. Especially with multiple performers & stages.
Wouldnt be the first concert ever performed in a stadium.
And who is this Ed Sheeran guy anyways?
http://www.gigwise.com/news/75410/ed-sheeran-fans-mistake-pink-floyd-hit-for-new-song
Quote from: Josephus on August 13, 2012, 08:49:16 AM
And who is this Ed Sheeran guy anyways?
http://www.gigwise.com/news/75410/ed-sheeran-fans-mistake-pink-floyd-hit-for-new-song
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fverydemotivational.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fdemotivational-posters-pink-floyd-facepalm.jpg&hash=a940e82b9f22b49b399ff257196497bd2b9f03c4)
Silly question but I can't find a definitive answer.
If I go abroad and come back with gold jewelry I'd have to price it and declare it on my Customs Declaration. Odds are if it exceeds my allowance I'd have to pay duty.
Do athletes, Canadian or American, have to do that. I know they pay taxes on their prize money.
Quote from: Josephus on August 14, 2012, 10:39:48 AM
Silly question but I can't find a definitive answer.
If I go abroad and come back with gold jewelry I'd have to price it and declare it on my Customs Declaration. Odds are if it exceeds my allowance I'd have to pay duty.
Do athletes, Canadian or American, have to do that. I know they pay taxes on their prize money.
Do Olympians have to pay duty on their gold medals? :lol:
Legally they probably do, but practically, given how hard it would be to put a monetary value on an Olympic gold medal, I'm willing to bet CBSA officials don't worry about it.
Quote from: Barrister on August 14, 2012, 10:48:09 AM
Do Olympians have to pay duty on their gold medals? :lol:
Only a Euro would ask a question like that.
Quote from: Josephus on August 14, 2012, 10:39:48 AM
Silly question but I can't find a definitive answer.
If I go abroad and come back with gold jewelry I'd have to price it and declare it on my Customs Declaration. Odds are if it exceeds my allowance I'd have to pay duty.
Do athletes, Canadian or American, have to do that. I know they pay taxes on their prize money.
That has been a mini political sideshow here. In the US the prize money would be taxable. Marco Rubio put out a bill to exempt medalists from those taxes, and Obama has gotten behind it.
It would be awesome if they only exempted they only exempted the gold medal prizes, with the explanation that the US doesn't want to incentivize losers through the tax code.
Quote from: alfred russel on August 14, 2012, 10:52:17 AM
It would be awesome if they only exempted they only exempted the gold medal prizes, with the explanation that the US doesn't want to incentivize losers through the tax code.
:lol:
Pretty sure that's still in the Ryan budget anyway.
Quote from: Barrister on August 14, 2012, 10:48:09 AM
Quote from: Josephus on August 14, 2012, 10:39:48 AM
Silly question but I can't find a definitive answer.
If I go abroad and come back with gold jewelry I'd have to price it and declare it on my Customs Declaration. Odds are if it exceeds my allowance I'd have to pay duty.
Do athletes, Canadian or American, have to do that. I know they pay taxes on their prize money.
Do Olympians have to pay duty on their gold medals? :lol:
Legally they probably do, but practically, given how hard it would be to put a monetary value on an Olympic gold medal, I'm willing to bet CBSA officials don't worry about it.
Since they have to pay tax on their awards (athletes get money from their organizations for placing) i wouldn't be surprised if they have to pay duties too.
I cannot for the life of me get hold of any bastard Paralympics tickets. The ticketing website is just as shite as it was for the Olympics. I would dearly like to see an event in the Olympic Park before it gets closed down for two years then re-opened as housing and leisure.
Quote from: Brazen on August 14, 2012, 10:56:53 AM
I cannot for the life of me get hold of any bastard Paralympics tickets.
Shouldn't be too difficult to catch up with them.
Quote from: Barrister on August 14, 2012, 10:48:09 AM
Quote from: Josephus on August 14, 2012, 10:39:48 AM
Silly question but I can't find a definitive answer.
If I go abroad and come back with gold jewelry I'd have to price it and declare it on my Customs Declaration. Odds are if it exceeds my allowance I'd have to pay duty.
Do athletes, Canadian or American, have to do that. I know they pay taxes on their prize money.
Do Olympians have to pay duty on their gold medals? :lol:
Legally they probably do, but practically, given how hard it would be to put a monetary value on an Olympic gold medal, I'm willing to bet CBSA officials don't worry about it.
it probably isn't that hard to put a monetary value on it. I think it's a reasonable question. American friend of mine says that returning athletes do have to claim their medals.
Quote from: Brazen on August 14, 2012, 10:56:53 AM
I cannot for the life of me get hold of any bastard Paralympics tickets. The ticketing website is just as shite as it was for the Olympics. I would dearly like to see an event in the Olympic Park before it gets closed down for two years then re-opened as housing and leisure.
I can help, but a friend of mine was one of the neutral service mechanics for Shimano and for a week he had an all access pass for the whole village; sounds like one of the opportunities of a life time, being on the inside of the vellodrome for Olympic races.
Oh and hes' just found out the company are sending the 6 volunteers who helped a limited edition Shimano watch, as a thank you. :cool:
Quote from: Josephus on August 14, 2012, 11:04:25 AM
Quote from: Barrister on August 14, 2012, 10:48:09 AM
Quote from: Josephus on August 14, 2012, 10:39:48 AM
Silly question but I can't find a definitive answer.
If I go abroad and come back with gold jewelry I'd have to price it and declare it on my Customs Declaration. Odds are if it exceeds my allowance I'd have to pay duty.
Do athletes, Canadian or American, have to do that. I know they pay taxes on their prize money.
Do Olympians have to pay duty on their gold medals? :lol:
Legally they probably do, but practically, given how hard it would be to put a monetary value on an Olympic gold medal, I'm willing to bet CBSA officials don't worry about it.
it probably isn't that hard to put a monetary value on it. I think it's a reasonable question. American friend of mine says that returning athletes do have to claim their medals.
Sure it is.
Usually putting a value on soemthing is easy. An item is worth what you paid for it.
But an olympic medal isn't something you can buy firsthand. Do you value it for the sheer weight of its metal? That's one way, but seriously under-estimates the value of it. Do you value it on what replicas are going for? Do you value it based on what medals have gone for on the secondary market (people selling them on eBay and what not)? I see that a bronze medal from 1992 Barcelona games in boxing is listed on eBay for $12,500.
No, most CBSA officers are dealing with a long line-up of people. They're as patriotic as anyone else. It's far easier to just cross out the medal on the declaration list and move on.
Living in Yukon, we'd make a day trip into Alaska once or twice a year. I'd always pick up a case of Alaskan beer. Being a day trip I had no duty-free allowance. Coming back I'd always declare my beer. Not once did they make me pay the duty - it was too much bother for the couple of bucks I'd have to pay.
And I wonder if they have to pay taxes of prize money. Remembering back from my tax law class, the usual rule is you don't pay taxes on windfalls - unexpected sources of income. Gambling was the usual example. However if gambling becomes your routine source of income it is no longer a windfall, and does become regular income. Given many athletes are still amateurs, I wonder if this kind of prize money counts as a windfall for them.
Quote from: Barrister on August 14, 2012, 11:16:34 AM
And I wonder if they have to pay taxes of prize money. Remembering back from my tax law class, the usual rule is you don't pay taxes on windfalls - unexpected sources of income. Gambling was the usual example. However if gambling becomes your routine source of income it is no longer a windfall, and does become regular income. Given many athletes are still amateurs, I wonder if this kind of prize money counts as a windfall for them.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/faster-higher-richer-should-olympic-medal-winners-be-taxed/article4478307/
According to that article:
here has been a significant amount of discussion about the tax treatment of Olympians. It has been well reported that the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) awarded prize money to Canadian athletes that won medals in London. It has equally been well reported that this money is taxable.
The tax treatment of Olympic prize money in Canada mirrors that in the U.S., though American athletes may also be subject to tax on the value of their medals due to legal precedent (there is, as of yet, no precedent in Canada for taxing the value of Olympic medals). The U.S. congress, however, is set to consider a tax exemption on these winnings in its Fall term.
[so, yes the medals do have value, but this article does answer my question...Canadians don't pay duty on the medals.]
Quote from: Josephus on August 14, 2012, 12:03:18 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 14, 2012, 11:16:34 AM
And I wonder if they have to pay taxes of prize money. Remembering back from my tax law class, the usual rule is you don't pay taxes on windfalls - unexpected sources of income. Gambling was the usual example. However if gambling becomes your routine source of income it is no longer a windfall, and does become regular income. Given many athletes are still amateurs, I wonder if this kind of prize money counts as a windfall for them.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/faster-higher-richer-should-olympic-medal-winners-be-taxed/article4478307/
Thanks - informative article. :thumbsup:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 14, 2012, 10:58:52 AM
Quote from: Brazen on August 14, 2012, 10:56:53 AM
I cannot for the life of me get hold of any bastard Paralympics tickets.
Shouldn't be too difficult to catch up with them.
C'mon, this was comedy gold, Jerry. Gold!
