JediDefender.com Forums
Community => JD Sports Forum! => Topic started by: Pistol Pete on July 13, 2004, 02:21 PM
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Anyone excited for the games next month? Hype is starting to build in the press with all of the qualifying in Track and Swimming happening. I like watching from time to time
This has the potential to be a disaster though. Terrorism looms over everything and so does the doping of US athletes.
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Sigh, why do I have such an innate ability to take an innocent topic and turn it ugly?
With respect to the doping, let's be blunt here, they are all on some form of illegal blood doping, be it steroids, blood doping, etc. They have been for a considerable period of time. Way back in 88 when Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal, it was done deservedly so, he was using steroids. the problem was that all of a sudden Carl Lewis got the gold and he was not one single whit cleaner. Face it, the Olympics are dirty, dirty games for the most part, at least according to their own rules. The admissions only usually come down the road, when the athlete is ill or dead. Recent revelations have now come out about the East German athletes from the 1976 games. Go figure, Nelly the wonder horse wasn't clean ::) Maybe it was the hair on her back.
That said, yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I always enjoy watching the Olympics, winter or summer. Look for the Canadian men to take the 8's in rowing (I hope). Not sure where our other medal hopes lie (hey, this ain't the US, I can single out gold medals).
BTW, I think that the US athletes currently under investigation are being treated unfairly. If they get caught in a competition, so be it, suspend their sorry cheating ass. Peripheral involvement and implication should not be enough to have them suspended, even if it is 100% correct that they are cheating. You have to catch them at it. Canada just didn't have the right doctors back in 88 to hide it well enough nor did we bribe the IOC quickly enough to supress the positive test.
Nothing makes me laugh more than a positive test on the A sample followed by a negative on the B. ::) Well, maybe when athletes at the top of their game suddenly retire cough*Flo Jo*cough. :-*
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Reggie Jackson said it best last night...its not fair to judge anyone until they test positive. Innuendo is getting people nowhere fast
I like watching some of the Olympics, but weird stuff like Water Polo and some of the Swimming stuff. I'll try and watch the 100, 200 and 400 too in track. And maybe some Hoops. But the US Hoops team has become a joke again
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USA Basketball Loses Tune Up (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer04/basketball/news/story?id=1851520)
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I find the Olympics to be pretty boring.
Thank God Fox is going to air Family Guy while it's on.
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I'm not too excited about them one way or the other. But I'll be seeing plenty of them - my girlfriend loves the Olympics.
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Count me out for the Olympics. I rather dislike them and will be watching the Family Guy marathon on Fox.
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USA Basketball Loses Tune Up (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer04/basketball/news/story?id=1851520)
Saw that. Not a good sign when our NBA "Third Team" gets spanked by unknown Italy by 17 points. ::)
As for the Olympics themselves, I guess I'm one of those fervent "patriotic" sports fans, who keeps an eye on the medal count at all times, in hopes that the U.S. is leading the way as usual in the Summer Olympics. I'll probably watch a fair amount of the Olympic programming, especially the medal rounds. The one thing that often sucks when the Olympics are on the other side of the planet, is the timing difference and therefore the television delays. I've usually already found out who's won what by checking the Net, before the winners are divulged in the actual competitions on the tube...
I am, however, growing rather annoyed with the widespread steroid abuse/scandal, to the point where I'm almost of the opinion that everyone's on the juice, which I know isn't fair to most athletes, and is definitely not in the "Olympic spirit". So I guess you could say I am becoming somewhat disenfranchised with the integrity of Olympic competition these days. I used to just always assume (again, unfairly) that it was the rest of the world who was on performance enhancing drugs, just to try to keep pace with the U.S. So now that I really see that we're just as bad, if not worse, than all the other countries, I'm even more pissed off.
Still, I'll be watching the medal count with great interest, as always...
I'll also be watching Jennie Finch (softball) with great interest, as well! ;)
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I love watching the Olympics. Winter, summer, whatever. It's just cool to see people playing sports for the love of it, rather than the money.
I do have to suspend my cynical side to watch though. So much seems so tainted, regardless of country of origin.
I do loathe sports in which judging is involved however. It is much too obviously fixed.
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I prefer the Winter Games, but I will watch the summer games.
I too loathe any event with Judges. That is not a sport, it is an exhibition. Find a way to make these things more objective by use of speed/points/power and I will consider it a sport.
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I think we should really throw a curve ball at the Olympiads. They should be required to be on 'roids to compete.
Kevin
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Bring it on!!
