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Beijing Olympics

TooFarTampa avatar
SoWal Insider
15,177 views
I'm curious -- how interested are you in the Olympics, which start Friday?

I have way less interest this year, which is startling, because I am a longtime Olympics geek. As a teen I went to the L.A. Games in '84 (where I caught gymnast Kathy Johnson's silver medal podium bouquet & shook hands with Nadia Comaneci). I've been to a couple Trials and over the years I have met many many Olympic athletes.

But for some reason these Olympics are non-compelling to me, and I can't figure out if it is because I am jaded and busy, or because there is so much else in the world to think about, or maybe because I am uncomfortable with China as an Olympic site. Or maybe it's because we no longer have to wait for Bob Costas to tell us what happened, or because there are so many athletes who have been caught doping, or because everything seems like a big marketing dog-and-pony show.

And then Jim McKay died. That didn't help.

The magic is gone for me. Is it gone for you? What's different?

Will I ever get that magic back? It's kind of sad, I used to really love the Olympics. :(

Your thoughts please.

Replies

108
Beach Fanatic
#27
USA 2 - 2 Netherlands, in a very entertaining (albeit sloppy pitched) match. Goals by Sacha Kljestan (Orange County, CA) and Jozy Altidore (New Jersey), for us.

USA should have had this one. Only a last minute penalty kick saved Holland from defeat.

USA's work is not nearly done. Final Group match, to see if we go through to the quarterfinals, will be against a quite "game" Nigerian squad.

Fingernail biting time...... USA! USA! USA!
Lady D avatar
SoWal Insider
#28
I am so happy that the U.S. took the gold out from under France with luck from the final leg. Makes me mad them running their mouths talking trash talk before the race saying they were going to smash the Americans, that is what they came for, and they ended up having their hopes smashed. The Australian guy broke Bernard's first leg record, and the U.S. got the world record, and the olympic record. Take that France. :lol:
potatovixen avatar
Beach Fanatic
#29
WOW!!!
What a race! USA completely destroyed France in the Men's 400m Relay in Swimming.

I was jumping up and down in my apartment and cheering. My downstairs neighbors quite obviously heard me and started banging on their ceiling. I yelled down "Sorry!" and they yelled back up:

"GO USA!"

2 down, 6 to go for Phelps. Two more gives him more total gold medals than any athlete in Olympic history.

Edited

CPort avatar
Beach Fanatic
#30
I was yelling and screeming also!! :clap:
TooFarTampa avatar
SoWal InsiderAuthor
#31
WOW!!!
What a race! USA completely destroyed France in the Men's 400m Relay in Swimming.

I was jumping up and down in my apartment and cheering. My downstairs neighbors quite obviously heard me and started banging on their ceiling. I yelled down "Sorry!" and they yelled back up:

"GO USA!"

2 down, 6 to go for Phelps. Two more gives him more total gold medals than any athlete in Olympic history.

Phelps got a big freaking gift wrapped gold. I have never seen anything like that final leg. :yikes: They seem like a great bunch of guys.
Mango avatar
SoWal Insider
#32
Phelps got a big freaking gift wrapped gold. I have never seen anything like that final leg. :yikes: They seem like a great bunch of guys.

Yes, everything I have watched thus far has had me on the edge of my seat.
My mouth has been on the floor watching the men gymnasts as well from China and Japan. I do not recall ever seeing anything like it in my lifetime. Some of these stunts and show of strength are absolutely incredible.
potatovixen avatar
Beach Fanatic
#33
The more I watch, the more excited I get. I have always loved the Olympics, and this year is no exception for me.

Anyone else watch the USA/China Men's Basketball game this morning? I am only just starting to get into basketball, so I don't fully understand it yet, but I really enjoyed that game.
Teresa avatar
SoWal Guide
#34
I like some of the sports (swimming, gymnastics, diving, track) and I love learning about China and about the athletes from all over.

I'm finding some pretty good info on NPR Olympics 2008 such as event schedule, athlete profiles, china stories/culture, opening and closing ceremony info, pix, etc.

anyone else have any really good online olympic coverage?
Hop avatar
Beach Fanatic
#35
is it just me or do the gymnastics devices look like some sort of torture implements...the balance beam, the rings, pommel horse....it's amazing what they do on these things...
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#36
That relay was freakin' insane! They all swam so fast that the people who came in FIFTH still beat the world record! :blink:
goofer avatar
Beach Fanatic
#37
This is the most awesome Olympics ever.
Lady D avatar
SoWal Insider
#38
WOW!!!
What a race! USA completely destroyed France in the Men's 400m Relay in Swimming.

