2008 Summer Olympics

[foobar75]

Just watched the opening ceremonies. Thankfully, here in Seattle, we get Canadian TV, so I just Tivo'ed it and did not have to wait for NBC's 12-hr delay.


The Chinese definitely did a superb job and that was one heck of an opening.


One thing I noticed as the parade of nations was underway, lots and lots of white people!

I would have to imagine that of the 1000s of athletes in Beijing, a very health % (I'mguessing around 75-80%) are white. And they will win virtually all the medals, too. The notable powerhouses with majority white athletes on the squads: USA, Russia, Germany, Australia, Great Britain, France, Canada, Italy, Spain, Hungary, The Netherlandsand the Scandinavian countries. You add up the little ones (Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Turkey, New Zealand, Greece, Croatia, Serbia, the various Baltic and other former Soviet Republics, and the rest of Europe), and it sure ashell makesme happy. The Olympics, the biggest stage in the world,are a white man's (and white woman's

) game!


Last but not least, go Team USA. I hope we once again win the most golds as well as most overall medals. The challenge from the Chinese will be strong, but my money is on the USA.

Edited by: foobar75

 

[GWTJ]

Well, it didn't take long for NBC and the USA Olympic committee to tick me off.

First, the American holding the flag was some immigrant from the Sudan. He was as dark a man as i've seen. Not looking like an American at all but more like the father of one of those starving kids you see on those ads to give money to Africa. Of course the NBC announcers heartily agreed with the choice.

Then NBC started showing different American athletes and announcing some of them by name. Despite the large number of white male athletes, the only athletes introduced by NBC were white females, black females and black males.

It's opening ceremonies and i'm sick of the Olympics and NBC already.

Edited by: GWTJ

 

[foobar75]

Make no mistake, every effort will be made to diminish the accomplishments of the white male American athletesbyNBC and the rest of themedia. In fact, they must be beyond angry that they are forced to give air time toMichael Phelps and some of the other swimmers.


But there areother ways to watch the Olympics, whether it's Internetfeeds, Canadian TV, other satellite broadcasts, andavoid NBC and all of its properties as much as possible. Don't let NBC get in your way of enjoying what will be 3 weeks of white dominance.


BTW, I waswatching some pre-ceremonies show, and they were profiling Bernard Lagat.

Edited by: foobar75

 

[GWTJ]

I will be hoping to find other channels or the internet to watch. But knowing that most of America will be tuned in to NBC is disheartening.

 

[Poacher]

Phelps opens with Olympic record.

Larsen Jensen sets American record in 400 free, qualifies first.

Edited by: Poacher

 

[FieldThrower]

Then NBC started showing different American athletes and announcing some of them by name. Despite the large number of white male athletes, the only athletes introduced by NBC were white females, black females and black males.

Isn't Jeremy Wariner white? Otherwise, yes, I see what you're saying. I also noticed some wholly white countries/teams almost ignored without mention (Belgium for one). The ones that they did talk about were fairly monotone and seemed almost forced. Then some African team with 5 members shows up and they get all enthusiastic and the talking heads relay some sympathy-inducing lines about that country's political and economic situation.

Iran, Venezuela and North Korea all had comments about their nuke programs, as if they were incapable of handling their own affairs, or unworthy of such powerful weapons. All the while the US, EU, and Israel have stockpiles of nukes at their disposal (don't they know these nukes are for Caucasian-dominated, Christian or Jewish nations only?). It's interesting how the media can be equally white supremacists, and non-white lovers at the same time.

 

[SteveB]

I'm ticked that the East Asians are kicking our butts in the shooting and archery events so far. How can the USA, where hunting with both a bow or gun is a major pasttime, not have the best in the world at these events? At least the US women swept the medals in the first fencing competition.

 

[Guest]

I watched at a bar, so I could not really hear what they were saying.

Were all athletes not required to sign a statement that they would make no political gestures during the games? And then the US has a guy from Sudan carry the US flag at the opening cermony of the first games in China. China, the nation that the US is currently harrassing for not doing what the US wants China to do when it comes to...Sudan.

If the Lopez Lomong thing was not a deliberate political gesture, it certainly was one heck of a coincidence.

