2012 Olympics (spoilers for tape-delayed events)
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nerdanel
- This is Rome
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- Location: Concrete Jungle by the Lagoon
I'm very pleased with this outcome, though I feel sad for the devastation that Jordyn Wieber is feeling right now. (For those who don't know: the prelims in women's gymnastics not only set things up for the team competition, but they serve as the qualifying round for the women's all-around. The top two finishers from each team advance to the all-around, even if they aren't the two favorites from the country. None of the US women were competing in all four events. Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, and Jordyn Wieber competed in three events each, while McKayla Maroney only completed her vault on her broken toe, successfully.)halplm wrote:Where is nel? Women's gymnastics HUGE upset.
Team USA was so sure that Gabby and Jordyn would be the two all-arounders that most of us had never thought to question that conventional wisdom - Aly Raisman included. She was shocked today and did not believe her coach when he told her the news that she would represent the US in the all-around. But, after a massive floor exercise routine (round four, again), Aly qualified for the all-around ... not in second, but first, before Gabby Douglas. Jordyn, who finished third, three-tenths behind Aly, will sit the all-around out. Jordyn (apparently - I haven't seen it yet) made no huge mistakes, but had form checks on balance beam and stepped out of bounds (one-tenth deduction) on floor.
I don't dislike Jordyn; I just don't find her gymnastics very inspiring even when it is fully technically accurate. (Put differently: I don't have "Wieber fever," as it was called after Jordyn revealed that she is a huge fan of Justin Bieber's and hopes to meet him someday.
) Gabby's gymnastics, as I said, is what gymnastics should be, to me. And Aly ... I've always felt that the judges have underappreciated her, and her team has underappreciated her. She's rock-solid awesomeness, and she's labored away as the underdog within her own team despite being consistently one of the top 4-6 in the world. I'll still be rooting for Gabby to win the all-around, and I think she should be Team USA's favorite. But I want Aly up there on that medal podium (though she'll have to fight like hell to get on there). And if somehow Aly pulls off another upset and stands at the top of that medal podium, I am so going to dance around and cheer (possibly to Hava Nagila, Aly's long-time floor exercise music.)Anyway, I hope that Team USA stands behind Aly now, and gives her all the support they would have given Jordyn had she advanced to the all-around. I was glad to read that Jordyn did congratulate Aly for her achievement first, before leaving the arena in tears. (Aly has cheered on and supported Jordyn every step of the way, every time that Jordyn has registered a higher score than her, so I would expect Jordyn to return Aly's total classiness. For their parts, Shannon Miller and Nastia Liukin tweeted* their condolences to Jordyn Wieber.) And I hope Jordyn is able to put this behind her enough to pull off her share of Team USA's projected gold medal in team finals and hopefully, later in individual event finals, where she will likely still have the opportunity to take home a gold medal, and hopefully will do so.
*I am assuming that all of this tweeting is from the current athletes' agents rather than themselves, right? See also Michael Phelps' "Congrats to @ryanlochte ... Way to keep that title in the country where it belongs!!" from yesterday.
I won't just survive
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can't write my story
I'm beyond the archetype
I won't just conform
No matter how you shake my core
'Cause my roots, they run deep, oh
When, when the fire's at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They're whispering, "You're out of time,"
But still I rise
This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don't be surprised, I will still rise
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can't write my story
I'm beyond the archetype
I won't just conform
No matter how you shake my core
'Cause my roots, they run deep, oh
When, when the fire's at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They're whispering, "You're out of time,"
But still I rise
This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don't be surprised, I will still rise
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nerdanel
- This is Rome
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- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:48 pm
- Location: Concrete Jungle by the Lagoon
Finally saw the men's 400M IM. Not sure what others think, but I think Lochte erred in not taking two additional short quick strokes: at the end of his breaststroke leg and in his finish. He twice glided into the wall; the glide at the end of the breaststroke was particularly long. I think the two together would've made the difference between the high 4:03 he needed for the record and the low 4:05 he actually swam.
ETA Wow, this is unbelievable. The remainder of the swimming finals from TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AGO are not available through NBC. This just crosses any boundaries of acceptable journalism and certainly warrants seeking other sources of footage. Elen, can I access the BBC player in question from the US?
ETA Wow, this is unbelievable. The remainder of the swimming finals from TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AGO are not available through NBC. This just crosses any boundaries of acceptable journalism and certainly warrants seeking other sources of footage. Elen, can I access the BBC player in question from the US?
Last edited by nerdanel on Sun Jul 29, 2012 7:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I won't just survive
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can't write my story
I'm beyond the archetype
I won't just conform
No matter how you shake my core
'Cause my roots, they run deep, oh
When, when the fire's at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They're whispering, "You're out of time,"
But still I rise
This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don't be surprised, I will still rise
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can't write my story
I'm beyond the archetype
I won't just conform
No matter how you shake my core
'Cause my roots, they run deep, oh
When, when the fire's at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They're whispering, "You're out of time,"
But still I rise
This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don't be surprised, I will still rise
I don't know, some of it could be from the athletes themselves 
.
I'm happy for Aly too. If she does as well as she did today, she could win the all around as well.