Quote from: Josephus on August 13, 2012, 08:48:22 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 13, 2012, 08:00:54 AM
Quote from: Josephus on August 13, 2012, 07:33:53 AM
NOt sure if anyone caught it but at the very end, after the Who left the stage, someone inadverently hit the play button, and you could hear The Who sing again. I wonder why the whole thing is lip synched?
Because having good sound in an open air 80k places stadium is next to impossible. Especially with multiple performers & stages.
Wouldnt be the first concert ever performed in a stadium.
But in those concerts hours, sometimes days, are spent setting up and sound checking. Here the stage gets set in minutes and there is no time to sound check.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 14, 2012, 12:13:52 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 14, 2012, 10:58:52 AM
Quote from: Brazen on August 14, 2012, 10:56:53 AM
I cannot for the life of me get hold of any bastard Paralympics tickets.
Shouldn't be too difficult to catch up with them.
C'mon, this was comedy gold, Jerry. Gold!
I found it very offensive :weep: :(
Just secured a pair of tickets to the Paralympics cycling a week on Thursday. Having been to a couple of events in Olympic park venues when it was a wasteland and an actual Olympic event on a separate site that I'd been to before, I was dying to get to an event on the park before they close it for two years and re-purpose it. I gather the park itself is quite an event, despite £4.50 beer.
I'm curious to see how Alex Zanardi would do in the hand-cycling event.
CAN'T BUY TICKETS :bleeding:
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 16, 2012, 12:04:22 PM
CAN'T BUY TICKETS :bleeding:
Quote
Paralympic Games: Thousands more tickets on sale
3 hours ago
Day passes will be available for spectators to experience a variety of sports
Paralympics organisers have put 45,000 more tickets on sale in addition to the 20,000 already available for the opening and closing ceremonies.
Most are for athletics, but they are also for events including cycling, equestrian and wheelchair basketball.
Some 2.2 million Paralympics tickets have been sold so far, with 2.5 million expected to be made available in total.
.......
Rest of item here:
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19287660 (http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19287660)
Quote from: Josephus on August 14, 2012, 12:04:41 PM
According to that article:
here has been a significant amount of discussion about the tax treatment of Olympians. It has been well reported that the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) awarded prize money to Canadian athletes that won medals in London. It has equally been well reported that this money is taxable.
The tax treatment of Olympic prize money in Canada mirrors that in the U.S., though American athletes may also be subject to tax on the value of their medals due to legal precedent (there is, as of yet, no precedent in Canada for taxing the value of Olympic medals). The U.S. congress, however, is set to consider a tax exemption on these winnings in its Fall term.
[so, yes the medals do have value, but this article does answer my question...Canadians don't pay duty on the medals.]
I don't have a problem with giving them a tax exemption on the value of the medals (though if any of them ever were to sell off any medals, the proceeds should then be taxable) but I definately don't like the idea of any cash awards being tax-exempt. It's not been clear from the articles that I've seen if Congress is considering making just the medals themselves tax-exempt, or any winnings. Frankly I should have looked into that question more, but I just haven't bothered.
I've finally watched the closing ceremony.
Who the hell are One Direction and what are they doing there?
Quote from: Tyr on August 16, 2012, 11:08:28 PM
I've finally watched the closing ceremony.
Who the hell are One Direction and what are they doing there?
No idea who they are but my niece loves them.
Quote from: Tyr on August 16, 2012, 11:08:28 PM
I've finally watched the closing ceremony.
Who the hell are One Direction and what are they doing there?
A made-up group from a talent show you were out of the country for that has become inexplicably successful. Like a Monkees for the twenty-tens. Think yourself lucky.
Shelf, follow @2012TicketAlert on Twitter, click on the first thing you see the second it pops up and buy.
The Monkees, that's an accurate comparison.
Quote from: Grey Fox on August 17, 2012, 10:32:00 AM
The Monkees, that's an accurate comparison.
Don't diss Mike Nesmith. :mad:
I think The Monkees were quite talented musicians and performers.
Certainly some of their music has stop the test of time, much better than some of the 60s fluff.
It might be the same for One direction, who knows. The Pop industry destroys everything.
60s bubblegum pop > 90s onward bubblegum pop
Heck, early Beatles stuff was pretty close.
Quote from: mongers on August 17, 2012, 11:47:16 AM
I think The Monkees were quite talented musicians and performers.
Certainly some of their music has stop the test of time, much better than some of the 60s fluff.
Didn't one of them not even know how to play an instrument? They certainly didn't write their own music.
Now some of their songs have stood the test of time (Last Train to Clarksville), but that has much mroe to do with being a well-written song than their skills as performers.
I enjoyed The Monkees TV show. :)
Quote from: Barrister on August 17, 2012, 01:05:36 PM
Quote from: mongers on August 17, 2012, 11:47:16 AM
I think The Monkees were quite talented musicians and performers.
Certainly some of their music has stop the test of time, much better than some of the 60s fluff.
Didn't one of them not even know how to play an instrument? They certainly didn't write their own music.
Now some of their songs have stood the test of time (Last Train to Clarksville), but that has much mroe to do with being a well-written song than their skills as performers.
Nesmith wrote & produced a lot of their songs, and from what I remember each of them could play something.
Quote from: derspiess on August 17, 2012, 01:21:40 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 17, 2012, 01:05:36 PM
Quote from: mongers on August 17, 2012, 11:47:16 AM
I think The Monkees were quite talented musicians and performers.
Certainly some of their music has stop the test of time, much better than some of the 60s fluff.
Didn't one of them not even know how to play an instrument? They certainly didn't write their own music.
Now some of their songs have stood the test of time (Last Train to Clarksville), but that has much mroe to do with being a well-written song than their skills as performers.
Nesmith wrote & produced a lot of their songs, and from what I remember each of them could play something.
Looking at the wiki page, it sounds like they learned how to play and gradually became a "real" band over time.
Quote from: Barrister on August 17, 2012, 02:22:01 PM
Looking at the wiki page, it sounds like they learned how to play and gradually became a "real" band over time.
Okay.
Didn't Nesmith's mother invent liquid paper?
Wait...you guys old enough to remember liquid paper?
How can paper be a liquid???!?!
I still have carbon paper.
Quote from: derspiess on August 17, 2012, 01:21:40 PM
Nesmith wrote & produced a lot of their songs, and from what I remember each of them could play something.
If you include tambourine. I never saw Davie Jones play anything else.
What's paper?
Quote from: garbon on August 17, 2012, 05:06:26 PM
What's paper?
The white background under the text on your monitor.
The Monkees apparently decided they miss each other now that Davy died. They're doing a reunion tour with holographic Davy Jones.
The thing that common sense tells us about rules like the 6-second goalie rule is not that they should always be enforced or never enforced.
It is that they definitely need to be enforced when it matters, and let slide when it does not.
When one team is gaining a clear advantage by exploiting the rule not being enforced, then it does in fact need to be enforced.
That is what separates the good officials from the mediocre ones - understanding the context of the game, the intent of the rule, and how to apply it.
The 3-second violation in basketball is a good analogy. If someone is camping in the lane, and it desn't matter because they aren't getting the ball anyway, I am probably just going to tell them to move.
If you are camping in the lane, they pass you the ball, you make a move or two, use up your three seconds, force the defense to collapse on you, then after 4-5 seconds pass the ball out to an open teammate for an easy three - you better believe it is getting called. Or it better be.
I don't know soccer well enough to judge if this was that kind of case, but it sounds like the intent of the rule is to keep players from doing exactly what the goalie was doing - trying to run out the clock to protect a lead.
At this point, I think all you can say about those two decisions is that all's well that ends well.
The thing about the goalie call is the penalty more than the call itself. I've seen a goalie called for stalling and he got a yellow. Give the Canucklehead a yellow, that tells her the ref is not fucking around. Not a free kick from 20 yards.
The "Abbie Waumbach cheated" thing is horseshit too. If you want to go by the book, the goalie penalty is legit. Soccer refs don't go by the book. Every single time a ball goes out of bounds three guys lobby the ref to give it to their team. By the book they're all cheaters too and should be carded or whatever.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 20, 2012, 02:19:50 PM
Give the Canucklehead a yellow, that tells her the ref is not fucking around. Not a free kick from 20 yards.
Thing is, if the ref decides to call something he can't freely choose the punishment. A yellow card was not an option there iirc.
Quote from: Liep on August 20, 2012, 02:22:35 PM
Thing is, if the ref decides to call something he can't freely choose the punishment. A yellow card was not an option there iirc.
I've seen it given, the only time I saw a goalie penalized for stalling. :huh:
Stalling at goal-kicks is a yellow cardable offense, stalling while keeping the ball in hand is not. I'm pretty sure. :unsure:
So question on this whole - Phelps could lose his medals thing. All articles seem to suggest Louis Vuitton has to be convincing that they didn't leak the photos but that they were stolen/leaked by someone else or Phelps could get dinged. Doesn't it seem like there would need to be proof that Phelps knew/agreed to have the photos leaked early too? Otherwise sounds like athletes could get ruined by dishonest corporations (who don't have much to lose).
