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The Games Begin: 2012 Olympics

Opening ceremonies will be replayed on NBC tonight. Here's a recap from Reuters.

Who are you expecting to soar? What are the most anticipated events?

Here's a thread to talk about the Olympics.

Update: Absurd decision by NBC to make the opening portion of its Olympic coverage about security and the problems. Plus too many commercials and too much commentary. I'm already done watching -- 8 minutes.

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  • Display: Sort:
    I will be at the vocal olympics. (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 07:46:50 PM EST
    A seldom-performed Rossini opera. According to the synopsis, the heroine stabs herself and does not sing a post-stabbing aria. Refreshing.

    Does it have a fat lady in a Viking helmet? (none / 0) (#2)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 08:26:47 PM EST
    I mean, how can it be a proper opera, unless it has a corpulent soprano decked out in breastplates, a braided blonde wig and a Viking helmet with horns? How will you ever know that it's over and time to leave, until she sings?

    Parent
    In days of yore the heroine (yes,a soprano) (none / 0) (#13)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:09:41 PM EST
    would have been on the low side as to her weight. But standards as to weight and acting ability have changed. Nevertheless, she is a marvelous singer of Rossini. Terrific cast, conductor, chorus, and orchestra.

    Parent
    Hmmm.... (none / 0) (#42)
    by EL seattle on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 11:17:44 AM EST
    That definitely sounds rather atypical.

    But does she have an aria about threatening to stab herself? Maybe an aria called "Non sto scherzando, sono serio questa volta!" or something like that.

    Parent

    What the? (none / 0) (#55)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 02:31:07 PM EST
    An opera fan refreshed by the lack of lengthy song before dying?  What has happened to you?  You can't go on like this

    Parent
    MT... (none / 0) (#58)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 03:53:37 PM EST
    I left some links for you re: license replacement in the Thursday Open.

    Parent
    You are so sweet (none / 0) (#63)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 05:49:48 PM EST
    Thank you!!!

    Parent
    You're welcome. (none / 0) (#65)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 06:14:47 PM EST
    Always a pleasure to help out my fellow Coloradans, no matter where they may roam.

    Hope it works for you!!!  

    Parent

    Me too (none / 0) (#70)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 29, 2012 at 08:46:32 AM EST
    Welcome to Talk Left (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 09:30:35 PM EST
    where we'll even bitch about the Olympics.

    On an interesting note, The National Health Service played a part in the Opening Ceremonies. FOX is sure to find a sinister Obama hand in that.

    I found that pretty interesting (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 10:00:03 PM EST
    I was watching the live stream, so I didn't get the "American" (or would that be "Anglo-Saxon"?) commentary on it.

    Hey, we were all having fun with Mitten's Excellent Adventure yesterday!  :D

    Parent

    They also (5.00 / 3) (#21)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:31:16 PM EST
    had several political activists and the Secretary-General of the United Nations walking in the Olympic Flag. Rush will be positively apoplectic.  Bleeping liberal Olympics.

    Parent
    Don't forget all the tiny pieces of (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:53:23 PM EST
    biodegradable confetti!

    I liked the torch honor guard of workers who helped build the stadium in hardhats :D Oh and the Sex Pistols got some good play ta boot.

    Parent

    Loved the shout-out to the National Health (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by caseyOR on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 10:43:35 PM EST
    Service and British children's literature. Those dancers are actual doctors and nurses from the NHS.

    Queen Elizabeth is such a sport. She was great in the James Bond bit.

    Parent

    It's more bitching about the coverage than (none / 0) (#12)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:09:20 PM EST
    about the Olympics - I mean, let's face it, this is always the problem: the insipid, can't-ever-just-shut-up-and-let-us-watch, coverage. I can only usually take Bob Costas in small doses as it is - with the Olympics, there is no escape from him. He's everywhere!

    Worse, because of the tape delays, NBC gets to tease the actual events, and make us watch a lot of filler before getting to see the various competitions.  Yes, it's interesting to see the human interest stuff, the minutiae on the athletes - we all want to see the hometown athlete (as a Marylander, trust me when I tell you that coverage of Michael Phelps is as hard to escape as Bob Costas - but there's also a local woman that my younger daughter went to high school with - Suzanne Stettinius - who's competing in the modern pentathlon), but usually by the end of the first day's coverage, I'm kind of over all of that, and am ready to scream.

