The 2004 Summer Olympics Thread

[koko_99_2001]

How about that sweep in the men's 400 sprint (I think that's what it was called).  That was awesome (for an American to watch )

[Jeysie]

Koko: There was so much scoring weirdness going on last night, I don't know *what* to think for the most part.

To be fair to Hamm, though, he did get the same score in the high bar final that he got on high bar in the all-around. He did hop a little on the landing during the final (where he firmly planted the all-around landing), so it should have been a little lower... not by a huge amount, though. Even though he had fewer releases, his start value was still likely a 10, so if he does the routine well he scores well.

But... was it better than Nemov? Not in my opinion. It's not so much that Hamm should have gotten scored lower, per se, as Nemov should have gotten a lot higher. He did a big step on the landing, but I would have thought that packing in all those release skills (and nailing them) would have given him enough bonus points to compensate. I've always loved Nemov as a gymnast (and was disappointed to not get to see more of him this time out), and it's sad to seem him get caught in all this craziness.

Peace & Luv, Liz

[Yonkey]

Right now I'm watching indoor cycling where Canada's going against Russia for the gold or silver.

And Canda just got the GOLD!! !  Like Gymnastics, this is the first medal Canada ever got for this sport too.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!  

[koko_99_2001]

How do you remember everybody's names??  lol

Sounds like we're on the same wavelenth...quote from the last line of my post about it:

but I feel like the other guy should have gotten a higher score.

I am glad that his score was changed, but in my opinion, it wasn't changed enough.  And I think it was on the parallel bars, two seperate gymnists did moves that had NEVER been done in competition.  They stepped when they landed, but the judges didn't take into consideration the complexity of those moves.  

Who knows, maybe they were trying to compensate for what happened in the all-around...but if they were trying to do that, they ended up making it worse on themselves in the end.

[koko_99_2001]

Just saw your post, Neil!  CONGRATULATIONS TO CANADA!  You guys are awesome this year!

[Yonkey]

Thanks!  Hahah, compared to previous years, this was actually our worst year.    But at least now there's starting to get some medals.  It's just weird because these aren't the traditional sports they get medals in!

[koko_99_2001]

Ok...let me rephrase that.  I'm paying more attention to Canada this year, so thus, you guys are doing awesome (compared to what little I remember from previous Olympics)

[Jeysie]

Koko: Asking how *I* remember everyone's names? One part is that I'm a huge gymnastics nut, so I remember most of the high profile gymnasts, and am fans of some of them. (Whoo, Sexy Aleksi! ) And one part that I have to look up some names online to refresh my memory , but they stick in my head thereafter if they do kick-butt routines.

And yep, the parallel bars, I remember that, the crazy kick-butt dismounts and release moves. That's what made the scoring even more disappointing... a lot of gymnasts were throwing out just crazy stuff and hitting (or almost hitting), and the judges weren't rewarding any of it.

I think Hamm did benefit in one way from the scoring... it seems weighed now to reward less flashy but consistent good gymnasts as opposed to risk-taking, excellent but less consistent gymnasts. Suddenly pulling insane stuff out of your shoes doesn't give enough of a reward to compensate if you don't also do it flawlessly. That has its good points and its bad points. (They did rightly reward Dragulescu with that 9.9 for his first vault final, which was insane *and* flawless, but I think they were too stingy with not giving out a 10. Not that it would have made a huge difference after his butt-plant on his second vault. )

And yes, congrats to Canada! I wish you guys were getting more medals, but it's always cool to see countries making history by getting their first medals in sports and events.

Peace & Luv, Liz

[Jeysie]

OK. In the interest in doing something other than boring you all, I am posting this link I found:

DFL: Celebrating last-place finishes at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Because they're there, and you're not.

Whether you find this sort of idea funny or offensive, I think it's definitely a unique one from the category of "Stuff You're Surprised Nobody Came Up With Before".

Peace & Luv, Liz

[koko_99_2001]

Liz, I loved that link...thanks for posting it.

Watching the women's gold medal soccar match.  So far, USA:1, Brazil:0...but I guess we'll find out the results soon! *crosses fingers*  Half-time!

[Jeysie]

Whee, now I can post again without triple posting.

Canada gets it's first medal in diving, and Israel gets its first gold medal ever.