The actual rule:
QuoteIndirect Free Kick
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper,
inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following four offences:
• controls the ball with his hands for more than six seconds before
releasing it from his possession
• touches the ball again with his hands after he has released it from
his possession and before it has touched another player
• touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked
to him by a team-mate
• touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from
a throw-in taken by a team-mate
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 17, 2012, 06:06:52 PM
The Monkees apparently decided they miss each other now that Davy died. They're doing a reunion tour with holographic Davy Jones.
Do you have any proof of that? All the articles I see with hologram mentions are variations on: hopefully there won't be a holographic Davy Jones.
Quote from: garbon on August 20, 2012, 02:33:04 PM
So question on this whole - Phelps could lose his medals thing. All articles seem to suggest Louis Vuitton has to be convincing that they didn't leak the photos but that they were stolen/leaked by someone else or Phelps could get dinged. Doesn't it seem like there would need to be proof that Phelps knew/agreed to have the photos leaked early too? Otherwise sounds like athletes could get ruined by dishonest corporations (who don't have much to lose).
Not sure I follow on this, why would Phelps lose his medals?
IOC has a rule that olympic athletes can't be featured in non-olympic ads during the games.
Quote from: garbon on August 20, 2012, 03:24:49 PM
IOC has a rule that olympic athletes can't be featured in non-olympic ads during the games.
That doesn't make any sense. Every medal-hopeful in every country appears in non-olympic ads during the games.
Here in Canada we have Alexandre Despatie and Emilie Heymans, both of them medalists in diving, always appearing on ads having nothing to do with Olympics (Despatie was in ads for Gillette and McDonalds during the whole London Olympics). We also had Mary Spencer, who was a gold medal hopeful, appearing as a spokeswoman for CoverGirl. So that means that they would lose their medals too?
http://www.cnbc.com/id/48694728
QuoteThe mysterious release of a photo of Michael Phelps in a bathtub, shot for a Louis Vuitton ad campaign, threatens to cause a splash of a different kind. Everyone involved in creating the photo denies having released it early, perhaps because it may put Phelps in hot water with the International Olympic Committee.
A new IOC regulation, called Rule 40, prohibits athletes from appearing in ads for non-Olympic sponsors from July 18 to Aug. 15. According to the IOC's 19 page explainer, Rule 40 is designed to prevent ambush marketing, defined as non-Olympic sponsors trying to associate themselves with the Olympic brand.
Yet two photos of the Olympic swimmer, shot by the photographer Annie Leibovitz, began circulating during the time period in which athletes are prohibited from appearing in advertisements. A website in Barcelona called elperiodico.com printed the bathtub photo on Aug. 7 and announced that Phelps was the new face of Louis Vuitton. Then the Daily Mail in Britain followed up on Monday, Aug. 13, with two photos and the headline "Let the fashion endorsements begin, Michael Phelps announced as latest face of Louis Vuitton core values campaign."
The second photo shows Phelps in a three-piece suit sitting on a couch next to Larisa Latynina of Russia, 77, who is the previous holder of the title "most-decorated Olympic athlete." In both photos, there is a strategically placed Louis Vuitton bag.
A quick Google search shows the photos went viral and appeared on dozens if not hundreds of websites on Aug. 13 and 14.
An agent for Leibovitz confirmed to CNBC that she shot the photos, and that a Louis Vuitton campaign with Phelps was supposed to begin sometime this week.
The release of these photos before Aug. 16 raises the thorny question of whether the world's most decorated athlete is in violation of rule with sanctions that could include fines and the stripping of medals.
Thus far, answers are not forthcoming from either the U.S. Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee or the London Olympic Committee. None of the organizations responded to attempts for comment. In fairness, many people involved in the Olympics have gone on vacation or are still traveling back from London.
Louis Vuitton representatives will say only that they did not release the photos. Leibovitz's press agent says her office did not release the photos. Yet, the Daily Mail contained a quote from a Vuitton representative about the campaign. (That page has since been removed from the newspaper's website.)
If the photos were leaked intentionally, "it is probably a violation of Rule 40," said Sekou Campbell, an intellectual property attorney at Fox Rothschild, who has written about Rule 40.
Just because the photos were part of a news story and not an official advertisement doesn't mean they can't violate the regulation. The rule was designed expressly to combat forms of marketing that aren't official advertisements, Campbell said.
"That's the point of ambush marketing," he said. "There's no formal ad, but they somehow generate coverage."
The imposition of Rule 40 for London 2012 angered many athletes because it prevented them from monetizing their brand at the precise moment when it was most valuable. Most Olympic athletes are not household names like Phelps and are far less likely to garner lucrative sponsorship deals.
The U.S. Track and Field team began a Twitter campaign to end the regulation, with two hash tags: #rule40 & #wedemandchange. Gold medallist Dawn Harper tweeted out two photos mocking Rule 40. One was a self-portrait with a white tape covering her mouth; the words "rule 40" written on the tape. Olympic runner Nick Symmonds, who specializes in the 800m, was especially vociferous on Twitter. In a conversation with me Wednesday, he expressed frustration that he was unable to thank his sponsors, Nike and the Orgeon Track Club, during the Olympics. "It's about being able to give them a return on their investment."
His agent Chris Layne told CNBC if the IOC is going to continue with Rule 40, the athletes should be compensated monetarily for their participation in the Games. An example he cites is the Track and Field World Championships, where the top performers receive prize money. Layne said he believes Rule 40 emanates from antiquated thinking about the Games—that the athletes are amateurs but not professionals. But "the Olympics have changed," and now, "It is truly a professional, commercial event from start to finish."
Neither he, nor his client Symmonds, thinks Phelps should be sanctioned for the photos because it is unlikely that Phelps himself released them. Layne points out that, if anything, the situation highlights the difficulties of enforcement. "If this photo shoot were prior to Rule 40, how you can enforce that?"
Sanctions can range from removal of accreditation (not relevant once an athlete is finished competing), financial penalties, disqualification from the games, and according to the Olympic charter "a competitor or a team may lose the benefit of any ranking obtained in relation to other events at the Olympic Games at which he or it was disqualified or excluded; in such case the medals and diplomas won by him or it shall be returned to the IOC."
Campbell said, "I imagine there is a negotiation going on behind closed doors to settle this without much fanfare."
Sports law attorney Joe Baghat thinks the Olympic Committee will do nothing to Phelps because "it would be a public relations nightmare to come down on him because he is so well loved."
Emails to Phelps' agent were not returned.
Ah, I see now, the caveat is that they are not sponsors of the Olympic games. :blush:
It's still dumb to punish the athlete though, who usually has won his medals fair and square and despite this give him the same sentence as if he had been caught doping himself, rather than sue him for breach of contract.
Quote from: Drakken on August 20, 2012, 04:18:14 PM
Ah, I see now, the caveat is that they are not sponsors of the Olympic games. :blush:
It's still dumb to punish the athlete though, who usually has won his medals fair and square and despite this give him the same sentence as if he had been caught doping himself, rather than sue him for breach of contract.
Pissing off big money corporate sponsors is a much bigger deal to the IOC than doping.
Quote from: Berkut on August 20, 2012, 01:57:31 PM
The thing that common sense tells us about rules like the 6-second goalie rule is not that they should always be enforced or never enforced.
It is that they definitely need to be enforced when it matters, and let slide when it does not.
When one team is gaining a clear advantage by exploiting the rule not being enforced, then it does in fact need to be enforced.
That is what separates the good officials from the mediocre ones - understanding the context of the game, the intent of the rule, and how to apply it.
The 3-second violation in basketball is a good analogy. If someone is camping in the lane, and it desn't matter because they aren't getting the ball anyway, I am probably just going to tell them to move.
If you are camping in the lane, they pass you the ball, you make a move or two, use up your three seconds, force the defense to collapse on you, then after 4-5 seconds pass the ball out to an open teammate for an easy three - you better believe it is getting called. Or it better be.
I don't know soccer well enough to judge if this was that kind of case, but it sounds like the intent of the rule is to keep players from doing exactly what the goalie was doing - trying to run out the clock to protect a lead.
the best evidence that your are wrong that the ref was not applying the intent of the rule is that for the longest time nobody could figure out what had been called because it was completely out of context. In your example of somebody camping in the lane - when that it called everyone knows it was coming.
I thought we moved on from this.
But it was a dumb call. Anyone who watches the game week in and week out knows it is NEVER called. Anyone who says it was the right call doesn't watch the game enough.
Yes, it's against the rules. So is driving five kilometres over the speed limit on the freeways. You'll never get pulled over for that. Not in civilized places anyways.
Quote from: Josephus on August 20, 2012, 06:21:21 PM
Yes, it's against the rules. So is driving five kilometres over the speed limit on the freeways. You'll never get pulled over for that. Not in civilized places anyways.
5 mph is a different story.
Quote from: crazy canuck on August 20, 2012, 05:38:26 PM
Quote from: Berkut on August 20, 2012, 01:57:31 PM
The thing that common sense tells us about rules like the 6-second goalie rule is not that they should always be enforced or never enforced.
It is that they definitely need to be enforced when it matters, and let slide when it does not.
When one team is gaining a clear advantage by exploiting the rule not being enforced, then it does in fact need to be enforced.
