Beijing: 08-08-2008

[Srmom1]

I don't know what you just said, but it sounds exciting. Congratulate your friends on all of their hard work

Misunderstood and little appreciated sport of sailing It isn't ever televised because watching it is like watching paint dry!! But, it is exciting while it's going on!

I will congratulate them though, and thanks! It is an honor just to represent your country.

[srmom]

Y'all may not know what they're talking about, but I wanted to post some info on the carnage that occured on the sailing race course on Saturday to give you an idea of what they're enduring.

This is from an email from one of my friends:

Any thoughts of Qingdao as a light-air venue blasted out the window today as heavy squalls, accompanied by huge swells and torrential rain, lashed the Olympic sailing city. There was carnage in various classes all over Fushon Bay but for us it was largely a case of hurry-up-and-wait while our race committee tried to get its act together.

We were scheduled to start three races at noon but at that time it was blowing 18 to 30 knots, with squalls and blinding rain. The rain was torrential; so heavy that at times the visibility at times was down to 10 meters. We were held ashore initially because our race committee boat was sinking. After staying on the dock for a few hours we went out for 1:30 pm start.

Once we battled our way out to Course E, we sat around until 4:00 pm when the committee finally started a race. That was simply because the committee had problems. They weren’t able to anchor. They couldn’t set a course. It was amateur hour. It was embarrassing to be at the Olympics and have such poor committee work while the sailors on the Tornados and the Stars were sitting out there in 25 knots of breeze, huge swells and rain squalls, waiting for them to get sorted out. Finally we raced. Five hours on the water in tough conditions for a 40-minute race.

Then from the US 49er sailor's blog - the US team had to withdraw because they had so many problems, things broke so badly that no amount of jury rigging would hold them together.

It was getting windier, and waves were considerably bigger. We survived the bear away, but then capsized on the first major wave after the set. We ripped out a foot strap and broke a tiller extension in the wipe out. Meanwhile all the lead boats capsized on the same downwind. ITA, AUS, GER and BRA all flipped within sight of us. At one point 7 of 10 boats were upside down.

From here we missed the action, but from what we understand ITA, AUS and GER all had multiple flips trying to get to the finish. ESP came from 5th place, only flipped once on the run, and won the race. GBR and BRA were also capsized on the run. BRA took the main down, and finished under jib alone.

So, another exciting day on the race course! haha! This is the kind of stuff that would make good television!! But, it won't be shown on tv.

So, while gymnasts and basketball players are competing in the climate controlled arenas, and beach volleyballers are landing in soft sand, carnage and terror are occuring out on the sailing race courses!!!

[srmom]

On a positive note, Anna, our US laser radial sailor did so well in the breeze that she is back in first and so far ahead of the 4th place boat that she is guaranteed a medal even if she bombs the medal race which is scheduled for tomorrow!!

Best of luck to her to bring home the GOLD!!!

[LttleMsPrEp]

Gymnastics fans i'm sorry for the spoiler but has anyone checked out this article??

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/bei...v=ap&type=lgns

Personally I think it sucks but like Nastia said I guess it really doesn't matter to her since she won the most important individual medal of all..

[ZTABullwinkle]

Originally Posted by LttleMsPrEp

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/bei...v=ap&type=lgns

Personally I think it sucks but like Nastia said I guess it really doesn't matter to her since she won the most important individual medal of all..

It is obvious that something really needs to be done about the Code of Points that was changed after Paul Hamm's disputed gold at the Athens Olympics. Not only is this a terrible way to break a tie in gymnastics, but it isn't very fair.

Also, the code of points should not be rewarding a gymnast who falls on her second vault for a medal instead of the one who stuck both of her landings. Just because there was more difficulty, doesn't mean that it should have been scored better.

Can you tell I am bitter about the scoring this year?

[LttleMsPrEp]

I'm still bitter about Cheng Fei getting a medal for falling over Alicia Sacramone who didn't.. not to mention that the gymnast that happened to edge Nastia out of the uneven bars title is one of the "women" at the center of the age eligibility dispute.. something really needs to be done about the scoring.

My mom has a theory that the reasoning behind giving He the medal over Nastia was probably "home court" advantage other than her scores being "closer to a 10".. either way the scoring has really made me bitter towards the judges.

[srmom]

"home court" advantage

My husband and I have been fuming about this througout the whole Olympics, not only in gymnastics, but in diving as well.

We have been yelling at the tv at various times. I have made the observation that they would have to land on their ass to not win - well, I guess they can do that too and still beat us!!

That is disgusting!!!! I can't wait to watch tonight to hear Bela's reaction to the scoring

[LttleMsPrEp]

I can't wait to watch tonight to hear Bela's reaction to the scoring

My thoughts exactly!!! It was touching that he got teared up while discussing what happened with Alicia Sacramone and the vault finals and how it wasn't right to "rip her off twice"

ANd as far as diving?!?!?! i noticed too there were def. times when Guo and Wu made bigger splashes upon entry than what they were supposed to and still got over 75 points.. whereas when other countries did the same thing the judges were no where near as lenient on their scores

[AOII_LB93]

My husband and I were both discussing the diving scoring...we think it has a lot to do with the judges having preconceived notions of the divers before they dive. Unless Guo or Wu had really effed up, they got much higher scores for comparable dives than other divers...seems a little unfair if you ask me.

[srmom]

we think it has a lot to do with the judges having preconceived notions of the divers before they dive

We do too. My husband was fuming that any time there is subjective "scoring" it shouldn't be considered a sport Forget that these girls (and guys) are amazing athletes!!

He thinks only sports where someone crosses a line first or wins more points, like in tennis, should be considered "true" sports!! I think it's just sour grapes!! He hates for the US to lose.

[Kevlar281]

BEIJING — What started out as a simple baseball game Monday night almost turned into an international incident.

By the time the United States was done with a 9-1 victory over China, there had been:

• Three ejections,

• Seven hit batsmen,

• Two injuries,

• And an assortment of hard feelings.

Good Lord

Link: To Full Article

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by Kevlar281

Good Lord

Link: To Full Article

OMG. Did you catch that game?
It sounds more like the NHL.

[Kevlar281]

No I missed it.

[Benzgirl]

LeBron and Kobe at the Women's Sand Volleyball was a hoot.

[KSigkid]

Girl from my hometown won a silver; fantastic news for her, and I know my hometown is pretty excited about it.