.I'm happy for Aly too. If she does as well as she did today, she could win the all around as well.
For the TROUBLED may you find PEACE
For the DESPAIRING may you find HOPE
For the LONELY may you find LOVE
For the SKEPTICAL may you find FAITH
-Frances C. Arrillaga 1941-1995
For the DESPAIRING may you find HOPE
For the LONELY may you find LOVE
For the SKEPTICAL may you find FAITH
-Frances C. Arrillaga 1941-1995
nel, sorry the BBC Sport IVP does say available to UK users only - I didn't see that originally when I posted. But the BBC Olympics page that I linked to you should be able to view - yes? At least you can get some shorter clips on there for most sports.nerdanel wrote:ETA Wow, this is unbelievable. The remainder of the swimming finals from TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AGO are not available through NBC. This just crosses any boundaries of acceptable journalism and certainly warrants seeking other sources of footage. Elen, can I access the BBC player in question from the US?
There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other human beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and is often more profound.
~Diana Cortes
~Diana Cortes
I'm sure enough googling would reveal a way around that.
I wish BBC just found a way to let non-UK viewers pay for viewing.
Eta: the x-post gremlin strikes again. I was responding to nel and Elen.
I wish BBC just found a way to let non-UK viewers pay for viewing.
Eta: the x-post gremlin strikes again. I was responding to nel and Elen.
Last edited by Frelga on Sun Jul 29, 2012 8:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Sure was - Yay for defending champion Becky Adlington who grabbed the Bronze! (she wasn't expected to be able to defend her title, and this was her weaker event compared to the 800m coming up this Friday)halplm wrote:Some great swimming today. The women's 400 free was crazy!
ETA: Interestingly her time for this Bronze was faster than her Gold-winning time in Beijing in the full bodysuit...
There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other human beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and is often more profound.
~Diana Cortes
~Diana Cortes
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ToshoftheWuffingas
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:34 pm
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nerdanel
- This is Rome
- Posts: 5963
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:48 pm
- Location: Concrete Jungle by the Lagoon
Very quick correction as I posted incorrectly earlier. Gabby Douglas did compete on all four events, and I'm not sure if I got the others' lineups right either. No time to check at the moment. Turns out that I read an erroneous news report. Apologies.
I won't just survive
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can't write my story
I'm beyond the archetype
I won't just conform
No matter how you shake my core
'Cause my roots, they run deep, oh
When, when the fire's at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They're whispering, "You're out of time,"
But still I rise
This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don't be surprised, I will still rise
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can't write my story
I'm beyond the archetype
I won't just conform
No matter how you shake my core
'Cause my roots, they run deep, oh
When, when the fire's at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They're whispering, "You're out of time,"
But still I rise
This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don't be surprised, I will still rise
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nerdanel
- This is Rome
- Posts: 5963
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:48 pm
- Location: Concrete Jungle by the Lagoon
Unfortunately, I had swim practice then myself. Am sticking to my vow that the Olympics are not going to interfere with and cause disappointment during my upcoming swim meet. I have been working really hard and I don't want to get distracted now. But, I had an on fire weights session this morning, courtesy of Aly Raisman, on the theory that I too could discover that I was capable of a lot more than I previously had done. This was correct.halplm wrote:You watching the swimming live right now, nel?
anyway, looking forward to catching the swimming and gymnastics later, but first off I have hiking with friends in the East Bay.I won't just survive
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can't write my story
I'm beyond the archetype
I won't just conform
No matter how you shake my core
'Cause my roots, they run deep, oh
When, when the fire's at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They're whispering, "You're out of time,"
But still I rise
This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don't be surprised, I will still rise
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can't write my story
I'm beyond the archetype
I won't just conform
No matter how you shake my core
'Cause my roots, they run deep, oh
When, when the fire's at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They're whispering, "You're out of time,"
But still I rise
This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don't be surprised, I will still rise
-
ToshoftheWuffingas
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:34 pm
More on the opening ceremony:
Ever since Beijing us Brits have been cringing at the potential embarrassment of our own efforts. No one thought we were up to matching it. Luckily and sensibly they didn't try to. I sat down to watch it prepared to be cynical and to cover my eyes.
I was wrong. It said everything I want to say about being British and I never knew before what I wanted to say. It had breadth, colour, movement, visual invention, stage tricks, fine music, song and dance. It got to the heart of what we hope we are. It spoke to our children and hope for the new generation, the central role our health service has in our hearts, the gift of children's literature and the World Wide web to the world. It brought in our head of state and made fun of her and she joined in the joke and played a song by a group that had attacked the monarchy. It acknowledged the darkness as well as the light, sadness as well as joy and had times for silly jokes. This was elan in spades.
The opening lines of Caliban in The Tempest introduced it:
"Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again."
Ever since Beijing us Brits have been cringing at the potential embarrassment of our own efforts. No one thought we were up to matching it. Luckily and sensibly they didn't try to. I sat down to watch it prepared to be cynical and to cover my eyes.