    Wish there was a way, short of traveling to the Olympics, to see the events without all the blather.  

    Parent

    I watched the live stream today (none / 0) (#15)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:19:04 PM EST
    flowed beautifully on my computer and NO Costas! :D

    Going to see how it goes tomorrow watching the actual events via the olympic sched, not the broadcast sched. Going to check out the NBC stream, but also hunt around for the BBC links etc and see if I can avoid the Americanized version of the Games.

    You can get a lot of the human interest online via Yahoo/NBC. Saw a couple stories already today. Nice to just read them!

    Parent

    I could be wrong (none / 0) (#17)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:26:18 PM EST
    but I think the NBC delayed Opening Ceremonies lasted an extra 45 minutes when compared to the BBC Live version ;)

    Parent
    Gotta get those ad bucks . . . (none / 0) (#19)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:29:40 PM EST
    and self important yammering in!

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#51)
    by lilburro on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 01:19:15 PM EST
    I have said this before, I don't like Bob Costas.  Too smarmy.

    Parent
    Watch the coverage (none / 0) (#16)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:22:33 PM EST
    on the NBC sister stations (CNBC MSNBC NBCSN. It will likely have less fluff. They won't have the most popular events there though but they will be live.

    Also, maybe we'll get lucky and see livestreaming online again like the opening ceremonies today. If you like soccer in Spanish most all the men's soccer games will be on Telemundo. Women's I think will be on NBCSN (the old Versus).

    I still love the Olympics. I watched the streaming video from the BBC earlier and then NBC's coverage tonight.

    Parent

    Post any BBC links you find! :) (none / 0) (#18)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:27:14 PM EST
    So nice watching the live version today :)

    I spent a month kicking around London. Kinda missed it today. I think it was the accents watching the broadcast along with all that was Brit about it.

    Parent

    Here's one (none / 0) (#54)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 02:30:40 PM EST
    for BBC1.  You can also stream the other BBC channels.  Mainly 1 & 3 for Olympic action.

    China is kicking butt in the pool today.  Phelps got blown out of the water in the 400 IM.  Waiting for Missy!

    Parent

    And she gets a bronze in the 4X100 relay. (none / 0) (#56)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 03:07:14 PM EST
    Swam a great leg but the US couldn't hold the lead in the end.  Six more chances for Missy to win gold.  

    Parent
    I find it hard to root (none / 0) (#57)
    by brodie on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 03:08:48 PM EST
    for someone who already has a pool full of gold medals and who is apparently back once again -- 3d, 4th or 5th Olympics, I forget -- to see if he can win the Most Career Gold trophy.  

    It seems a tad selfish and greedy.  Not quite in keeping with the spirit of the Games where 99.5% of the competitors would be happy to get just one gold.

    That's my opinion. I welcome competing points of view.

    Parent

    I find it easy to root for... (none / 0) (#62)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 05:46:03 PM EST
    a 17 year old who is a gifted athlete in addition to being an outstanding young lady.  One who understands that she's competing for herself, her teammates, her family and her country but more importantly right now, for her community.  Any success she has in the pool in London brings with it a little bit of much needed solace to those still reeling from the recent tragic events in Aurora.  

    And best of all, she's having the time of her life doing it.

    I think its pretty insulting when she gets called "the female Michael Phelps" because she's anything but.

    Parent

    I agree. Being Missy Franklin seems pretty (none / 0) (#66)
    by caseyOR on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 08:47:58 PM EST
    awesome to me. No need to make comparisons to other athletes in order for everyone to recognize the fabulousness that is Missy.

    She's a great kid, and a phenomenal swimmer.

    Parent

    Good suggestion - thanks! (none / 0) (#20)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:30:56 PM EST
    [Is it heresy to say I'm not much of a soccer fan?  I feel like it might be...sorry!]

    But I will definitely check out the schedule for the things I do want to see, and hope I can get them some way other than NBC's regular coverage.

    What a thrill to be an athlete competing in the games - and I can't imagine what it must be like for the families and friends.  Probably why I choke up watching medal ceremonies...

    Parent

    I only watch (none / 0) (#22)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:39:12 PM EST
    women's soccer. Abby Wambach and Heather Mitts are Gators.

    Otherwise I find it rather boring to not use two perfectly good hands.

    Parent

    It's okay (none / 0) (#44)
    by CST on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 11:42:52 AM EST
    we won't burn you at the stake.

