Olympics Thread
I thought that I wouldn't give a shit about the Olympics this year, but after the amazing Opening Ceremonies and the equally amazing 4x100 swimming relay tonight, I figured a thread for the Olympics was in order.
I'm not really a "RAH, RAH, USA!" type of dude -- and I think the last time I cared about the Olympics was 1996 -- but I have to say that the first three days have been very fun. With the French swim team vowing to "smash" the U.S. squad, it was a blast to see the United States, as a rare underdog, pull off an upset in the 4x100 relay.
And I can't say it enough: If you missed the Opening Ceremonies, open up Azureus or whatever you use and go find it. It was truly incredible. And if you can find it in HD, even better. It was a spectacle.
WOO SPORTS!
P.S.: As much I'd love to talk politics, this is LL, so I'm declaring this thread a ZOMG NO POLITICS! zone. The mods obviously have the right to override that, but I'm playing it safe.
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78 comments
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The 4x100 was fantastic.
Going into the race I honestly could not have cared less. But that last 50 meters (really the last 25 meters) I felt like I was about to jump out of my chair. Very exciting.
...and now I'm here
by Librocrat on Aug 11, 2008 3:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I didn't care at all until I heard the "smash" talk.
Bring it, fuckers.
by Teej on Aug 11, 2008 3:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't it?
I was watching it like, “Holy shit the French swimmer just took a HUGE lead in the final leg . . . OK dude is actually kind of closing on the French guy . . . is this happening? . . . no way . . . OMG PWNED EAT ASS FRANCE! YOU JUST GOT SMASHED!”
I don’t dislike France in the slightest. (FREEDOM FRIES LOL AMERICA!) This was a rare moment of nationalism for me. And as I mentioned, a lot my emotion was based on the previous comments by the French swimmers. But damn it was fun.
I just want to see history. And for that reason, I’m wearing a Michael Phelps jersey. That jersey is a Speedo, with a picture of Phelps’ face taped to it.
by Teej on Aug 11, 2008 3:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I couldn't care LESS about the Olympics. I mean, seriously, fuck that shit.
But I happened to tune into NBC when the 4×100 was running. WOOOOO BITCHES. AMERICA! FUCK YEAH!!
That last 50 meters was incredible. The announcers had already called it for France! And then Lezak came back to set a world record! After two previous years of disappointment! To keep the dream alive for Phelps! And to humiliate those cheese-eating surrender monkeys!
Yeah, I guess I can get into that nationalistic Olympic groove myself.
"Maybe Chief has to go and grab somebody from his neck and throw him into the wall."
by esoteric on Aug 12, 2008 12:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've deleted four of my own comments so far to stick to the no-politics rule.
This is harder than I thought. But wise.
by Teej on Aug 11, 2008 3:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Politics ends at the water's edge
We can all enjoy America’s success at the expense of arrogant Frenchmen.
"Maybe Chief has to go and grab somebody from his neck and throw him into the wall."
by esoteric on Aug 12, 2008 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Swimmer Bernard says France will 'smash' U.S.

by Teej on Aug 11, 2008 3:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I didn't think men were allowed to get a tattoo in that spot.
by Jed MC on Aug 11, 2008 7:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am not a physically imposing man by any means,
but both times I have been to France one thought has consoled me. “I can whoop the ass of every single dude in this country.”
by thewyrm on Aug 11, 2008 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Swimmers are absolutely fucking nuts.
and that explosion was wonderful to watch when I got home from work around 1:00 am last night.
by Two Rs and Two Ls on Aug 11, 2008 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My whole family was screaming at midnight.it was great! Or whatever time it was.
I fucking hate you Mariners
by kentroyals5 on Aug 11, 2008 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am awarding this gif a recommendation of merit.
by BrianL on Aug 11, 2008 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Phelps has the reaction time of Clement's bat speed
I fucking hate you Mariners
by kentroyals5 on Aug 11, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aw yeah that's the stuff right there.
"Maybe Chief has to go and grab somebody from his neck and throw him into the wall."
by esoteric on Aug 12, 2008 12:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I too am not much of an Olympics man.
But I sat down and watched some of the swimming with my parents. Also got a chance to see the men’s gymnastics team in action…I must say, the pommel horse routine by the kid with the Russian sounding last name (for the United States) was amazing. I was literally going “what the hell” at the T.V., astonished that he managed to swing his legs so close to the horse without crashing into the side of it.
Don’t know if they got gold or not but even the other teams were standing there clapping in amazement.
by Omerta on Aug 11, 2008 3:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Women's softball and Wrestling!
Very very rarely do I get a chance to watch REAL HONEST TO GOODNESS Wrestling.