I think us aussies will get you americans in the pool this time around. ;D :D
And if we dont guess i'll be eating humble pie :-X
Although that is prolly one of the only sports that we dominate at a international level, oh that and cricket.
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Ok we went out last night so I had to TiVo the Opening Ceremonies....
Just one question.....who designed/decided on the US Team to wear those ridiculous Hats and Outfits? The outfits our atheletes wear during opening ceremonies have been in steady decline for years.
So as far as the fashion competition I'll have to say the US didn't even place in their heat.
(http://msn.foxsports.com/id/2663496_7_2.jpg)
(http://msn.foxsports.com/id/2663134_7_3.jpg)
Is that a "Gang Sign"?....
Here's a Star Wars twist to it.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5635457/
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Cool link Paul! We'll see how he does. Fencing's on right now actually...
Anyway, yeah, I thought the same thing when I saw the Americans outfits last night in the opening ceremonies. I think we were shooting for the most "fun and laid back" look, or sumthin'...
So did anyone else out there watch the opening ceremonies? What'd you think of 'em? Not too exciting to me. I'd say the highlight was earlier on, when they had all those "lifelike statues". Those looked pretty cool. Real people made up to look like Greek statues. They pulled it off real well, kinda spooky almost seeing these "statues" actually coming to life.
Pretty pathetic that the Greek guy who was gonna light the torch wound up getting yanked at the last minute 'cause he's on the juice! ::)
BTW, we're getting shut out in the Medal Count so far. China, Italy, and Japan are all off to a good start though, with a couple golds each... :-\
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BTW, we're getting shut out in the Medal Count so far.
Scratch that, as Michael Phelps just kicked ass in the swimming 400-meter individual medley (setting a World Record). Only 7 more to go for him! 8)
The Greek sprinters and their coach just got officially kicked out of the games. Guess that pretty much nullifies their 200m Gold and 100m Silver from Sydney, eh?! :P
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OK, already ascended to the top of the Medal Count, with 4 now (1G, 1S, 2B). Hopefully we stay in that top spot for the next two weeks! 8)
Even picked up a Sailing Medal! :P
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The Greek sprinters and their coach just got officially kicked out of the games. Guess that pretty much nullifies their 200m Gold and 100m Silver from Sydney, eh?! :P
why? steroids? :P
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The Greek sprinters and their coach just got officially kicked out of the games. Guess that pretty much nullifies their 200m Gold and 100m Silver from Sydney, eh?! :P
why? steroids? :P
You don't want to start down that road. Two words:
Marion Jones.
You wanna speculate? So do I. What else can we nullify?
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I'm so disgusted with the whole US/doping crap I don't really give two ***** about the Olympics this year...BALCO!
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You don't want to start down that road. Two words:
Marion Jones.
You wanna speculate? So do I. What else can we nullify?
Oh, I know. I agree with you there. ;) Many more where that one came from too!
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OK, already ascended to the top of the Medal Count, with 4 now (1G, 1S, 2B). Hopefully we stay in that top spot for the next two weeks! 8)
Even picked up a Sailing Medal! :P
Yeah but it goes on gold medal count and the Aussies are second behind China
hahahaha
We are beating you guys till the swimming ends anyway ;D
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Medals (Ranked by Gold)
1. China 4 Gold - 1 Silver - 1 Bronze = 6
2. Australia 2 Gold - 1 Silver - 2 Bronze = 5
=3. Italy 2 Gold - 0 Silver - 0 Bronze = 2
=3. Japan 2 Gold - 0 Silver - 0 Bronze = 2
5. USA 1 Gold - 3 Silver - 1 Bronze = 5
6. Ukraine 1 Gold - 0 Silver - 1 Bronze = 2
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Huh, nobody belittling the USA "Hoops" team...what a bunch of stiffs. Any team that elects Iverson as their Captain deserves the stuff they are getting :-*
Medals (Ranked 3 pts Gold, 2 pts Silver, 1 pt Bronze)
1. China 10 Gold - 4 Silver - 1 Bronze = 39 (15 total)
2. Australia 6 Gold - 2 Silver - 4 Bronze = 26 (12 total)
3. USA 3 Gold - 4 Silver - 5 Bronze = 22 (12 total)
4. Russia 1 Gold - 5 Silver - 2 Bronze = 17 (8 total)
5. Japan 4 Gold - 1 Silver - 1 Bronze = 17 (6 total)
6. Ukraine 1 Gold - 0 Silver - 1 Bronze = 2
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Yeah, I was gonna mention that Hoops fiasco yesterday, but never got around to it. Just pathetic. Not sure what the hell the deal is with men's U.S. teams... Hell, our baseball team ("America's pastime", mind you) didn't even freaking qualify for the Olympics. Talk about embarrassing... ::)
Our whole Olympics is just way down this year. Disappointing. We suck now.
