The Olympics

I tried to watch the soccer final last night on CNBC, but it was after midnight and I fell asleep on the couch. Woke up this morning with the cat sleeping on my chest. Looked like an interesting game, too...

QUOTE (Maestro @ August 23, 2008 08:09 am)

The IOC is still investigating. I feel bad for the Chinese gymnastics team. They sound so downtrodden now, but rules are rules. Honestly though, I don't think the IOC will find anything. I don't like how the US is being called sour grapes about this. There is evidence that the Chinese government lied so it needed to be pointed out.

The result of all of this has mainly been to make me more and more disturbed by a sport where you peak at 14 and afterwards it's all downhill. It's ending up sounding more and more like chimney sweeping than anything else. Well, chimney sweeping with uneven bars and ribbons.

I can't decide who is more annoying, the commentators for gymnastics (who I've complained at length about) or the female commentator for diving. I really want her to stop blabbing. One of the men competing in the platform diving competition last night made a larger splash on his entry last night, and she said something along the lines of "they've got to add more water to the pool after that one." SHUT UP, LADY.

I think that the diving commentary has now become far more grating. I'm ready to strangle her.

Where can ya see fast guys? Only in Kenya! Come to Kenya we got fast guys! I love the marathon!

I was sad for the Ethiopian guy who was beat by his teammate at the last moment, thogh.

QUOTE (dinahmoe @ August 23, 2008 09:25 pm)

Where can ya see fast guys? Only in Kenya! Come to Kenya we got fast guys! I love the marathon!

And I love you, Dinahmoe. Now I have to go sing that to my husband and get it stuck in his head.

I was so pleased for Matthew Mitcham, the Australian who won the platform diving gold. Especially after I read that he quit the sport for nearly a year, overcame depression, and then came out. Go him!

I don't understand the obsession with the medal count. I also don't understand the countries that are obsessed with gold and act like the other medals don't count. Then why do they exist to begin with? Its probably amazing to win a gold but getting to the Olympics is an achievement on its own.

QUOTE

I was so pleased for Matthew Mitcham, the Australian who won the platform diving gold. Especially after I read that he quit the sport for nearly a year, overcame depression, and then came out. Go him!

Yeah that was one of my favorite Olympic moments, especially given the stranglehold the Chinese divers have had. I liked the girl coming up to him and saying "You've won the Olympics mate!" His last dive especially was just so clutch.

And I have to say, with all the bitching about the commentators, I will say I've enjoyed the track/field tandem, they seemed to really *enjoy* the events while also being able to insightfully comment on, rather than bitchily critique them.

Although I liked seeing Jim Lampey get his bitch on when he reported that the Cuban tae kwon do guy violated the first rule of tae kwon do, don't kick the referee in the head.

Oooh, burn.

I, too, dislike the diving commentator lady, but I cannot completely hate her due to the unintentional hilarity she provided the other night when describing the way one of the divers went into the water as "getting in the hole."

*sniggers like a 12-year-old*

I haven't watched much Olympics but caught the French CBC coverage of Mathew Mitcham. It all sounded so much more glamourous and cool in French even when the commentator was clearly very excited about it all.

What burns me is the US women's basketball team getting no love at all. All I hear about is men, men, men. Oh, and did you know the men are playing? For a gold medal? Big whoop if Lisa Leslie and Teresa Edwards have won gold medals at four straight Olympics, let's watch Kobe and LeBron! Because they're all that matter.

Let's give the men kudos too for acting like the adults they are and not being spoiled brats!

I think Cynthia Potter can be a good commentator. She's great at explaining dives and why a diver is going to get a certain score but she makes some really stupid comments. I still haven't gotten over the "It really helps to practice together in synchronized diving" comment.

I think my favorite diving commentary was when that woman was all "OMFG!!! [Chinese diver] nearly took his head off on the platform! How silly of him. He could've scared the judges."

I'll admit to being completely underwhelmed by tonight's basketball final. Until they busted out the NBA on NBC music. Damn that John Tesh and his siren calls.