Olympics anyone?

[Alan]

Now I can see baseball players diving into 1st base with the olympics as "proof" that technique works .

They dive into all the other bases, the only reason that they don't dive into first is that they don't have to maintain contact with the base.

I saw another 2 collisions in the women's 5k race today. One of them resulted in a stumble and recovery, the other in both women falling and being eliminated. This running thing can be really tough when there are a lot of runners.

 

[easysurfer]

They dive into all the other bases, the only reason that they don't dive into first is that they don't have to maintain contact with the base.

I saw another 2 collisions in the women's 5k race today. One of them resulted in a stumble and recovery, the other in both women falling and being eliminated. This running thing can be really tough when there are a lot of runners.

I think studies are shown that diving in 1st base isn't as quick at just running there. But perhaps that is assuming a person's body is upright with good footing.

 

[Alan]

I think studies are shown that diving in 1st base isn't as quick at just running there. But perhaps that is assuming a person's body is upright with good footing.

Exactly, I doubt they will change their tactics.

 

[easysurfer]

Bummer. US Women's beach volleyball lost to Brazil.

Match was lost after being up 18-16 in first set but couldn't close out. Brazil made some incredible dig shots.

 

[pb4uski]

.... I think in a discussion about the Olympics we should be discussing the crime visited on athletes and spectators, and the conditions of the residents of Rio, and the impact on the economy for decades to come, more so than the "games", but if no one else finds that stuff important enough then so be it. I concede to the majority's force of will.

It's about time.

Olympics is sport... this thread is on the Olympics... if we want to have a thread on Brazil's social ills then start another thread and we'll see how many posts that attracts.

 

[eytonxav]

They dive into all the other bases, the only reason that they don't dive into first is that they don't have to maintain contact with the base.

I have seen some dives into first base, its quite rare, but has happened. When slides are initiated into the other bases, such slides are initiated well short of the base to avoid sliding past, with first base slides, the slide usually occurs closer to the base and that risks injury.

 

[bUU]

It's about time.

 

[Koogie]

I saw another 2 collisions in the women's 5k race today. One of them resulted in a stumble and recovery, the other in both women falling and being eliminated. This running thing can be really tough when there are a lot of runners.

The two women in the second instance (NZ & US) both protested because they were "tripped" The protests were allowed and they have been entered into the final.

 

[Nemo2]

The two women in the second instance (NZ & US) both protested because they were "tripped" The protests were allowed and they have been entered into the final.

The way one of them, the American I think, was limping and wincing right after the fall, I'd be amazed if she could be ready to start without substantial painkillers, and without risking further, and serious, injury.

 

[easysurfer]

Womens' beach volleyball: revenge is sweet...

US beat the other Brazil team (who was ranked #1) to get the bronze. No way, should Walsh Jennings retire. She just had one bad match last night. Though 42 is a lot older than 38.

 

[ERD50]

Womens' beach volleyball: revenge is sweet...

US beat the other Brazil team (who was ranked #1) to get the bronze. No way, should Walsh Jennings retire. She just had one bad match last night. Though 42 is a lot older than 38.

Yes, their playing against Brazil on the 14th did not appear to me to be at the level we saw in their other matches in the Olympics. USA couldn't get it together in that match, and Brazil did.

But yesterday, against the #1 ranked Brazil team, they played much better. Still it was close much of the way, they didn't dominate.

So it's all relative. Walsh may be having some issues, but they ranked 3 going in and took bronze. But 4 more years after all these shoulder operations, it might be too much, and maybe the motivation just isn't there to do it again? Interesting to me that the ranks 1-4 made it to the semi- finals, no upsets at all. Though I watched the Brazil #1 rank play the #24 ranked Russian team, and it was no run-away.

I need to make a point of watching Beach Volleyball outside the Olympics. I just don't follow sports, but this one gets to me. Players are involved every micro-second of play, and for me, just the right combination of mostly skill, with a little randomness/luck thrown in to make it interesting. Fast, but not always so fast that you can't follow (I did need the replays to catch some details), and the ball is big enough to see easily! And the scoring seems right - high enough for randomness/luck to average out, low enough that every point matters.

In other matters:

Olympics is sport... this thread is on the Olympics... if we want to have a thread on Brazil's social ills then start another thread and we'll see how many posts that attracts.

Well, I actually agree with bUU on this one (may be a first for me?). The thread is titled "Olympics anyone?", so that seems open to all aspects of the Olympics, including Rio's readiness to handle it, financials, safety for visitors, etc. Overall all social ills of a country might be going a bit too far to link to the Olympics?

And if you look back at the first 20 posts or so, you'll see a fair amount of some of those sorts of comments/questions.

But since this thread has now turned mostly to analysis of what happens at the events themselves, a discussion of the "Effects of the Olympics" might work better in a separate thread? Just my two cents.

-ERD50

 

[easysurfer]

...

So it's all relative. Walsh may be having some issues, but they ranked 3 going in and took bronze. But 4 more years after all these shoulder operations, it might be too much, and maybe the motivation just isn't there to do it again? Interesting to me that the ranks 1-4 made it to the semi- finals, no upsets at all. Though I watched the Brazil #1 rank play the #24 ranked Russian team, and it was no run-away.

,,,

-ERD50

All the more reason, IMO, to not hang things up as you don't have to be top ranked to win it all...Germany this Olympics proves that. Walsh's diving for the ball by the boards in that one save was more what we a used to.

Just pure speculation but did you notice how happy they were (Ross almost couldn't contain herself) in the end when Walsh was talking to Ross after they won. She had to of said more than just "nice game" or "Yay! We got bronze!". The optimist in me thinks she told her "See you in Japan for the next olympics" similar to "lets win gold in Rio" after the last Olympics. As I said, just speculation.

