Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I love the Summer Olympics for a couple reasons. First of all, we always win the medal count by a ridiculous number, since the games are essentially a "look how awesome/rich we are". Also, the Winter Olympics suck because everything is judged. Most of the Summer Games are races, no judges deciding crap.

 

For most of the games I'll be back at school but classes will not have started yet, so I'm hoping to catch as much of it as I can. As far as personal tie-ins, my girlfriend will be at the games covering Cycling, so I suppose I need to follow those events.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

I ran track in college, so that is why I'm always looking forward to the Olympics. It's basically the Super Bowl for track athletes. It's the one time where the whole world is watching, and people actually know some track names for good reasons instead of for steroids or EPO.

 

And this is the one time I enjoy watching NBA players. I'm always curious to see if stars can actually play together when you get that many on one team. Most of those guys are used to being the go-to guy on their team, so it's fun to see how they handle being a role player.

[SpongeWorthy]

I love the Summer Olympics for a couple reasons. First of all, we always win the medal count by a ridiculous number, since the games are essentially a "look how awesome/rich we are". Also, the Winter Olympics suck because everything is judged. Most of the Summer Games are races, no judges deciding crap.

 

For most of the games I'll be back at school but classes will not have started yet, so I'm hoping to catch as much of it as I can. As far as personal tie-ins, my girlfriend will be at the games covering Cycling, so I suppose I need to follow those events.

 

China will be very, very motivated to win the gold medal count this year.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/21/sports/olympics/21athlete.html?ref=todayspaper

 

It's pretty sickening what the Chinese government is doing to its Olympians. I understand college coaches scouting middle schoolers is low but this takes the cake.

[jaydee]

I love the Summer Olympics for a couple reasons. First of all, we always win the medal count by a ridiculous number, since the games are essentially a "look how awesome/rich we are". Also, the Winter Olympics suck because everything is judged. Most of the Summer Games are races, no judges deciding crap.

 

For most of the games I'll be back at school but classes will not have started yet, so I'm hoping to catch as much of it as I can. As far as personal tie-ins, my girlfriend will be at the games covering Cycling, so I suppose I need to follow those events.

 

China will be very, very motivated to win the gold medal count this year.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/21/sports/olympics/21athlete.html?ref=todayspaper

 

It's pretty sickening what the Chinese government is doing to its Olympians. I understand college coaches scouting middle schoolers is low but this takes the cake.

 

not surprising. they dont exactly treat their citizens well. i think it would be hilarious if the USA still wins the gold medal count haha...even if China does win it it will be in the obscure events no one cares about.

[karenmac]

I'm also looking forward to the Olympics. I grew up around the pool as a kid, so still really enjoy watching amazing swimmers. I'm kind of bummed to think about the fact that this is the last scheduled year for baseball in the summer games, though. To that point, however, I'm also wondering whom from our minor league system we might lose to go compete in Beijing. Maestri? Chen? Rhee? Not even sure which countries have qualified to field a team.

 

I'm still a bigger fan of the summer games, but we're hoping to get to Vancouver in 2010 to see the winter games. My husband is a *huge* curling fan, so we'll be going for the hockey and the curling, mostly. Oh, and the people watching. Now we just have to figure out the "paying for it" part.

[hardcorecubfan]

I'm also looking forward to the Olympics. I grew up around the pool as a kid, so still really enjoy watching amazing swimmers. I'm kind of bummed to think about the fact that this is the last scheduled year for baseball in the summer games, though. To that point, however, I'm also wondering whom from our minor league system we might lose to go compete in Beijing. Maestri? Chen? Rhee? Not even sure which countries have qualified to field a team.

 

I'm still a bigger fan of the summer games, but we're hoping to get to Vancouver in 2010 to see the winter games. My husband is a *huge* curling fan, so we'll be going for the hockey and the curling, mostly. Oh, and the people watching. Now we just have to figure out the "paying for it" part.

 

did you watch the diving today? I thought we looked like we are going to get our butts handed to us in that sport

[ctcf]

Gotta hand it to China, they sure know how to market those Olympic Baby mascots over there.

 

I still don't understand how they plan to hold those games with the air the way it is in Beijing.

 

BTW Truff, the swimming complex is really cool up close.

