Other Olympic Observations

[jessmarimba]

Watching the high divers is terrifying...the camera angle makes it look like their feet are going to smack the platform. Or their heads. I almost can't watch.

[colby]

I very was happy that NBC showed the men's horizontal bar final in gymnastics, where "Flying Dutchman" Epke Zonderland won the gold with an amazing routine. His release moves were incredible! I think he's the first Dutch athlete to win any medal during an individual gymnastics event.

And here's the Lego version of his accomplishment:

http://youtu.be/jbPJmXCCY7k

Awesome. I love the announcers, and the choice of mini figs to represent all the people. Clever.

[salsabike]

For anyone who missed the Zonderland magic: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/gym...r-routine.html

[jessmarimba]

Oh dear...watching men's 4x100 relay - whoever designed the U.S. uniforms needs to be fired. Those poor guys. They're wearing something underneath them, but the uniforms are totally see-through.

[colby]

Yeah, some of the uniform choices are... interesting. The rowing guys had a pretty notorious response to their uniforms:



The guy 2nd from the left showed up on an online forum and said "This is me and I swear it's not erect!"

[Catrin]

Poor uniform choice indeed.

I've really been enjoying the track and field events and especially liked the women's relay races last night. It has been fun to see sports that I've not really watched before, I think I've watched more of this Olympics than I have previous summer games. I hear you about the men's high dives, I cringed a few times, but of course no one did hit the board.

It looks like our local news is going to go too long this morning for me to see the NBC coverage of the women's mountain bike event They aren't even mentioning this event. Sigh, and I got up early to watch it, oh well.

[colby]

It looks like our local news is going to go too long this morning for me to see the NBC coverage of the women's mountain bike event They aren't even mentioning this event. Sigh, and I got up early to watch it, oh well.

It was (is) on mid-morning, starting around 11:45. They showed a commercial-laden 15-30 minutes then said we were going to get rhythmic gymnastics.

Meanwhile on the other channel is the womens 20k racewalk. At least it's a womens race?

BRING BACK THE BIKES!!

[Catrin]

It was (is) on mid-morning, starting around 11:45. They showed a commercial-laden 15-30 minutes then said we were going to get rhythmic gymnastics.

Meanwhile on the other channel is the womens 20k racewalk. At least it's a womens race?

BRING BACK THE BIKES!!

Oh cra*! I had given up on it and left home by then. They were onto the volleyball matches by the time I got home. If I had known I would have stayed up late and watched the BMX events last night

[pll]

Sigh... For me, things like rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming are some of the dullest events ever conceived.

I see mountain bike is on right now (but I am watching the Tour of Utah on my laptop)!

Anyway, if I was in charge of broadcasting the olympics, I would have unrestricted access to the online video feeds from all the events not covered in the NBC channels Allow people to watch whatever they want and learn their preferences through that!

[malkin]

Gack...
I just mentioned the household no Nazis media policy and now NBC has Tom Brokaw with highlights from the Battle of Britain instead of the olympics.

The House Rules here are pretty simple:

1. Be kind
2. Promote wholeness
3. Remember the rules

and yes
NO NAZIS

[Catrin]

Apparently there were a few times today where they showed parts of the women's mountain biking, but I had given up by then and was either on my bike or elsewhere Oh well, I was told they kept cutting away from them, more so than usual.

Malkin, that was a surprise to me as well. I did watch it and it was well done - and I learned things about Coventry that I don't think I really knew, but it was a surprise to see that rather than the Olympics.

[malkin]

I saw some of the women's mt. bike event, (but left for my piano lesson), Brewer saw what was on, and enjoyed it.

As for the endless analysis of the athletes' bodies showing through their kit---yup! they are human after all (and so are we *giggle*).

I think it is cool to see the differences in bodies across sports--long and lean, vs. stocky & bulky or big shoulders and triceps with mini biceps or basically spherical bottoms or whatever...

When the games are over, I hope Costas' jacket is donated to charity.

[pll]

Watching an interview of two of the women from the US basketball team. Asked about whether the next Olympics are in their plans: "Of course. It is *Rio*!." Having visited Rio several times, I have to say that is the right way of feeling about it. Traffic might be a mess, but it is a spectacular city.

[lovelygamer]

I had not seen Zonderland. The routine was amazing. He deserved gold.

[ny biker]

Poor uniform choice indeed.

I've really been enjoying the track and field events and especially liked the women's relay races last night. It has been fun to see sports that I've not really watched before, I think I've watched more of this Olympics than I have previous summer games. I hear you about the men's high dives, I cringed a few times, but of course no one did hit the board.

It looks like our local news is going to go too long this morning for me to see the NBC coverage of the women's mountain bike event They aren't even mentioning this event. Sigh, and I got up early to watch it, oh well.

I remember seeing Greg Louganis hit his head during a dive back in the day. Fortunately he just grazed the edge of the platform, and wasn't seriously hurt.

I like watching diving, and I think Cynthia Potter does a great job of explaining what to look for in their form. I can't imagine trying to judge it, though -- I can only really see the good vs the bad in the replay.