Official 2008 Beijing Olympics Thread

[Bloodhound]

That'd be great but I might as well stay up too (as long as it starts pretty soon). I have to work anyway - the joys of telecommuting. And it's not quite midnight here yet.

OK....they have BMX again after the Vollyball

 

[MontanaZoo]

I think BMX would be a smart sport for the Olympics to keep since it's one where the athletes can actually go professional and earn a living while pursuing their sport. I always feel bad for athletes like the swimmers or divers (other than ones who will get the big endorsement checks), what will they do.

I saw that one of the US divers started her own foundation to build a new pool facility in her hometown since they're closing the old one where she dives.

 

[Bloodhound]

I saw that one of the US divers started her own foundation to build a new pool facility in her hometown since they're closing the old one where she dives.

I seen something about this somewhere...thats a great cause

 

[LoveKermit]

I was glad I hadn't heard the high bar results because I was actually surprised. I normally wouldn't have watched but somehow got sucked in. I'm glad I did. In fact, I thought the Horton routine was more lively than the Chinese who won. He really drew in the crowd. The announcers weren't too upset by his score. I just thought he could/should have won. But that was a nice underdog story.

Men's bball is on this morning. Lots of quarterfinals and semifinals the next couple days.

Now, I thought NBC said women's beach volleyball would be live tonight. I heard on the radio that they are playing "when we are sleeping tonight." So, is NBC pulling the wool over our eyes about what's actually live????

 

[MontanaZoo]

I was glad I hadn't heard the high bar results because I was actually surprised. I normally wouldn't have watched but somehow got sucked in. I'm glad I did. In fact, I thought the Horton routine was more lively than the Chinese who won. He really drew in the crowd. The announcers weren't too upset by his score. I just thought he could/should have won. But that was a nice underdog story.

Men's bball is on this morning. Lots of quarterfinals and semifinals the next couple days.

Now, I thought NBC said women's beach volleyball would be live tonight. I heard on the radio that they are playing "when we are sleeping tonight." So, is NBC pulling the wool over our eyes about what's actually live????

Well, here nothing is Live. Out east somethings are Live depending on when the little word Live is in the upper right corner of the screen. Primetime coverage is always a mix of EDT Live and previously recorded footage.

 

[Bloodhound]

Good Morning,they have the 4th quater of Spain vs Serbia Mens Water Polo on the USA Channel now after the Mens USA BBall game.

 

[Bloodhound]

Now, I thought NBC said women's beach volleyball would be live tonight. I heard on the radio that they are playing "when we are sleeping tonight." So, is NBC pulling the wool over our eyes about what's actually live????

Who sleeps??? It was 2:40 AM eastern time when I turned off the BMX Race ....if thats what you mean by "Live" while we are sleeping??? : Lucky for me that I dont have to open the Antiques Mall till 10:00AM.....lol ...we are slow in the mornings



indoor mens vollyball on NBC now USA VS Serbia

 

[Bloodhound]

I was glad I hadn't heard the high bar results because I was actually surprised. I normally wouldn't have watched but somehow got sucked in. I'm glad I did. In fact, I thought the Horton routine was more lively than the Chinese who won. He really drew in the crowd. The announcers weren't too upset by his score. I just thought he could/should have won. But that was a nice underdog story.

I think Horton should have won too..and he would have if he had stuck the landing ...but nobody hardly did stick it.....if I remember right it was 2/100 of a point difference between 1 an 2 but I was really tired from all these late nights ...he was just happy to medal and because of the upsets he did....he was really happy with his Silver

 

[missypie]

My DDs kept saying that if only Jonathan had stuck the landing, he'd have had gold. But you could see by his face that he was so thrilled with the silver, I don't think he has any regrets. He said on the Today Show that he added in a few more difficult elements for the finals. I'm sure he knew that with such a risky routine, he'd either be on the medal stand if he nailed it, or near the bottom if he fell.

I was glad that Fabian from Germany got the bronze, just because we think he's cute.

The Today Show briefly had the entire women's and men's teams on their air (only interviewed the recent medal winners.) They all looked like they were having a great time except Alicia. I bet she just want to get home as soon as she can.

 

[MontanaZoo]

indoor mens vollyball on NBC now USA VS Serbia

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[MontanaZoo]

What was with the whole Brazilians beach volleyball guys being adopted by Georgia and going with the names Geor/Gia - that's legal?

 

[Deb in IA]

Can someone please explain the rules of volleyball to me?

Let's start with indoor volleyball.