That is what separates the good officials from the mediocre ones - understanding the context of the game, the intent of the rule, and how to apply it.
The 3-second violation in basketball is a good analogy. If someone is camping in the lane, and it desn't matter because they aren't getting the ball anyway, I am probably just going to tell them to move.
If you are camping in the lane, they pass you the ball, you make a move or two, use up your three seconds, force the defense to collapse on you, then after 4-5 seconds pass the ball out to an open teammate for an easy three - you better believe it is getting called. Or it better be.
I don't know soccer well enough to judge if this was that kind of case, but it sounds like the intent of the rule is to keep players from doing exactly what the goalie was doing - trying to run out the clock to protect a lead.
the best evidence that your are wrong that the ref was not applying the intent of the rule is that for the longest time nobody could figure out what had been called because it was completely out of context. In your example of somebody camping in the lane - when that it called everyone knows it was coming.
So the best evidence that a rule is being properly applied is if the people watching the game understand what is going on?
That is an interesting perspective on officiating.
Quote from: Josephus on August 20, 2012, 06:21:21 PM
I thought we moved on from this.
But it was a dumb call. Anyone who watches the game week in and week out knows it is NEVER called. Anyone who says it was the right call doesn't watch the game enough.
Yes, it's against the rules. So is driving five kilometres over the speed limit on the freeways. You'll never get pulled over for that. Not in civilized places anyways.
It is NEVER called?
NEVER EVER?
Really?
So why is it a rule then? Why don't they just get rid of it, if it serves no purpose whatsoever?
And why don't goalies with a lead just stand there with the ball until time runs out?
That women's soccer game is the gift that keeps on giving :D
Quote from: derspiess on August 20, 2012, 10:11:52 PM
That women's soccer game is the gift that keeps on giving :D
As an official, I find stuff like this endlessly interesting to talk about.
I might even get intrigued enough to call my friend who is a soccer official, and get his take on it.
There are plenty of rules in sports that are almost never called - they exist to keep corner cases from being exploited. But at some point, you do end up having to make a call, because if you don't smart players figure out that they are "NEVER called" and start doing things they ought not to do under the assumption that you aren't going to call it.
From the reports I've heard, the goalie held the ball not for just a little longer than the mandated 6 seconds, but a LOT longer. Like ten or twelve. To me, that is just saying "Hey, I am going to keep on holding this until you let me know I cannot by blowing your whistle".
Another good example of a rule like this is the alignment of offensive linemen in football. By rule, "on the line of scrimmage" is defined pretty strictly. In a practical sense though, we aren't really going to make an issue out of whether or not some tackle is 6 inches too far back - it really does not matter, and nobody wants to see flags for bullshit like that.
But on the other hand...it can matter. If all the lineman start creeping back, at some point they are getting an advantage on pass blocking, and at some point, you have to get them right. Sometimes that can happen by a quick "Hey guys, get your ass up on the line!". But sometimes you just have to ding them before they are going to listen. Hell, to some extent that is smart play on their part - if the official is not going to enforce the rule, why wouldn't you try to get as much advantage as possible?
I do not know soccer well, but I am guessing as someone who does know officiating, this is one of those rules that are mostly ignored, as long as the infraction doesn't really matter because there is no real advantage to be gained. But eventually the smart players figure that out, and then the rarely seen rule comes into play, and all the spectators who are fans of the team who gets dinged rise up and wail and gnash their teeth at the injustice of their team being called for something that is "NEVER called". If this had been reversed, the exact same people bithing about this being called would be praising the official for not letting the stinking Americans get away with such blatant cheating. Such is the nature of the fan.
Yeah, it is *almost* never called because it is almost never abused to an extent that it needs to be called.
Quote from: Berkut on August 20, 2012, 10:08:34 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 20, 2012, 06:21:21 PM
I thought we moved on from this.
But it was a dumb call. Anyone who watches the game week in and week out knows it is NEVER called. Anyone who says it was the right call doesn't watch the game enough.
Yes, it's against the rules. So is driving five kilometres over the speed limit on the freeways. You'll never get pulled over for that. Not in civilized places anyways.
It is NEVER called?
NEVER EVER?
Really?
So why is it a rule then? Why don't they just get rid of it, if it serves no purpose whatsoever?
And why don't goalies with a lead just stand there with the ball until time runs out?
It may never be called precisely because goalies don't conspicuously push it. That rule may be there just to have some rule in the book against such a dead lock, but by just being there its enforcement may be rendered so unnecessary that the letter of it is never tested.
Quote from: DGuller on August 20, 2012, 10:24:24 PM
Quote from: Berkut on August 20, 2012, 10:08:34 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 20, 2012, 06:21:21 PM
I thought we moved on from this.
But it was a dumb call. Anyone who watches the game week in and week out knows it is NEVER called. Anyone who says it was the right call doesn't watch the game enough.
Yes, it's against the rules. So is driving five kilometres over the speed limit on the freeways. You'll never get pulled over for that. Not in civilized places anyways.
It is NEVER called?
NEVER EVER?
Really?
So why is it a rule then? Why don't they just get rid of it, if it serves no purpose whatsoever?
And why don't goalies with a lead just stand there with the ball until time runs out?
It may never be called precisely because goalies don't conspicuously push it. That rule may be there just to have some rule in the book against such a dead lock, but by just being there its enforcement may be rendered so unnecessary that the letter of it is never tested.
Exactly.
So it is in fact called, just not that often because it is not often that it is exploited to gain an unfair advantage.
But the mark of a *good* official is understanding when you do need to make a call like that - when you have to recognize that this almost never called rule exists for a reason, and it has to be called.
It was kind of the US player to help him out like that.
The argument that Canadians should be trying to make (assuming they must make an argument to excuse their team losing) is not that this is NEVER EVER called, it should be that this was NOT the exception that proves the need for the rule - that the goalie did not hold it for any longer than is typical under circumstances where there would not be an advantage for the Canadian team. If she held it for 12 seconds, and the rule says 6, do all goalies routinely hold it for 12, even when they are down? Did the US goalie hold it for 12? Is holding the ball that long tolerated across the board?
Quote from: Berkut on August 20, 2012, 10:30:19 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 20, 2012, 10:24:24 PM
Quote from: Berkut on August 20, 2012, 10:08:34 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 20, 2012, 06:21:21 PM
I thought we moved on from this.
But it was a dumb call. Anyone who watches the game week in and week out knows it is NEVER called. Anyone who says it was the right call doesn't watch the game enough.
Yes, it's against the rules. So is driving five kilometres over the speed limit on the freeways. You'll never get pulled over for that. Not in civilized places anyways.
It is NEVER called?
NEVER EVER?
Really?
So why is it a rule then? Why don't they just get rid of it, if it serves no purpose whatsoever?
And why don't goalies with a lead just stand there with the ball until time runs out?
It may never be called precisely because goalies don't conspicuously push it. That rule may be there just to have some rule in the book against such a dead lock, but by just being there its enforcement may be rendered so unnecessary that the letter of it is never tested.
Exactly.
So it is in fact called, just not that often because it is not often that it is exploited to gain an unfair advantage.
But the mark of a *good* official is understanding when you do need to make a call like that - when you have to recognize that this almost never called rule exists for a reason, and it has to be called.
It was kind of the US player to help him out like that.
The argument that Canadians should be trying to make (assuming they must make an argument to excuse their team losing) is not that this is NEVER EVER called, it should be that this was NOT the exception that proves the need for the rule - that the goalie did not hold it for any longer than is typical under circumstances where there would not be an advantage for the Canadian team. If she held it for 12 seconds, and the rule says 6, do all goalies routinely hold it for 12, even when they are down? Did the US goalie hold it for 12? Is holding the ball that long tolerated across the board?
I think that argument is so obvious that it's implied. Obviously if that rule has never, ever been called in the history of soccer, and the first time it was called was after the goalie held the ball for 17 minutes, no one would be complaining.
In this case, the goal keeper for Canada had apparently been egregiously delaying the game over and over and over again several accounts having her holding the ball for as long as 17 seconds, and she was warned about it, and decided (I am guessing) that this is "NEVER called" and certainly would not be called in such a big game, so why not just keep holding onto the ball for as long as possible?
The original outrage was that the keeper was allegedly never warned before the penalty was called, if she was warned then there is absolutely nothing wrong with the call. I think the call was probably fine even without a warning, but I am both biased towards one team and ignorant about the sport.
Quote from: Josephus on August 20, 2012, 06:21:21 PM
But it was a dumb call. Anyone who watches the game week in and week out knows it is NEVER called. Anyone who says it was the right call doesn't watch the game enough.
I've never seen it called because I've never seen a goalie keep it for more than 7-8 seconds, because they all know what will happen if they try to push that. If she did indeed hold onto the ball for 17 seconds then the stupidity should be applied to her not the call.
Quote from: Liep on August 21, 2012, 02:51:28 AM
I've never seen it called because I've never seen a goalie keep it for more than 7-8 seconds, because they all know what will happen if they try to push that. If she did indeed hold onto the ball for 17 seconds then the stupidity should be applied to her not the call.
