Olympics

[conley]

we just lost chances at a bunch of metals

both men and women's relay teams dropped batons

the softball team was upset by Japan -- the US team had never lost

and our water polo team was defeated by the dutch in a big upset

BUT the women's soccer team won gold against brazil and that was amazing since the US's best player broke her leg before the tournament.

[SDML]

Unless I'm mistaken, the US won silver in softball and water polo. We didn't miss medal, just gold.

Dropped batons? Uggghhhh - that sucks.

[SDML]

The US is now pulling away from China in the total medal count, and beginning to bridge the gold gap.

Total medals: US - 93, China - 83
Gold medals: China - 46, US - 28

The US has climbed to 95 total medals with 29 gold. China has stalled.

[conley]

Unless I'm mistaken, the US won silver in softball and water polo. We didn't miss medal, just gold.

Dropped batons? Uggghhhh - that sucks.

that's true, but no one goes to the olympics hoping for bronze

as far as i'm concerned the gold medals are the only ones worth anything. did you know the bronze medals from the Sydney games were made out of melted down Australian pennies? weak.

ITS ALL ABOUT THE GOLD, JERRY, TEH GOLD!!!1!

[they call me MR. GRUMPY god damn it!]

i believe that it is elitist, unfair and damaging to developing self-esteems only awarding medals for the top three performers.  every competitor should get a medal, a hug, something. 

[OswaldTheOsprey]

Maybe the Chinese gymnasts can use their medals to decorate their bassanettes.

OswaldTheOsprey

[they call me MR. GRUMPY god damn it!]

you cannot be accusing the chicoms of cheating!

[OswaldTheOsprey]

you cannot be accusing the chicoms of cheating!

Those little angels?

OswaldTheOsprey

[Peter1469]

Second place (silver) is the first loser.

[Vermouth]

Hahaha what about pool/billiards? Golf isn't necessarily the most physical activity, but it has a history as a competition. Trampoline, synchro, etc. may require a lot more athletic ability, but they are essentially performances.

Usain Bolt is unreal.

[SDML]

China is still stalled. The US has climbed to 100 total medals.

Competition isn't the only criteria for "sport". Otherwise, spelling bees would count. And chess. But I see your point. By your criteria, though, none of the gymnastic events are sports....but beach volleyball is.

Yes, Bolt is the man.

No, China isn't cheating. The home country always gets preferential treatment. The US was accused of cheating in Atlanta.

[OswaldTheOsprey]

China is still stalled. The US has climbed to 100 total medals.

Competition isn't the only criteria for "sport". Otherwise, spelling bees would count. And chess. But I see your point. By your criteria, though, none of the gymnastic events are sports....but beach volleyball is.

Yes, Bolt is the man.

No, China isn't cheating. The home country always gets preferential treatment. The US was accused of cheating in Atlanta.

During the Atlanta Olympics, some events were held in Birmingham. My son and I saw an Olympic soccer match at Legion Field.

OswaldTheOsprey

[conley]

the IOC has announced they are finally investigating the age of the Chinese gymnasts.

The Chinese have been caught faking the ages before, including their bronze medalist at Sydney.

Eastern European countries did this all the time.

The Chinese are absolutely cheating. Every country in the Olympics cheats (ask Marion Jones!), they are no different from the U.S.

One thing I do admire about Phelps though, he signed up for *extra* drug testing. I think his shattering of the world records had more to do with his suit and the watercube than any foreign substances.

[SDML]

Faking ages?

We're scared that children can beat under 16 can beat older (17, 19, 21?), more experienced athletes?

[Wowster]

Faking ages?

We're scared that children can beat under 16 can beat older (17, 19, 21?), more experienced athletes?

The investigation has begun!
China may lose some of those gold medals.