Now, back in the day when I play intramural volleyball (and yes, I'm only 5 feet tall, so you can imagine how that was!), I remember that you could only score when you were serving, and that the first team to 15 won, unless it was one point difference, then you continued play until you won by 2.

It appears now that you can score points even if you are not serving?

And what are "side-outs"?

Finally, are the rules the same for beach volleyball, and if not, what are the differences??

Thanks!!

 

[LoveKermit]

Volleyball is now rally scoring, which means a point is scored everytime the ball hits the floor. Indoor goes to 25. It seems that beach goes to 21. In IL, even the high schools are playing this way and can use the libero too. All these rules start at the Olympics, then filter to colleges and finally to high schools. I think the last Olympics (maybe more) used rally scoring to 25.

A side out is when you get the serve back. You're right, it used to mean just that. Now a side out also scores a point AND gets your team the serve.

You still have to win by two, but at least in h.s., we've found it's hard to have a big comeback now.

Did I get it all? Let us know.

 

[Bloodhound]

My DDs kept saying that if only Jonathan had stuck the landing, he'd have had gold. But you could see by his face that he was so thrilled with the silver, I don't think he has any regrets. He said on the Today Show that he added in a few more difficult elements for the finals. I'm sure he knew that with such a risky routine, he'd either be on the medal stand if he nailed it, or near the bottom if he fell.
.

I really still think he should have won....his routine was fast moving , precise and flowed well from one move to the next..(better than the FAVORITE) well till the dismount step (THE FAVORITE TOOK A STEP TOO).......THE ONLY THING IS I cant remeber the difficulty factor between 1 an 2.

 

[Deb in IA]

What was with the whole Brazilians beach volleyball guys being adopted by Georgia and going with the names Geor/Gia - that's legal?

Really? Hadn't heard that, and I'm afraid to look it up on any websites for fear of other spoilers.


But switching to another topic:


How heartbreaking was it to see poor Lolo Jones in the women's 100 meter hurdles last night? Oh, how sad! As we all know now, she was in the lead and hit the second to the last hurdle, causing her to stumble and lose her momentum. In that fraction of a second, she went from being #1 to ending up 7th. She immediately crumpled to the track and stayed prone for what seemed like an eternity. Dawn Harper of the US won, in her very first Olympics.

Afterward, Lolo was gracious as ever talking with reporters, saying that she made a mistake, and to be Olympic champion, you can't make mistakes. But they showed her afterward, leaning against the wall by the entry tunnel, no longer able to control her emotions.

 

[missypie]

Okay, totally unrelated to anything but you know how in beach volleyball they wear a swim suit top that is like a sports bra? Did you notice what was on the front of the Brazilian player's tops: BRA. We thought they should have PANTS on their pants.

 

[Deb in IA]

Volleyball is now rally scoring, which means a point is scored everytime the ball hits the floor. Indoor goes to 25. It seems that beach goes to 21. In IL, even the high schools are playing this way and can use the libero too. All these rules start at the Olympics, then filter to colleges and finally to high schools. I think the last Olympics (maybe more) used rally scoring to 25.

A side out is when you get the serve back. You're right, it used to mean just that. Now a side out also scores a point AND gets your team the serve.

You still have to win by two, but at least in h.s., we've found it's hard to have a big comeback now.

Did I get it all? Let us know.

Thanks! It does seem to move faster with more scoring.

 

[Bloodhound]

Volleyball is now rally scoring, which means a point is scored everytime the ball hits the floor. Indoor goes to 25. It seems that beach goes to 21. In IL, even the high schools are playing this way and can use the libero too. All these rules start at the Olympics, then filter to colleges and finally to high schools. I think the last Olympics (maybe more) used rally scoring to 25.

A side out is when you get the serve back. You're right, it used to mean just that. Now a side out also scores a point AND gets your team the serve.

You still have to win by two, but at least in h.s., we've found it's hard to have a big comeback now.

Did I get it all? Let us know.

I think you explained it very well. ... side out could also be the ball going off the block out of bounds with no recover...is this right???

 

[Bloodhound]

Okay, totally unrelated to anything but you know how in beach volleyball they wear a swim suit top that is like a sports bra? Did you notice what was on the front of the Brazilian player's tops: BRA. We thought they should have PANTS on their pants.

I was thinking something similar...but the pants part really made me spit my water....LOL

 

[Deb in IA]

Does anyone know when NBC is showing Tae Kwon Do? The Lopez sibs from USA are expected to do well, and we want to see them. We are a TKD family - DH is a brown belt, DS is a red belt, DD is a green belt.