Wow, Latvia v. US Men's Beach Volleyball was friggin' nuts! Good game.

I love how they already showed the Saber final and showed the girls with their medals but now they are showing the Bronze match... WTF?

I wasn't a big fan of the fencing either. I actually enjoyed women's weightlifting more than the fencing. Some Chinese woman dominated the event and set an olympic record. Pretty cool, huh? I'm looking forward to the swimming tonight, the basketball tomorrow at 10 AM ET, and track and field later on in the games. I also like the volleyball and I'm going to check out the boxing on CNBC in a half hour.

There's a decent chance we'll see a Georgia v. Russia Judo confrontation at some point.

Beach Volleyball is of course a no-brainer, but I'm strangely drawn to these female weightlifters......

The beach volleyball isn't really doing it for me. I'm kind of a "T" man in the T or A question, though....I could see the appeal.

:)

They even have beaches in Latvia?

Yes

Google Maps

I'm assuming temporary but would love to get it permanently for Monk, Psych, Burn Notice and In Plain Sight. TWC always gives us USA HD during the US Open and then it goes away. Hope it's permanent.

According to my sources there is a chance it might stay here in LA. I hope it does, would love to watch my Burn Notice in HD.

Just watched my DVR taping of the Opening Ceremonies (was out last night), and

:jawdrop:

That was absolutely amazing. That is the greatest spectacle I have ever seen in my life. It was just magnificent in all aspects, from the drums to the moving blocks to the calligraphy print to the modern day colors to the taek-won-do. WOW!

And Jon, I think you and your son misheard. The Pakistanis were loudly cheered. Are you thinking of the Iran reception instead?

I agree on the misheard part (which I mentioned up the thread a bit) and granted I wasn't paying specific attention to it until he mentioned it (although I did watch for the Iraq/Iran reactions later). My best guess is that he mistook one of the first strong reactions of the night for being anti rather than pro.

Potential spoiler womens 4x100 freestyle swimming (btw - Loved the comment last night when Germany was walking in about how they were going back to an East German style training program due to lack of success. Pause. Followed by the other commentator quickly saying something along the lines of "Well, most of the program.")

So is fencing this olympics' curling?

SI

That was great :D

SI

Michael Phelps and the 400IM final in seconds on NBC.

I liked the opening ceremony- pretty darn cool. I know that's an understatement but I think you'd have to be there to really get a grasp on how neat it looks. Well, except for Matt Lauer. And I'm not a big Costas fan either (it's not pronounced "Cape Verd", guys).

Also, I've decided DVR is really the way to go for the Olympics. I could fast forward through some of the countries and still see them but in fast motion.

Same with the events- like gymnastics- just fast forward to the dismount and you'll see how they grade crap (*grumble, grumble*)

That said, I just love the wall-to-wall sports. I didn't care about the US-centric rowing this morning because I'm not a huge rowing fan. So I was flipping back and forth between the Canada-China women's soccer game and the Italy-Russia volleyball match.

SI

Gold Medal for Phelps and he breaks his own WR by about 2 seconds in the 400 IM (the event that folks thought that he'd have troubles in)

Revoke my guy license or whatever, but it just doesn't do it for me either. I'm watching sports, I don't need sex appeal. The team volleyball is a lot better than beach, which is just a spike contest. That poor Japanese team where they were facing the two Americans who had almost a foot on them- it just wasn't even fair.

SI

Here's the problem- it's not cumulative. No matter how good he does in any individual events, it's not like they carry over. That's 8 individual events and like 20 races in a week. Really rough.

SI

Wow, Michael Phelps' mom's scream is unpleasant to listen to.

Anyone know the story on those new full-body suits? I was hearing they gave a borderline unfair advantage and were the main reason why so many world and American records were falling at the American trials, but none of the medalists were weating them here. Is their effect overblown, do they only help for certain strokes, or is Phelps just that absurdbly good?

5 individual events, 17 races

but he's just...a freak.

I'm in the camp that he does it (as long as the relays hold up.) The guy is built for swimming. His body is freakish, and he apparently has the work ethic to match it. He nearly pulled off the 7 Golds last Olympics when he was only 19, and he's better now.

Well, by individual, I didn't mean single person but discrete or specific events.

SI

Wow. South Korea/China 1-2 in the 400 Freestyle. First swimming medal for SK and first mens medal for China.

Wow, I honestly don't know where Phelps' breastroke leg came from! It's now obvious that he wasn't fully tapered for Trials. It's also too bad Ryan dropped off a bit from Trials, but it was still his 2nd fastest swim ever and a podium position.

kudos to the hungarian guy too though

i'm all for them using technology like that to make the swimmers swim faster - anything to keep them off PED's is fine by me.

For sure. Cseh has had a great lead-up, and swam a great race!

Ah, the suits...I wish we were back in the days where the suits were only a concern of those of us involved in the swimming world.

Long story short, the LZR Racer (Speedo's latest suit) debuted around the 1st of this year, and immediately records started falling at nearly every big meet in the world. Why? Maybe because the suit is buoyant and provides a distinct advantage. Or maybe because athletes were entering into the peak of the four year cycle. It probably can never be scientifically determined, but it sure has led to a lot of fuss.