China and the Aussies are kicking some serious ass though. Congrats Hemish! ;)
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11 of our 12 medals are in swimming. Guess that's the only thing we can do anymore... :-\
Oddly enough, our Sailing medal from the first day seems to have disappeared from the Medal Count. Guess that must've been an error, or something. Thought it was odd we won a sailing medal. Guess not...
One thing I'll say is that our Olympic women kick serious ass over our men!
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The team should still kick some ass in Track...
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Do we have any track athletes left? I thought they were all suspended, or had quit... ::)
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You can almost guarantee a gold for the lovely duo of Misty May and Kerri Walsh in women's beach volleyball. I wouldn't mind being spiked by one of those two.
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Yeah, they kick MAJOR ass. 90 wins in a row on the beach circuit, up until just recently. Absolutely dominant. Only question is whether May's stomach is fully healed. Sure hope so!
The men's teams (beach v-ball) are looking crappy though. Blanton's already gotten punked (should've stuck with Fonoi), and the other pair barely squeeked by the Aussies yesterday. I actually played beach volleyball a few times against Blanton's gold medal winning teammate in Sydney - Eric Fonoimoana. He used to come by our dorms at UCSB my freshman year and play with us, since one of his UCSB teammates was a buddy of mine in the dorms. Of course, he generally kicked our asses pretty good, but that goes without saying... ;)
Love me some beach! God, I miss playing it. Probably my favorite sport ever...
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and speaking of great sports, Canada wins it's first medal. Bronze in synchronized diving. ::) At least it was 10m. Still.
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...I don't really give two ***** about the Olympics this year...
Seeing all of those empty seets for damn near every event in Athens leads me to assume many folks, at least over there, feel the same as you. Personally, I'd love to see some Olympic games of just about ANY kind.
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Good point Todd, every thing I've seen so far has been played before crowds of around 50 people it seems...bizzaro
Looks like the US is now tied in the Medal Count with China for #1
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I think that a big part of the problem, as is often the case, is that practically NOTHING is actually shown live on TV. I've already seen on the Net, or heard on the radio, all of the results MANY hours before the dumbasses at NBC show them in their primetime coverage starting at 8pm. That's ridiculous...
So when there's not that air of excitement, aniticipation, drama and suspense involved, my enthusiasm for the events is severely decreased. I'd like to avoid the spoilers, sure, but I just can't help clicking on that damned Medal Tracker throughout the day... :P
Glad to see SPOILER****
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Phelps take home a couple more Golds today. I was feeling kinda bad for him after his last two races, after all the freaking hype and expectations the media has placed on him.
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Looks like the US is now tied in the Medal Count with China for #1
Actually, it looks like we just passed 'em, with a Gold in Fencing, of all things... 8) Of course, China's got a buttload more Gold than we do though... :-\
Country Total Medals Gold Silver Bronze
United States 18 6 6 6
China 17 10 5 2
Australia 14 6 3 5
Russia 10 2 5 3
Japan 9 6 2 1
France 8 2 2 4
Italy 7 2 3 2
Ukraine 5 3 1 1
Netherlands 5 0 2 3
Germany 4 1 2 1
South Korea 4 1 1 2
etc...
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1. China 10 Gold - 6 Silver - 4 Bronze = 46 (20 total)
2. USA 7 Gold - 9 Silver - 6 Bronze = 44 (22 total)
3. Australia 6 Gold - 3 Silver - 5 Bronze = 29 (14 total)
4. Russia 3 Gold - 5 Silver - 6 Bronze = 25 (14 total)
5. Japan 6 Gold - 2 Silver - 1 Bronze = 23 (9 total)
6. France 3 Gold - 2 Silver - 4 Bronze = 17 (9 total)
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Pretty good day today for the U.S.!
Spoilers:
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3x Gold in the pool: Phelps (#4), Amanda Beard, Aaron Piersol (won, was DQ'd, then overturned), as well as Woman's All-Around in Gymnastics. Not bad! 8) Updated Medal standings, with the U.S. finally atop the Gold (as well as overall):
United States 35 14 11 10
China 29 14 9 6
Russia 23 3 9 11
Australia 19 7 5 7
Japan 15 9 4 2
Germany 14 5 2 7
Italy 12 4 5 3
France 11 4 3 4
South Korea 11 2 6 3
Netherlands 11 2 5 4
Ukraine 7 5 1 1
Great Britain 7 0 3 4
Hungary 6 2 3 1
Cuba 6 0 1 5
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Who the hell gives a **** about the olympics? I hate people who pretend to enjoy this crap. ::)
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I do, and I ain't pretending...
