Olympic fever

[emma]

You know what is totally batshit insane?

POLE VAULTING. That is what.

[samir]

see also: Trampolining.

In other news, I was very happy to see Brazil beaten, and have two men sent off, in the Soccer semi.

[Martin]

Yes! That was beautiful. Nigeria v Argentina in the final! Should be great.

[Gilly]

In other news, I was very happy to see Brazil beaten, and have two men sent off, in the Soccer semi.

That's my biggest gripe about football/soccer. I hate that you could be a man or two short effectively the whole game. That's way too big of a penalty and it feels like a cheap win at the end of the game. I'm throwing red cards or at least the effect of getting a red card in my hate pit.

[samir]

well, in this particular match, both red cards came along in the last ten minutes, after brazil were already two down. and both were terrible, rash tackles anyway.

[cutout]

The website says the final is on at noon on Saturday. Is that like midnight here EST? Damn I hate timezones.

[samir]

midnight friday is correct.

[chrisfoll577]

The Croatian Men's Water Polo Team and their matching moustaches is perhaps the greatest thing I've seen this Olympiad.

[Martin]

"Thunder" Bolt strikes again! World record again, this time on 200 m.

[Susannah]

My friend Jeff got detained for protesting human rights violations!

http://freetibet2008.org/globalactions/citizenjournalists/


I didn't even know he was there...oy.

[<<<<<]

"Thunder" Bolt strikes again! World record again, this time on 200 m.

Just saw it.  He made it look like he was racing high schoolers.  You simply don't pull away from the pack like that on a sprint at this level of competition.  I was impressed!
 

[dave from knoxville]

I still love the podcast of The Bugle. Here's their most recent headline

"Russia gets gold at new Olympic sport of invasion"

[yesno]

I've been greatly enjoying the BMX racing. 

Watch it before you judge.  The athleticism and skill of those riders is incredible.  If any cycling belongs in the Olympics, it does.

[yesno]

Here's a good piece on the removal of baseball from the Olympics. 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/12/no-use-crying-over-olympic-baseballs-end/

I think I agree with the author that it's no big deal.  The Olympics were never very important to baseball, the best players (MLB) never played, and the stupid setup sometimes excludes countries like Japan and Mexico where baseball is big.  I have no doubt that baseball was probably seen (in defiance of the actual facts of where it is played) as too American by the Europe-heavy IOC, but who cares?  No one gave a shit about Olympic baseball until it was removed.

[erechoveraker]

Usain is the truth.

WOW.