    But you're just objectively wrong about soccer :)

    Parent

    You should talk, (none / 0) (#45)
    by NYShooter on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 11:47:37 AM EST
    I say I like Bob Costas, and you flame me with a troll rating?

    It's a good thing I care more about the mating habits of The Red-sided Eclectus than about your ratings, but

    Just saying


    Parent

    Late night (none / 0) (#46)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 11:56:29 AM EST
    mental mishap on my part. All I can think is my mind must have been saying, the Mick is and has always been #1 and thus I clicked. Total failure on my part and fixed.

    Parent
    I figured something like that (none / 0) (#71)
    by NYShooter on Mon Jul 30, 2012 at 12:19:04 AM EST
    and, I humbly accept your humble explanation.

    lol

    Parent

    Lovely visuals at the end (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by ruffian on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 10:22:56 PM EST
    I love the grassy 'tor' with the flags. I like that better than the high tech  modernistic look they usually get in these huge stadiums.

    I'm in the minority (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by brodie on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 08:41:53 AM EST
    here on a few things:

    1. Enjoyed most of the Opening that I saw (was also reading Caro's latest installment on weirdo LBJ). Clever sort of anti-Beijing scaled down, agrarian flavor, with the pleasant surprise of the tribute to their National Health Service.  Lots of colorful costumes and lovely women to look at in the parade of nations kept me watching until the end.

    2.  I've always liked Bob Costas, going back to the early ABA days (the wacky pro basketball league, not bar assoc'n).  But he's more entertaining when working with Al Michaels, not the bland Matt Lauer whose appeal to people is a mystery to me.

    3.  I've developed a strong liking for soccer over the past 25 years. It's replaced baseball and has surpassed basketball in my preferences, and is second only to the brutal American sport of football which frankly I'm beginning to have doubts about both as to the college and pro games.  Soccer is constant motion, no timeouts, and no cheap easy points.  Also no serious head or other bodily injuries.  You dont feel guilty liking it.


    I'm with you (5.00 / 3) (#35)
    by NYShooter on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 09:41:32 AM EST
    on Bob Costas.

    Don't know why the flaming towards him. I like him for a lot of reasons, but one of the best is that he's a real fan. I mean he really loves sports, and his description of events, and the players, comes across very genuine, not to mention accurate. The guy has an encyclopedia for a mind and when he's building up to a great, classic event, he gets so excited, almost giddy, like a school kid.

    I don't know, he just seems like a "real," unpretentious, endearing kind of guy.

    And, don't get me started on his walks down Memory Lane, and his personal love affair with Mickey Mantle (only bigger fan of "the Mick" is writing this post)

    That's all from me now....I'm embarrassing myself:)  


    Parent

    I also enjoyed the ceremonies (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Towanda on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 10:23:38 AM EST
    for the most part (nothing and no one is perfect), perhaps in part because earlier in the day, I had followed the live-blogging on the BBC site by both BBC commentators and other Brits.

    Seeing the saga through their eyes, rather than those of our commentators from "the colonies," as the BBC still enjoys describing us, gave me a lot of good insights into the larger story line and many of the lesser but contributing details.

    That the stadium and Olympic village were built upon and reclaimed an industrial wasteland made the extraordinary visuals of the Industrial Revolution segment, replacing the lovely pastoral vista, even more significant.  And thus, the recognition of the construction workers at the end, welcoming the torchbearer, also was a good touch.  The public support for bringing the Olympics to London also became more clear, because it meant bringing big bucks -- oops, make that pounds sterling -- to the East Enders.

    Parent

    When I saw (none / 0) (#38)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 10:40:00 AM EST
    the BBC stream, my first TL thought was...Towanda is going to love this. Bejing was nice but it was techno overkill. London was real.

    Parent
    Awww. (none / 0) (#41)
    by Towanda on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 11:17:41 AM EST
    I did enjoy many aspects of the Beijing opening ceremonies, as technilogical bravado! has can be awe-inspiring, and oh-those-drums . . . but my main memories of it remain the lovely little Chinese children's faces.  I think that I could have saved Beijing a billion bucks by suggesting that they show us more of their people.

    So I also found the Vancouver ceremonies far more moving -- again, perhaps, the faces and the quiet pride of the First People and the Metis, the latter in the only country (ahem, say I from the U.S.) that accords them official recognition.