But I appreciate the hatred though, bub.
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Who the hell gives a **** about the olympics? I hate people who pretend to enjoy this crap. ::)
Your joking right ??
I've had tears of joy running down my face when i see my country winning a medal, especially if it's against a tough competitor.
Hello USA versus AUS in basketball , we looked like we might take it but then the dream team came home in the last quarter and won by 10, take hockey i can't stand it but i watched my Aussie mens team beat the current olympic gold medalist in their last game.
It's sport , and it's not sport for money it's sport for your country and there is a hell of a difference. Don't get me wrong i know there is money in it hell you'd have to be naive to think otherwise , but it's some of the best tv you will ever see.
The current competition between USA and AUS in the pool is fantastic, man Phelpes is a fish but Thorpe is a bigger fish, and remember there is always a bigger fish.
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Talking with some friends this week about this, it is amazing how "into" these different sports we can get during the Olympics. Some of these sports (gymnastics, diving, etc.) we would never watch normally, but find ourselves watching every night this week. We've especially been enjoying watching swimming, gymnastics, sand volleyball, ping pong, and of course basketball. Here's hoping that Team USA can turn things around and play well. The second half vs. Australia looked a little better. Track and Field starts this weekend I think, that's always entertaining too. I don't know if it is the country pride, or the fact that it is every four years, or that we just get to see sports that aren't normally televised...but so much of it seems so neat to watch during the Games. Plus, for the most part from what we have seen, there has been a nice comraderie between countries as well...gracious winners/losers for the most part, which is nice to see too.
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There was a rather large article in this week's SI about how much the people of Greece hate Americans...it is sad how many people hate our country but I haven't really seen that manifest itself too much in the Games
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There was a rather large article in this week's SI about how much the people of Greece hate Americans...it is sad how many people hate our country but I haven't really seen that manifest itself too much in the Games
It is a pretty universal sentiment, I'm sorry to say. And not just for anti-Bush rationales. This has been going on for some time. Even back when I'd travel in Australia, late 80's, people would think I was American, find out I was CAnadian and they'd apologize.
Why? No true legitimate reason, IMO. However, there are any number of individuals that are rather arrogant about US superiority and all too vocal about it. Most nations in the world are rather humble, something I would not characterize the US as. That just rubs people the wrong way.
Sitting up here in Canada, I am loathe to watch the average Canadian talk about the US simply because they sound quite as arrogant as the average arrogant US individual talking about how great their country is while disparaging the other.
It's pretty simple, bigotry is bigotry, regardless of your standpoint. If you hate something, "just because", without a good, well researched rationale, it's bigotry.
Case in point:Who the hell gives a **** about the olympics? I hate people who pretend to enjoy this crap.
Sorry, I enjoy it. It's quite sad to see the turnout in Greece as it is. Terrorist threats? General disinterest/apathy? Who knows. I'd certainly say the Aussies should be feeling pretty damn smug right about now.
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We got another medal today, a Sliver for Women's Trampoline.
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So today the REAL olympic games begins (athletics / track & field). Well actually it stated wednesday with the short put wich was held at Olympia, where the anicient greek contested aprox. 2500 years ago. Demark actually won a bronze medal, Joacim B. Olsen first danish medal this year.
Later the same day we won a bronze in mix-double badminton, only two bronze for Denmark so far, but more to come I hope and belive. We are two times olympic chsmps in womens handball, we also are favorites in rowing, and the world record holer in mens 800 meters running is participating for Denmark.
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We got another medal today, a Sliver for Women's Trampoline.
Any rioting in the streets of Edmonton as a result?
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Nah, riots only happen in Vancouver! I guess Montreal too. ;D
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Well, please keep us posted Dale and be safe!
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Yeah, if we get Gold, look out! :P
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How about in Winnipeg, Brent? Everything still OK or is there mass pandemonium?
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We got another medal today, a Sliver for Women's Trampoline.
You weren't kidding? ??? I thought that was a joke.
No, no rioting,only shivering and general bitterness at a lack of summer :-*
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Stock up on Water and TP on the way home (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer04/medals?countryId=16)
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Which country got the gold for the paraplegic running competition?
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Which country got the gold for the paraplegic running competition?
