|
Post by stepper on May 15, 2012 19:14:29 GMT -6
I heard the press over in the UK was unhappy with the ArcelorMittal Orbit. I'm curious what you think about it.
I'm hoping Shawn Johnson makes the team again. She scored gold in China, and a year after that she hit big again - then she took a break and OMG!! She put on 25 pounds. People were being nasty to her because she wasn't in tip top gymnastics condition. For crying out loud! The girl won a gold medal! (I suspect I'd die just trying to do one of her workouts - I know I would if she was doing beam because there's no way my fat butt could do a split. Except for maybe splitting the beam.) After spending all that time training, and winning, let the poor girl have an effing burger without making a big deal out of it! Anyway, she's back and working out again.
|
|
|
Post by Mini Mia on May 15, 2012 21:43:27 GMT -6
Absolutely, Stepper. I agree. She deserved to sit back and take a long overdue break.
|
|
|
Post by Siren on May 22, 2012 7:15:21 GMT -6
Gams' favorite speed skater, Apolo Ohno, is 30 today. Just for you, Gams....
|
|
|
Post by moonglum on May 24, 2012 13:56:13 GMT -6
I heard the press over in the UK was unhappy with the ArcelorMittal Orbit. I'm curious what you think about it. Sorry Stepper, I didn't spot this earlier. I assume it was meant for me. Yes the press have been a bit cool over the 'Orbit'. I can see their point, having seen it develop from truckloads of steel to......well, a pile of steel I suppose! Personally speaking, I don't get it. Show me a painting, sing me a song or read me a piece of prose and I will find the beauty in there, assuming of course, that it exists in the first place. But, for the life of me, I cannot find any feelings for this monstrosity. I believe it is meant to stand as a lasting reminder, a legacy, to the people of London? I pass the Millenium Dome, (now called the O2 Arena), from time to time, and shake my head when I see it. That was meant in the same vein. Now it is black with grime, unkempt and really rather a joke. I feel that, sadly, the'Orbit' is destined for the same future. I may sound harsh. No stratch that, I do sound harsh, but I believe with some justification. If you could imagine the amount of money that's being spent on the Olympic Park, and then imagine how much of it will be razed to the ground afterwards, you would understand what a lot of Londoners feel about one of the few things that will remain when the games have departed.
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on May 26, 2012 4:45:37 GMT -6
That's certainly deserving a swoon of Olympic proportions!
I have a very tiny idea of how you feel, Moonglum. It's a similar situation here on a much, much (much) smaller scale. We're a summer tourist town; tourists bring in dollars so the town caters to them, often at the expense or inconvenience of full-time residents. (Weirdest and potentially dangerous recent change is taking out a stoplight with a pedestrian crossing. Residents used the crossing to get into town; kids used it to get to school. The town decided though, that tourists must have a straight shot into downtown without having to stop. Ridiculous, but true.) And then the tourists go home, and we have to deal with all the accommodations made to them. Yes, yes, I know it's not a good comparison to the changes made in London to accommodate the Olympic games; just an inkling of understanding why you're shaking your head.
|
|
|
Post by Siren on May 26, 2012 9:11:09 GMT -6
MG, I did the 30-second drill about the "Orbit". I must agree, it is a monstrosity. To think that the London city skyline will be forever blighted by that silly-looking thing is sad. And it galls me that it's being named in honor of private citizens when it's supposed to be about the Olympics. Reminds me of the library in OKC, built by taxpayers, but named for the fat cat then-Mayor. He's the new board director of our state fair. So, I guess we have more to look forward to. *eye roll*
Still, I can only try to imagine how amazing it must be to have the Olympics in your city. At least, that's what I think. Some folks, I'm sure, are not that excited about it.
|
|
|
Post by stepper on May 26, 2012 9:28:01 GMT -6
I think it looks like a fun, twisty, rollercoaster ride. It's got potential!
|
|
|
Post by Scrappy Amazon on Jun 10, 2012 11:46:06 GMT -6
I was watching all the pre-olympic short introductions on our on demand channels today. I AM SOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!! I can't wait until July 27!
