Official 2008 Summer Olympic's Thread - Page 15

Erik W. · 08-15-2008, 01:58 AM

So, while the women's competition is marred by the age controversy and how younger competitors have an unfair advantage, a 19-year old "washed up" gymnast takes gold.

Love it.

Terpripken · 08-15-2008, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prodigal Son

I think the right result came out of tonight. Johnson got hurt unfairly in a few events, but it wouldn't have been enough to catch Liuken anyway. That girl was on top of her game. I'm very glad that Johnson took home the silver, which she very much deserved but almost got screwed out of by the judges.

Yes...the right result DID eventually come out...but man...what a strange trip to get there. I could tell after that first vault that Liukin was "on". *pats himself on back for calling it* However...with the screwy judging...I wasn't sure what to think. When the head technical judge came down after Nastia's balance bean routine...the scoring seemed to stabilize. She looked pissed. Despite the correct outcome...the judges are going to take some well-deserved heat over their poor performance in Beijing.

Rangersfan · 08-15-2008, 02:05 AM

Good to see the US still managed to take the top two medals despite the judges best effort to give it the chinese.

MorseMoose · 08-15-2008, 02:10 AM

Now, hopefully Nastia invites Shawn up on the podium...don't they do that sometimes?

Raderick · 08-15-2008, 02:57 AM

Does robot drug testing exist? No ****ing way Phelps is human.

Carplos · 08-15-2008, 03:04 AM

The thing they did about his body explains it all. He IS human. Just a superior human body for swimming purposes.

But yeah, he's ridiculous.

Also, Bela Karolyi is the best dude ever.

Carplos · 08-15-2008, 03:06 AM

As far as the coverage goes, the vast majority of people who turn in to watch want to see their nations' athletes and many could probably not care less about most events besides that. So I don't really blame NBC or any network for that matter.

At least with NBC you have several channels showing coverage, and the online feeds show full matches/events with many countries involved.

Raderick · 08-15-2008, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carplos

The thing they did about his body explains it all. He IS human. Just a superior human body for swimming purposes.

But yeah, he's ridiculous.

Also, Bela Karolyi is the best dude ever.

It's not possible that he is human.

Carplos · 08-15-2008, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raderick

It's not possible that he is human.

Maybe he's a gayebot.

Raderick · 08-15-2008, 03:39 AM

Baseball between Cuba and the United States have gone to extra innings.

Sdpm100 · 08-15-2008, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raderick

Baseball between Cuba and the United States have gone to extra innings.

Looking at the scores online I saw that China scored five in the bottom of the 12th to rally past Chinese Taipei.

bababui · 08-15-2008, 05:04 AM

Bob Costas needs to stop dying his hair. He looks ridiculous. Bela Kirolyi is the man.

bababui · 08-15-2008, 05:07 AM

OMFG..the Chinese women in the blue dresses in the gymnastic medal ceremony are mad hot.

bababui · 08-15-2008, 05:21 AM

USA v Canada in womans soccer getting ready to start. This should be a great rivalry game.

mrskippy · 08-15-2008, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terpripken

When the head technical judge came down after Nastia's balance bean routine...the scoring seemed to stabilize. She looked pissed. Despite the correct outcome...the judges are going to take some well-deserved heat over their poor performance in Beijing.

I noticed the same thing. Perhaps the head judge finally told her team to figure it out and be done with it. My guess is that the scoring system will end up revamped once again. They seemed to rely on the whole phone thing way too much.

I think Shawn Johnson's final score should have been a bit higher, as she was deducted almost a whole point on her uneven bar routine, as well as a few other times. Nastia was RIFed a few times early on by the judges too, which almost lead me to think there was some anti-US bias early on or they were setting up the scores on purpose for a dramatic finish. Honestly though, if I was the judges, I would have found a way for Nastia and Shawn to tie.

Still Bela was right, he mentioned the possiblity of a 1-2 finish, and that is what happened. I wanted Shawn to win, because I find her to be somewhat of the more graceful, natural gymnasts. You gotta love his mannerisms when watching the competition.

mrskippy · 08-15-2008, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MorseMoose

Now, hopefully Nastia invites Shawn up on the podium...don't they do that sometimes?

Didn't happen. That's too bad. Shocked that it didn't, since they are roomies in Beijing. I wanted Shawn to win, but at least an American gymanst won (and at least it as a 1-2 finish).

mrskippy · 08-15-2008, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik W.

So, while the women's competition is marred by the age controversy and how younger competitors have an unfair advantage, a 19-year old "washed up" gymnast takes gold.

Love it.

I wouldn't put the "washed up" label on Nastia. I mean, gymnastics is an offical, sanctioned NCAA sport and IIRC, in terms of international competition, the athletes typically came out of the college ranks.

Shawn Johnson actually better fits the sterotypical gymnast of today, both in age and size.

Now, apparently Nastia trains at the same gym that Carley trained at. If that gym truly did generate two straight all-around gold medalists, if my daughter was a gymnastic prodigy, I think I would be looking at real estate in the Plano area ASAP.

mrskippy · 08-15-2008, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prodigal Son

I think the right result came out of tonight. Johnson got hurt unfairly in a few events, but it wouldn't have been enough to catch Liuken anyway. That girl was on top of her game. I'm very glad that Johnson took home the silver, which she very much deserved but almost got screwed out of by the judges.

Had Shawn NOT taken that huge step on her vault, coupled with the judge screw job -- she takes the gold.

Actually, I was waiting for the judges to keep the screw job going tonight, for China to be given the Gold and than watch the Americans file the protest the proper way (unlike the Korean gymnast four years ago). But, I think the head judge finally told her workers to cool it.

bababui · 08-15-2008, 10:18 AM

USA v Canada has to be one of the best matches evah. Neither team deserves to lose this one.

bababui · 08-15-2008, 10:24 AM

It will be heartbreaking if we lose to Canada.

08-15-2008, 01:58 AM	#281
Erik W. Global Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rivière-du-Loup, Qc Posts: 4,615	So, while the women's competition is marred by the age controversy and how younger competitors have an unfair advantage, a 19-year old "washed up" gymnast takes gold. Love it. __________________ Free agent baseball fan. Let's go (insert team name here)!

08-15-2008, 02:57 AM	#285
Raderick Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 2,737	Does robot drug testing exist? No ****ing way Phelps is human. __________________

08-15-2008, 03:39 AM	#290
Raderick Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 2,737	Baseball between Cuba and the United States have gone to extra innings. __________________ Last edited by Raderick; 08-15-2008 at 03:47 AM.

08-15-2008, 02:10 AM	#284
MorseMoose Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 6,023 Infractions: 1/1 (1)	Now, hopefully Nastia invites Shawn up on the podium...don't they do that sometimes?

08-15-2008, 03:04 AM	#286
Carplos Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,847 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	The thing they did about his body explains it all. He IS human. Just a superior human body for swimming purposes. But yeah, he's ridiculous. Also, Bela Karolyi is the best dude ever.

08-15-2008, 03:06 AM	#287
Carplos Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,847 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	As far as the coverage goes, the vast majority of people who turn in to watch want to see their nations' athletes and many could probably not care less about most events besides that. So I don't really blame NBC or any network for that matter. At least with NBC you have several channels showing coverage, and the online feeds show full matches/events with many countries involved.