I was jumping up and down in my apartment and cheering. My downstairs neighbors quite obviously heard me and started banging on their ceiling. I yelled down "Sorry!" and they yelled back up:

"GO USA!"

2 down, 6 to go for Phelps. Two more gives him more total gold medals than any athlete in Olympic history.

If that is including the 2004 Olympics it will I guess. How many did he have in 2004? He is going to try and surpass Mark Spitz and his record 7 gold medals from 1972 that has held up all these years.
Ocean Lover avatar
bean
#39
Go USA!!!!!!! I love it all. :clap:
Will B avatar
Moderator
#40
If that is including the 2004 Olympics it will I guess. How many did he have in 2004? He is going to try and surpass Mark Spitz and his record 7 gold medals from 1972 that has held up all these years.

He had 6 total golds coming into 2008. He as won two so far. One more to tie Carl Lewis, Mark Spitz, and Larissa Latynina who all have 9. He'll pass all of them.
The relay was his only perceived stumbling block to winning 8 gold medals in one Olympic contest which will beat Spitz's 7. He's on cruise control, now, but there's still many races to go.
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#41
They say China needed the Olympics to show the world what they have.

I say the USA needed it to remind us what we have always had!! :clap:
Minnie avatar
Beach Fanatic
#42
I was yelling and screaming too, then I realized, ok this race has already happened, right :idontno:
Minnie avatar
Beach Fanatic
#43
is it just me or do the gymnastics devices look like some sort of torture implements...the balance beam, the rings, pommel horse....it's amazing what they do on these things...

Believe me they are torture implements, hardest class I took in college. :blink:
SoWal Insider
#44
ok, enough of the volley ball already. :roll:
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#45
ok, enough of the volley ball already. :roll:


what the heck was that thing on her shoulder? :blink:
Minnie avatar
Beach Fanatic
#46
what the heck was that thing on her shoulder? :blink:

I asked my husband the exact same thing. :blink:

Ok here is the answer.

She had surgery on her shoulder and it a sort of a bandage that reduces pain and keeps the blood flowing
.

Also:

That is Kinesio Tape, developed in Japan for elastic support of muscles to allow muscles to relax and keep them from spasming. This tape also acts as a support. It is used in conjunction with the anatomy of the muscle and the use of the muscle that needs support
.

Edited

SoWal Insider
#47
I asked my husband the exact same thing. :blink:

Ok here is the answer.

.

Also:

.

I'm also pretty sure I heard that it's like having an infusion of ibuprofen while it's on. (I'd like a whole suit of that, head to toe.)
picky
#48
Phelps got a big freaking gift wrapped gold. I have never seen anything like that final leg. :yikes: They seem like a great bunch of guys.

I hate to cast a shadow on such glory but we had dinner with good friends tonight and their daughter's boyfriend knows Michael Phelps and says he's an arrogant SOB who is very full of himself. His athletic prowess knows no bounds and apparently neither does his ego.

I don't honestly know how it could be otherwise given the media attention Olympic atheletes receive. They're fawned upon 24/7 so I can't imagine anyone Michael's age in his same situation, with his same talent, could not have a stuffed head. If he's the great guy he appears to be, he'll calm down and be his regular self when it's all over. His regular friends back home hope so. :blush:
NoHall avatar
hmmmm......can't remember
#49
what the heck was that thing on her shoulder? :blink:
At first I thought it was a tattoo gone terribly wrong...:lol:
potatovixen avatar
Beach Fanatic
#50
As of today, Phelps is at 9 total gold medals. I agree with singinchicken... he'll pass them. He's quite an incredible athlete.

As for ego, I can understand that. I still think it's cool that he's barely older than me, and he's shattering records and making history.
SoWal Insider
#51
As of today, Phelps is at 9 total gold medals. I agree with singinchicken... he'll pass them. He's quite an incredible athlete.

As for ego, I can understand that. I still think it's cool that he's barely older than me, and he's shattering records and making history.

No kidding - - he is amazing! He's entitled! :clap:

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