Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games

[Guest]

Baseball America[/url]"]LaPorta was the fifth U.S. batter to be beaned by China. Acting manager Steve Ontiveros and pitcher Jun-Yi Chen were both ejected. LaPorta’s beaning came after the Chinese were incensed when Nate Schierholtz barrelled over China’s catcher Yang Yang. China’s starting catcher Wang Wei (Mariners) had been knocked out of the game in an earlier collision at the plate with LaPorta.

 

So China's actual and acting manager were ejected, two of their pitchers were ejected and two of their catchers were knocked out after being run over.

 

Seriously, 5 hit by pitches?

[Hall7810]

I'm watching the game right now. For the life of me, I can't figure out why MSNBC decided to pick up the game in the top of the 6th (Schierholtz was just plunked).

[Hall7810]

For anyone that didn't think there could be more, I guess there is further controversy with women's gymnastics tonight.

[SouthSideRyan]

For anyone that didn't think there could be more, I guess there is further controversy with women's gymnastics tonight.

 

Yeah thanks for the spoilers WGN morning news!! :banghead:

[Guest]

The Braves are probably interested in signing Chinese reliever Zheng Xu:

 

MiLB.com[/url]"]LaPorta, the key player acquired by the Indians in the CC Sabathia trade earlier this summer, bowled over China catcher Wei Wang while scoring the third run of a breakthrough fifth inning to give the U.S. a 4-0 lead. Lefebvre -- who played against Davey Johnson during the Dodgers-Orioles World Series won by Baltimore in 1966 -- went ballistic at home plate and was summarily heaved. Wang left the game with a knee injury.

 

In the bottom of the sixth, Nate Schierholtz took out the backup catcher, Yang, in a violent collision at home on a sacrifice fly after the first baseman relayed home. That made it 5-0, but it also set the stage for what happened in the seventh inning, and what surely had the Indians organization concerned.

 

Leading off the inning, LaPorta faced reliever Zheng Xu. LaPorta took a fastball straight to the helmet, making a brutally loud sound that echoed through Wukesong. LaPorta went down, and it was reminiscent of Nix, who was struck in the face by a foul tip earlier in the tournament. Jason Donald, Nix's regular double play partner before Nix was injured, had been hit by pitches in the fourth and fifth innings. Whatever the cause, this was now escalated and as Xu was ejected.

 

The predominantly Chinese crowd made no bones about which side it was taking throughout the tense three innings. LaPorta, meanwhile, seemed OK as he was assisted over to the dugout following his beaning, but he was taken to a hospital to be checked out. Dexter Fowler replaced him at first as a pinch-runner. The only remaining question was whether the U.S. would knock out China with the 10-run mercy rule, having been frustrated inning after inning.

 

Maybe the most astonishing sight on this night came in the top of the ninth, when Neal was in to close with a 9-0 lead. Yang, the one who had been slammed at the plate, the son of a groundskeeper at the Games, pulverized a Neal fastball to the left-field seats to make it 9-1. On his way to third he started thrusting his arm, and then he danced and pumped his arm all the way home, leaping to stomp on the plate as if he had just made a statement to the Americans.

 

a) I'm not sure what Lefebvre was pissed about. Running over a catcher on a play at the plate? That's part of the game, idiot.

b) Hitting a player in the head as retaliation for two catchers being run over? Bush league.

 

I watched part of this online where there were no commentators, and you could totally hear Lefebvre's rant. It's pretty entertaining, but needless to say it's NSFW.

 

And I just saw that Chinese guy celebrate his home run. What a total moran.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

And I just saw that Chinese guy celebrate his home run. What a total moran.

wow, what a buffoon. is that the first one he's ever hit?

[Bruno7481]

There was a really good documentary PBS had on the other night documenting how Lefebvre has built China's baseball program. They followed them for the past 3 years. Its worth checking out if it comes on again.

[kujay]

I didn't care much at first about this thing where people are playing for other countries in the olympics, but this Kaman thing pisses me off.

 

You shouldn't get to go play for another country just because you aren't good enough to make your own team. That's not how it works.

 

If you have dual citizenship, or perhaps even if your parents were born in a country, that's fine. But this cherry picking is ridiculous.

 

If you aren't good enough to make your own team, then you should be SOL. The blind ambition of some folks is galling.

 

This really bothers you? I don't really care what they do, Kaman has a right to play for Germany. I don't look at it as being a traitor or anything of that nature, he's just doing what's best for himself. I'd do the same thing if I were in his position.

 

Call me old-fashioned, but I think if there is anything left in sports that isn't about "doing what's best for" oneself, it's the olympics.

 

The olympics are about representing your country with pride and distinction. Otherwise, athletes may as well just go to the highest bidder.

[jersey cubs fan]

I didn't care much at first about this thing where people are playing for other countries in the olympics, but this Kaman thing pisses me off.

 

You shouldn't get to go play for another country just because you aren't good enough to make your own team. That's not how it works.

 

If you have dual citizenship, or perhaps even if your parents were born in a country, that's fine. But this cherry picking is ridiculous.

 

If you aren't good enough to make your own team, then you should be SOL. The blind ambition of some folks is galling.

 

This really bothers you? I don't really care what they do, Kaman has a right to play for Germany. I don't look at it as being a traitor or anything of that nature, he's just doing what's best for himself. I'd do the same thing if I were in his position.

 

Call me old-fashioned, but I think if there is anything left in sports that isn't about "doing what's best for" oneself, it's the olympics.

 

The olympics are about representing your country with pride and distinction. Otherwise, athletes may as well just go to the highest bidder.

 

I agree. The whole notion of "wanting the olympic experience" is kind of silly when you do things like march in with another country, play for another country, etc. If you want to go ahead and move, great. But just pretending you are a citizen for the chance to play is ridiculous.