I grew up wrestling. I even had a few summer coaches that made the Olympics back in the late 90’s. So yeah waiting to see that.
And Women’s softball is… well, cute girls and baseball. What isn’t there to love?
by mark sobba on Aug 11, 2008 3:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Very good
That lead looked insurmountable, but the last leg was fantastic. Likewise the women’s 400m which was won in a similar fashion at the end, making up a body-length of distance over the last 25m.
Can’t wait for the indoor cycling and the athletics, but would happily pass on the equestrian and shooting, thank you.
The Chinese seem to be pretty confident that they can top the medal table this time around. Will be interesting to see how it pans out in the next few weeks.
The english Mariner who isn't EnglishMariner --- P3 W1 L2 (.333)
Sponsor of Jamie Burke's baseball-reference page
by MarkE on Aug 11, 2008 6:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I've been looking for a place to post this
Jim Caple has been on fire lately
The ♥ Jose Lopez ♥ Watch - 140 H, 16 BB, 49 G Left
by seattlebruin on Aug 11, 2008 7:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I normally don't give a shit about the Olypmics, but holy crap these have been fun to watch.
"All I’ve ever done is be Juan Pierre when I wear this jersey. They’re sticking it to me this year for whatever reason. "
.280/.324/.316
~Juan Pierre
by Goose on Aug 11, 2008 8:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I even watched trap shooting yesterday.
I loves me some Olympics. I could care less about 99% of the sports, but it’s really cool to watch people that are the absolute best in their particular discipline be rewarded for the kind of work it takes to get to the Olympics.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.
by pdb on Aug 11, 2008 9:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Swimming is the best summer Olympic sport to watch.
I have been glued to the action at the Water Cube. I have watched the 4×100 Men’s relay a dozen times now and it keeps getting better and better. It’s like watching the Dark Knight again and again.
The opening ceremony was flipping awesome. I am not an artistic dance fan, but that was just unbelievable because of the sheer size of choreography. The Chinese are the biggest winners of these events and things are just getting started.
by Wilder. on Aug 11, 2008 12:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I was watching around 3am Sunday morning and there was a handball match...
... handball? what is that?
My favorite is the diving.
Oh and suck it France (in a spirited competitive way..not a mean way)
by nwtrev on Aug 11, 2008 12:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I played handball in junior high.
It’s halfway between water polo and lacross.
I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.
by Llewdor on Aug 11, 2008 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There was an ad in the Times for a handball team to play in the 2012 Olympics
Since the host country apparently has to have teams for every event, and GB doesn’t play handball…
I was tempted to offer goalkeeping services.
by Graham on Aug 11, 2008 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Peter Schmeichel was a handball goalkeeper at school
He says it’s where his “star jump” technique comes from.
by Alex B on Aug 12, 2008 12:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Team handball looks like it totally rocks
by Nick S on Aug 11, 2008 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As opposed to individual handball
which kinda sucks.
by Two Rs and Two Ls on Aug 11, 2008 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Handball is my ticket to London in 2012
by Matthew on Aug 11, 2008 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Matthew Carruth: the Michael Jordan of handball
by Gomez on Aug 11, 2008 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now we just need to sell pictures of Matthew partying to the English tabloids and we're set for life!
The ♥ Jose Lopez ♥ Watch - 146 H, 16 BB, 44 G Left
by seattlebruin on Aug 11, 2008 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Watch out
Only a matter of time before a crazed German develops an all-encompassing crush on him and decided to get stabby.
by marc w on Aug 11, 2008 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Monica Seles?
Matthew doesn’t habitually grunt IIRC
by Gomez on Aug 11, 2008 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is there actually a club in Seattle that plays?
I’d love to give it a try
by Nick S on Aug 11, 2008 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Watching the Olympics makes my severe insomnia more bearable.
Basically I watch the obscure sports live. Fun times. My favorite discovery so far…the Argentinian Women’s Field Hockey Team.
by SethGrandpa on Aug 11, 2008 3:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
My all-time favourite Olympic sport is the Modern Pentathlon
Fencing
Shooting
Show Jumping
Swimming
Cross-country running
What’s not to like? The IOC keeps threatening to take it away, but they haven’t yet.
I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.
by Llewdor on Aug 11, 2008 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like that it's the 'Modern' Pentathalon.
I love the biathalon, too. Cross-country skiing and shooting? Well why the hell not!
J.K.L.
by acblue on Aug 11, 2008 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
In places like Norway, Finland, Russia, and Canada, the biathlon is a way of life.
And it’s the Modern Pentathlon to dostinguish it from the Pentathlon in the ancient Olympics (which was the precursor to today’s Decathlon, except with wrestling).