Peace & Luv, Liz

[koko_99_2001]

Liz: spoiler ahead:
















Women's Soccer won GOLD!!  Whoo hoo!   Congrats girls!

[Jeysie]

Hee. Harrison was ribbing somewhat that none of the US gold medalists sing along with the anthem on the platform, and it turns out the soccer ladies did sing. He then flipped Bob Costas the finger for saying that when the ladies get their press time later tonight, they "won't let them sing".

More funny thoughts: Harrison pointed out to me that the male divers had this tendency to do "butt checks", patting or wiping their hands on their butts. While the ladies do "stomach checks", patting or wiping their hands on their chest or stomachs. Weird!

Peace & Luv, Liz

[koko_99_2001]

There were three of us girls watching the guys diving.  We just laughed!  But then we started thinking...maybe they're trying to dry their hands...and with the small amount of fabric available with the speedos...there's not many places to wipe the hands

BTW, I asked the group a couple of nights ago...I wonder how much spandex is gone through during the Olympics,  

[Jeysie]

Hee! Yeah, I figured that's probably why they do it. But still... well, I think this sums it up best: Harrison commented that he never did butt checks when he was a diver. I commented, "Well, looks like if you start diving again you'll have to do butt checks, it's obviously mandatory". He mocked yelled, "No! I refuse to look silly by drying my hands off when they're going to get wet again in 30 seconds anyway!"

Anyhoo. The guys obviously don't have a choice of where to wipe their hands, but it makes you wonder why the ladies don't choose to use the same spot. (When I need to try my hands without a towel, I tend to wipe them on my butt. )

Hee! In any case, it still looks funny. It's always nice to know that hottie guys can still do doofy things.

Edit: Hmm. Now that I think about it... let's be completely shallow. Which Olympic sport do you think has the most attractive members of your preferred gender? (Or, if you like, which athletes do you think are the hottest?)

Peace & Luv, Liz

[koko_99_2001]

lol...the first time we saw Alexandre Despatie wipe his hands, the three of us girls looked at each other and laughed.  Then Heather goes "what? is he checking to see if it's still there?!?!"

Hottest guys...hmm...
Alexandre Despatie
Ian Thorpe
Michael Phelps isn't bad looking...but I think he's got some kind of speech impedament...
And I know there are others...can't think of them right now...AND trying to find pics of the guys...

[Jeysie]

Then Heather goes "what? is he checking to see if it's still there?!?!"

Hee! IIRC, Harrison said almost those exact same words!

As for the cute guys... good picks, all around!

To add some off the top of *my* head...

Probably surprising no one, I think the Hamm brothers are pretty good-looking. Red hair and freckles always turn my head. But...

I think Phelps' voice is OK... he sounded to me like your typical energetic, overeager 19-year-old. The Hamm brothers have what Harrison dubbed "Valley Boy" voices, though.

Let's see... there's also Blaine Wilson, and you can't go wrong with "Sexy Aleksi" Nemov.

Dimosthenis Tampakos was handsome, even if I still think that Jordan Jovtchev had a better rings routine.

On the diving side, I kind of have a bit of a soft spot for Dmitry Sautin, although he'd look better with hair.

Swimmers... Gary Hall would be good-looking, but he's too flashy for my tastes.

Hmm. For the women...

Gymnastics: Svetlana Khorkina would be pretty if she didn't spend most of her time with a look on her face like she's going to suddenly snap and scream and kill somebody.

I like Harrison's new favorite, Anna Pavlova.

Beach Volleyball: Kerri Walsh and Misty May!

Diving: I think Guo Jingjing was pretty.

Swimming: Amanda Beard. Mrrrow.

Peace & Luv, Liz

[koko_99_2001]

Good choice with Alexsi!

There's also Pieter van den Hoogenband and Justin Wilcock.

I mentioned the possibility of a speech impediment with Phelps because when he's done swimming and he's being interviewed, he thrusts out his jaw.  I haven't noticed him doing it when he's not worn out...so I'm figuring there's a possibility of a speech impediment when he was younger and lapses when he is tired (I do the same, which is why I'm saying this).

[Storm]

A bit belated but...

YAY!!
Israel won its first Olympic Gold Medal EVER!!

[Grundy]

OMFG! YAY!

Aussies beat the Dutch in Hockey for GOLD! WOO!
 

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! OI OI OI!  

Where's Brrr?!  lol!