Ok, I'll bite. The paralympics typically follow in the days after the regular version, held in the same country at the same venue.
Aren't you clever. Mommy and daddy must be thoroughly impressed with their big bad 11 year old. Then again, ignorance begets ignorance, so maybe not. Are they cousins too? :-*
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Which country got the gold for the paraplegic running competition?
why don't you keep us posted as our "man on the scene"? or did you not make the team this year??
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Which country got the gold for the paraplegic running competition?
I think you're annoying. Please stop and be respectful.
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Who cares what you think? You're not an admi... oh yes, I'll stop. Sorry. :-\
That was insensitive wasn't it? I'm going to hell. :'(
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With any luck.
You'll improve your posting.
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That was insensitive wasn't it? I'm going to hell. :'(
Yes
Yes you are.
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Another silver today for Canuckada. Men's fours rowing. Great race to watch. Bloody wankin' poms stole it from us. Well, not really, they raced bloody well, so good for them. Tough race for both teams, hard to have a second place finisher. 0.08 separating first and second place. Wow.
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We got another medal today, a Sliver for Women's Trampoline.
You weren't kidding? ??? I thought that was a joke.
I was watching some trampoline events this morning. Some pretty kick ass stuff there. Wish I could do that. Looks fun!
Anyway, another abhorent effort by Dream Team Jr. today, getting spanked by Lithuania in the final couple minutes. Ugly, I tells ya'. Even if they wind up winning the Gold medal next week, they'll still be viewed by everyone as a major disappointment, and will always be remembered for being the first team of NBA'ers to lose in the Olympics - and not just once, but twice, and maybe more. Dumbasses.
Swimming's all done, and Phelps bailed on the final medley race in favor of one of his teammates, but still earned his 6 Gold, and 8th medal overall. Not bad!
Damned men's gymnastics results are all ****** up now, being protested, judges being suspended, medals are all tainted, etc. Just stupid. Looks like the Korean guy should've had the Gold, based on some asinine scoring error. Idiots.
Track and Field's finally getting going. Should be fun, especially to see how many more athletes get banned for failed drug tests... :P Updated medal standings:
United States 49 20 17 12
China 41 18 13 10
Russia 34 7 13 14
Australia 28 11 7 10
Germany 28 8 9 11
Japan 22 12 5 5
France 21 7 7 7
Great Britain 20 6 7 7
South Korea 19 5 10 4
Italy 18 6 6 6
Netherlands 15 3 5 7
Ukraine 13 6 2 5
Belarus 10 2 3 5
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Canada 3 0 2 1
Man, what's the deal with you Canucks, eh? Just 'cause it's always winter up there means you guys can't compete for **** in the Summer Olympics?! C'mon now... ::)
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Man, what's the deal with you Canucks, eh? Just 'cause it's always winter up there means you guys can't compete for **** in the Summer Olympics?! C'mon now... ::)
Well we just struck Gold for Gymnastics Artistic - Men's Floor Exercise! :P
Canada 4 1 2 1
I was watching some trampoline events this morning. Some pretty kick ass stuff there. Wish I could do that. Looks fun!
Nothing better than women on trampolines! ;D
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(http://www.startribune.com/stonline/images/news9/1olydoping0824.l.jpg)
"Me, On Steriods? Bah!"
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Man, what's the deal with you Canucks, eh? Just 'cause it's always winter up there means you guys can't compete for **** in the Summer Olympics?! C'mon now... ::)
We don't fund anyone up here for anything. Almost. Really, it's just a lack of money for the athletes. There's one commercial on Canadian TV showing a scene where an athlete is working a late night shift as a waitress at a truck stop. Not far off the truth. It just doesn't matter up here and the support isn't there.
Men's 8's rowing blew the race big time. Defending world champions and they finished 5th. That's bad enough, but 11 seconds behind the winner/US crew :o They weren't even in the race. Now that's embarassing.
To go along with Scott's comment, the men's 100m was a great race to watch, but how many of those guys are clean, really? They are huge, strong men. Fast too. And no, this isn't an anti-US sentiment. We have a good shot at the women's 110m hurdles gold, but I seriously doubt she is clean.
Rough day for Canada yesterday: both men's and women's beach volleyball teams were eliminated, the rowing fiasco and then our defending world champion 10m diver throws away her medal by botching her last dive. Great diver, sitting in second place, falls to fourth :-[
Oh. Canada.