 

[JoeWras]

I need to make a point of watching Beach Volleyball outside the Olympics. I just don't follow sports, but this one gets to me. Players are involved every micro-second of play, and for me, just the right combination of mostly skill, with a little randomness/luck thrown in to make it interesting. Fast, but not always so fast that you can't follow (I did need the replays to catch some details), and the ball is big enough to see easily! And the scoring seems right - high enough for randomness/luck to average out, low enough that every point matters.

The indoor games are on TV earlier and I've been watching some.

It is almost unwatchable compared to beach, although indoor women's is a good game. The beach game is a much better spectator experience. The skill still shows through, but it is necessarily slower.

Saw a few of the USA women's games, but missed the medal game. USA beach and indoor men were disappointing. Oh well. Today is a USA women's indoor game. I might fire up the stream while on lunch.

 

[ERD50]

The indoor games are on TV earlier and I've been watching some.

It is almost unwatchable compared to beach, ...

Yes, though take this with a giant amount of salt, as I'm not much of a sports fan at all. But regular indoor volleyball just was not anywhere near as interesting for me. Six people, so each has to only cover a small area, some of it comes down to confusion over who will take the ball. It took me a while to understand the 'campfire' reference, then I saw it - six players standing in a circle while the ball drops right in the middle. They look like they are sitting around a campfire.

Harder to see the action with all those people in the way. I just don't feel the excitement of "OK, there is only one person who can retrieve that ball, can they do it? Can they move that far and still get it over or in position for a 2nd or third hit?" I dunno, just many reasons for me that the beach game is just more fun for me.

And I even watched a men's beach game. I was a little afraid to do that, it might make me feel the women just aren't playing at the same level, and spoil it for me, but I didn't feel that way at all. The men are taller in general, and the net is set higher, so it's a slightly different game, and I suppose the best women would struggle against the best men, but the best of each playing their own matched team is very high level playing.

-ERD50

 

[Music Lover]

And I even watched a men's beach game. I was a little afraid to do that, it might make me feel the women just aren't playing at the same level, and spoil it for me, but I didn't feel that way at all. The men are taller in general, and the net is set higher, so it's a slightly different game, and I suppose the best women would struggle against the best men, but the best of each playing their own matched team is very high level playing.

-ERD50

There is a huge difference between the men and women. The weakest men's team would have no problem easily defeating the best women's team.

 

[MichaelB]

Do we have to go there?

 

[CaliKid]

The Lochte story is breaking finally. What morons. It seemed obvious they were lying but couldn't figure out why. Here's ESPN story:

2016 Rio Olympics -- Video shows U.S. swimmer damaging gas station, fighting with security guard in Ryan Lochte incident

 

[easysurfer]

The Lochte story is breaking finally. What morons. It seemed obvious they were lying but couldn't figure out why. Here's ESPN story:

2016 Rio Olympics -- Video shows U.S. swimmer damaging gas station, fighting with security guard in Ryan Lochte incident

This is sad. Sounds like they got drunk partying then made up the story. Wonder if the gas station would have called the cops or not.

Surely hope US Olympians behaving badly isn't the lasting impression as there are so many other good triumphant stories instead.

 

[Midpack]

Enjoying the 470 and 49er(FX) final (sailing) races today, after no wind on Mon or Wed. Breeze on today!!!

Also caught the mens single canoe and mens kayak double finals today. Holy smokes are they fast!

And we've been watching all the evening broadcasts too, swimming, gymnastics, beach volleyball, track, etc. - enjoy it all.

 

[JoeWras]

US Women volleyball falls to Serbia.

Congrats to the Serbian women. A come from behind victory in the final set.

US Women now play for Bronze.

 

[Music Lover]

I just heard a "good" drug test story regarding a Belgian decathlete. He underwent a routine drug test back in 2014 and they found markers that indicated that he may have cancer. They advised him, he got tested, and cancer was found. He underwent chemo and recovered fully and is now participating in the decathlon.

 

[nash031]

This is sad. Sounds like they got drunk partying then made up the story. Wonder if the gas station would have called the cops or not.

Surely hope US Olympians behaving badly isn't the lasting impression as there are so many other good triumphant stories instead.

Par for the course for Lochte. Sometimes we need to remember that these athletes are mostly late teens early 20-somethings, some with huge egos, lots of hormones, and often used to being protected because of their ability.

Lochte has a long history of being a jackass.

 

[nuke_diver]

Lochte is 32. You would think he'd know better by now but seems like he is trying to follow in the footsteps of other reality stars so you need to keep in the public eye at all times. I guess this was his way, showing what a bad ass he was by having a gun put to his head before surrendering his wallet...

or not

 

[easysurfer]

Lochte is 32. You would think he'd know better by now but seems like he is trying to follow in the footsteps of other reality stars so you need to keep in the public eye at all times. I guess this was his way, showing what a bad ass he was by having a gun put to his head before surrendering his wallet...

or not

Watching the news coverage. I think the Lochte thing may be renamed "The Pitstop Heard About Around the World" .

Looks like a big PR mess. I'm just glad no one got hurt physically.

 

[bUU]

Well, I actually agree with bUU on this one (may be a first for me?). The thread is titled "Olympics anyone?", so that seems open to all aspects of the Olympics, including Rio's readiness to handle it, financials, safety for visitors, etc. Overall all social ills of a country might be going a bit too far to link to the Olympics?

And if you look back at the first 20 posts or so, you'll see a fair amount of some of those sorts of comments/questions.

Thanks. My consternation is mostly about the double-standard. As we see in the last few messages right above this one, talking about matters beyond the games themselves is okay when those comments are made by some posters, but when I had some comments about crime visited on athletes it wasn't okay. I'm eminently polite about it, so it seems like it is the specific side of the issue that I take that makes my comments off-topic.