Olympics Coverage: Are you excited about the Olympics? [Archive]

BooskerD

08-07-2008, 09:04 AM

The olympics this time around is of no interest to me. China was an odd choice and there's been so much contentious behavior going on because of the games- government blocking of information, bicyclists showing up with masks, people protesting. I don't approve of China's human rights records, but I think that a team showing up wearing black masks (protesting air quality, human rights? dunno.) is insulting. I'm not tuning in this year.

ZY123

08-07-2008, 05:48 PM

I watch the swimming since I was was on the team in high school....100M Backstroke and 200M Backstroke were my events....I was better at the longer race. I was horrible at Freestyle and Butterfly though. So I always watch the backstroke races in the swimming.

santafegal

08-07-2008, 09:44 PM

I like to watch the track and field events, gymnastics, diving, swimming. The marathon and decathlon. :)

GaGirl

08-07-2008, 10:19 PM

I think it IS the election news that is making the Olympics unappealing. However, the Forum is hardly a real sample. We forum participants are all very involved in politics right now.

eyedoc333

08-07-2008, 10:25 PM

I like the Olympics! :)

ZY123

08-08-2008, 01:23 AM

I think it IS the election news that is making the Olympics unappealing.

We forum participants are all very involved in politics right now.

I disagree on both points.

I haven't been watching any election news (and I mean none, zero, zip) ever since this race became McCain v. Obama - should that change I'll start paying attention again. Maybe it's because I've been an Independent since long before this election and have been against the two party system a long time. So I have no vested interested in fighting the Democrats as a party - I'm against ALL political parties.

I'm still hoping for Hillary in 2012 though (if not 2008)....if she gets back in it I'll be involved again. :)

I love athletics and can't wait to see some swimming (sometimes I watch gymnastics also).

Brooke

08-08-2008, 06:47 AM

I'm somewhat interested, but yeah, more concerned with politics right now.

But it will be nice to have something ELSE to watch other than Obama.

santafegal

08-08-2008, 08:08 PM

I've got the TV on in the background now for the opening ceremonies. :)

santafegal

08-08-2008, 08:49 PM

Wow, so far the opening ceremony is simply SPECTACULAR! :eek:

(And I saw one McCain during the commercials).

Oh and Bush is in the audience with his wife.

eyedoc333

08-08-2008, 08:53 PM

Wow, so far the opening ceremony is simply SPECTACULAR! :eek:

(And I saw one McCain during the commercials).

Oh and Bush is in the audience with his wife.

Yup, I'm watching too. Bush was talking with Putin in the audience.

Brooke

08-08-2008, 10:08 PM

Wow, so far the opening ceremony is simply SPECTACULAR! :eek:

(And I saw one McCain during the commercials).

Oh and Bush is in the audience with his wife.

I haven't watched much of it so far but what I've seen it spectacular. I just wish Bob Costas wasn't on there.

santafegal

08-08-2008, 10:18 PM

Yup, I'm watching too. Bush was talking with Putin in the audience.

Darn I missed that. Must have been posting LOL.

I haven't watched much of it so far but what I've seen it spectacular. I just wish Bob Costas wasn't on there.

I try to tune the announcers out as much as possible.

Ooooh, the parade of athletes. :)

Brooke

08-08-2008, 10:22 PM

santafegal

08-08-2008, 10:39 PM

Bush is sitting there and he looks like a retard. He's got his legs open and he's holding the binoculars like a monkey.

Discovered a new country: Tuvulu, it's between Hawaii and Australia.

I'm getting tired of the commentators making comments about the countries tensions with China.

That's a new one. I had to look it up. It's the fourth smallest country in the world. :)

Bush just makes me cringe. LOL.

Brooke

08-08-2008, 10:58 PM

So does Kobe Bryant. Ugh.

Man, some of the male european athletes are just HOT!

santafegal

08-08-2008, 11:33 PM

Man, some of the male european athletes are just HOT!

I was thinking the same thing..only about the female athletes, LMAO!

Brooke

08-08-2008, 11:43 PM

I was thinking the same thing..only about the female athletes, LMAO!

Hahahaha!!! Nice!!

Wow, Li Ming was incredible. I would have been scared out of my mind to do that.

I couldn't help but thinking "Isn't this just adding to the huge pollution problem they're having?":eek:

santafegal

08-08-2008, 11:56 PM

Hahahaha!!! Nice!!