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This is quasi embarassing to even be talking about men's gymnastics (not to say they aren't amazing athletes). Our Canadian fellow that won gold the other day finished fourth in the vault today. That's a pretty good result, except one of the guys that medaled in front of him fell on one of his two vaults :o
Echoing comments about judged sports ::) >:(
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**SPOILERS**
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You can almost guarantee a gold for the lovely duo of Misty May and Kerri Walsh in women's beach volleyball. I wouldn't mind being spiked by one of those two.
And so it shall be. 8) (the Gold part, not Mikey getting any play off them)
McPeak and Youngs took the bronze too. Shame they stuck them in the same bracket as May/Walsh, so they had to play eachother in the semis, rather than the finals where we could've locked up both Silver and Gold instead.
Looks like Rolan Gardner's off to a good start in wrestling too - into the semis. Always fun watching that fut lug.
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(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39990000/jpg/_39990318_kelly_flag203.jpg)
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Perdita Felicien pulls another Canadian boner. Yep, one of the few gold medals we were expected to win, women's hurdles - crashed into the first hurdle. Basically a mental error = choke. ::)
We did win a gold today in pursuit cycling, women's.
Australia :o beat Japan to advance to the gold medal match in baseball.
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And so it shall be. 8) (the Gold part, not Mikey getting any play off them)
Son of a bitch! I know they were busy and all, but they should have at least acknowledged their biggest stalker fan
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USA Hoops Won! USA Hoops Won! USA Hoops Won! (not as good as "Giants win the Pennant" I know, but its close)
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Yeah, I was so happy to see Team USA pull it out today. Did anyone see the game at all? Spain's coach was quite angry with us, apparently because we took a timeout towards the end of the game. In International play, you have to "put in" for timeouts in advance, and we had put in for one shortly after turning the ball over while getting pressed. You can't get it until the next dead ball, which was a little while later when we were up by 8 or 9. Anyways, Spain's coach thought it was disrespectful, and refused to shake any of our coaches' hands. Larry Brown, Roy Williams, and Greg Popovich all chased him down trying to "apologize" and shake hands after the game, but he just pointed his finger in their faces and yelled at them before having to be restrained and led away from the court. Weird.
Also, Stephon Marbury set the Olympic Men's team record with 31 points today. He only had 21 total in the 5 pool games. Nice to see Team USA step it up and play a good all around game, I hope that it continues.
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Slowly moving up the ladder:
Gold: 2, Silver: 4, Bronze: 1 for 7.
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With all due respect to the Yankees, I hope the basketball team loses. I suppose I'd earn some respect for them that they actually learned to play by the rules of a game called basketball, if they do win, as opposed to NBA rules. Still, they need a smack in the head. Badly. Not winning the gold medal would do that.
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I find myself not really rooting for them at all, with the exception of Duncan they are a collection of players that showcases everything that is wrong with the NBA these days
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That's a good summary of my feelings Scott.
Brian,
If the US called the time out, in advance as you indicate, did they HAVE to take it? My understanding from talking to some people locally is that not only did they take the time out, they took it in it's entirety, even substituting some players to drag it out.
My basketball experiences have always been that you can take as short a timeout as need be, remembering back to high school when a coach called a timeout to basically take 3 seconds to tell us to get our collective heads out of our asses or we could all sit. But 3 seconds was it and play resumed.
My point being I can understand the frustration of the Spaniards entirely if there was no mandated amount of time. Either the US had to take the full time (still not explaining the substitutions that were wholly unnecessary) and the Spaniards are just bitter about the loss. If however the US needn't have taken the full time, that is pretty much the height of arrogance where there really was no need to rub salt in the wound of the win.
Which is it, I wonder?
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You know, I'm not really sure Brent, I was just going by what the announcers/coaches explained. Apparently, in the international game, you put in for your time outs ahead of time, which the US did right after turning the ball over (to go over their press-breaker). It was supposed to occur at the next dead ball, which didn't happen for a little bit, and at which point the US was up by 10 or so. Then, according to asst. coach Popovich, the US coaches said that they didn't need the time out, and to forget it, but the refs had already called it. To his credit, Larry Brown did send his players right back on the floor (stopped them at the sideline and turned them around), but apparently Spain's coach was already quite upset. Its too bad it had to end up that way. Watching the US coaches first go and try to explain/apologize, only to see Spain's head coach (and no other coaches and/or players) get up in their faces and yell, its too bad that there was a misunderstanding, or any feeling of disrespect. Hopefully things can be worked out.