[TruffleShuffle]

swimming is on NBC at 8 ET/7 CT

[Derwood]

swimming is on NBC at 8 ET/7 CT

 

opposite the Cubs game. hmmm, tough choice

[TruffleShuffle]

swimming is on NBC at 8 ET/7 CT

 

opposite the Cubs game. hmmm, tough choice

 

not when you are a member of the 21st century (i.e., have a DVR)

[dew1679666265]

swimming is on NBC at 8 ET/7 CT

 

I already found out about the girl I was covering - she finished 31st. 1.59 better would have put her in the finals.

[Butterscup1679666578]

The lone Mizzou guy swimmer had a pretty poor run in his event (I forget and I'm too lazy to look it up). Finished like 70th out of 78 or something, but these are the best swimmers in the country, so our expectations weren't terribly high. We have three girls swimming later in the week.

[TruffleShuffle]

well i'm enjoying this already; tom hammond just called ryan lochte a "clutch swimmer." i don't even know what the hell that means.

[TruffleShuffle]

wow, first event of the night and both phelps and lochte broke the world record... so sick! lochte has gotten really really good, but phelps is a machine. they were both nearly 8 seconds ahead of the third place finisher, and all you have to do is finish top two to make the olympic team, so they really didn't have any reason to blow it out like that. but they're just both hyper-competitive, and as long as lochte was going to go all out to win, phelps was going to do the same. this u.s. swim team should be amazing in beijing.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Tyson Gay is faster than you.

 

9.68 (wind aided) in the 100. Fastest 100 meters ever run by anyone. World record is 9.72. Wind was 2 meters per second over the maximum allowed, otherwise he'd have the record. That's just filthy.

[TruffleShuffle]

Tyson Gay is faster than you.

 

9.68 (wind aided) in the 100. Fastest 100 meters ever run by anyone. World record is 9.72. Wind was 2 meters per second over the maximum allowed, otherwise he'd have the record. That's just filthy.

 

what i don't get is why he was easing up in his first race. he almost didn't qualify because he eased up at the wrong line and had to lunge ahead to finish 4th in his heat. the race is 10 seconds long for God's sakes, why do you need to conserve energy?

[TruffleShuffle]

natalie coughlin's WR in the 100 back was broken in this morning's preliminary heats, so she got in and took the record back about two minutes later.

 

i know there were some northwestern folks who were following a former swimmer there, matt grevers. he placed 2nd in this morning's 100 back prelims, but piersol and lochte are still favorites to finish top two. those guys finished 6th and 7th this morning, i think.

[chuckywang]

i try to enjoy the olympics, but my interest has waned to almost zero once they opened the floodgates to pro athletes. It's gotten to the point where I actively root against the US in Olympic Basketball.

 

other countries always allowed their pros. I don't watch the basketball but I would find it difficult to actually root against them.

 

Yeah, the US would get absolutely slaughtered if they only allowed their college players to compete.

[Sammy Sofa]

Tyson Gay is faster than you.

 

Yeah, but his name is Tyson Gay.

 

Winner...me.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Tyson Gay is faster than you.

 

Yeah, but his name is Tyson Gay.

 

Winner...me.

Yeah, first and second place went to guys named Gay and Dix, on the same day that the gay pride parade was taking place. Let the giggling ensue.

[TruffleShuffle]

wow, grevers beat out two great backstrokers to finish 2nd and make the olympic team. sucks for ryan lochte, he's probably the next best backstroker in the world but only two u.s. swimmers can make it, so he is out. but he will be busy in beijing either way.

[Jon]

wow, grevers beat out two great backstrokers to finish 2nd and make the olympic team. sucks for ryan lochte, he's probably the next best backstroker in the world but only two u.s. swimmers can make it, so he is out. but he will be busy in beijing either way.

I just read. Awesome news!

[GhostRunner]

Didn't see any thread on this yet ... opening ceremony finishing up now (on 12-hour delay, that is).

 

Apparently, some wacky Frenchman has called out the U.S. swim team. Michael Phelps may just eat his foie gras after sweeping the golds.

 

Personally, I'm stoked for table tennis and fencing. :grin:

[Soul]

C.C. where are you dude? The world's most incredible HDTV just rolled out on the floor of that stadium!

 

I want it!

[Andy]

That story about the 9 year old Chinese boy who saved his classmates in Sichuan was really touching.