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jun 10, 2012 12:18:05 GMT -6
Sadly, Shawn has quit the Olympics and I'm already wondering what else will be on.
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jun 26, 2012 6:11:12 GMT -6
I caught a very exciting Women's 400 IM in the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials last night; Elizabeth Beisel and Caitlin Leverenz made the team. Both women look like they'll have chances to medal in the games.
Bummer that it was the last televised event of the night. I didn't know it was on, or I would have tuned in sooner.....but whoo-hoo, there's more to come tonight!
Kind of a neat thing....they've got a replica of a red phone booth like the ones they have in London on deck in the pool area, and all the swimmers who make the team sign it.
|
|
|
Post by Siren on Jun 26, 2012 21:17:22 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jun 27, 2012 5:40:48 GMT -6
It's always adds an extra element of excitement, Siren, when "home-grown" athletes make the team, whether it's from your favorite college or your home town. Here's a story of one of LX's friends who has Olympic dreams for track and field in the next games. Whether or not he even comes close to making the team or not in 2018, he will always be the pride of the town, and is a role model for both his peers and adults - not only for his athletic ability, but his character as well. It's a long story, but please read the entire thing. He's an amazing kid who has overcome some gut-wrenching obstacles. www.mlive.com/sports/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/05/life_on_track_south_haven_seni.html#incart_river_defaultA footnote regarding the bit about dogs: whenever he's come to the house, he goes no further than the front porch because of our dog. He's only been inside once or twice, despite assurances that she wouldn't hurt a fly. Funny thing is, his "Mom" has a much bigger, more rambunctious dog, but no matter how much I try, I can't convince him that she's the sweetest thing in the world and makes their dog look like a beast.
|
|
|
Post by Mini Mia on Jun 27, 2012 15:16:43 GMT -6
We had a dog that was sweet, and in no way would we consider him harmful. Except to this one guy, who was deathly afraid of dogs. This dog would snarl and growl at him. We figure the dog could sense the guys fear, and it somehow triggered the dog's protective instincts ... either that or maybe the dog could sense the guy was no good.
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jul 2, 2012 6:11:27 GMT -6
In the 2008 games when that post was made, Dara Torres won not one, but 3 silver medals. The lady just doesn't quit. She will attempt to qualify for the U.S. team tonight in the 50 meter free; she's seeded 8th out of 164 swimmers trying to qualify for the event. If she makes it, at age 45, she'll need just one more medal to be the most decorated U.S. female Olympian in either the summer or winter games. Here's a story about Dara, whose Olympic career has spanned an amazing 24 years: aol.sportingnews.com/olympics/story/2012-06-28/us-swimming-olympic-trials-2012-dara-torres-50-meter-freestyle
|
|
|
Post by Scrappy Amazon on Jul 2, 2012 16:01:55 GMT -6
OMG! Did anyone else see Nastia Lukin bite the dust last night?!
Man I almost cried!
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jul 3, 2012 5:56:17 GMT -6
I did, Scrappy. Talk about the agony of defeat! D@mn and ouch! Then, of course, the heartbreak is included in the agony.
It was really nice to see the crowd's support though, and Nastia's amazing composure afterward.
Same with Dara Torres. She came in fourth last night, missing making the team by 9 100ths of a second, but was all smiles and dimples during the interview after the race.
"Being 45, getting fourth in Olympic trials against girls almost half my age, it's OK," Torres said. "I'm used to winning, but that wasn't the goal here. The goal was to try to make it. I didn't quite do it, but I'm really happy with how I did. I was able to hang in there."