Wow, Li Ming was incredible. I would have been scared out of my mind to do that.

I couldn't help but thinking "Isn't this just adding to the huge pollution problem they're having?":eek:

I was thinking about the athletes who will be running, like the track and field folks, the marathoners.....sucking in all that polluted air. Can't be good for breaking world records LOL.

Brooke

08-09-2008, 07:39 AM

Well I think they're going to have masks, that's what I read somewhere.

santafegal

08-09-2008, 04:15 PM

Well I think they're going to have masks, that's what I read somewhere.

Yes, now that you mention it, I do recall reading something on YAHOO News about that.

Bad Kitty

08-15-2008, 08:24 PM

I can take it or leave it but I am excited to watch futbol (soccer).

Steffi

08-16-2008, 04:53 AM

I can take it or leave it but I am excited to watch futbol (soccer).

Same here. I'm happy our women-team reached the half finals yesterday. :)

Moreover I was happy for Britta Steffen. She won the first gold medal for the women-swim-team since 16 years and it was very emotional. :)

http://www.koeln.de/cms/uploads/img_upload/200808/steffen-gold-200x133.jpg

santafegal

08-16-2008, 10:17 PM

I am glued to the TV watching the Women's Marathon. It is one of my favorite Olympic events! :)

CGP

08-16-2008, 10:41 PM

Same here. I'm happy our women-team reached the half finals yesterday. :)

Moreover I was happy for Britta Steffen. She won the first gold medal for the women-swim-team since 16 years and it was very emotional. :)

http://www.koeln.de/cms/uploads/img_upload/200808/steffen-gold-200x133.jpg

And she won again tonight in the 50m freestyle!

santafegal

08-16-2008, 10:49 PM

OMG!

Constantina Tomescu-Dita WON the women's marathon! She is the oldest woman to win the Olympic marathon at 38!

The amazing thing is that she pulled away from the pack at the half way point and just kept that commanding lead for the rest of the race!!!! Most of the time when people try to pull away that early, they can't maintain the lead.

Her finish time was 2 hours, 26 minutes, 44 seconds. :eek:

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20080817/2008_08_16t221640_450x327_us_olympics_athletics_wo men_marathon.jpg?x=400&y=290&sig=nvwQEzSSKJIukjlz_vJFIg--

CGP

08-16-2008, 11:39 PM

Usain Bolt (Jamaica) was AMAZING in the 100m - won by a long way in a new world record time, 9.69.

http://www.faniq.com/images/blog/0787970dc3560aa0ad1962c8ad9d3cbb-getty-81973351wj178_olympics_day_.jpg

YouTube - Olympics '08: Bolt Sets World Record, Wins 100

santafegal

08-16-2008, 11:49 PM

I was simply STUNNED by the big lead Bolt had. These are the most elite runners in the world and he left them in the dust!

Phenomenal!

CGP

08-16-2008, 11:52 PM

I was simply STUNNED by the big lead Bolt had. These are the most elite runners in the world and he left them in the dust!

Phenomenal!

His ability to accelerate in the last quarter of the race reminded me of the great Florence Griffith-Joyner whose finishes were always unbelievable. Unfortunately Flo-Jo had some "chemical assistance" which also contributed to her premature death in her 30s! :( Usian Bolt, however, simply looks like an amazing natural athlete with incredible raw talent and a very athletic tall/lean physique. He may go below 9.50 in the future given he is only 21yo and has only been running the 100m for one year!

Watch Flo-Jo below in the 1988 Olympics final where she blasts away in the last 40m. Her World Record was later removed due to her drug use. It's still an amazing spectacle to watch her old runs.

YouTube - Florence Griffith Joyner 100m final seul 1988

nette60

08-16-2008, 11:56 PM

Michael Phelps is from my hometown.......yeah

santafegal

08-17-2008, 12:17 AM

His ability to accelerate in the last quarter of the race reminded me of the great Florence Griffith-Joyner whose finishes were always unbelievable. Unfortunately Flo-Jo had some "chemical assistance" which also contributed to her premature death in her 30s! :( Usian Bolt, however, simply looks like an amazing natural athlete with incredible raw talent and a very athletic tall/lean physique. He may go below 9.50 in the future given he is only 21yo and has only been running the 100m for one year!

