Do you watch the Olympics?

annag · Post by **annag** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 3:08 pm

I love the Olympics and I have loved them since forever. Its amazing to me how every couple of years the best athletes in the entire world come together and compete.

I love love love love swimming (and Michael Phelps of course) and rowing, sailing, gymnastics, triathlon, track and field, basketball....just about everything!! haha Swimming is my favorite by far.

Post by **Len90** » Aug Tue 12, 2008 11:52 pm

agingerbugg wrote:
Len90 wrote:I am actually also annoyed with the coverage during the actual events. I have been watching the volleyball and beach volleyball games that are really close. NBC goes to a commercaial when there is a time out and when they come back, two or three points have been played already. You miss a lot.
Did you see the USA v. Japan game? Wasn't that amazing. I haven't seen good volleyball like that for awhile. Probably since the Athens games.

I missed that one, but caught the highlights. I ended up watching all night tonight while listening to subsonic. I really enjoyed the Rogers/Dalhausser game and how they just stomped all over Argentina. I was extremely impressed by the men's swimming setting all those records, especially 4x200 in under 7. Finally, I was heartbroken by the gymnastics. I could swear that some of the chinese girls were at most 12 years old.

Post by **js3901** » Aug Wed 13, 2008 1:14 am

Len90 wrote: I missed that one, but caught the highlights. I ended up watching all night tonight while listening to subsonic. I really enjoyed the Rogers/Dalhausser game and how they just stomped all over Argentina. I was extremely impressed by the men's swimming setting all those records, especially 4x200 in under 7. Finally, I was heartbroken by the gymnastics. I could swear that some of the chinese girls were at most 12 years old.

they did a special thing on why the swimmers (both men and women) have been breaking so many records in this pool. they said that the pool itself is deeper (3M deep as opposed to previous 2M, which decreases drag and under-currents, the rops of the lanes are designed to reduce chop or turbulence in the water from other swimmers, and then the new Speedo Laser suits, which are modelled after shark skins. Really impressive stuff.

I also like the beach volleyball game there. They did a great job, but started off that second set a bit on the rocky side.

As for the gymnastics, I too was dissapointed in the outcome. Though I'm happy they got a medal, it should have been gold. And, you're not alone in thinking the Chinese were too young. They've been saying that same thing ON AIR since Day 1. The problem there is that the IOC rules state that the athletes must be minimum age 16 in the year of the Olympic Games, as stated on their PASSPORTS which are issued by THE GOVERNMENT. As was announced this morning (actually yesterday morning at this point), we already know the Chinese government lied about some of the opening ceremonies (lip syncing little girl, fake fireworks because of the smog). so, it'd be SUPER easy for them to lie about ages abd get away with it.

Post by **Len90** » Aug Wed 13, 2008 8:26 pm

Very true points. It is shaping up to be a very interesting olympic games. I usually never watch them, and have been enjoying the games. I just wish the IOC could change the rule to be a little stricter.

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Aug Sun 24, 2008 11:21 pm

Now what am I going to watch now that the Olympics are over?!?! Does anyone else feel this way?!

Post by **js3901** » Aug Mon 25, 2008 12:35 am

boilerbabe wrote:Now what am I going to watch now that the Olympics are over?!?! Does anyone else feel this way?!

I was thinking that during the closing ceremonies. I guess I'll have to go back to my regular shows again....

Post by **Len90** » Aug Mon 25, 2008 12:42 am

I just thought of that now. And I am proud to say I am one of a select few who stayed up until about 4:30 to watch the redeem team win the gold. I guess it is time for me to catch up on my sleep so I can be well rested for the next olympics in 4 years!

Post by **js3901** » Aug Mon 25, 2008 12:52 am

Len90 wrote:I just thought of that now. And I am proud to say I am one of a select few who stayed up until about 4:30 to watch the redeem team win the gold. I guess it is time for me to catch up on my sleep so I can be well rested for the next olympics in 4 years!

actually, the next olympics are in 2 years - the Winter Games in Vancouver 2010. the next SUMMER Games are in 4 years...