Stuff like this is making me reevaluate my prior position.
Quote from: Berkut on August 20, 2012, 10:08:34 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 20, 2012, 06:21:21 PM
I thought we moved on from this.
But it was a dumb call. Anyone who watches the game week in and week out knows it is NEVER called. Anyone who says it was the right call doesn't watch the game enough.
Yes, it's against the rules. So is driving five kilometres over the speed limit on the freeways. You'll never get pulled over for that. Not in civilized places anyways.
It is NEVER called?
NEVER EVER?
Really?
So why is it a rule then? Why don't they just get rid of it, if it serves no purpose whatsoever?
And why don't goalies with a lead just stand there with the ball until time runs out?
Never ever.
Because in normal cases the ref points at them and tells them to get on with it.
And how did we suddenly get to 17 seconds. I've heard 10 at most.
Note, the "clock" starts not when the goalie gets possession, but when he/she can clear it out. If there's an opposing player within her reach, those seconds do not count.
Shouldn't be too hard to find a video of the game should it?
It's soccer. There's no clock management. There's a overlay timer & a ref doing it. The ref is official but who knows what it says.
Quote from: Josephus on August 21, 2012, 07:20:18 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 20, 2012, 10:08:34 PM
Quote from: Josephus on August 20, 2012, 06:21:21 PM
I thought we moved on from this.
But it was a dumb call. Anyone who watches the game week in and week out knows it is NEVER called. Anyone who says it was the right call doesn't watch the game enough.
Yes, it's against the rules. So is driving five kilometres over the speed limit on the freeways. You'll never get pulled over for that. Not in civilized places anyways.
It is NEVER called?
NEVER EVER?
Really?
So why is it a rule then? Why don't they just get rid of it, if it serves no purpose whatsoever?
And why don't goalies with a lead just stand there with the ball until time runs out?
Never ever.
Because in normal cases the ref points at them and tells them to get on with it.
And how did we suddenly get to 17 seconds. I've heard 10 at most.
Note, the "clock" starts not when the goalie gets possession, but when he/she can clear it out. If there's an opposing player within her reach, those seconds do not count.
On the play in question, the ref blew her whistle at 10 seconds.
At other points in the game, the goalie held the ball for up to 17 seconds, and often for 10+. Someone went through and measured how long she held the ball each time she had it.
Quote
Later in the day the CBC reported that they had spoken to referee Pedersen's father (http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/08/07/olympics-us-canada-soccer-ref.html), Rolf, who said his daughter comes from a long line of referees in the family. The elder Pedersen said he had spoken to his daughter for about 10 minutes on Tuesday and she told him she had warned McLeod twice for holding the ball beyond the allowable six seconds.
Interestingly, Scotsman Martin Rennie, who is coach of the Canadian-based MLS team, Vancouver Whitecaps, also weighed in on the controversy. Rennie told The Vancouver Sun (http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Vancouver+Whitecaps+Canada+Olympic+soccer+loss+hold+ball+long/7053805/story.html?id=7053805), "Watching it again, I realized the goalkeeper held the ball for 16 seconds, in the second half she held it for 17 seconds and then she got penalized for holding for 13 seconds. So, that's a long time on the ball and understandable why the ref called it."
http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2012/08/08/xx-2/
It is only 17 seconds if you are not Canadian. To them it is 4 seconds. Oh, and the earlier warnings? They were not warning but friendly chit-chat.
No offence,but I don't hold the commnets from the referee's father as being entirely objective.
Let's change the onus shall we for a moment?
Find me another instance where that play is called and I'll call it a draw.
Quote from: Josephus on August 21, 2012, 08:35:12 AM
No offence,but I don't hold the commnets from the referee's father as being entirely objective.
You suspect he or she is lying, and in fact the goalie was never warned? I suppose that is possible, but I am willing to accept that if the ref said she warned her, she probably did - because refs are by far the people involved most likely to actually be honest about what they did, and with the most to lose for straight out lying about what happened.
Quote
Let's change the onus shall we for a moment?
Find me another instance where that play is called and I'll call it a draw.
Find me another instance where the goalie routinely holds onto the ball for more than ten seconds with a lead, in some cases for as long as 15 seconds or more.
http://www.thespec.com/sports/olympics/article/776096--six-second-goalkeeper-rule-that-probably-cost-canada-s-soccer-women-semifinal-win-baffles-many
The critical, controversial call that helped the U.S. women's soccer team score the tying goal in its overtime victory over Canada may not have been wrong, but that does not mean it was right, either.
Referee Christiana Pedersen's ruling that the Canadian goalkeeper had been wasting time, giving an indirect free kick to the Americans, was one that many veteran players and coaches say they have never seen, and many described it as baffling.
Even soccer governing bodies advise using extreme caution when making such a call.
The rule in question falls under Law 12 of FIFA's Laws of the Game. FIFA's official interpretation of that law includes a notation that states "a goalkeeper is not permitted to keep control of the ball in his hands for more than six seconds."
But U.S. Soccer, the English Football Association and other governing bodies have emphasized to referees the rule is discretionary, and is not meant to be called except for egregious violations.
Carmine Isacco, head men's soccer coach at York University, says the six-second rule is always tested in games, with goalies rarely letting the ball go within that time frame.
"It's a subjective call about blatantly wasting time and in that case there was no way she was attempting to do that," he told the Star's Joseph Hall.
On the play, McLeod caught a corner kick, fell to the grass, got up after about four seconds, then punted the ball away 10 or 11 seconds later. Other accounts of the match had McLeod releasing the ball after about eight seconds.
Either way, Pedersen had already blown the whistle — too soon, according to some interpretations.
The six-second count is supposed to begin not from the moment the goalkeeper first gains possession of the ball, but after she gathers herself, gets up and begins to look for a teammate to play it to, as U.S. Soccer notes in its advice to referees: "Infringement of the six-second rule is sometimes misinterpreted," the federation noted in its Ask a Referee online column. "The count starts when the goalkeeper is preparing to release the ball, not when he or she actually gains possession. Why? Because very often the goalkeeper has to disentangle him-/herself from other players or move around fallen players, and it would be unfair to begin the count in such a case."
But such minute distinctions are secondary to the overriding principle emphasized to referees: to not blow the whistle for offences deemed trifling.
"Technically, the goalkeeper must release the ball within six seconds of having established full control, which would not count rising from the ground or stopping their run (if they had to run) to gain the ball," U.S. Soccer noted. "However, goalkeepers throughout the world routinely violate the six-second rule without punishment if the referee is convinced that the goalkeeper is making a best effort."
Moreover, U.S. Soccer advised referees in a 2010 memorandum: "Before penalizing a goalkeeper for violating this time limit, the referee should warn the goalkeeper about such actions and then should penalize the violation only if the goalkeeper continues to waste time or commits a comparable infringement again later in the match."
Was McLeod making a best effort? Pedersen has not said; requests from newspapers and television in her native Norway to interview her were turned down because she is prohibited by FIFA from speaking to reporters without the world body's permission.
Certainly, McLeod did hold the ball for about 12 seconds after gaining possession on two separate occasions, in both the 58th minute and the 61st. But, even in those cases, she appeared to be making an honest effort to find a player to whom she could send a pass.
Nevertheless, the Americans' Abby Wambach was in Pedersen's ear, doing what many players do when their team is losing: audibly counting down the seconds after the opposing goalkeeper gets hold of the ball to pressure the keeper to give up the ball, or the referee to make the six-second call.
"I wasn't yelling; I was just counting," Wambach said Tuesday in an interview with Yahoo Sports. "Probably did it five to seven times."
In the 78th minute, Wambach said, she did it again, and this time Pedersen bit.
"I got to 10 seconds right next to the referee, and at 10 seconds she blew the whistle," she said.
Referees usually give warnings before issuing cautions for time wasting, but Pedersen seems not to have done so on the pivotal call.
McLeod said she was informally warned by an assistant referee at halftime.
"She said, 'Don't delay the play too much,' but it wasn't like a real warning," McLeod said. McLeod added that, on the critical call, Pedersen told her: "I held the ball for 10 seconds — she obviously counted the time when I was on the ground."
The National Post asked McLeod whether she had indeed held the ball that long.
"Nowhere near," McLeod said. "I think the referee was very one-sided. I was stunned when it happened."
She added: "I have never known this to happen in a game before. It was an interesting decision. Referees never make this kind of decision."
Canada's coach, John Herdman, noted it wasn't as if McLeod "purposely tried to slow the game down, where you see goalkeepers really cheating — she wasn't doing that."
He said McLeod was simply waiting for her fullbacks to get into position for a short outlet.
One reason referees do not whistle the six-second rule is because the penalty is so harsh: an indirect free kick from the spot of the violation, inside the penalty area. Several hundred games can go by without an indirect free kick being awarded inside a penalty area.
Almost invariably, when goalkeepers are cautioned for time-wasting, it happens during a goal kick. That way, the referee can give a yellow card to the keeper, who then simply takes the goal kick, so that the match itself is not affected.
FIFA added the six-second rule to Law 12 in 1998, but it has always been seen as a guideline more than as a hard-and-fast regulation, and not to be invoked unless there is an egregious violation.