Other big name women swimmers who didn't qualify to go to London are Katie Hoff, who won three medals in Beijing, four-time Olympian Amanda Beard, and 40-year-old Janet Evans, who came back from a 15-year retirement.
|
|
|
Post by Siren on Jul 8, 2012 0:46:54 GMT -6
"D@mn and ouch!" Lol! I have been there. You know, I heart Dara Torres. Absolutely love her attitude. There are actually people who have bad-mouthed her, saying that she has the best of everything to make her an Olympian at an "advanced" age. I say that she, above all, had the work ethic to make it happen. It's the lack of work ethic that has most of us in poor shape. I can't even make myself take a healthy walk every day, much less train for a shot at the Olympics. I hope Dara enjoys life, post-swimming. But I hope we see her as a sports commentator in the future. I think she has the right stuff for that. Oh, what a good article. Might bring a tear to your eye. It did mine. www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/sports/olympics/swimmer-and-young-writer-inspired-each-other-in-1976.html?_r=1
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jul 8, 2012 9:04:09 GMT -6
“This is what I want to do when I grow up. I want to write about people and positively affect their lives.”
She's certainly done that, at least in this case. Wonderful story; thanks for the link, Siren.
I think stuff like this is one of the things that make the Olympics so appealing to me - they bring to forefront so many inspiring stories I'd miss otherwise.
|
|
|
Post by Siren on Jul 9, 2012 23:03:54 GMT -6
Indeed, Gams. I get all caught up in that - the stories of athletes overcoming the odds, or tragedy, or injury, or time.
Glad you enjoyed the story.
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jul 10, 2012 6:28:18 GMT -6
I did enjoy it, Siren - keep them coming!
And I love what you wrote about Dara; I heart her too. Your post inspired me, actually, to do something I've always meant to do...
I've been slacking. I used to go roller-skiing religiously three times a week; I bet I haven't been a dozen times this spring and summer combined. I also used to walk or ride my bike nearly everywhere I went in town; I've been getting in the car, instead.
I love getting up early in the morning before everyone else, and have always thought it'd be a perfect time to go for bike ride or walk. I putz around the house entirely too much though, and sit out on the porch drinking coffee until there never seems to be time to do either. Like yesterday...I read your post early, and thought, "I have enough time to go for a bike ride". But didn't.
Today, I did. Just a fifteen minute ride, but I made sure I got in a couple of uphills. If I get my lunch ready and iron my clothes the night before, maybe even skip one of my many cups of coffee in the morning, next time I'll have about 40 minutes to spare. I doing it, I swear.
At least I have good intentions of doing it.
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jul 15, 2012 7:24:59 GMT -6
Here are some past (and very strange) Olympic events that we won't see televised in this, and probably any future, Olympics. The Ten Weirdest Olympic Sports Ever: www.oddee.com/item_98257.aspx
|
|
|
Post by stepper on Jul 15, 2012 13:03:01 GMT -6
I did enjoy it, Siren - keep them coming! And I love what you wrote about Dara; I heart her too. Your post inspired me, actually, to do something I've always meant to do... ...I love getting up early in the morning before everyone else, and have always thought it'd be a perfect time to go for bike ride or walk. .... Today, I did. Just a fifteen minute ride, but I made sure I got in a couple of uphills. If I get my lunch ready and iron my clothes the night before, maybe even skip one of my many cups of coffee in the morning, next time I'll have about 40 minutes to spare. I doing it, I swear. At least I have good intentions of doing it. Way to go Siren! You inspired our 'inordinate amount of time in a cemetery' person and gave me an opportunity to say so! Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by Siren on Jul 15, 2012 22:41:01 GMT -6
I'm glad it was a help. I bet Dara would be amazed by how many of us in the 40+ crowd she has inspired. Our training is nothing compared to hers. But I bet she'd be tickled to know she got us up off the couch.
I have been walking with some friends after work. Gives us a chance to catch up on each other's lives, and gets some exercise in. I feel so much better afterward, despite my aching feet. Yes, my feet have been giving me trouble lately - bunions and plantar fascitis. Getting old is the pits!!
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jul 25, 2012 10:12:57 GMT -6
There's that agony of defeet again!
We're almost there; the opening ceremony is just three days away. I wonder where Scrappy ran off to....we need a big Whoo-hoo and lots of exclamation points!
