<p>Janet Evans, almost 41 (Aug 28, 1971) came out of retirement and qualified for the olympic trials, though didn’t make the team [Janet</a> Evans qualifies for U.S. Olympic trials in 400-meter freestyle - ESPN](<a href=“http://espn.go.com/olympics/swimming/story/_/id/7459454/janet-evans-qualifies-us-olympic-trials-400-meter-freestyle]Janet”>Janet Evans qualifies for U.S. Olympic trials in 400-meter freestyle - ESPN) and went back into retirement [Janet</a> Evans retires from swimming after failed Olympic bid - Swimming News | NBC Olympics](<a href=“http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/blog=the-medley/post/janet-evans-retires-from-swimming-after-failed-olympic-bid.html]Janet”>http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/blog=the-medley/post/janet-evans-retires-from-swimming-after-failed-olympic-bid.html) But good for her for making the effort.
The female announcer/commentator on the NBC wrap-up last night, former Australian tennis player Mary Carillo was stiff, awkward and clunky in her delivery. Her eye contact with the camera was strange and her speech cadence and prosody were odd. Anyone else find her hard to watch/listen to?</p>
<p>I don’t have time to catch up, but I am HATING NBC’s prime time coverage…we are able to see long segments of the “lesser” events, but have to watch what NBC deems the premier events on their prime time coverage, and see almost nothing. In the 4 hours of coverage, what did we see? maybe 40 minutes of sports? Or less?</p>
<p>I men’s gymnastics, I learned so much more from following someone’s live tweets than watching the coverage. The real story wasn’t China not doing so well, but Japan not doing so well, and Russia being awesome. (I saw a bit of Russia on the late night coverage.) I’m just going to have to watch the live streaming coverage of the women at work. (Can’t watch this morning because of church.)</p>
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<p>Why is that a problem? The British people paid for this event; surely they and their country should be represented in it. If Chicago had won the 2016 games, are you telling me you would want that opening ceremony to concentrate on world themes rather than to celebrate America?</p>
<p>These London games are all about sustainability, redevelopment and celebrating Britishness. I think the opening ceremony achieved these aims, I’m sorry if you were expecting more razzle-dazzle but that isn’t our style. It was a very confident performance that did not pretend the UK was anything other than it is, that is something to be admired.</p>
<p>“The female announcer/commentator on the NBC wrap-up last night, former Australian tennis player Mary Carillo was stiff, awkward and clunky in her delivery. Her eye contact with the camera was strange and her speech cadence and prosody were odd. Anyone else find her hard to watch/listen to?”</p>
<p>Mary is an American from Queens, NY. I didn’t watch the wrap-up but she’s been a comm for years and years and I’ve never found her hard to watch or listen to.</p>
<p>I’m finding that frustrating as well missypie. Someone else pointed out that NBC nightly news headlined with the ‘shocking’ news of Phelps loss when they had decided not to air it until prime time. Okaaayyyy. Yes, most people probably knew, but you can’t play it both ways. Also, how shocking was it? Am I off or wasn’t Lochte favored. Perhaps the proper story was Phelps didn’t medal, but what a disservice to Lochte who won the gold. He deserved the focus on that story!</p>
<p>I’m live streaming when I can. Some things you can replay online if you miss it live without waiting for network/primetime. Others don’t allow this for some reason. It’s really a bad way to go about it. I’ll also agree to annoyance with NBC commentators all the way around. I wish the networks could see how often we MUTE them and directed/hired their correspondents accordingly.</p>
<p>Mary Carillo is considered by many to be one of the best tennis commentators of all time. She’s been doing it for years, since she retired from professional tennis. She’s definitely not Australian! Not with that NY accent. ;)</p>
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I believe you’re missing the point trying to be made. The host country absolutely should celebrate their history, culture, achievements, and showcase that to the world! However, if it is presented in a way that only the host nation can appreciate much of what is going on they loose the opportunity to share that vision, that opportunity to show the world what you as a nation are so proud of. I, personally, feel they missed the mark by making it too focused to their own citizens as an audience. That’s my own opinion. Others are certainly free to feel differently and I respect that.</p>
<p>When I heard that men’s 400m freestyle gold went to Chinese Sun, I wondered how someone probably 5 ft 5 in could win. I googled and was shocked to see he’s 6 ft 6 in, 4 in taller than Lochte.</p>
