My niece is on a paddling team in Honolulu and her coach rides on a bike and yells at them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Penny4
It would be a grand way to be a spectator, although probably not if there was a crowd.
Printable View
My niece is on a paddling team in Honolulu and her coach rides on a bike and yells at them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Penny4
It would be a grand way to be a spectator, although probably not if there was a crowd.
So I haven noticed so much that the commentators are only men. I did notice the women that was doing the after the swim pool side interviews and she asks the stupidest questions. I felt sorry for Michael Phelps after the 400M medley (???) and he did not win a medal. Why ask him how he feels? and she made another comment that was insensitive. How come we love to dig in the fact that he is no longer the TOP or winning all the medals. He knows and feels this.
(ok, sorry about the rant--but it seemed mean to me and I feel really bad for him, it must be so hard!)
K
I usually adore the Olympics and have been really depressed by the commentary on NBC this time. A lot of it is terribly sexist and often mean. Way too many comments on female athletes' appearances. It is amazing we get to see so many more events but it is like they want to spoil it with ugliness.
Yes bikinis are the women's beach volleyball uniform. Has been since I remember first watching it back in the 90s. Swim trunks are the men's beach volleyball uniform. In the pro contests in matches that are not televised many of the men typically do not wear shirts.
Watching women's gymnsastics, but this applies to many of the competitors. The Romanian gymnasts make mistakes.
I feel sad thinking that these kids may see this event as some kind of failure. I see them as enormously dedicated and amazingly accomplished!
The male divers do a fair amount of 'adjusting' as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueberry
I think they have relaxed the women's beach volleyball uniform regulations to allow women from more conservative countries to wear shorts/t-shirts.
I'm watching men's synchronized diving right now (how do you even get into something like that?) and I've seen more than enough plumbers crack for a lifetime. Half of their suits don't cover everything even before they hit the water. Eek!!
Okay, Costas and McEnroe...WARDROBE!!!!
Costas: gray suit with brown shoes and socks, and his tie reaches to the seat of his chair.
McEnroe: Looks like he's got a pair of kayaks on his feet!
Ok back to the beach volleyball...why do they wear their bikini tops OUTSIDE their shirts? Do they have another support system under the shirts too? Am I the only one who thinks this looks silly?
(I should stop drinking as I watch this, or this could get really snarky! :p )
Maybe because the top has their name on it?Quote:
Originally Posted by jessmarimba
Maybe 'cuz it's pink?
A new fashion trend?
When I moved to Utah, I learned that a bra isn't always the layer of clothing worn closest to skin.
Nah.Quote:
Originally Posted by jessmarimba
Let's compete for the gold medal in women's snark!
The US women don't. They are wearing what looks like wet suit tops over their bikini tops. I agree with you that ones that are look really stupid.Quote:
Originally Posted by jessmarimba
I believe the ones who are wearing the suit tops outside their shirts are from countries that didn't issue long sleeve uniforms.
It is interesting that the commentary does not stop about the beach volleyball uniforms even though it has been an Olympic sport for over ten years with the same uniforms.
I like that they have expanded the options because of the location of the venue (and the weather) because it has allowed increased participation from women in more conservative countries.
It is interesting though because indoor volleyball was played in briefs forever (at all levels including my junior high team) and no one ever said boo.
I am way more bugged by the thought of sand everywhere than by the fabric to skin ratio.
Weren't the original Athletes in ancient Greece all nekkid anyway?
Maybe we could get Justice Scalia to leave the US Supreme Court and join the IOC to make an "originalist" ruling.
I need to download a podcast of Morgan Freeman narrating something like the women's marathon to listen to while I run (and pretend it's about me). How motivating would that be! (Edit - except if it was the olympics, the narration would end about, oh, 2 hours early...)
(I had too much beer to write the report I was going to start tonight. Oh darn.)
Male gymnasts are adjusting a lot too. I'd almost rather see the women pick wedgies...at least I can relate a little better.
Has anyone else noticed that Bob Costas is starting to look like a vampire?
And not one of the romantic teenaged ones?
Slow day at work yesterday, so I caught the ladies weighlifting. Some of the competitors would scream before they'd pick up the barbell. Gave me some good chuckles.