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jul 26, 2012 6:32:43 GMT -6
Did anyone see the women's soccer yesterday? Hubs said he heard the U.S. team beat France (he thinks it was France). I didn't even know they'd started playing yet. Drats!
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Jul 31, 2012 6:38:51 GMT -6
I've been enjoying what I've seen of the Olympics so far, but what I've seen is actually very little; I only get to watch during prime-time. I love the swimming events; watching the Australians win the 4x100m free relay and the U.S. taking the bronze, the French come back from losing out to the U.S. in the last Olympics to see the exact opposite this time around, and seeing young Missy Franklin compete are highlights. Beach Volley ball is always exciting; watched Misty May and Kerri Walsh win a couple of nail-biting matches over tough Australian and Czech teams. I look forward to Mary Carillo's human interest segments at the end of the broadcast...if I can stay up that long. The Men's and Women's Gymnastic events are always highly covered by the media, and while interesting to watch, they're not favorite events of mine. I would have liked to seen a little bit of fencing (I didn't even know about the controversy until I drilled after seeing photos of the very distraught South Korean fencer), some sailing, rowing, basketball, and indoor volleyball. I seem to remember way back when, the media devoting segments during prime time to recapping what happened during the day's events. I miss that. Here is some of the stuff that didn't air during prime time from day 2 and day 3, and some that did air - both athletes and fans captured in some gorgeous shots: sports.yahoo.com/photos/olympics-day-two-1343618782-slideshow/olympics-day-2-diving-photo-1343611699.htmlsports.yahoo.com/photos/olympics-day-three-in-london-slideshow/south-koreas-shin-reacts-being-defeated-germanys-heidemann-photo-183534859--spt.html
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Aug 2, 2012 4:36:00 GMT -6
Big past couple of days in the pool, on the gymnastics floor, and on the beach volleyball court. All very exciting to watch.
Favorite quote: "We have shown natural restraint and politeness in not hogging the medals board so far." ~ London Mayor Boris Johnson on Team Great Britain's medal count.
I just love the British sense of humor....humour.
|
|
|
Post by Siren on Aug 2, 2012 21:38:27 GMT -6
... seeing young Missy Franklin compete are highlights. I seem to remember way back when, the media devoting segments during prime time to recapping what happened during the day's events. I miss that. Agreed on both counts. I miss Jim McKay and those recaps. I miss Jim McKay, period. I enjoyed seeing the Caitlin Leverenz's huge happiness in winning a bronze medal the other night. She was just overjoyed. Great to see. As proud as I am of the U.S. gymnastics gals, my heart broke for the Russian girls. They were just crushed, losing in the team competition. I don't know if the Russians still choose their future Olympians from little, little kids, as they used to. But if those girls have given up their families, only to come up short of their goals...well, that's even sadder. Way to go, Gabby - All-Around champ!!
|
|
|
Post by Phalon on Aug 3, 2012 6:16:51 GMT -6
I agree!! And Gabby's smile is infectious. Out of the pool and gymnastics floor spotlight, the U.S. women rowing team won gold; we got to see the medal ceremony in prime time last night. There was also a brief mention a U.S. woman won gold in the judo competition. Kayla Harrison, with tears streaming and a great big smile on her face accepted the United States' first ever gold medal in women's judo. Overcoming years of abuse, her story is inspiring, (one of the kinds of stories that leave you all choked up): sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--kayla-harrison-wins-first-u-s--olympic-judo-gold-medal-after-proving-toughness-long-ago.html
|
|
|
Post by katina2nd on Aug 4, 2012 22:12:30 GMT -6
Gee it's been a lean time for the Aussies so far, first time in something like thirty five years we've failed to win an individual gold medal in the pool. The red hot favourite in the mens 100 metres got beaten into second place, and last night the favourite in the long jump placed second as well. Oh well, there's always the footy, that's far more important then some flaming games on the other side of the world. ;D
|
|