XXX Olympiad - August 7

[Bob Costas]

I've lost track of what day it is because I partied way too hard this weekend with Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Bela Karolyi and the Queen. Apologies for my absence.

Highlights from the last few days:

1) Usain Bolt is still the fastest man in the world. But it's just not the same when he isn't showboating before the finish line.

2) Team USA is doing quite well in Track & Field so far. We beat the once-invincible Russian hottie Yelena Isinbayeva in the pole vault last night. Sanya Richards-Ross won gold in the 400m sprint without a hair out of place. But poor Tyson Gay - so close for a medal in the 100m sprint. Damn Jamaicans.

3) Everything I have seen, read and heard about Kirani James of Grenada makes him seem more saintly than Mother Teresa. I'm waiting for word that he kicks puppies or something, because no one can be that nice.

4) Swimming is over the people, listen to the man - MICHAEL PHELPS IS DONE FOREVER. Well, unless he pulls a Roger Clemens/Brett Favre for Rio.

5) A Team USA judoka was sent home for...wait for it...consuming pot brownies by accident. Or so he says when his results came back positive for marijuana. If he is telling the truth, he needs new friends.

6) Beach Volleyball is still awful.

What else did I forget to mention?

[Deleted]

An athlete from NJ qualified for the finals in the 1500!! She is from H's general area I think and they ran together at Rutgers (maybe?) Anyway, he's super excited for her, apparently it was a really good race and he thinks she could medal. Maybe.

[meg]

The best moment from the games (well, IMO...)! The men's 10k track! First medal for the US in 40+ years, a GREAT exciting finish, and an awesome show of being happy with a silver by Garen Rupp of USA (and the gold medal winner Mo Farah was just... pure joy).

USA men's basketball almost lost to Argentina!

[meli554]

Bob, what do you think:

tampa.cbslocal.com/2012/08/06/nbc-sports-anchor-rips-bob-costas-for-making-him-work-later/

[eclaires]

I enjoyed how gracious Gabby was, too. And really, a medal on the uneven bars or the team gold and all around gold? I'd definitely pick her position.

Men's gymnastics is kind of weird, I've decided. A lot of the things they do are the result of serious, serious strength. But then when they are doing their floor routines they have to do these weird artsy hops to get to the corner, and it looks SO forced. IDK, it's hard to explain.

[marie427]

You guys, I was so confident going into Track & Field that we'd beat China in the medal standings but it's not looking so great. Stupid badminton and diving.

[meli554]

Aug 7, 2012 10:11:11 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Aug 7, 2012 9:39:54 GMT -5 meli554 said:

Bob, what do you think:

tampa.cbslocal.com/2012/08/06/nbc-sports-anchor-rips-bob-costas-for-making-him-work-later/

That is hilarious. The other newscasters faces are like

I know! Is he serious? Joking? Crazy? haha

[oliverboliverbutt]

Aug 7, 2012 9:41:37 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I enjoyed how gracious Gabby was, too. And really, a medal on the uneven bars or the team gold and all around gold? I'd definitely pick her position.

Men's gymnastics is kind of weird, I've decided. A lot of the things they do are the result of serious, serious strength. But then when they are doing their floor routines they have to do these weird artsy hops to get to the corner, and it looks SO forced. IDK, it's hard to explain.

I think the same about women's gymnastics. The flourishes looked forced and rehearsed, not graceful. A few gymnasts can kinda pull them off, but not many. I wish they could let the athleticism speak for itself withoutmaking it all fancy.

[Deleted]

why is no on speaking about synchronized swimming?

[emilyj]

I heard one of the power walkers got banned for doping. I LOL'd.

If Bolt actually ran the whole time and didn't pull up and showboat, do you think he could break 9 seconds?

I am sad I missed the US v. Canada soccer match - the highlights looked awesome.

I was watching some of the synchro highlights on the Today show this morning. I don't get it. And the faces they make scare me.

[PinkSquirrel]

Aug 7, 2012 9:33:48 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

I was watching track cycling? last night. I do not understand what is going on there at all.

Last night I was trying to look up wtf was going on at which point the announcers were all "I bet at home you're wondering what they're doing ... blah blah " I thought they were going to explain, but H, my Brother and I were all sitting there lost as ever. I think we just couldn't get it around our head that the race is 3 laps and they spend the first two fucking off.

[basilosaurus]

The only "explanation" I got was that it's psychological and a strategy. Gee, thanks.

[wawa]

Aug 7, 2012 16:32:03 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

The only "explanation" I got was that it's psychological and a strategy. Gee, thanks.

what? so if one of them decided to screw it and go balls to the wall for the whole thing it'd all change? this is so weird.

[PinkSquirrel]

Aug 7, 2012 16:36:14 GMT -5 wawa said:

Aug 7, 2012 16:32:03 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

The only "explanation" I got was that it's psychological and a strategy. Gee, thanks.

what? so if one of them decided to screw it and go balls to the wall for the whole thing it'd all change? this is so weird.