"If a goalkeeper takes six, seven or eight seconds when there is no evidence of deliberate time wasting, why spoil the game when there is no need to?" as an Indiana soccer referees federation noted. "It's very much like the leeway given when a throw-in is taken. We would not expect every throw-in to be taken on the exact blade of grass."
A BBC article even suggested that the six-second rule be done away with entirely. "No referees adhere to it anyway," former Hearts and Dundee United defender Allan Preston said. "We don't want a keeper standing with the ball for more than a minute, but it doesn't get used. Sometimes you see it getting used at the start of the season but, apart from that, you never see a ref pulling up a goalkeeper for holding on to the ball for longer than six seconds."
Pedersen's six-second call was not even the decision that most outraged Herdman, the Canada coach. Rather, it was the handball awarded on the subsequent indirect free kick, when Megan Rapinoe's hard, close-range shot struck two Canadians in the arms and hands.
Under the sport's rules, if a player has no time to move her hands out of the way, no handball foul is to be given.
"When a ball is struck at that pace. ..." Herdman said after the match, and trailed off without completing the thought.
"We're deeply disappointed," he said.
The New York Times
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 08:39:12 AM
Quote from: Josephus on August 21, 2012, 08:35:12 AM
No offence,but I don't hold the commnets from the referee's father as being entirely objective.
You suspect he or she is lying, and in fact the goalie was never warned? I suppose that is possible, but I am willing to accept that if the ref said she warned her, she probably did - because refs are by far the people involved most likely to actually be honest about what they did, and with the most to lose for straight out lying about what happened.
Quote
Let's change the onus shall we for a moment?
Find me another instance where that play is called and I'll call it a draw.
Find me another instance where the goalie routinely holds onto the ball for more than ten seconds with a lead, in some cases for as long as 15 seconds or more.
No.
Show me that in the case in question she held the ball for 15 seconds or more AFTER she got off the ground and was able to find a teammate to throw it too.
I love the idea that it takes a long time to "find a teammate to throw it to".
Gee, I was just here playing, and there were all these other players, and now I cannot find them! Whatever happened to them all? Oh well, I will just stand here I guess...
At this point, it is pretty clear that there isn't any evidence possible that will convince you that the call could have been justified, which is fine - that is the nature of being a fan. You don't have to be reasonable or objective, and it is often more fun not to be, so carry on feeling violated by this unjust application of the actual rules. But I like talking about rules and how to apply them, or even trying to educate fans on the actual rules, and that has been done with you as much as possible I think.
The rules are crystal clear, and there is no question that she violated them over and over and over again. Whether it was 17 seconds or only 12 seconds isn't all that interesting, really. The intent of the rule is also very clear - it exists to stop players from doing precisely what she was doing, repeatedly and egregiously. And I would say the exact same thing if the roles were exactly reversed.
I love how the Canuck crying over that game is going to keep this thread alive until the next Summer Olympics.
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 08:56:21 AM
I love the idea that it takes a long time to "find a teammate to throw it to".
Gee, I was just here playing, and there were all these other players, and now I cannot find them! Whatever happened to them all? Oh well, I will just stand here I guess...
They're not exactly standing in place, are they? Have you seen what happens after a goalie gets the ball? All the players trot away towards the middle of the field.
Quote from: Josephus on August 21, 2012, 08:35:12 AM
No offence,but I don't hold the commnets from the referee's father as being entirely objective.
Let's change the onus shall we for a moment?
Find me another instance where that play is called and I'll call it a draw.
As you wish:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics/2012/writers/grant_wahl/08/06/morgan-saves-us-versus-canada/index.html
QuoteIt's exceedingly rare for the violation to be called at the elite level. The only previous incident I could track down took place in the Premier League in 2002, when referee David Elleray blew his whistle on Bolton's Jussi Jaaskelainen against Newcastle United. (Alan Shearer tied the game on the ensuing free kick sequence.)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2002/feb/04/match.sport12
Quoteour minutes later his goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen held the ball, under pressure from Shearer, for nine seconds. Football's most infrequently enforced law allows six seconds.
From 17 yards Shearer drilled the ball into the bottom corner. From the stands the Bolton manager, Sam Allardyce, emerged on to the touchline to abuse the referee David Elleray. Elleray could miss a decapitation under his nose, but time-keeping, that is far more important.
You could understand Bolton's sense of injustice. "You must be," began the first question to Allardyce afterwards. "Gutted?" he interjected. "Yes."
Quote from: DGuller on August 21, 2012, 09:05:37 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 08:56:21 AM
I love the idea that it takes a long time to "find a teammate to throw it to".
Gee, I was just here playing, and there were all these other players, and now I cannot find them! Whatever happened to them all? Oh well, I will just stand here I guess...
They're not exactly standing in place, are they? Have you seen what happens after a goalie gets the ball? All the players trot away towards the middle of the field.
Yeah, I could see where that would make it hard to find them.
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 09:28:16 AM
Quote from: DGuller on August 21, 2012, 09:05:37 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 08:56:21 AM
I love the idea that it takes a long time to "find a teammate to throw it to".
Gee, I was just here playing, and there were all these other players, and now I cannot find them! Whatever happened to them all? Oh well, I will just stand here I guess...
They're not exactly standing in place, are they? Have you seen what happens after a goalie gets the ball? All the players trot away towards the middle of the field.
Yeah, I could see where that would make it hard to find them.
You're being deliberately obtuse now. Finding a teammate means finding a teammate who is in position, and who is also not near a player from the other team who could intercept the ball and immediately counter-attack. Kicking the ball to the player of the opposing team is a very embarrassing way to give up a goal. That's why goalkeepers scan the field for a while with a ball in their hands.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 21, 2012, 09:01:52 AM
I love how the Canuck crying over that game is going to keep this thread alive until the next Summer Olympics.
Their tears are maple flavored.
Quote from: DGuller on August 21, 2012, 09:38:15 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 09:28:16 AM
Quote from: DGuller on August 21, 2012, 09:05:37 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 08:56:21 AM
I love the idea that it takes a long time to "find a teammate to throw it to".
Gee, I was just here playing, and there were all these other players, and now I cannot find them! Whatever happened to them all? Oh well, I will just stand here I guess...
They're not exactly standing in place, are they? Have you seen what happens after a goalie gets the ball? All the players trot away towards the middle of the field.
Yeah, I could see where that would make it hard to find them.
You're being deliberately obtuse now. Finding a teammate means finding a teammate who is in position, and who is also not near a player from the other team who could intercept the ball and immediately counter-attack. Kicking the ball to the player of the opposing team is a very embarrassing way to give up a goal. That's why goalkeepers scan the field for a while with a ball in their hands.
And they get an ample amount of time to scan the field for a while - but not an unlimited time. That time is not 15 seconds, or 10 seconds.
The rules do not say that as long as the rest of your team stays near another player, you get to stand there with the ball in your hands. The rule is there to keep the game moving, and force the goalie to put the ball into play, rather than using their unique ability to hold a ball in their hands for a purpose the rules do not intend - namely, to play a perfect defense that the other team can do nothing about while time ticks away.
If they are not going to call this delay after the goalie stand there "looking for their teammate" for 15+ seconds, then they might as well just flush the rule altogether. You cannot convince me that a team operating under the spirit and intent of the rule cannot get someone in position to get a pass from their own goalie in ten seconds.
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 09:56:06 AM
If they are not going to call this delay after the goalie stand there "looking for their teammate" for 15+ seconds, then they might as well just flush the rule altogether.
I think that's exactly what they should do. It's very obviously a rule that's not meant to be enforced except as a very last resort, and those types of rules are very bad rules, because they are wide open to abuse and selective enforcement. Refs are already entrusted with discretion to combat time-wasting, so they don't need to rely on the letter of the law to justify their calls.
In any case, this discussion of the six second rule ignores what I think is an even more atrocious handball penalty call. That didn't appear justified even by the letter of the rules.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 21, 2012, 09:01:52 AM
I love how the Canuck crying over that game is going to keep this thread alive until the next Summer Olympics.
Actually I haven't brought it up since it happened.Berkut re-started it. But I will end it now. By his own admission, he doens' t watch soccer. It' like me arguing NFL rules when I've never watched a game.
Quote from: DGuller on August 21, 2012, 10:09:58 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 09:56:06 AM
If they are not going to call this delay after the goalie stand there "looking for their teammate" for 15+ seconds, then they might as well just flush the rule altogether.
I think that's exactly what they should do.
OK, so they get rid of the rule that forces the goalie to not stand there with the ball in their hand.
Now, as soon as your team has a 1-0 lead, and your goalie has the ball, they just stand there until time runs out.
And people complain that soccer is too slow! If only they let the goalies stand around doing nothing for longer, that would make the game so much more interesting!
Quote
It's very obviously a rule that's not meant to be enforced except as a very last resort,
Agreed - like when you've warned the goalie twice to stop delaying, and then they stand there refusing to put the ball in play because they are confident you aren't going to follow the rules.
Quote
and those types of rules are very bad rules, because they are wide open to abuse and selective enforcement.