I understand many people's points with wanting Team USA to lose (especially if you are not from the US, I'm sure I'd want us to lose too), but I guess I'm still pulling for them. The team isn't put together the best, and I don't even really care for many of the players on there, but I still really hope they are somehow able to win. While the international game, and other teams, have made huge strides...I guess I feel deep down that at this point, we still have the best players (which also, aren't there playing for the most part), and because they are playing a game that is new to them (the team game) everyone thinks that we aren't he most talented country in the game of basketball anymore. I do agree though, we don't play as a team basically at all...and not nearly as well as the other countries. I'd be perfectly fine with the NBA switching to a more "true" form of basketball, in part to better prepare us and to get the respect of other countries a little more, but due to the marketing of the NBA, it unfortunately probably won't happen. I do miss the days of the '92 team, when we just spanked everyone and most other countries were happy to play us anyways...and there wasn't nearly as much animosity between teams/players (US included). Many of our players are spoiled, and some have shown it in these games, and its too bad we can't get back the mutual respect for all teams/players. Scott is right, there is a lot wrong with the NBA today from that standpoint, and I wish that wasn't the case. I guess it sounds strange, but I still like things like all of the players shaking hands, grouping together, after games, regardless of the outcome or what their "name" is. Plus, I guess it is kind of sad how everyone "hates" Americans, but some of that is brought on on our own (or by some Americans anyways).
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ESPN has this article (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer04/basketball/news/story?id=1868303) up regarding today's altercation in the US - Spain game. Its too bad there are hard feelings over this, and that it had to end up this way.
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Sore Loser...wow what a tool, sure you were 5-0 but they beat you, go sulk in Spain ::)
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Sure reads like sour grapes.
Interesting comment though:
...officials allowed the Americans to get away with multiple traveling violations. I think this game was played under NBA rules, not FIBA rules.
Now, I have not seen the game or any footage, but if he has a point on the latter, that is a serious smack in the face. FIBA rules, IMO, are the big reason the Americans have been having the difficulties they have experienced thus far. "whaddya mean traveling, that was only four steps" comes to mind.
Not that there are ever discrepancies in Olympic games. Hey, point scoring error, no big, I'm keeping my gold medal even if the rest of the world knows I finished second :-*
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Looks like this (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/olympics/2004/writers/08/26/us.spain/index.html) is going to continue to be the story of the Olympics right now. The first good game put together by the US marred by this "timeout". Sigh.
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Pardon my crust-iferous-ness, but much as I like Jack McCallum, I hardly think a guy who makes his living writing about the NBA is going to take a hard line against a bunch of future and present NBA stars.
I will agree that in no way has the US taken time and effort to lay down. They sucked, plain and simple early on.
The roughness factor of the game is irrelevant IMO. Traveling may be relevant. McCallum addresses the roughness factor only, I wonder if there is some truth by omission?
The time out is irrelevant to the end story. Frankly, it sounds like the US shot well. So long as they weren't aided by an excess of traveling non-calls, then they won fair and square. They are phenomenonally talented, hard to argue with that.
I still hope they lose ;)
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I was able to watch much of the game this morning, and to be honest, I didn't notice traveling...or at least any more than normal. That said, I am used to watching a lot of NBA basketball too, so maybe that has something to do with it. However, I never really noticed the crowd (which was vocal, and quite anti-US) nor the Spain players/coaches complaining about any traveling/non-traveling. There was some rough play, both ways, and very inconsistent reffing (especially in that area), which from what I understand from the announcers today is common in International play (the inconsistent reffing, that is). Both teams had plenty to complain about on that side of things I thought...lots of no calls, missed calls, etc.
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Fair enough, a first hand account.
Traveling is a big pet peeve of mine with the NBA. I've said it before, but all these recent guys claiming they can dunk from the free throw line just like Dr. J did back in the day is priceless. He did it without traveling you buffoons. Huge difference there. Not that dunk contests were ever by the rules, but even with those, I have more respect for the old guys.
As I said above, the roughness is not a factor, IMO. Brown apparently commented on expecting a physical matchup, NOT because of his guys, but because of both teams. That's reasonable.
If there was no whining during the game about traveling, then it's too late and artificial now. Game US, shut up Spain.
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I'm trying to objective...I certainly didn't notice them whining about traveling during the game, unless I missed it. I did see whining (both ways) about the uncalled fouls, but that is pretty much true of any game anymore. I agree with the traveling though Brent, I could do without quite all the "superstar treatment" in the NBA. It has been building for years now, I can still remember them showing a replay of Dominique Wilkins, looking to pass from the top of the key (after he picked up his dribble), and them highlighting and closing in on his feet. He took five small steps forward while he was "pump faking" the ball above his head looking for the pass. Ridiculous. Some traveling is going to happen, that's part of the game, but doing it intentionally or all of the time? I'd rather they cleaned up the game of it.