Yes! It's the oddest race you'll ever see. They start off by someone holding the back of their bike and letting them go (think five year old learning to ride a bike). The next two laps involve going really slow and staring the other biker down to see who will decide to race first, then BAM they race for 10 seconds and it's over.

[basilosaurus]

I have a few possibly UO.

I'm bored by diving. A week ago, I was all into it, now I watch it on fast forward (single speed, so I still see something).

Men's gymnastics just isn't interesting. I only like the 2 bar events. I fast forward the rest as fast as my dvr will go.

Interviews are never worth watching. Nor are the backstories. Introductions can be skipped, too. Just show me the event and move on.

Basically, it takes less than 2 hours to watch all of primetime. Sorry, bob, I skip you, too.

[basilosaurus]

WTF is with one of these volleyball players chewing on gum the whole time?

[IIOY]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with a long string of drool coming out of my mouth during track cycling. I was very WTF last night. I got excited when the announced said they were going to explain it, and then I still was all WTF.

[Deleted]

Aug 7, 2012 16:39:01 GMT -5 PinkSquirrel said:

Aug 7, 2012 16:36:14 GMT -5 wawa said:

what? so if one of them decided to screw it and go balls to the wall for the whole thing it'd all change? this is so weird.

Yes! It's the oddest race you'll ever see. They start off by someone holding the back of their bike and letting them go (think five year old learning to ride a bike). The next two laps involve going really slow and staring the other biker down to see who will decide to race first, then BAM they race for 10 seconds and it's over.

The rider in second has the physical advantage when the sprint starts (drafting off first rider and ability to see them), so the first laps are tactical--trying to get your opponent to make a mistake so you can get the advantage.

DH is a cyclist, I know all the rules now. I like team pursuit best.

[Deleted]

What does everyone think of the America v America beach volleyball final? I watched part of the match v Brazil yesterday and thought for sure that it was a lost cause, but they must have come back and rallied.

[terpsfan]

Aug 7, 2012 12:14:00 GMT -5 oliverboliverbutt said:

Aug 7, 2012 9:41:37 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I enjoyed how gracious Gabby was, too. And really, a medal on the uneven bars or the team gold and all around gold? I'd definitely pick her position.

Men's gymnastics is kind of weird, I've decided. A lot of the things they do are the result of serious, serious strength. But then when they are doing their floor routines they have to do these weird artsy hops to get to the corner, and it looks SO forced. IDK, it's hard to explain.

I think the same about women's gymnastics. The flourishes looked forced and rehearsed, not graceful. A few gymnasts can kinda pull them off, but not many. I wish they could let the athleticism speak for itself withoutmaking it all fancy.

I agree and thought about this last night during the floor finals. I just wanted them to smile and actually "dance" in the middle of the crazy tumbling runs. My favorite gymnast of all time is Svetlana Khorkina and I think she did that amazingly...

[copzgirl1171]

Aug 8, 2012 7:09:54 GMT -5 @mjmksb04 said:

What does everyone think of the America v America beach volleyball final? I watched part of the match v Brazil yesterday and thought for sure that it was a lost cause, but they must have come back and rallied.

I hope Kessy/Ross win.

[emilyj]

Aug 8, 2012 7:09:54 GMT -5 @mjmksb04 said:

What does everyone think of the America v America beach volleyball final? I watched part of the match v Brazil yesterday and thought for sure that it was a lost cause, but they must have come back and rallied.

I think it's awesome. But I'm sure this will open the way for the IOC to make a new rule to ensure it never happens again.

[marie427]

Aug 8, 2012 7:46:29 GMT -5 @copzgirl1171 said:

Aug 8, 2012 7:09:54 GMT -5 @mjmksb04 said:

What does everyone think of the America v America beach volleyball final? I watched part of the match v Brazil yesterday and thought for sure that it was a lost cause, but they must have come back and rallied.

I hope Kessy/Ross win.

Me too.

[marie427]

Aug 8, 2012 7:46:58 GMT -5 emilyj said:

Aug 8, 2012 7:09:54 GMT -5 @mjmksb04 said:

What does everyone think of the America v America beach volleyball final? I watched part of the match v Brazil yesterday and thought for sure that it was a lost cause, but they must have come back and rallied.

I think it's awesome. But I'm sure this will open the way for the IOC to make a new rule to ensure it never happens again.

Definitely. But they'll leave table tennis and badminton alone.

[copzgirl1171]

Aug 8, 2012 7:56:00 GMT -5 marie427 said:

Aug 8, 2012 7:46:29 GMT -5 @copzgirl1171 said:

I hope Kessy/Ross win.

Me too.

I am so hard core over "The Glory Hogs" as we call them at home.