All athletes should unite to repeat the following sentence when asked about human rights in China:
'I'm sorry, the IOC forbids me to talk about human rights'.
That'll be the blow in the face the IOC deserves.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:

I hope it gets sufficient coverage, as the lesser known sports, like water polo, equestrian, kayak, judo, are tough to find on the dial sometimes.

This is a real problem, unless you're an insomniac plugged into satellite.
My pet peeve over the last few Olympics is that NBC, or whoever gets the rights, really only televises sports where American athletes shine. These are the WORLD OLYMPICS. I want to see the best in the world! Not just the best Americans. If we have a chance of bringing home the gold, great. If not, I want to see who does.
I'm so sick of watching a 1 hour backstory of some athlete who peters out well before the finish, or doesn't make it on the team at all. (Remember the months of "Dan v. Dave" hype a few years back?)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mneeley490,

I think most of the Olympics are crazy boring and I will probably just catch the highlights on sportscenter. My wife on the other hand is very excited. And mneeley490 makes a very good point, if the coverage focused more and the best athletes around the world instead of just the USA, it would be a much more enjoyable to watch.

I enjoy watching the Olympics. I enjoy the human interest pieces which the network does to personalize the experiences of the athletes. The opening ceremony is usually pretty cool to watch. My favorite is the track & field events in the summer. The Olympics should not be political. It is all about the human spirit triumphing over whatever the circumstances.

I probably will watch alot of it. I'm really curious to follow the mens basketball team to see if they will have a meltdown at some point.

Even though our media outlets are predicting the US will triumph, I think that China will bring home the largest medal haul, gold or otherwise. Home field advantage is very real in the Olympics, where nationalism is the largest external motivator.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Home field advantage is very real in the Olympics, where nationalism is the largest external motivator.

Plus 4 years are enough time to allow a host country like China to come up with undetectable synthetic performance enhancers.

Anybody watching the opening ceremonies? I watched it for 5 minutes and couldn't take it anymore. I wished Mr. and Mrs. Smith was on. I could watch Angelina in this movie a hundred times.

Yes, I watched it last night and loved it. I have friends who were there and they say it was beyond amazing. Made the Superbowl halftime show look like the trained pig show at the state fair.

Now: watching the US ladies crush the Czech Repbublic in hoops and Brazil get over on S. Korea in soccer. Next up, a bit of handball and more hoops.

Just thing three weeks without Law & Order, Jay Leno. UGH!!

Opening ceremonies for 4 1/2 hours is a bit much.

At least we have another 10+ channels to choose from.

quote:

Originally posted by cdr:
I thought it was a beautiful, multicultural celebration of diversity. It made me think that if we can all get along at this moment, then we should be able to end world hunger, nuclear weapons and all racism, sexism and homophobia. A new world is possible.

I think I would miss all of that stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by cdr:
I thought it was a beautiful, multicultural celebration of diversity. It made me think that if we can all get along at this moment, then we should be able to end world hunger, nuclear weapons and all racism, sexism and homophobia. A new world is possible.

It is exactly this kind of self-defeatist pessimism that makes our world go round. Can't you be happy for one day in your life without politizing everything?

So I've been watching the Olympics coverage over the past couple days on both CBC here in Canada and NBC in the US.

I have a question - why are the US hosts/announcers so dour? Jim Lampley in particular! I swear it's as if he doesn't want to be there. He looks pretty pissed off/angry.

I thought the Olympics were supposed to be a celebration of sport!

quote:

Originally posted by futronic:


I have a question - why are the US hosts/announcers so dour? Jim Lampley in particular! I swear it's as if he doesn't want to be there. He looks pretty pissed off/angry.

Jim Lampley, or Jim Lampshade as he is know here in Texas is just an empty suit, and always has been imo.

Hum, I wonder if he is from Minnesota?

Iran ordered its medal hope swimmer athlete NOT to compete today--why? Because there was an Israeli athlete in the same competition.
Is that sick or what?

yeah that's pretty stupid. Keep the politics out of the Olympics. These people train their entire lives for this moment.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by futronic:


I have a question - why are the US hosts/announcers so dour? Jim Lampley in particular! I swear it's as if he doesn't want to be there. He looks pretty pissed off/angry.

Jim Lampley, or Jim Lampshade as he is know here in Texas is just an empty suit, and always has been imo.

Hum, I wonder if he is from Minnesota?

Hah!

I know Lampley more from boxing telecasts on ESPN, but if you want to talk empty suit, look into Larry Merchant. I have to turn the channel whenever he's on TV doing pre- and post-fight interviews. It's like Shatner x 1000. Brutal!

I watched part of the opening ceremonies last night. We used to vote on which country had the hottest chicks. From what I could see last night, I vote for Brazil.

quote:

Originally posted by cdr:
You see, in our country, we have the right of free speech. I know your country does not and it can be quite unsettling to hear opinions shared freely, but I urge you to emrace the diversity of viewpoints in the world, and celebrate the differences among us.

cdr-
You can saterize Canada on many levels. No argument there. But criticizing 'free speech' is not one of those you can critique with credence. I was born and raised in the U.S. and spend more time there than in Canada. I experience/observe more 'free speech' in Canada than I do in the States, by far. Tune in to 'This Hour has Sixty Minutes' for just one small example. I highly doubt Dubja would invite Rick Mercer to 'The House' for pointed 'in your face' satire on home turf, as the Premier has. Just ONE example. There are no 'off limits' topics on any level. I beg to be corrected.

Pick another one, my fellow forumite.

quote:

Originally posted by Red guy in a blue state:
I watched part of the opening ceremonies last night. We used to vote on which country had the hottest chicks. From what I could see last night, I vote for Brazil.

I didn't think of it that way. I am marking my calendar for the next opening ceremonies ... in 2012? Sounds like a future WS Entertainment forum topic.

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleD:

quote:

Originally posted by Red guy in a blue state:
I watched part of the opening ceremonies last night. We used to vote on which country had the hottest chicks. From what I could see last night, I vote for Brazil.

I didn't think of it that way. I am marking my calendar for the next opening ceremonies ... in 2012? Sounds like a future WS Entertainment forum topic.

In Athens, Brazil were the big winners too, with Argentina, Spain, and Belgium nipping at their heels.

KSCO2,

Well done my man, well done.

It is early on a Sunday and you have me thinking about the women of Spain, Brazil, Italy and Belgium. (Bruges)

Thanks guys!

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
It is early on a Sunday and you have me thinking about the women of Spain, Brazil, Italy and Belgium. (Bruges)

Thanks guys!

Yes, can't believe I forgot Italy! And, many of the women from the tiny Caribbean islands are breathtakingly beautiful in person.

Onto the games.

I'm sure everyone knows, but you can watch much of the action LIVE by going to NBC.com Live streaming feeds, with no commercials (other than a brief one at the start) or stupid commentary, just the action. I just watched the end of a great 2-2 men's futbol match between the the Netherlands and USA.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: indybob,