Watch Flo-Jo below in the 1988 Olympics final where she blasts away in the last 40m. Her World Record was later removed due to her drug use. It's still an amazing spectacle to watch her old runs.

YouTube - Florence Griffith Joyner 100m final seul 1988 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq5JXVC8oM4)

I still have a soft spot in my heart for Flo Jo. I hope the young people these days are competing with heart, training and inner strength. Those performance enhancers just aren't worth it.

Anyway....I just saw Phelps take his 8th gold a little while ago! And I am old enough to remember when Spitz won his 7 golds! I never thought that record would be broken in my lifetime. :)

Steffi

08-17-2008, 04:00 AM

And she won again tonight in the 50m freestyle!

Best things always happen when I'm sleeping. :)

santafegal

08-17-2008, 10:23 PM

Usain Bolt (Jamaica) was AMAZING in the 100m - won by a long way in a new world record time, 9.69.

How about the Jamaican women! They were incredible in the 100m as well taking the gold and 2 silvers (in a tie for second place).

CGP

08-17-2008, 11:37 PM

How about the Jamaican women! They were incredible in the 100m as well taking the gold and 2 silvers (in a tie for second place).

I was just about to write about that.

A clean sweep by the Jamaicans and the winner (Selly-Ann Fraser, 10.78) was so gratious & excited to win - it was very nice to see.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2008/olympics/2008/08/17/100m.ap/jamaica.jpg

http://img09.beijing2008.cn/20080817/Img214556657.jpg

http://img08.beijing2008.cn/20080817/Img214556658.jpg

http://img09.beijing2008.cn/20080817/Img214556786.jpg

http://img02.beijing2008.cn/20080817/Img214556660.jpg

Bad Kitty

08-18-2008, 03:17 AM

Wow!! It looked like they were flying and I love a gracious winner.

Steffi

08-18-2008, 05:51 AM

For me they are important today:

http://images.zeit.de/bilder/2007/38/leben/sport/womens-world-cup/womens-world-cup-artikel.jpg

I don't know how but a victory would be nice. :)

Steffi

08-18-2008, 08:01 AM

Ok, the other team was clearly the better one. :)

santafegal

08-18-2008, 09:36 PM

I was just about to write about that.

A clean sweep by the Jamaicans and the winner (Selly-Ann Fraser, 10.78) was so gracious & excited to win - it was very nice to see.

The Jamaican men's team and the women's team seemed very genuine and not at all like some of the elite athletes who have become prima donnas. It was kind of shocking the U.S. was shut out but I am very happy for the Jamaicans. :)

CGP

08-20-2008, 02:26 AM

Gosh I felt so sorry for the American 100m female hurdler who stumbled at the second-last hurdle. She was clearly going to win. Hurdling - like diving & gymnastics - is one of those sports where everything can crash with just the smallest error. How do they cope mentally?! They interviewed her afterwards and she was so gratious/accepting of what had happened - very impressive to be able to participate in an interview when something so devastating had just occurred.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080819/capt.fa0fd642272b40d0a30f19f16725706f.beijing_olym pics_athletics_womens_100m_hurdles_olyat502.jpg

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080819/capt.296c0c3d37ad4c44bb7bd0a2ff83671b.beijing_olym pics_athletics_womens_100m_hurdles_olyat519.jpg

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080819/i/r4289985513.jpg

Bad Kitty

08-20-2008, 02:31 AM

Ouch. That's got to definitely be hurting emotionally right now. Hurdelers always amaze me....to have the skill to run and jump at the same time confuses my little legs.

ZY123

08-20-2008, 03:09 AM

I just saw Shawn Johnson get the gold on the balance beam - I'm glad she got a gold....I was really pulling for her after all of her silvers (all "almost" gold)...finally it happened, good for her.

CGP

08-20-2008, 03:10 AM

I just saw Shawn Johnson get the gold on the balance beam - I'm glad she got a gold....I was really pulling for her after all of her silvers (all "almost" gold)...finally it happened, good for her.

Yes, I was happy to see her finally score a gold. She is very modest & sweet.

Steffi

08-20-2008, 04:56 AM

Another very very emotional moment:

http://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/media_fast/626/stein260.jpg

He cried afterwards and kissed the picture of his dead wife. If I see things like that I nearly have to cry also.:)