<p>I’m not British (I was not born in the US either), and I really enjoyed the ceremony. I liked it (with the exception of the giant baby). I disagree that you had to be British to like it, maybe you just had to be a bit open minded.</p>
<p>The Beijing opening ceremony was very Chinese, the Sydney one very Australian, and the Barcelona one 20 years ago (my favorite because of the way the cauldron was lit) was very Spanish. One of the nice things about the opening ceremonies is that they are a window into the culture, traditions, and history of the host country.</p>
<p>Oy vey, can we share our opinions without remarking that “maybe you just had to be a bit open minded”? That’s really not necessary. I’m plenty open minded, as I’m sure those are that enjoyed the opening ceremonies. I just have a different opinion.</p>
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I don’t understand this, either. MommaJ, what is the bad press about Phelps coming out of Baltimore? </p>
<p>And on another subject, is it really true that only the British dorm rooms have AC? Is it normal for the host nation to provide better accommodations for their athletes than for the athletes of other countries? (Of course it might not matter if there is no AC if the London heat wave is over.)</p>
<p>I’m curious to know what was difficult to appreciate or understand about the trip through British history and culture? Shakespeare, J.M.Barrie, J.K.Rowling, National Health Service, the Sex Pistols, James Bond, the Queen, Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, Mr. Bean, David Beckham, Paul McCartney. Not exactly unknown contributions to the rest of the world. Agrarian society to the Industrial Revolution to the invention of the WWW, clearly symbolizing how not only the athletes at the Olympics but how we are all connected today. I understand how some may have not enjoyed the ceremonies but I don’t get the complaint that it was too British focused and thus, was difficult for those in other countries to understand or appreciate.</p>
<p>Back to the games. Too bad that it’s raining for the cyclists. I don’t know a lot about cycling but I love the teamwork in this sport.</p>
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<p>I so agree! They said that the 400 IM final between Lochte and Phelps would take place at 2:30 pm EDT. I assumed that meant they would be showing it live. Guess not. I forget what they were showing, but it was nothing that could not be interrupted for a 4+ minute race. After all the hype, I couldn’t believe they didn’t show it live. But we can watch an entire volleyball game, basketball game, cycling race, and not see a highly touted medal race involving two American swimmers. I don’t get it.</p>
<p>Did anyone see John McEnroe’s segment with Bob Costas and then his interview with Ryan Lochte? I just felt McEnroe was very awkward, and I generally like McEnroe. He just didn’t seem “at ease”.</p>
<p>I agree, alwaysamom, with both of your comments.</p>
<p>MommaJ, it was hard for me to believe the Prince Charles comments I provided the link to in post 179 were real, but the person who sent me the link back in 2004 assured me that they were.</p>
<p>Dionysius58, does Charles regularly say things that wacky, or might my friend have been pulling my leg? :(</p>
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<p>I’m not sure anyone could blame Phelps for slacking off after 2008, but some believe he may get what he deserves for not having the work ethic or the training regimen in the last 4 years of other men in the sport. That’s clearly his choice. He is in London for one thing - to break the all time medal record, not to win every race. He was in Beijing to win every race. If he wins 3 more medals, he will break the record and may still overshadow the harder working, better prepared swimmers this year. </p>
<p>I’m in Baltimore and my d is close to Phelps’ age. Neither of us has ever talked to anyone who knows him who describes him as likable. No one will tell you he handled his rise to the top with grace or any sign of maturity.</p>
<p>^ he didn’t seem to be the gracious loser yesterday during the interview after his 4th place finish.</p>
<p>Thanks for clarifying Mary’s origination. My bad. I misread when I was looking into her background. Either way- she was , to me, very awkward, her speech cadence very unnatural, and ESPN politely discharged her a while ago</p>
<p>I saw the live feed for women’s gymnastics qualification. I am absolutely stunned right now. If you want to be surprised during the TV broadcast tonight don’t read the next paragraph.</p>
<p>spoiler
Aly Raisman had the highest all-around score of the Americans. Jordyn Wieber will not be in the all-around final.</p>
<p>SaintSaens, wasn’t Wieber a favorite to win gold? I don’t know much about the sport, but like a lot of people, love watching them in the Olympics. </p>
<p>Does this mean she can’t compete at all going forward, or just in this one particular event?</p>