Still, let's not pretend that Alan Webb is not the person most directly responsible for the Lopez Lomong thing. If he had not choked, yet again, in a major track meet, Lomong would not have made the track team and 300 million Americans would not have had to endure a national media story about this new "American".

 

[mrjohnnynofear]

I watched at a bar, so I could not really hear what they were saying.

Were all athletes not required to sign a statement that they would make no political gestures during the games? And then the US has a guy from Sudan carry the US flag at the opening cermony of the first games in China. China, the nation that the US is currently harrassing for not doing what the US wants China to do when it comes to...Sudan.

If the Lopez Lomong thing was not a deliberate political gesture, it certainly was one heck of a coincidence.

Still, let's not pretend that Alan Webb is not the person most directly responsible for the Lopez Lomong thing. If he had not choked, yet again, in a major track meet, Lomong would not have made the track team and 300 million Americans would not have had to endure a national media story about this new "American".

I checked on how Lopez Lomong was nominated to carry the flag. Per http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/news/story?id=3521480 it said that he was nominated by the team captains by vote. It could be a right back at you to China. Lomong's story, I admit, is pretty amazing. However it is pushing it for him to be a flagbearer of his new country when there are many other deserving athletes also. I wish Alan would have won too but he just didn't get it done this time and Lopez Lomong is now the US flagbearer...I guess that's how it happens sometimes. Almost running on the same parallel if Jack Ryan would have had his divorce records private, he would have won the Illinois Senator seat and we would not hear of Barack Obama. Weird world. Edited by: mrjohnnynofear

 

[screamingeagle]

Having Lomong carry the US flag was meant as a political statement. It was a protest against the atrocities caused by unknown people against unknown people which could have been prevented by the Chinese who have a major presence in Sudan. I could not concieve a harder slap in the face against the Chinese.
Lumong probably will not even last more than one heat.
If Lumong was a farmer from Zimbawbee or South Africa, no one would care.

 

[foobar75]

Days 1&2 report:


The US is doing great with8 total medals so far (#1 in the standings), including the gold by Michael Phelps in the 400IM. I've been splitting my viewing between CBC Canada and NBC, at a 70/30 ratio. I watch the swimming events at NBC mostly due to the HD. From what I could see, the coverage so far has been fair on the NBC side, a lot of white athletes getting good, respectable coverage.


CBC Canada is a great channel, BTW. While they rightfully focus on some of their own teams/athletes, their overall coverage of various events is fair and good.


In addition to the US, the early medal count shows complete domination by Europe so far, and Australia has done well with 2 swimming medals also. Host China has 4 total medals and a very respectable showing in the early going.


So far, the Olympics are off to a very good start.

 

[bigunreal]

I tried to watch some of the USA-China basketball game. It was unbearable. Here the new Nightmare Team, playing IN China, was allowed to violate the rules of basketball with impunity against the hapless Chinese. I saw one play where Yao Ming was knocked hard to the floor by one of our country's fine "aggressive" defenders, with no foul called. If they are going to let that kind of illegal play go on, against the home team no less, then they might has well give our Nightmare Team the gold medal right now.

Btw, as if this wasn't enough to make us all Proud To Be An American, how about our president in attendance? Sitting these, classless as always, with that stupid smirk on his face, as his country collapses all around him, waving a tiny American flag from the stands.

 

[screamingeagle]

Have to agree with bigunreal: President GWB is a classless act. While watching the opening ceremony, GWB looked bored. With his attention defeciency, the long ceremony must have been an ordeal. Later he is slapping the rear of our women's beach volleyball team. (Hope that doesn't jinx them.) How did we end up with this dolt as commander in chief?

 

[Poacher]

Men's v-ball team got an emotional victory. Nice to see.

Poor Katie Hoff got smoked by that Aussie girl.

And of course there's Phelps. Made Lochte and Cseh look like kids.

Medal count is 8 each for China and the U.S. so far.

 

[James]

I tried to watch some of the USA-China basketball game. It was unbearable. Here the new Nightmare Team, playing IN China, was allowed to violate the rules of basketball with impunity against the hapless Chinese. I saw one play where Yao Ming was knocked hard to the floor by one of our country's fine "aggressive" defenders, with no foul called. If they are going to let that kind of illegal play go on, against the home team no less, then they might has well give our Nightmare Team the gold medal right now.