The modern pentathlon was supposed (when someone thought of it in the late 19th century) to simulate all the skills necessary to work as a messenger in wartime. Fencing and shooting, plus riding, running, and swimming.
I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.
by Llewdor on Aug 11, 2008 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I do generally prefer the winter sports.
But then my country does a lot better in the winter sports.
I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.
by Llewdor on Aug 11, 2008 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
One of my favorite Seinfeld bits was about that.
How many alpine snipers are into this? To me it’s like combining swimming and strangle a guy. Why don’t we have that? That makes absolutely as much sense to me. Just put people in the pool at the end of each lane for the swimmers.
by Teej on Aug 11, 2008 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd love to compete in the "Modern Pentathlon"...though i don't know a thing about fencing
by Smith18 on Aug 11, 2008 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's okay.
Modern Pentalthetes generally suck at either fencing or shooting. Since one requires you to be really steady, and the other requires you to be really twitchy (it’s one-touch epée), you can’t really be good at both.
The top pentathletes are usually mediocre in both to avoid being awful in either.
And the show jumping is done using a horse chosen for you at random that you don’t meet until 20 minutes before the competition, the swimming is over 300 metres (a distance no one else swims), and the running is 3 km cross country. All done in one day.
I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.
by Llewdor on Aug 12, 2008 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Baseball and softball going away next games is stupid.
by Mariner John on Aug 11, 2008 6:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Considering all the countries that play baseball...
this baffles me.
by BrianL on Aug 11, 2008 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Constructing a field solely for base/softball in countries that do not play the sport
(see: Greece)
is incredibly wasteful and stupid.
by Matthew on Aug 11, 2008 6:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Greece has a league now though.
The same with every country that has hosted the Olympics since baseball was introduced. England may be a problem but they at least have leagues. I guess with the WBC baseball isn’t really necessary in the Olympics but it at least gave the lesser baseball playing countries (Netherlands, Australia) a chance to win (or not fail completely) occasionally since they were playing against minor leaguers rather than major leaguers.
by Mariner John on Aug 11, 2008 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's just sad and dumb. When I think "summer sport" I think baseball!
And it is only getting more popular around the world…even countries like Australia are starting to pick it up
by Smith18 on Aug 11, 2008 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are about a dozen that play it seriously, that can field a competitive team on an international level
by Gomez on Aug 11, 2008 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are a few events with 12 team fields...like women's field hockey...you don't see them on the chopping block.
by SethGrandpa on Aug 12, 2008 12:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate to break it to you guys but European opinions matter more to the IOC than American ones do
And Europeans aren’t very into baseball.
by Graham on Aug 12, 2008 12:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, they're getting more into it in places like the Netherlands and Italy.
It’s the East Atlantic Bias.
by Mariner John on Aug 12, 2008 12:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess if you think about it, sports such as Rugby and cricket aren't in the Olympics
by Smith18 on Aug 12, 2008 1:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Test cricket is in the Commonwealth games.
Don’t know about rugby (though, New Zealand would almost always win).
I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.
by Llewdor on Aug 12, 2008 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cricket has been played only once in the Commonwealth Games (1998)
And they were 50 over matches only. A test tournament probably would have outlasted the Games!
by Alex B on Aug 12, 2008 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really? I thought they always played cricket.
And I knew they’d limited the matches to a day each, but I didn’t know how.
I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.
by Llewdor on Aug 12, 2008 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm looking forward for the Track events to start.
"I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul. I plan to face him with the zeal of a challenger."
-Ichiro on Dice-K
by seatownsports on Aug 11, 2008 11:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Good lord I even had fun watching gymnastics tonight.
This is killing the cynicism and anger that makes me who I am.
by Teej on Aug 12, 2008 2:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Is Athletic Gymnastics still in the Olympics?
Or just Artistic Gymnastics?
I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.
by Llewdor on Aug 12, 2008 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure what athletic gymnastics is, honestly.
But I don’t think so.
by Teej on Aug 12, 2008 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Athletic Gymnastics
IS artistic gymnastics. And yes, it is still in.
What you call Artistic Gymnastics, is called Rhythmic Gymnastics.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on Aug 13, 2008 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Spanish basketball team is stupid.
by Mariner John on Aug 12, 2008 5:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Is it my imagination...
...or is the Chinese field have huge foul areas and outfields?
by rtang on Aug 12, 2008 9:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Michael Phelps = monster
That is all…
My layout.spellcheckDefault goes to 11
by PositivePaul on Aug 12, 2008 11:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
So I was watching the women's water polo on lunch break.
Those women are big – like crush your head with their bare hands big. They punch the hell out of each other too.
by Jed MC on Aug 13, 2008 1:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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