It was good to see Missy Franklin get her first Gold! And of course, Dana Vollmer taking the Gold in the 100m fly! Vollmer's story is very inspirational.
Not sure why beach volleyball was ever included in the Olympics, but I admit that even regular volleyball doesn't appeal to me. I'm glad that they are giving the women the option of not having to wear those skimpy swimsuits, too.
I noticed this. I think Phelps is pretty much a jerk (he lives near here and got a DUI in my area) however, I thought it was insensitive to push him like that on a live feed. We ALL know how bad he felt about that loss and the 400 is so hard that he didn't even have his breath yet let alone his thoughts.Quote:
Originally Posted by katluvr
Oddly enough when the reigning world champ in gymnastics didn't make the all around and started crying, they went to commercial to give her time to recover before getting on camera. Isn't that sweet?
Why can't all athletes get the same respect?
I am SO over Bob Costas. He too, makes insensitive and just inane remarks all of the time.
I missed the beach volleyball coverage so I can't discuss (I really don't care for volleyball of any kind). I also missed the weightlifting, darn it. I love the clean and jerk esp. for women. Swimming was excellent to watch last night and so was mens gymnastics.
I love the women's weightlifting, and this year Nick Mangold's sister, Holley, is in it. (I'm a Jets fan...I know, I know...) Mens Gymnastics were depressing, all the mistakes, it makes me feel bad for them. I do love the swimming. Synchronized diving is really fantastic. When they get it perfect, it's incredible.Quote:
Originally Posted by lovelygamer
I am disappointed in the commentators too. They don't seem to know all that much. During the mens gymnastics, in particular the uneven bars, they kept saying well, next he'll be..and he didn't and oh how surprising. I kept wanting to say "Clam up and entertain me, dingbat!"
Okay, so we have synchronized diving, but no longer have softball in the Olympics???? There's like 50 people on the planet who do that kind of diving, and a probably a million+ who play softball. What. the. hell??? :mad:
If only Bob Roll could commentate the Olympics . . .Quote:
Originally Posted by 2wheelr
Did anyone else notice that last night before the Women's 100M Butterfly Final they actually showed a promo for the Today Show with Missy and her gold medal. Therefore I then knew who won before I even watched the match.
On the sports I am interested in I try to avoid seeing the results. It seems like someone at NBC messed up and put the promo one commercial break too early.
Caught some of a men's field hocky match yesterday. I'd never seen anyone play that sport wearing shorts instead of a skirt! Still don't have a grasp of the rules, but it's kinda fun to watch a sport I don't understand.
The women's weightlifting was fanatastic. So glad I got to see some of it.
My own favorite moment so far was seeing Lee Keifer, our local kid, fencing. She didn't make it to the medal round, but hey, that's ok. So far this summer she's graduated from high school, fenced in the olympics, and right after she gets home from London she'll be heading off to college. Pretty cool!
I saw the NBC goof and tell us Missy had won a gold. I already knew because they keep running huge headlines of what is going on in the day on MSNBC.com. They're pretty clueless though.
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by limewave
Does anyone know why Hope Solo and Brandi Chastain were getting into it on Twitter? I missed the full story, and i'm not really a soccer fan, so wasn't sure what it was all about.
Brandi Chastain made a comment critizing the USWNT's technique/tactics while announcing the game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Penny4
Hope Solo made a Twitter comment that she should be quiet, and that soccer has changed in the last 10 years (since Chastain was on the team).
Kind of silly all around.
No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to avoid spoilers on the local news, Facebook, email, etc. At least Brian Williams on the national news has the courtesy to tell me to look away for a few seconds, although by then I have usually heard the news somewhere else. Oh well, I guess it means I don't HAVE to stay up until midnight everynight :rolleyes:
Unfortunately the time difference is going to end up with spoilers and spoilers that can't be completely avoided. Esp because they want to show specific stuff in primetime. Of course my preference for what I want to see doesn't always equal what they show then and of course due to having to work some of what I want to see I haven't seen much if any of. Go figure.