They are there to keep the players from abusing the rules - what "abuse" are you talking about here - you think the official is "abusing" the rules because they are enforcing them in precisely the scenario the rules are intended to deal with? How is that "abuse"?
All enforcement is selective, unless you are arguing that the official should enforce the penalty the moment they get to seven in their count. If you are against "selective" enforcement of rules, why pick out this one? Almost all rules are enforced selectively. Not every hold in football is called, just the ones that matter, for example. That is selective.
You either trust the officials to operate in good faith or you do not. If you do not, then no possible rules will matter, if you truly believe that the officials are out to screw one team or the other.
Quote
Refs are already entrusted with discretion to combat time-wasting, so they don't need to rely on the letter of the law to justify their calls.
Yeah, that really sucks when the refs rely on the rules to justify their calls. What assholes! They should rely on...uhhh, something other than the rules to justify their calls!
She was warned to stop delaying, she did not. The more I hear about this, the more I think the official did a great job of trying very hard to avoid having to make this call.
Quote
In any case, this discussion of the six second rule ignores what I think is an even more atrocious handball penalty call. That didn't appear justified even by the letter of the rules.
Not true at all, very justified, at least from what I read about it. A subjective call certainly, but one that could go either way.
What about the Canadian player intentionally stomping on the US players head? That was a nasty one to miss!
You know, for all your words that Canadians are still not moving on, you guys sure use alot of words to justify that it was a good decision. I wonder who's not moving on here. :hmm:
I personally have, even though the two calls was to me rather dubious as seen on TV. That said we put the fear in the USA team this time, they came within a hair to fall down and lose, Sinclair demonstrated she was one on the best, Tancredi proved that she could play Aussie rules football, and it's only a matter of time until Canada beats them someday.
Quote from: Drakken on August 21, 2012, 10:27:41 AM
You know, for all your words that Canadians are still not moving on, you guys sure use alot of words to justify that it was a good decision. I wonder who's not moving on here. :hmm:
I personally have, even though the two calls was to me rather dubious as seen on TV. That said we put the fear in the USA team this time, they came within a hair to fall down and lose, Sinclair demonstrated she was one on the best, Tancredi proved that she could play Aussie rules football, and it's only a matter of time until Canada beats them someday.
Meh, I really could not care less about womens soccer one way or the other.
I just like talking about officiating.
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 10:27:08 AM
OK, so they get rid of the rule that forces the goalie to not stand there with the ball in their hand.
Now, as soon as your team has a 1-0 lead, and your goalie has the ball, they just stand there until time runs out.
And people complain that soccer is too slow! If only they let the goalies stand around doing nothing for longer, that would make the game so much more interesting!
The ref has a discretion to give out yellow cards for time-wasting.
QuoteAll enforcement is selective, unless you are arguing that the official should enforce the penalty the moment they get to seven in their count. If you are against "selective" enforcement of rules, why pick out this one? Almost all rules are enforced selectively. Not every hold in football is called, just the ones that matter, for example. That is selective.
:huh: That's not what selective enforcement means. Discretion is necessary for selective enforcement, but it's not equal to selective enforcement.
Pulling over drivers only once they go over 80 in 65 is not selective enforcement. Looking past some drivers going 80, and pulling over some going 70, is selective enforcement. In both cases discretion was applied, but only in one it was abused.
Quote
QuoteIn any case, this discussion of the six second rule ignores what I think is an even more atrocious handball penalty call. That didn't appear justified even by the letter of the rules.
Not true at all, very justified, at least from what I read about it. A subjective call certainly, but one that could go either way.
For a handball to be called, the hand has to extend from the body. In no shots that I saw did it seem like the ball was impeded by the hand. Without the arm being there, the rib cage would've deflected the ball just the same. Having a ball kicked into your arm while it's hugging the body is not a foul.
Quote
What about the Canadian player intentionally stomping on the US players head? That was a nasty one to miss!
Yes, Tancredi's head stomp is why I don't feel sorry for Canada. They were playing like thugs all game, and I believe it's a good thing when bad things happen to bad people. The missed Tancredi red card sort of balances out the bogus penalty shot. However, just because the ref missed the stomp doesn't make two atrocious calls less atrocious.
Quote from: Drakken on August 21, 2012, 10:27:41 AM
You know, for all your words that Canadians are still not moving on, you guys sure use alot of words to justify that it was a good decision. I wonder who's not moving on here. :hmm:
I personally have, even though the two calls was to me rather dubious as seen on TV. That said we put the fear in the USA team this time, they came within a hair to fall down and lose, Sinclair demonstrated she was one on the best, Tancredi proved that she could play Aussie rules football, and it's only a matter of time until Canada beats them someday.
To be honest, until Berkut entered this discussion, I don't think anyone on either side of the border thought the ref calls were good. Sure, there was a lot of trolling, but no serious arguments were made in defense of indefensible calls.
Quote from: DGuller on August 21, 2012, 10:43:20 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 10:27:08 AM
OK, so they get rid of the rule that forces the goalie to not stand there with the ball in their hand.
Now, as soon as your team has a 1-0 lead, and your goalie has the ball, they just stand there until time runs out.
And people complain that soccer is too slow! If only they let the goalies stand around doing nothing for longer, that would make the game so much more interesting!
The ref has a discretion to give out yellow cards for time-wasting.
So you want to replace a perfectly clear rule that can and should be applied consistently with a very vague "let the refs give out yellow cards for "time-wasting" while at the same time making sure "time-wasting" is not defined?
So one ref might let the goalie hold the ball for ten seconds, another for 30?
What problem is this change in the rules solving? How is this better?
The only change in this rule that I think could make it better is to allow an official to give a yellow card *before* awarding the kick - on the other hand, the ref can already (and in this case did) warn the goalie to stop delaying, so why the need for the card?
Would we have this exact same argument because McLeod was given a yellow card, THEN penalized? How is that different?
Quote
QuoteAll enforcement is selective, unless you are arguing that the official should enforce the penalty the moment they get to seven in their count. If you are against "selective" enforcement of rules, why pick out this one? Almost all rules are enforced selectively. Not every hold in football is called, just the ones that matter, for example. That is selective.
:huh: That's not what selective enforcement means. Discretion is necessary for selective enforcement, but it's not equal to selective enforcement.
Then how do you know that this particular case was "selective" rather than just discretionary?
Quote
Pulling over drivers only once they go over 80 in 65 is not selective enforcement. Looking past some drivers going 80, and pulling over some going 70, is selective enforcement. In both cases discretion was applied, but only in one it was abused.
Letting someone speeding go because it is late at night and nobody was placed in danger while pulling over someone else who is speeding and placing people in danger by doing so in a reckless manner is not abuse, that is discretion.
Ignoring a hold on a corner back when a running play is going the other way, while calling that exact same hold when the sweep is coming to the near sideline is not "abuse" either - it is using discretion to understand the intent of the rule and how to apply it.
If you are going to make the case that the official abused their power, that is a much harder case to make. Why would the official do so? What do they have to gain by cheating?
Quote
QuoteIn any case, this discussion of the six second rule ignores what I think is an even more atrocious handball penalty call. That didn't appear justified even by the letter of the rules.
Not true at all, very justified, at least from what I read about it. A subjective call certainly, but one that could go either way.
For a handball to be called, the hand has to extend from the body. In no shots that I saw did it seem like the ball was impeded by the hand. Without the arm being there, the rib cage would've deflected the ball just the same. Having a ball kicked into your arm while it's hugging the body is not a foul.
[/quote]
That is not how I saw it described:
QuoteOn five occasions, beginning in the fourth minute of the game, McLeod held the ball for more than 15 seconds, well over twice the permitted time. In the 58th minute she held the ball for 17 seconds, in the 59th for 12 seconds, in the 61st for 16 seconds, in the 68th for 11 seconds.
It's reasonable to assume that Pedersen believed she finally had to take action late in the game as McLeod delayed play once again with the USA behind a goal in the 77th minute. It's also reasonable to expect an Olympic goalkeeper to be familiar with the rules. (And Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl reported that McLeod admitted she was warned by an assistant referee at halftime.)
Of course, we wouldn't be talking about this if the ensuing indirect free kick hadn't struck Marie-Eve Nault's arm, forcing Pedersen to make one of the referee's most difficult calls: Was it a deliberate handball?
It would take a mind-reader to know if Nault deliberately handled the ball. FIFA's rulebook guidelines instruct the referee to take into consideration "the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand)" and "the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball)."
On the second point, Nault would have expected the ball to come her way because she was standing in front of a free kick. On the first point, her hand did move toward the ball.
The biggest problem with Pedersen's PK call –- and a reason to sympathize with Nault –- is that had she not raised her arm she would have gotten blasted in the chest. A case can be made that she was punished for protecting herself. That, however, is not something referees, according to the FIFA Rulebook, are supposed to take into consideration.
So if there is injustice in the call, it's the rulebook's fault and not Pedersen's.
