Olympics 2008

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Alex

I wouldn't use the word shameful. It is simply silly.

I suppose silly is in the eye of the beholder. People make and feel connections with others for all sorts of reasons.

If it is silly to be happy for the American to win in his/her/their event, than I am happy to be silly (though I don't consider it to be so).

If it is contrary to the spirit of the Olympic games, ISM, why doesn't the IOC throw out the concept of country from the games entirely? Anyone can compete in regional trials for individual sports, make their own teams to compete, etc.

I think the competition between countries is ingrained into the Olympics. It may not be by design, but to eliminate it, no one should represent countries, just themselves.

[Morrigoon]

<---- <3's LashStoat

[Gemini Cricket]

Isn't smack talking between countries in Olympics normal? Not sure why the French comments were so highlighted. I'm sure they aren't the only country who want to beat another country in Beijing... The "smash incident" sounds contrived to me. You know, to get people to stay up, stay tuned and watch the swimming event. And there's celebrating, but the French team did come very, very close to the US time, so they should be thinking about how they almost got their tails kicked. Also, Phelps got the US off on a slow start... Oh, and Lezak is hot.

As for Bush's arm, it looked like a scrape or something. Maybe from biking? But, sheesh, cover the thing up.

There was a Bush interview by Costas during (after? I forget) the Women's Gymnastics qualification round. It totally came out of nowhere. It wasn't even announced it was coming up. All of a sudden, 'Hey, we have the president here.' I was like, 'Uh, okay.' And it was painful to watch as always. He kept repeating 'engage' over and over. It was weird. And he brought up religion 3 times during his short appearance. I'm thinking free speech in China would be the topic I'd highlight if I was him.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

There was a Bush interview by Costas during (after? I forget) the Women's Gymnastics qualification round. It totally came out of nowhere. It wasn't even announced it was coming up. All of a sudden, 'Hey, we have the president here.' I was like, 'Uh, okay.' And it was painful to watch as always. He kept repeating 'engage' over and over. It was weird. And he brought up religion 3 times during his short appearance. I'm thinking free speech in China would be the topic I'd highlight if I was him.

The interview was mentioned at the top of the broadcast.

On the topic of smack talking, apparently one of the female rowing teams (Australian, I believe) called another team (Netherlands?) fat.

ETA: Finland, not Netherlands. story

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

It was mentioned at the top of the broadcast.

Ah. I sat through the entire Women's Gymnastics section and didn't hear about it. Was it before that? I'm thinking a 'coming up next, the president of the United States' would have been in order.

They showed a clip during the Bush interview where he was talking to Putin. They were standing right in front of Laura. Laura seemed to be ticked having Putin's rump in her face.

[blueerica]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

On the topic of smack talking, apparently one of the female rowing teams (Australian, I believe) called another team (Netherlands?) fat.

ETA: Finland, not Netherlands. story

One of my favorite 'human interest' stories from rowing.

Yes, I watched rowing.

[LashStoat]

With all this rooting* going on, I'm surprised that anyone has the energy to toss their javelin !!!

*In Oz, rooting is a birds and bees topic.

[BarTopDancer]

I feel a connection to swimming because I used to swim. I feel no connection to anything to do with horses though and while I want our team to do well in every event it's not something I'm going to go out of my way to watch or root for.

Team USA is the home team in the Olympics. I want them to do well. I also want the world to be reminded that the USA isn't just Bush and war. It's people, just like them.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Team USA is the home team in the Olympics. I want them to do well. I also want the world to be reminded that the USA isn't just Bush and war. It's people, just like them.

To that end, it would be good for us to do pretty well, but also good for us to not totally dominate. Some close calls, some occasional very near losses, those are good for national goodwill. Though it's good to be victorious, we can't seem unbeatable either.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

To that end, it would be good for us to do pretty well, but also good for us to not totally dominate. Some close calls, some occasional very near losses, those are good for national goodwill. Though it's good to be victorious, we can't seem unbeatable either.

I'm sorry, but I find this ridiculous. Isn't the Olympics about bringing the best of the world together and seeing who wins? Honestly, if the french (just singling this out as one example) have bad will toward America because they lost the 4x100, that's their problem, not ours.