[jaydee]

And I just saw that Chinese guy celebrate his home run. What a total moran.

wow, what a buffoon. is that the first one he's ever hit?

judging by how good the chinese are at baseball, probably. talk about a horrible program. any vieo of this?

[SouthSideRyan]

Jacked up women grabbing stuff and throwing the crap out of it.

[kujay]

It's Walsh/May time, live on NBC. Playing some fine looking Brazilians.

 

God bless women's beach volleyball.

[kujay]

The announcer says they are "packed into the seats" as they pan across rows upon rows of empty seats. Nice. I wonder if these guys are in a studio in New York.

 

Brings back to mind the empty seat issue. Saw an article on Drudge this past weekend saying that the Chinese initially didn't sell all the available tickets (though they publicly said every ticket was sold) because they didn't want to deal with the crowds. So then they realized the PR issue and started busing people into the venues.

 

What a bunch of goobers.

[dew1679666265]

It's Walsh/May time, live on NBC. Playing some fine looking Brazilians.

 

God bless women's beach volleyball.

 

Yes, this is a very pleasant match to watch.

 

Oh yea, May-Treanor and Walsh are really good at volleyball too. :D

[dew1679666265]

The announcer says they are "packed into the seats" as they pan across rows upon rows of empty seats. Nice. I wonder if these guys are in a studio in New York.

 

Brings back to mind the empty seat issue. Saw an article on Drudge this past weekend saying that the Chinese initially didn't sell all the available tickets (though they publicly said every ticket was sold) because they didn't want to deal with the crowds. So then they realized the PR issue and started busing people into the venues.

 

What a bunch of goobers.

 

The likelihood is that these announcers are broadcasting from a studio in New York. Pretty much every announcing duo I've heard - save for basketball, gymnastics and swimming - have been. I doubt this would be an exception.

[kujay]

The announcer says they are "packed into the seats" as they pan across rows upon rows of empty seats. Nice. I wonder if these guys are in a studio in New York.

 

Brings back to mind the empty seat issue. Saw an article on Drudge this past weekend saying that the Chinese initially didn't sell all the available tickets (though they publicly said every ticket was sold) because they didn't want to deal with the crowds. So then they realized the PR issue and started busing people into the venues.

 

What a bunch of goobers.

 

The likelihood is that these announcers are broadcasting from a studio in New York. Pretty much every announcing duo I've heard - save for basketball, gymnastics and swimming - have been. I doubt this would be an exception.

 

I have heard them say several times in other events that they are not on the site. I think it is accepted that it's fine if you aren't there as long as you tell the audience. I didn't hear these guys say they aren't there, but I may have missed it.

[dew1679666265]

The announcer says they are "packed into the seats" as they pan across rows upon rows of empty seats. Nice. I wonder if these guys are in a studio in New York.

 

Brings back to mind the empty seat issue. Saw an article on Drudge this past weekend saying that the Chinese initially didn't sell all the available tickets (though they publicly said every ticket was sold) because they didn't want to deal with the crowds. So then they realized the PR issue and started busing people into the venues.

 

What a bunch of goobers.

 

The likelihood is that these announcers are broadcasting from a studio in New York. Pretty much every announcing duo I've heard - save for basketball, gymnastics and swimming - have been. I doubt this would be an exception.

 

I have heard them say several times in other events that they are not on the site. I think it is accepted that it's fine if you aren't there as long as you tell the audience. I didn't hear these guys say they aren't there, but I may have missed it.

 

I haven't heard either. I don't have a problem with them broadcasting from another location, but it definitely has to suck for them. I'd be pretty pissed if I was covering an event somewhere like China and didn't have the opportunity to go there.

[Soul]

*perks up*

 

Women's trampoline final?

[SouthSideRyan]

And now...

 

GIRLS ON TRAMPOLINES!!

[dew1679666265]

And now...

 

GIRLS ON TRAMPOLINES!!

 

=D> =D> =D> =D>

 

I love the Summer Olympics.

[AlwaysaCub]

The announcer says they are "packed into the seats" as they pan across rows upon rows of empty seats. Nice. I wonder if these guys are in a studio in New York.

 

Brings back to mind the empty seat issue. Saw an article on Drudge this past weekend saying that the Chinese initially didn't sell all the available tickets (though they publicly said every ticket was sold) because they didn't want to deal with the crowds. So then they realized the PR issue and started busing people into the venues.

 

What a bunch of goobers.

 

The likelihood is that these announcers are broadcasting from a studio in New York. Pretty much every announcing duo I've heard - save for basketball, gymnastics and swimming - have been. I doubt this would be an exception.

 

I have heard them say several times in other events that they are not on the site. I think it is accepted that it's fine if you aren't there as long as you tell the audience. I didn't hear these guys say they aren't there, but I may have missed it.

 

I haven't heard either. I don't have a problem with them broadcasting from another location, but it definitely has to suck for them. I'd be pretty pissed if I was covering an event somewhere like China and didn't have the opportunity to go there.

 

There was an article in the NY Times about this issue. They are indeed in New York City in studio 8H, better known as the set of SNL. Most of the broadcasters are limited to exactly what the television audience sees. NBC apparently agreed to do so to keep its on-site contingent small and save money.

[The Voice of Reason]

And now...

 

GIRLS ON TRAMPOLINES!!

 

Not exactly the same talent as displayed on the Man show.

[Soul]

Well, we've got 400m men's hurdles down pat.

 

I like how Taylor runs with the big ol' sunglasses on.

[SouthSideRyan]

Nastia looks much better in those interviews without her hair pulled back to her neck.

[SouthSideRyan]

And now we see where Nastia gets her forehead.