    I enjoy always learning something about a local culture from opening ceremonies -- not always the "truth" about their past, of course, but more so the accepted public memory, the perception of the past that the locals want to project in public (read: always also political) spectacle.  

    For that reason, and in the context of other countries' opening ceremonies, I found it fascinating how "truthful" Boyle was allowed to be about the devastation of the Industrial Revolution, on the lovely landscape of England and on its people. Giving us the griminess of the workers, the cogs in the machine, tells me about its people today in interesting ways . . . as did many other subtexts in the ceremonies.  

    Parent

    This anti-TV person (none / 0) (#39)
    by the capstan on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 10:41:21 AM EST
    liked the program pretty well.  Perhaps because I love going to Great Britain and regret that I have probably had my last trip there.  Nostalgia reigns, I suppose.

    Also, I never sit and concentrate on TV; always have reading material in hand.  Reading usually wins most of my attention, tho I put it aside if the program becomes engrossing.

    I recall not especially liking the Chinese program.  The one Olympics segment that really got my attention was the final program from the Canadian winter games.  The athletes poured on to the field with such enthusiasm for each other!  That pretty much decided me that the real value of the games is not medals for winners, but memories of new friends from 'far-away places with strange-sounding names.'  World news can never be the same after that.

    Parent

    I missed the opening ceremonies (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by CST on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 11:40:48 AM EST
    beyond sneaking quick peeks in between bringing drinks/food.  But my sister tells me there were 4 "independent" athletes, more female athletes than male from the U.S. (yay title 9!), and female athletes from Saudi Arabia and Qatar for the first time.  We are watching the US women play Croatia in basketball.  I do think the US women generally have an advantage in international sports due to title 9, in that we compete in a wide range of sports at a high level, with a depth that most countries can't match.  That's true to some extent with the men - in the sense that we have the breadth that comes from being a world superpower, but it's harder to be the best in men's sports, as the competition level is higher internationally than in women's sports.

    Also, we agree that we are happy basketball is the sport that Americans have made popular abroad, although I love football, I have torn feelings about it.  Basketball is more like soccer to me, a pure team sport with a flow to it that is hard to achieve in football and baseball.

    Secretly glad today is cloudy, so I don't feel guilty watching Olympics rather than being at the beach before work.  Plus I destroyed my foot kicking a rock while clamming the other day, so a little bit of couch sitting rehab is not the worst thing in the world, especially as I'm on my feet all night.

    Good gawd (4.00 / 2) (#24)
    by Mr Tuxedo on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:41:35 PM EST
    Danny Boyle's extravaganza is godawful. It's as if he is using the opening ceremonies of the Olympics as a personal filmmaking showcase, with a focus on British commerce. It's cringingly embarrassing, like something you might see at a regional trade show. But I'm grateful for that, because otherwise this narcissistic mess would be utterly boring. Just my opinion.

    Agree with you (none / 0) (#26)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 12:18:16 AM EST
    The parts I say anyway were jaw-droppingly awwwfffuulll.

    Parent
    From the reactions I've seen, (none / 0) (#28)
    by Mr Tuxedo on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 01:52:24 AM EST
    looks like people either loved it or hated it.

    Parent
    The Opening Ceremonies ... (none / 0) (#3)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 08:35:43 PM EST
    ... aren't on out here for another couple of hours. How disappointing that NBC would focus its opening moments on the negative, rather than accentuate the positive?

    This is London, one of the world's great cities for cryin' out loud, and it's the third time they've hosted the Olympics! And unlike Mittens' Salt Lake Games, they managed to pull it all together without bribing members of the IOC and seeking massive federal subsidies.

    I turned it off when Brokaw and Costas (none / 0) (#5)
    by ruffian on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 08:50:33 PM EST
    were yammering about security etc and went and walked the dogs so TiVo could get some stuff stored. then was able to skip commercials and stuff and watch the show. I did enjoy parts of it - kids in pj's singing God Save the Queen very adorable. I did not see the Beijing opening, but from what I have heard  this is certainly a different approach.

    Put it on mute for the parade of nations to avoid Costas' commentary. He makes me crazy. Then decided not to watch until a lot more recorded stuff is in the can.

    Most anticipated event? (none / 0) (#6)
    by heidelja on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 09:28:44 PM EST
    No question! It has got to be badmitton!