Quote from: DGuller on August 21, 2012, 10:45:32 AM
Quote from: Drakken on August 21, 2012, 10:27:41 AM
You know, for all your words that Canadians are still not moving on, you guys sure use alot of words to justify that it was a good decision. I wonder who's not moving on here. :hmm:
I personally have, even though the two calls was to me rather dubious as seen on TV. That said we put the fear in the USA team this time, they came within a hair to fall down and lose, Sinclair demonstrated she was one on the best, Tancredi proved that she could play Aussie rules football, and it's only a matter of time until Canada beats them someday.
To be honest, until Berkut entered this discussion, I don't think anyone on either side of the border thought the ref calls were good. Sure, there was a lot of trolling, but no serious arguments were made in defense of indefensible calls.
That is why it is nice to actually get a ref involved in the discussion. Fans are almost universally clueless about what is or is not a good call.
And I've linked multiple articles from people involved in soccer who are pointing out that the calls were very justifiable.
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2012, 10:54:49 AM
So you want to replace a perfectly clear rule that can and should be applied consistently with a very vague "let the refs give out yellow cards for "time-wasting" while at the same time making sure "time-wasting" is not defined?
:lol: A "perfectly clear" rule that's almost never enforced is not exactly a perfectly clear rule. It's a discretionary rule that pretends to be a clear rule. When evaluating the effectiveness of the rule, you can't divorce the clarity of the language from the actual practice of enforcement.
QuoteThen how do you know that this particular case was "selective" rather than just discretionary?
Why do you think I know that? I've never claimed that Pederson's call was selective enforcement. The point where I first introduced that phrase concerned the general nature of rules that are rarely enforced, and that such rules invite selective enforcement.
The most pernicious thing about selective enforcement is that it's almost impossible to prove in individual cases. There is almost always a valid-sounding pretext for selective enforcement. Only statistical analysis can prove systematic bias in the application of discretion.
Quote from: DGuller on August 21, 2012, 11:10:02 AM
:lol: A "perfectly clear" rule that's almost never enforced is not exactly a perfectly clear rule. It's a discretionary rule that pretends to be a clear rule. When evaluating the effectiveness of the rule, you can't divorce the clarity of the language from the actual practice of enforcement.
The rarity of its enforcement shouldn't be consideration of its validity or lack of clarity. In fact a rule that rarely needs to be enforced is a rule that's doing its job and staying out of the way of playing the game. It's pretty clear that without some sort of time wasting rule for goalies soccer would be a broken game. The ref did what refs usually do when they catch players taking too long with ball, they warn them. It doesn't matter if it was an "official" warning, the goalie was made aware that she was on thin ice. The fact that she still violated the time means complaints about its enforcement have hardly any ground to stand on.
Quote from: frunk on August 21, 2012, 11:37:34 AM
The rarity of its enforcement shouldn't be consideration of its validity or lack of clarity.
By "rare enforcement" I don't mean rare invocation, but rather rare application when it is broken. A rule that's broken once in 10 years, and enforced correctly once in 10 years, is not rarely enforced.
Quote from: Josephus on August 21, 2012, 10:26:34 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 21, 2012, 09:01:52 AM
I love how the Canuck crying over that game is going to keep this thread alive until the next Summer Olympics.
Actually I haven't brought it up since it happened.Berkut re-started it. But I will end it now. By his own admission, he doens' t watch soccer. It' like me arguing NFL rules when I've never watched a game.
Pretty sure I gave you the necessary evidence for you to call it a draw.
Quote from: DGuller on August 21, 2012, 11:43:00 AM
By "rare enforcement" I don't mean rare invocation, but rather rare application when it is broken. A rule that's broken once in 10 years, and enforced correctly once in 10 years, is not rarely enforced.
My point still stands. The rule is designed to stop goalies from holding onto the ball for long periods. For the most part this works by the threat of enforcement rather than actual enforcement, with goalies being warned if they are taking too long. The rule could be written in a looser way, but it wouldn't be any more or less capricious than it is now. Any defined set of warnings/punishments could be abused by pushing the time until they got the specified number of warnings. Without a technological system of enforcement it's better to let the ref make the judgment at the moment despite the potential for bad refs to make bad calls. The spirit of the law is to keep the game moving, any letter of the law enforcement would get in the way of that.
Quote from: Drakken on August 21, 2012, 10:27:41 AM
You know, for all your words that Canadians are still not moving on, you guys sure use alot of words to justify that it was a good decision. I wonder who's not moving on here. :hmm:
Had the Canuckleheads here not cried so much over the game, I probably wouldn't even have noticed the game at all. The reaction by your countrymen here is just too entertaining not to keep bringing it up.
QuoteI personally have, even though the two calls was to me rather dubious as seen on TV. That said we put the fear in the USA team this time, they came within a hair to fall down and lose, Sinclair demonstrated she was one on the best, Tancredi proved that she could play Aussie rules football, and it's only a matter of time until Canada beats them someday.
You have that, then. Congrats.
They won at head stomping, but Columbia still is the better sucker-punch team.
Quote from: Josephus on August 21, 2012, 08:42:27 AM
Nevertheless, the Americans' Abby Wambach was in Pedersen's ear, doing what many players do when their team is losing: audibly counting down the seconds after the opposing goalkeeper gets hold of the ball to pressure the keeper to give up the ball, or the referee to make the six-second call.
Why do so many players do that if it's "never ever" called? :yeahright:
The tears are now bacon and maple syrup flavored.
Canadian angry goes STOMP!
If I had any graphics abilities I would paint a picture of a beaver with a maple leaf toque with machine-guns a blazin'.
But I came close to failing art in Grade 2. :blush:
Quote from: Josephus on August 21, 2012, 05:54:06 PM
If I had any graphics abilities I would paint a picture of a beaver with a maple leaf toque with machine-guns a blazin'.
But I came close to failing art in Grade 2. :blush:
(I)
I cant draw a gun. So you get a beaver. Sorta.
Bald, I see. Here's a furry one
###
#(|)#
##
Woof. Wax up that anus hair.
Hubba hubba.
See, I couldn't even do that.
Now we need a toque and a couple guns.
-_______-_
|___ __|||_|
|_)_) (
) _\
Needs a hideously oversized magazine and laser sight. TACTICLOL.
They have just shown the official farewell to the Spanish paralympic team. Behind the speaker there was a very pretty girl with her left arm amputeed from the elbow. I wonder how much of a turn off that is for her personal life.
Quote from: The Larch on August 24, 2012, 06:23:21 AM
They have just shown the official farewell to the Spanish paralympic team. Behind the speaker there was a very pretty girl with her left arm amputeed from the elbow. I wonder how much of a turn off that is for her personal life.
I always wanted to bang an amputee.
Had a chat with an acquaintance of mine, Rob, who'd been one of the neutral service mechanics at the Olympic cycling events;
He was in the centre of the olympic velodrome for many of the cycling events checking the bikes etc, he said it was an amazing experience, crowd noise unbelievable.
Said one of the Italian cyclists was warming up on a static set up (temp.forgets the technical name) and something went wrong and it wrecked the drive train of his bike, 15 minutes before his race, so comms. being difficult,so he just took the bike and completely rebuilt the whole drive train with different kit (shimano,rather than what it was built with), just in time for the guy to enter the race, the athlete came 5th and later the national coach came around and gave him a hug, for allowing the cyclist his chance to compete in the Olympics.
He had a pass that pretty much allowed him to go anywhere the athletes would, so he hung out with some of them, in amongst lots of voluntary hard work. Said it was really weird sitting down to eat and on the next table was Usan Bolt, being just an ordinary person and yet at the same time also one of the most famous persons on the planet.
What I was really pleased about it, was he grabbed the opportunity with both hands and has made lots of good contacts with people in the sport, which will really improve his chances of becoming a full-time technician with one of the pro-cycling teams. He's a great guy, real enthusiast for the sport and deserves to do well out of it. :)
Speaking of Olympics, Russians just fired the head coach of their women's gymnastics team, after he took them from zero medals in Beijing to 6 medals in London. :lol: Russians never fail to punish success. Hopefully he'll come back to US and coach the US team, now that the Romanian child abusers who were in charge are retiring.
"Women's" gymnastics is child abuse.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on September 25, 2012, 04:48:40 AM
"Women's" gymnastics is child abuse.
True, but having a former boxer punch the kids he trained, and starve them as a tool of discipline, is a bit more of a child abuse.
Increasingly every sport is child abuse. Its just getting to the stage where you have to keep pushing and start them ever younger.
QuoteHe had a pass that pretty much allowed him to go anywhere the athletes would, so he hung out with some of them, in amongst lots of voluntary hard work. Said it was really weird sitting down to eat and on the next table was Usan Bolt, being just an ordinary person and yet at the same time also one of the most famous persons on the planet.
What I was really pleased about it, was he grabbed the opportunity with both hands and has made lots of good contacts with people in the sport, which will really improve his chances of becoming a full-time technician with one of the pro-cycling teams. He's a great guy, real enthusiast for the sport and deserves to do well out of it. :)
I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking this: what of the crazy olympics sex parties?
On the US-Canada thing, I'm fairly sure John Terry's counted for the ref before, and have it given. But I'm not sure whose side that helps...
I've made it a habit now when surfing fodbol to count the time the goalie handles the ball. Not much data yet.