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Aug Mon 25, 2008 8:23 am

boilerbabe wrote:Now what am I going to watch now that the Olympics are over?!?! Does anyone else feel this way?!

I have a stack of Netflix that need catching up on. Those little red envelopes have been gathering dust the last two weeks.

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Aug Mon 25, 2008 10:03 am

I just heard on the radio that the Olympic viewers dropped 50% since Michael Phelps won the 8 gold medals. I think I'm guilty of that, although I taped the closing ceremony to watch later.

wdwannabe · Post by **wdwannabe** » Aug Mon 25, 2008 2:49 pm

Wow, we have some serious tv addictions here!

I of course taped several events to watch at my own time. Gotta love those dvr's!!!!!! You need one if you don't have one!

Did not watch any of the closing show. Did watch a few minutes of the opening. DH watched all the volleyball, some swimming...missed the gymnastics.

I too thought the China girls looked very young, but what is a country to do? How can the US prove it? And you know that China will just protest saying look at the passports, like those can;t be faked.

Now we can return to our regular scheduled programing.......

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Aug Mon 25, 2008 4:06 pm

wdwannabe wrote:DH watched all the volleyball

*rant alert*

I am one of the rare volleyball fans in America, and was excited to see the US men play Brazil in the finals. Especially since the US beat Brazil in the final for the World League (I have another rant about this, but it is off topic). My complaint is that the final, the GOLD medal match, between the UNITED STATES and number one ranked Brazil was abridged. It is bad enough that the game was previously recorded--I don't mind staying up until one am to watch it--but the entire first set was skipped. Not only that, but NBC would go to a commercial break and when they came back, ten points would have passed. THE GAME WAS RECORDED 19 HOURS BEFORE IT WAS AIRED!!!! Just stop the freaking tape for five minutes. I don't mind the glazing over games and event when it is preliminary or other countries, but this was a big freaking deal. Not only is this the first gold medal the US men have won in 20 years, but they had to overcome some hardships, the coaches father-in-law was murdered at the beginning of the games. I understand, volleyball is not a very popular sport in the US, but it is the gold medal match of the Olympics, it only happens once every four years. I hate the lack of respect NBC shows the athletes and the public. I hope they lose the rights to air the games in the future.

*end rant*

Post by **Len90** » Aug Mon 25, 2008 11:05 pm

js3901 wrote:
Len90 wrote:I just thought of that now. And I am proud to say I am one of a select few who stayed up until about 4:30 to watch the redeem team win the gold. I guess it is time for me to catch up on my sleep so I can be well rested for the next olympics in 4 years!
actually, the next olympics are in 2 years - the Winter Games in Vancouver 2010. the next SUMMER Games are in 4 years...

Very true, but school does come before the olympics. Also, I like the summer sports a lot more than the winter sports. I really enjoyed all the volleyball this year. I just wish NBC didn't cut a few points with their lovely commercials.

kcarts · Post by **kcarts** » Aug Tue 26, 2008 2:52 pm

The Summer Olympics took place recently? Seriously, I don't think I watched more than five minutes. I just don't get the fascination with the games.

I read this column, http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3542649, by Rick Reilly and found it interesting. A couple of interesting tid bits about the aesthetics of the games.

yodiwan1 · Post by **yodiwan1** » Aug Tue 26, 2008 8:54 pm

I watched most of the olympics suprisingly. The basketball was great. I thought both the open and closing ceremonies were amazing, but I read an article in the Sun-Sentinel newspaper here in Ft. Lauderdale about how the performers were treated and now I find it hard to watch. They were basically treated like slaves for the past few years and some people even were paralized. Too me all beauty was lost once I read the article. In wish I knew how to find it and put the link in here, but the author was David Hyde I think.