    Interesting Opening Ceremonies (none / 0) (#23)
    by EL seattle on Fri Jul 27, 2012 at 11:41:23 PM EST
    Danny Boyle had a lot of great ideas for spectacle, I think. But for me, the energy seemed to dissipate a bit after the WW-I sequence (on TV anyway).

    Some post-Ceremony thoughts.... (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by EL seattle on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 10:57:36 AM EST
    1.) In some ways, the procession of the athletes is really what the opening ceremony is all about. It seemed to go smoothly (I thought), and even moved pretty quickly. Although at one point some of the countries seemed to be entering the stadium to music by the Pet Shop Boys, which seemed sort of odd.

    2.) Seeing the Independent Olympic Athletes enter along with everyone else was great. They all seemed to be genuinely giddy about even being there.

    3.) Every time I see Bob Costas it reminds me of how badly Keith Olbermann has bungled his own career.

    4.) Why, exactly, did Danny Boyle feature so many Hollywood movie clips in his background montages? Couldn't they find enough great shots of folks kissing from British films?

    5.) Paul McCartney seemed to be truely and sincerely overwhelmed during the start of his closing piece. He quickly recovered, but it's always striking to see a seasoned professional get choked up for a moment.

    6.) I thought that the epic technical show pieces - The wirework aerial Olympic rings and the huge summoned torch - were positively breathtaking. After what happened during the lighting ceremony in Canada, I didn't expect antyhing in this ceremony with that sort of complexity (or on that scale).

    Parent

    Jeez... (none / 0) (#27)
    by desertswine on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 12:18:37 AM EST
    They had 3 minutes of commercials every 5 minutes during the parade of nations. I almost wore out my muter.

    muter? (none / 0) (#31)
    by DFLer on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 09:07:27 AM EST
    didn't get your reference, though am interested. please explain

    Parent
    not swine, but (none / 0) (#32)
    by NYShooter on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 09:29:26 AM EST
    my guess is that a "muter" is a gadget that makes the sound go "mute." You know, like most tv remotes have a "mute" button?

    "mute"=no sound

    Parent

    Yeah, I just meant the mute button... (none / 0) (#47)
    by desertswine on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 12:07:21 PM EST
    you know, the muter.

    Parent
    duh....thanks (none / 0) (#53)
    by DFLer on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 02:06:08 PM EST
    I didn't wear out my muter, since I muted the (none / 0) (#34)
    by ruffian on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 09:39:37 AM EST
    whole parade, at least the parts I watched at all. Costas and Lauer's commentary on all of the countries is too much for me. They can't shut up, and they always bring in political commentary and other unrelated things. I did unmute as the USA was approaching - and they were naming Venezuelan  baseball players. Then when the USA came in and they cut to Romney in the stands one of them said that regardless of politics everyone has to agree that he single handedly saved the SL Olympics.

    Bring on the real sports now. That part I love.

    Parent

    Opening ceremony proved one thing (none / 0) (#29)
    by Slado on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 05:57:37 AM EST
    Its hard to beat communists at putting together large public spectacles.

    This was no better than most Super Bowls just longer.

    Those *@*%**!!! commentators. (none / 0) (#33)
    by lentinel on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 09:33:56 AM EST
    Plus too many commercials and too much commentary. I'm already done watching -- 8 minutes.

    I too was watching the opening ceremonies.

    One thing to barf was the real Queen playing the Queen boarding a helicopter with the current "James Bond". Unreal. But I guess some would say, "now THAT'S entertainment!". I just think about all that tax money going down the drain to support those folks in the style to which they have long been accustomed. But there I go - sounding like an ungrateful colonist.

    The opening parades with representatives from all over the world was moving to me. Seeing all those people from different lands. All looking sincere. Honest. Open. Hope for the world.

    But I couldn't stick it out. It was obliterated by the incessant yacking by the commentators who were focused on anything but was unfolding before them. I tried turning off the sound. That didn't work. I wanted to hear the sounds of the stadium and of those in the parades. I tried turning down the sound just enough so that I couldn't make out the words of the self-involved blathering idiots who just would not shut up. That didn't work either.

    So I gave up.

    They never give you a chance to experience the magic of these events.

    Watching in Canada (none / 0) (#36)
    by robert72 on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 10:18:21 AM EST
    on CTV was very good - very little commentary - perhaps a few sentences at the beginning of each section and then just the music as it unfolded.
    I thought it was excellent. I particularly enjoyed the children's literature, the NHS bit, and I liked the rings and the cauldron at the end. The beginning with the 'green and pleasant land' was a bit slow - but the 'dark satanic mills' was interesting. A few too many hymns, though. Jerusalem would have been enough.