The NCAA banned the suit from its championships. There is a lawsuit and counter-lawsuit between TYR, USA Swimming, Speedo and Erik Vendt, there are now competing suits that are also on the verge of the not-quite-clear line between acceptable and unacceptable, but the most important thing is that everyone does have access to the suits, and thus, the competition is fair in Beijing, even if the record board might be taking some unfair hits.

sheesh. they're DESTROYING World Records in the pool

Watching the men's 56kg weightlifting competition, which seems about as pointless as having a 5'9''-and-under basketball competition.

The funny thing is if folks tie after their three lifts, then they use whoever weighs the least to determine who wins

Man, the online live streaming coverage is really comprehensive. Loving this.

Meh, I guess it's like the debates in golf about equipment dominating the sport.

anyone catch how our national anthem was cut short when Phelps was on the podium, right before the "land of the free and home of the brave" part was about to be played. bad form, i wouldn't be surprised if it was intentional.

you mean to tell me a country that can put on a grandios spectacle for the opening ceremonies can't work a cd player?

hey - who's this anthony guy??

Was that the only mistake you noticed in the playing of the anthem?

Yeah, but $300M to put on the opening ceremony and $40B+ for infrastructure improvements doesn't leave much money for CD players ;)

SI

they come out of the womb knowing how to dissemble a cd player and reassemble it. just bad form, especially with our President in attendence. they should be ashamed of themselves, i highly doubt the same thing happens if a Chinese person wins a gold.

I agree with you on wanting sex appeal/sports separate, but I have to disagree on the "spike contest." Beach volleyball has a lot of finesse shots, as does women's indoor (my favorite to watch). Men's indoor, now that's a spike contest. Bump, set, spike, possible block, repeat... snooze.

Woot! Phelps won his first gold!

men's indoor is on now.

I vastly prefer beach vollyball. Much more finesse.

We know you are perfect.:lol:

It was a surprise that Phelps won a medal and all :)

What time will the soccer game (US-Holland) be shown?

Looks like it will be shown live on USA at 7:45 am ET. But they might be switching between that and Serena Williams.


If they focus too much on tennis I might watch the soccer online instead.

445 to watch my two favorite teams...

Probably not

I agree. I was stunned. Every time I see a clip from it again, I still can't believe what I am seeing.

USA vs. China Men's basketball right now.

China started off fast, but are running out of gas now...

3:40 left in the 1st, 16-11 USA.

But they have equestrian events on USA. Which to watch?!? ;)

SI

This is much closer than I would've thought. China is playing tough.

Apparently archery is next on USA. The equestian stuff continues tomorrow on Oxygen so that's a guarantee I won't watch the second half.

SI

China stayed in it with 3 pointers for a quater and a half, but the U.S. is pulling away now.

You do not want to run into the South Korean women's archery team in a dark alley if they have their bows and arrows

SI

Water polo on MSNBC. I wish I knew how to play/that there was a league around here, it looks like a lot of fun.

/tk

I was just going to say, the Korean women win the gold in team archery again! What an exhilarating match!

especially if they are at the other end of the alley

The US is just out-muscling China. The Chinese team is out of gas.

Oh, and Yao Ming might have just reinjured his ankle.

68-48 USA. 2:15 left in the 3rd.

US outscored the Chinese 25-11 in the 3rd.

The ass raping is commencing. 84-50 with 6:52 remaining.

It was a good game, I was glad I at least woke up early enough to catch the second half.

I thought the US was through to the quarterfinals until that last minute equalizer. Hopefully we can get a draw against Nigeria with Adu and Bradley out.

101-70. USA.

Lol. The spread for China over here in the Philippines was +33. HAH!

That is so cool. :rolleyes:

You figure if an open jumper can be made 50-60% of the time, and a dunk is >90% then yeah, that is pretty cool. They won by 31 anyway...

Freaky enough, I started watching when it was 1-0 for Oranje u23, right before the quick back to back goals. By no means do I think we're a clearcut medals candidate, but not surviving the group stage would be a clear failure with the players on that team. I had no idea that, of all people, Gerald Sibon would ever do something that would make me yell: "Yes!". Until today that is.

And please do draw vs Nigeria, that would be really good for our chances to stay in the tournament. :D

This question comes from my wife, in a matter-of-fact sort of way: "How is this fair? The women's beach volleyball team is prancing around in their underwear but guys are just wearing tank tops and shorts."

I suppose there's something to it such that if there were a significant competitive advantage, guys would be running around with no shirt and speedos. Or if there isn't, girls could easily wear a shirt or even sports bra and shorts. But, nope. Is there some logical reason as to this setup (or just the usual about how I'm glad I'm from the gender which values comfort over look)?

SI

very good question - i've often wondered the same. It's not like the indoor girls teams wear bikinis either - so you can't argue it's something involving freedom of motion or whatever

I think its just cultural. After all, look at people on the beach.

You'll probably find it's a fair factor in having built popularity for the sport...