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And....even more (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer04/basketball/columns/story?id=1868342) on the game today....
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At least the Media can now re-hash this new contoversy to death... ::)
It's a good thing, because I was getting sick of hearing about that poor gymnast dude. LET IT GO!
:P
Jeff
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Which gymnast dude? There's a couple to pick from.
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I love it
We won silver in the baseball!!!
We don't even have a national league and we came second
Love it
Hey and we are even upto 3rd on the tally
Go aussie
Aussie Aussie Aussie
oi oi oi
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BIG SPOILER!!!!
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U.S. Basketball team just lost to Argentina. Kiss the Gold (and even Silver) goodbye...
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Just saw that as well Matt, very disappointing...at least to me. Most people are pretty happy to see this I am sure, but I guess just being such a big basketball fan all these years, I was really hoping they could pull it off. Oh well, what can you do...when you get outplayed, you get outplayed.
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My fiance and I have been watching most of the Olympic coverage each night, and it's been pretty interesting and entertaining for the most part. I don't know if my expectations are just too high, expecting the U.S. to win at everything, but I'm rather disappointed with quite a lot of their efforts.
Looks like the women's 4 x 100 relay team screwed up today on a baton handoff (involving Marion Jones), and didn't medal. She whiffed on the long jump too. Should've stayed doped up! Just a real crappy day for the "home team". At least we kicked butt in the pole vault though! :P
Men's basketball? Don't even get me started. At this point, if the NBA scrubs are going to start losing now, they might as well just go back to all collegiate players, so we at least have an excuse for losing and it's not so embarrasing.
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Well done to Kelly Holmes for winning both middle distance golds (the 800m, and then the 1500m tonight) :-*
(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40012000/jpg/_40012102_kelly_new270.jpg)
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Up from last time:
Gold: 3, Silver: 6, Bronze: 3 for 12.
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We beat the US in the 4x100m relay...by the very smallest margin possible ;)
We’re ahead of our Sydney total by one, but down by two golds. We can up pick another one in the boxing tomorrow though. So this is our second most successful Olympics since 1920, in spite of our track and field results being quite a bit down on last time.
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We beat the US in the 4x100m relay...by the very smallest margin possible ;)
Yeah, that was certainly a surprising, and disappointing (over here) upset. We had 3 of the top 4 100m finishers, and can't beat a team that I didn't even know they still had sprinters... This, on top of the fact that our women did the same thing yesterday - botched a handoff and tanked the race... ::) Something about that women's race, and Marian Jones in particular, isn't sitting well with me. I swear it looked like Marion slowed up immensely near the handoff, and it almost look like she was intentionally missing the other girl's hand with the baton. Probably just a strange conspiracy theory I have brewing in my head, after Marion tanked the 100m and dropped out of the 200m in the U.S. qualifiers. Sucked at the long jump, and now blows a handoff in what should've been a gimme Gold medal. It almost seems like she's trying not to win these events, as if they might test her and hit her with a positive or something (yes, I know they test the losers too)...
All in all, I guess the U.S. did pretty well, tops in both Gold and All-around, but the pessimist in me is more frustrated with all the events that we didn't win, but should have. Yes, the glass is always half empty with me... ::)
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They did it!!!!
For the third time in a row the danish handball ladies won the olympic gold. Ok this time it was really really close. Ordinary time, and both expansion was a draw so there was a penalty throw disition, and the danes won it with 2 goals.
This is Denmark's second gold medal in Athens, we also won a gold in men's 4-man rowing. Then we have 6 bronze medals: short put (men), 800 meter running (men), table tennis (men double), badminton (mix double), and the last two was in saliling).
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Team GB's final stats:
Gold: 9
Silver: 9
Bronze: 12
Total: 30
Ranking: 9th
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Canada's final stats:
Gold: 3.
Silver: 6.
Bronze: 3.
Toatal 12.
Ranking: 19th.
Hey, were in the top 20! (http://www.telusplanet.net/public/djustus/woohoo.gif)
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meh, summer olympics don't interest me. the only event i would have watched - baseball - was one we didn't even qualify for. go figure.
next time, i say we send the new york yankees out as our national baseball team. we would almost certainly win gold. and it wouldn't be that big of a deal to the league, really. plus, it would give the red sox about 2 weeks worth of games to try and gain some ground in the standings on us ;D