    Won't watch US Olympics as much this year (none / 0) (#48)
    by Dan the Man on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 12:32:43 PM EST
    because women's beach volleyball players no longer have to compete in bikinis: "the International Volleyball Federation [...] ruled that, for the first time in Olympic history, players could compete in "shorts of a maximum length of (1.18 inches) above the knee, and sleeved or sleeveless tops," instead of itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikinis."

    But I'll still be watching the US women's beach volleyball games because they're still wearing the bikinis:
    "Olympian Misty May-Treanor and her fellow competitors on the US womens beach volleyball team vowed yesterday to keep wearing their sexy bikinis at the upcoming Games  despite a new rule that lets female players compete in dowdy shorts and T-shirts.
    'Were not uncomfortable in our bikinis,' said team member Jen Kessy.
    'Growing up in southern California, thats what you wear from when youre a little kid to now in the summertime.'
    Treanor said she loves to compete in her skimpy, bottom-baring bikini because 'what you see is what you get  theres no airbrushing.'"

    Speaking as a youngish male (28) . . . (none / 0) (#49)
    by Mr Tuxedo on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 12:45:18 PM EST
    I wonder whether, if I were a woman Olympic-level athlete, it would feel demeaning and insulting to me that any woman volleyball champion has ever been required to compete in a bikini. To me, that seems like a through-the-looking-glass version of imposing the burqa.

    Parent
    They love uniforms (none / 0) (#50)
    by fishcamp on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 01:18:53 PM EST
    and always have...you just have to get used to them.  I'm getting the Olympics on 4 different NBC channels and I could probably get more if I subscribed to something and hooked up my computer to a new wall of TV's.  Then there's the sound that probably comes in at 5.1 or 7.? surround sound.  We could be surrounded by Bob Costas and Marry Carrillo.  I liked the opening ceremony and the parade of nations...even though there were three nations I had never heard of.  Do you think they change out all the grass on the tennis courts between Wimbledon and the Olympics?

    Parent
    I never watch (none / 0) (#52)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 02:02:00 PM EST
    I find it a total waste of money and time, but if anyone else likes it, that's fine with me.

    And I am probably one of maybe 10 Americans who didn't see the US beat the Soviets in hockey. (I am so embarrassed.)

    Favorite Olympic memory? (none / 0) (#59)
    by desertswine on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 05:01:36 PM EST
    I'll never forget 1964 and Billy Mills' impossible victory

    Tough to compete (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 09:15:25 PM EST
    with Billy Mills, but I'll try to match with Dave Wottle

    Parent
    Wow the film quality... (none / 0) (#69)
    by desertswine on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 11:37:08 PM EST
    really improved from 64 to 72.

    Parent
    Michael Phelps sinks in the 400 IM. (none / 0) (#60)
    by Angel on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 05:16:04 PM EST


    Sign of the (none / 0) (#61)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 05:34:54 PM EST
    TL times?

    Finish 4th in the world and the comments are "blown out of the water" and "sinks". I'd hate to be the poor guy that's only 5th best in the world.

    That said, I'm very happy for the Gator Gold and look forward to watching the 400 IM on tape delay tonight.

    Yep... (none / 0) (#64)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 06:10:20 PM EST
    he's a Gator alright!  :0

    Wearing diamond-studded grillz in his mouth and lime-green sneakers on the feet that powered him through the water faster than anyone else, Lochte strolled around the deck kissing his medal while Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" played over the loudspeaker.

    I'll look forward to your fair and balanced assessment of Phelp's performance after you watch it.  Here's his own:

    "It was just a crappy race," Phelps said. "I felt fine the first 200, then I don't know. They just swam a better race than me, a smarter race than me, and were better prepared than me. That's why they're on the medal stand."

    Link

    As to being 4th best in the World, here's what Boulder's own Taylor Phinney (who missed out on a medal by the length of bike to winning bronze) feels about that:

    Fourth seems like it would be nice," Phinney said, "but it's the worst place you can imagine at the Olympic Games."


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    Here's my opinion (none / 0) (#67)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jul 28, 2012 at 08:52:49 PM EST
    fourth in the world is damn good, but if you prefer I'll agree and say Phelps and Phinney both sucked today.

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