I was wrong. It said everything I want to say about being British and I never knew before what I wanted to say. It had breadth, colour, movement, visual invention, stage tricks, fine music, song and dance. It got to the heart of what we hope we are. It spoke to our children and hope for the new generation, the central role our health service has in our hearts, the gift of children's literature and the World Wide web to the world. It brought in our head of state and made fun of her and she joined in the joke and played a song by a group that had attacked the monarchy. It acknowledged the darkness as well as the light, sadness as well as joy and had times for silly jokes. This was elan in spades.
The opening lines of Caliban in The Tempest introduced it:
"Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again."
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ToshoftheWuffingas wrote:Ahem, I am going to London on Wednesday to see the men's epee final and the women's sabre final.
Jealous. Assuming Mariel Zagunis is in the final of the sabre final (which I would never do, but she's awesome), that would be in my top five events I would want to see in person... not that I can tell what's going on watching fencing... but I don't feel so bad about that since they seem to go to replay an awful lot to determine points
.I'm going to say one last thing about NBC and then I'm going to try to ignore them for the rest of the time. (as I was writing this, NBC's tape delayed coverage of water polo missed a goal scored due to a commercial...
)I remember in past olympics, I was watching things on television like water polo, and being the wimp that I am, I would check to see who won online, since it was all tape delayed. This made it fun to watch if I knew the US was going to win, and I could turn it off if they weren't. Not my preference, but I worked with what I had.
This morning, I was able to watch the US Water Polo match against Montenegro live online (It's on again now on TV, delayed). This was without a doubt, the most exciting water polo match I personally have had the opportunity to watch. It was close, well played, and extremely competitive... but it was made all the more exciting because I could not go check the score. It was happening live, and there's no substitute in sports to watching it as it happens, even if you don't know the result. Just knowing it's already happened takes something away.
The fact that NBC willfully disregards this for whatever reason they do (they lose money on their broadcasts, so it's not money)... makes them a disgrace to sports, news, and television in general.
For the TROUBLED may you find PEACE
For the DESPAIRING may you find HOPE
For the LONELY may you find LOVE
For the SKEPTICAL may you find FAITH
-Frances C. Arrillaga 1941-1995
For the DESPAIRING may you find HOPE
For the LONELY may you find LOVE
For the SKEPTICAL may you find FAITH
-Frances C. Arrillaga 1941-1995
Two less empty seats, then!ToshoftheWuffingas wrote:Ahem, I am going to London on Wednesday to see the men's epee final and the women's sabre final.
My eldest boy is going with his school to the Bronze medal play-offs in the Men's handball and Men's field hockey on August 11th/12th. He's a big hockey fan and plays in the school team so is very excited they managed to get tickets for these matches.
I must also mention the phenomenal Men's 4x100 freestyle relay in the pool last night - thought USA had it in the bag until that last, incredible leg by the Frenchman Yannick Agnel. Great swim!!
There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other human beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and is often more profound.
~Diana Cortes
~Diana Cortes
That was an amazing race. I'll need nel to explain if Lochte had a bad final leg or if France's was just that good (my untrained eye seems to think the Frenchman's leg was insanely fast). Not really disappointed at all as it was the mirror image of 4 years agoElentári wrote: I must also mention the phenomenal Men's 4x100 freestyle relay in the pool last night - thought USA had it in the bag until that last, incredible leg by the Frenchman Yannick Agnel. Great swim!!
.Go US Diving! Phenomenal Bronze for the Men's 10m synchro (sorry Brits). Added to the silver for the women yesterday, they seem to be putting the last 12 years without medals into the past
.Getting ready for the Men's gymnastics team final coming up... gonna be stressful...
For the TROUBLED may you find PEACE
For the DESPAIRING may you find HOPE
For the LONELY may you find LOVE
For the SKEPTICAL may you find FAITH
-Frances C. Arrillaga 1941-1995
For the DESPAIRING may you find HOPE
For the LONELY may you find LOVE
For the SKEPTICAL may you find FAITH
-Frances C. Arrillaga 1941-1995
We watched the swimming and the women's gymnastics last night. (Freddy has been watching more than that. We're both disappointed that we haven't caught anything like archery or any of the shooting sports. No offense to anyone, but I find swimming incredibly boring to watch, much like bike riding. However, I find watching sports on TV to be boring in general, so don't mind me! I do like the overall idea of the Olympics, though.)
Anyway, was the floor for the women's gymnastics floor routine super bouncy? I found it surprising that several of them went out of bounds.
Tosh, I would love to see something in person, and fencing would be a top choice!
I'm sorry I missed the opening ceremony. (I was working the Celtic Festival.) I heard there was some controversy over the version Americans saw. ??
Anyway, was the floor for the women's gymnastics floor routine super bouncy? I found it surprising that several of them went out of bounds.
Tosh, I would love to see something in person, and fencing would be a top choice!
I'm sorry I missed the opening ceremony. (I was working the Celtic Festival.) I heard there was some controversy over the version Americans saw. ??
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Voronwë the Faithful
- At the intersection of here and now
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That's really cool, Nin! Good luck to him. I hope he is soaking in the experience.Nin wrote:One of my ex-students competes in rowing. His name is Lucas Tramer
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."