On the other hand I have gotten to watch some of the water polo which I find to be fascinating even if I have no clue what the rules are. LOL
Our local news (NBC) tells you there'll be a spoiler with music - so if you don't want to know, close your eyes until the music stops. Seems to be a good compromise.Quote:
Originally Posted by Penny4
Water polo! Just when I think I have it figured out... so many whistles!Quote:
Originally Posted by Koronin
I think the ball has to stay on the surface of the water (can't be held under) or they turn it over, they can't hold other players down or they get put in the penalty box, and otherwise there appear to be no rules? Something must be important about the two lines, like soccer where you can't do stuff inside the box or it means a more significant penalty.
Earlier today I got sucked into archery and soccer. I watched the Canadians tie their match, go Canada! And a tiny bit of the US team but I was working at the same time so I didn't really catch much.
We have been dvr'ing everything. But not enough time to watch and then I watch primetime (before I saw the qualifying) or the Today Show (I'm a addict). But I still go back and watch some of the earlier stuff before the medal round.
I don't really like any of the real "team" sports. Well except rowing I guess. I have watched a lot of swimming (like most of us), but I think my interest is that I am in such awe! I tried to swim to do a tri....I sucked beyond sucking...it so hard.
To me the canoeing looked like kayaking until they explained they were on their knees and obviously the paddle was a single.
I have also been more into the diving than usual.
I am very happy for Missy...so hard to believe she is the same age as my niece!
K
I hate, hate, HATE the "London 2012" font! I think bc when I think of London, I think "old world" and formal, not crappy, slanty 1982 font!! And it's everywhere, in almost every screen shot. I can't believe enough people liked that font that it was selected.
Rant over.....I am loving the olympics. The swimming, diving, gymnastic, cycling. These athletes are amazing!
colby, thanks for the tips on the rules. I think that will help with watching future matches.
I love archery, but I think that's party because I own a bow (compound bow and arrows) and target shoot for fun. And now that we bought this house there's a park behind it and I can take the target and bow and arrows there and shoot them. Nice to have a large place to do that. Don't worry, I never take them out there if there are people actually using the park.
When did France become such a powerhouse in the pool?
Have they always been, and I just never noticed before?
Pardon me, I have to scream for a second.
USA ROCKS THE HOUSE AGAIN!!! GOLD FOR PHELPS, GOLD FOR US GYMNAST GIRLS. :D:D:D
I watched every single second of the show last night. Cheered, screamed, threw fists and cried with the athletes. Oh, what a night. I was SO proud of them.
I could hardly sleep afterwards. I'm pretty sure I was in an Olympic Frenzy.
So I actually watched prime time last night...but could not stay up til the end. Had to get up before 5 to take honey to airport.
So I watched the rest this AM...I had to see it happen in "real time" (not rehashed on the Today Show) to see GOLD for the Fab 5. I used to watch gymnastics all the time, I remember 1996, but don't watch much any more until now... WOW they really were awesome.
I cheered and screamed for Phelps all the way. I know not everyone loves him, but I think what he has accomplished is AWESOME!
Trying to watch the Women's Time Trial....it's not that thrilling. Must be the course or announcing.
Yeah Kristen!! Glad to hear she did it, despite breaking her collar bone in May.
I felt so sorry for the Russian ladies, you can tell how much pressure they put on themselves. I didn't want them to keep showing them bawling their eyes out. On another note, they really loved the glitter!
I already saw what happened in the cycling today, which is good now I can clean my house and bathe my dogs while keeping minimal interest in the tv. The best summer for us was 2004, my husband was interning 3 hours away and I went to visit for a three day weekend. It was a sleepy town with not much besides a Dairy Queen and I had been sick so the antibiotics made me burn too easily to spend much time outside. We watched hours of whatever was on, I remember being just enthralled in a water polo match and something else I had never watched. :p
I've been getting SO frustrated with the talking heads when they're interviewing him. He now has more medals than anyone - so they're focusing on "his career is past peak," "his fitness isn't as good as Beijing," "he hasn't trained as hard," and just about anything else negative they can come up with. Let him enjoy the frigging moment, people. He's an amazing athlete - whatever else he has or hasn't done.Quote:
Originally Posted by katluvr
I got the feeling, between the commentators and watching the girls themselves, that they've been pushed into skills that they aren't ready for for the sake of the medal count. I felt so bad for them, but they're lucky none of them got hurt!Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama
Our DVR doesn't work properly on NBC.
Any time I try to fast fwd, it skips immediately, completely to the end.