I apologize to all American soccer fans for having to head downstairs to breakfast. I took my shower, then turned on the soccer game while I got dressed. They immediately scored the first goal, and I was watching for the second. I then had to turn off and head downstairs for breakfast, and it went downhill from there. I'll try and watch all of the next game...

Watching swimming right now on NBC, one of my all-time favorite Olympic sports to watch. It always intrigues me to see the breathing patterns of Olympic athletes. Just watching the 200m free, most of the swimmers seem to breathe on every other stroke. Makes sense, for what I guess is still a "sprint" distance. It seems that the longer-distance swimmers breathe instead every 3-5 strokes.

/tk

swimming + skiing are my two favorite olympic events to watch, in all of their different forms (okay maybe not synchronized swimming)

I have really made China into the arch enemy this Olympics. So I really watch the USA/China matchups.

Directv has a cool toy. Hit the red button on your remote and you get medal counts or trivia or the Olympic guide. Pretty cool little toy.

The water polo game between those two was fun to watch, that's a pretty cool sport I'd never seen much of.

not to be a women's gymnastics geek, but I was dissapointed that Memmel sprained her ankle and can only compete on uneven bars - I thought she was a great "ace in the hole" really strong #3 all-around gymnast for the USA in our quest to top the chinese. bummer

Random thoughts on the Men's basketball game:

Michael Redd will be a key player in at least one game before the Olympics is over. He was the only player who could hit an outside shot today.

3-point shooting needs to improve if the U.S. wants to medal.

Great & intense defense for the U.S. Watching the pressure and steals and especially some of the blocks was truly impressive.

LeBron James is the best player on the court.

The Chinese fanbase was cheering like crazy even when down by 20 or more. They hit a shot to cut the lead to 20 early in the 2nd half and the crowd cheered like they just hit the game-winning shot.

Entertaining game to watch. First sporting event I've given a crap about in months, so it was good to be cheering for a team. Can't wait for the rest of the games.

Would it be corny if I chanted "U-S-A!"? ;)

wow - katie hoff just broke Janet Evans' 20-year old Olympic Record in the 400m Freestyle

And then that new O.R. was broken in the next heat, by the Italian swimmer.

/tk

yes yes

heyyyy!!! it's the black american swimmer!!! WOOHOO!!! (just kinda cool imo)

Colin Jones just swam a great leg in the 4x100m free.

Nothing like watching Olympic swimmers to really drive home how slowly you swim. :D

/tk

yeah - they're crazy-fast!

jones was 47.6! Grevers (however you spell it) was 47.7 -- I'd love to see Jones get the last spot on the A-team.

haha!! the USA B-team just broke the WR.

New WR set by the Americans in the 4x100m free relay prelims--i.e. no Phelps yet.

Crazy.

/tk

World record! Should be some more great swimming action tonight. It's by far my favorite olympic event.

That's just crazy- the second string just set a world record.

SI

This synchronized diving is darn impressive.

SI

Final round of PGA Championship >>>> Synchronized diving

synchronized diving? an olympic event? really?

what's next - competitive eating? give me a fucking break - wasn't plain-old diving good enough? why do we have to synchronize it? how about synchronized gymnastics? why not right?

I agree. What a finish by Harrington. He made the putts down the stretch and Sergio didn't. But now it's over and diving is still on? When do the real events start?

I dunno. This isn't synchronized swimming where we have people making shapes in the water. This is taking diving and making 2 people do it the same way at the same time.

SI

synchronized swimming IS bullshit. Fuck that. Might as well have synchronized-cocksucking (i really just wanted to say cocksucking). I guess I can see the point with diving, it just seems like a real "fad" - like really...do we have to synchronize everything?

Pathetic effort by the Aussie basketball team last night. After all that promising preparation, we get blown out of the water against Croatia, and looked terrible doing it. Bogut was awful.

Only thing worse was the TV coverage. Game started at 10pm, but "coverage" didn't start until 11:30, when they then showed 8 minutes of the 3rd Q, before revealing the final score and cutting to the next event.

Ok, the Chinese all look like they're about 12. Then again, they pretty much explained that at the top of the show- basically, they're using Cuban-style age records.

SI

that's the benefits of being so closed-off to the rest of the world - they can get away with that. Frankly i think it's bullshit.

That first girl who was on the uneven bars couldn't have been more than 13

This girl who fell looks about 10-12. Do the other countries get away with this?

Terrible start for the US women.

As if "womens" gymnastics wasn't a pedophiles dream already. Add in the comments by the announcer how he "was surfing the net about a year and a half ago and came across a video of this girl doing a routine and said what is this" and should we send Chris Hansen to the studio now or save costs by having him wait at NBC Studios in NY?

Then there was the vault attempt, where the fact the Chinese girl is 14 at most wasn't even the most objectionale part. The girl landed on her head and she only got a .1 deduction for it! She still scored a 14.something :eek: It's hard for me to take it seriously when the scoring system is so complicated the announcers don't even attempt to explain it, but shouldn't she get a 2 for the execution on that or something? She landed on her head!

Yeesh, those are some ugly uniforms for the Americans.