Btw, as if this wasn't enough to make us all Proud To Be An American, how about our president in attendance? Sitting these, classless as always, with that stupid smirk on his face, as his country collapses all around him, waving a tiny American flag from the stands.

Just as tbe NBC announcers for the game kept saying, the officiating at the Olympics for basketball has always been atrocious. ALL teams are told to ignore the many, many bad calls and missed calls and just play on.
China got smoked by 30 so bad calls didn't really mean much.

 

[C Darwin]

Any gymnastic teams from africa?

 

[screamingeagle]

Or swimming teams from africa.

 

[James]

Or swimming teams from africa.

I saw a black guy swimming for the US in a relay today. The US won its heat.

 

[Matra1]

Yeah, he just lost the lead in the final. But the US won anyway. Cullen Jones was the weakest link.

 

[foobar75]

Yeah, he just lost the lead in the final. But the US won anyway. Cullen Jones was the weakest link.

Wow, simply wow! I was literally jumping and screaming when the US came back to win that relay. It was no doubt the greatest relay in swimming history. I've been watching swimming at the Olympics since I was a kid, going back the the LA games in '84. I've never seen anything like it, especially since the French were doing some trash talking and were the favorites.

The US Team destroyed the WR, and while the lone black guy almost cost them the win, it doesn't matter anymore, they won the gold! That final leg by Lezak and the comebackwas astonishing to say the least.


Swimming has been great so far, with lots more left. The Americans, Aussies, and the rest of the Europeans are doing great. That one guy from Korea (400 Free) and the one from Japan (100 breaststroke) are also great swimmers no doubt.


US is once again atop the overall medal count!

 

[Don Wassall]

That wassomething to seefor sure. Lezak apparently swam the final leg faster than any swimmer ever has.


An American girl lost the 400 meter individual race a little earlier by the same margin the U.S. beat France by. I'd forgotten how exciting swimming is to watch at this level.Edited by: Don Wassall

 

[speedster]

Pretty exciting stuff to be sure but for me these Olympics more than any previous games are about White vs black specifically White beating black.Boxing is of the most interest for me since are Russian brothers should do very well.This is not about country anymore.

 

[earthman92]

Michael Phelps and Amaury Leveaux opened the event for their countries, with Phelps going an American-record time of 47.51 to the 47.91 of the Frenchman. Garrett Weber-Gale followed for the U.S. in 47.02, slightly outsplitting Fabien Gilot and his 47.05. The French took the lead on the third leg when Fred Bousquet split 46.63 to the 47.65 of Cullen Jones. That left major work for Lezak, who handled his chore sensationally.
400 Free Record

 

[Guest]

Jones helped the Americans win. Not the other way around.

He is the number 4 American at 100 meters. There's really no argument here. Numbers do not lie. It's the same argument we make at castefootball when a white player is better than a black player and the combine numbers show it.

The US could have put a slower white guy in the relay if they preferred silver, I suppose.

 

[guest301]

Yeah, he just lost the lead in the final. But the US won anyway. Cullen Jones was the weakest link.

Wow, simply wow!  I was literally jumping and screaming when the US came back to win that relay.  It was no doubt the greatest relay in swimming history.  I've been watching swimming at the Olympics since I was a kid, going back the the LA games in '84.  I've never seen anything like it, especially since the French were doing some trash talking and were the favorites.

The US Team destroyed the WR, and while the lone black guy almost cost them the win, it doesn't matter anymore, they won the gold!  That final leg by Lezak and the comeback was astonishing to say the least.


Swimming has been great so far, with lots more left.  The Americans, Aussies, and the rest of the Europeans are doing great.  That one guy from Korea (400 Free) and the one from Japan (100 breaststroke) are also great swimmers no doubt.


US is once again atop the overall medal count!

That was the most exciting and greatest swimming relay I have ever seen. The french were talking alot of trash before that relay, the Americans shut them up and kept alive Phelps quest for 8 gold medals.

I could watch race that again and again.