<p>Woohoo! So happy for the Canadian girls and especially for my Ds’ friend, Diana Matheson, who scored the goal! 1-0. And a bronze medal!</p>
<p>Your hero is not my hero. So the definition of a hero is a personal thing. I’m sure MP is a hero to many, but it would be rare that someone is a hero to all.</p>
<p>IMO, you should never argue the definition of “hero” - to do that, is to put an opinion and judge on someones personal situation.</p>
<p>Well, I gave up days ago on the internet feed freezing for me, and I don’t get the NBC sports network. Do you think more people really like dressage (MSNBC) over soccer?</p>
<p>Just venting, I suppose. Anyhow, really happy Canada won the bronze.</p>
<p>I will watch USA-Japan soccer final in 20 minutes.
I am looking for a gold medal for the US.</p>
<p>We watch the *Today Show *and they interview athletes every morning. The track and field folks definitely give the best interviews…well spoken, but showing a lot of personality. I am assuming that it’s because they tend to be older…late 20s, early 30s. I think the gymnasts must have been coached on not to say “like” or “you know” because they sound like robots (which I guess is better than sounding like silly little girls, which my own kid might sound like).</p>
<p>I was glad to see Walsh and May repeat as champions. And I’m amazed at the popularity of beach volleyball in parts of the US and world other than southern California. It’s the quintessential SoCal sport - invented in Santa Monica nearly a hundred years ago. All four of last night’s finalists are from SoCal. </p>
<p>But I guess you can truck sand into anywhere. An actual beach is not required. I certainly didn’t seen any waves crashing in the background there at the Horse Guards barracks. Maybe they should call it Sand volleyball.</p>
<p>And I was very glad to see Felix finally get her gold. I remember when she came out of high school she was already a national-class runner. All the big track colleges recruited her hard. She signed with USC, where her big brother, Wes Felix, was already on the track team. I was very disappointed when she then abandoned her scholarship before school began and signed a pro contract with Nike instead. </p>
<p>She said all the usual things about pursuing her college education anyway, in and around her training and pro commitments. And I thought “Yeah, yeah, sure. That’s what they all say when they jump to the pros early. And six years later they are injured and are no longer in the sport. The money’s gone and no college degree anywhere in sight.”</p>
<p>But my admiration for Felix shot way up when, four years later, she graduated from USC right on time, along with the rest of her class. Just as she said she would. I thought “Wow, here’s a woman with plan and the actual skill, maturity, and determination to pull it off.” Now with the gold medal finally in her pocket the plan is complete.</p>
<p>I am OK with the word “hero” for MP.</p>
<p>He fits this definition “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability”.</p>
<p>[Hero</a> - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary](<a href=“http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hero]Hero”>Hero Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster)</p>
<p>I know for sure he is not a war hero.</p>
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<p>Not only older but most of them are college educated too. The usual path to the top for a US track and field athlete passes through a heavy dose of NCAA competition. And even for athletes, college often polishes peoples’ skill in expressing themselves. </p>
<p>I’ve heard people remark on how well-spoken and articulate is Ato Bolden, color commentator for the sprints. To which I always reply “Of course. He’s a UCLA man.”</p>
<p>Is anyone following the decathlon? I think those guys are pretty amazing and the best all-around athletes. I haven’t seen any of their competition on tv, so I am glad for my iPad which seems to have fewer delays than my computer. Just wish they didn’t have to play the cola commercials after every individual event.</p>
<p>Please - what time is the woman’s soccer game on NBC today?</p>
<p>NBC did a very short summary of Day 1 of the decathalon (unless I missed some of it.) Yesterday was the US’ biggest day in Track and Field since 1992, but NBC had to finish up quickly to show us the debut of Matthew Perry’s new sit com.</p>
<p>missypie-- we were discussing that exact thing last night! The track and field athletes are so well-spoken and poised. Probably a result of maturity and I wouldn’t doubt there’s a little PR training in there somewhere. They all seem delightful. </p>
<p>We’re watching decathlon avidly. We’re in Eugene, where Ashton Eaton set the WR at the trials a month ago. My son, volunteering at an event afterward to get community service hours for IHS/IB, came home and said, “I got my picture taken with Ashton Eaton! Who’s Ashton Eaton?” Ha. He’ll know after today, I daresay.</p>
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<p>I have noticed that but imo the biggest difference I’ve seen was between the young swimmers and the young gymnasts. All the gymnast seem very robotic, like they memorized lines which were fed to them, while the young swimmers of the same age (Missy, katy, for example) seemed much more genuine and, imo, much more well spoken.</p>
<p>US/Austrailia in women’s basketball semi-finals…supposedly the two best teams in the tournament. Currently AUS is leaing 25-22.</p>
<p>treetopleaf, I believe the game this afternoon is on around 2:30.</p>
<p>I should say, it’s on here at 2:30 on CTV. Whether NBC will deign to show it live, I don’t know.</p>
<p>It doesn’t surprise me at all that NBC showed a new sitcom instead of Olympic coverage. Didn’t they do the same thing during the closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, with that stupid Jerry Seinfeld show?</p>
<p>Thanks! Our listings are vague.</p>
<p>Note about beach volleyball: they have pro tours. They set up a big sandbox and a grandstand and have a tournament. They even had one in downtown Boston.</p>
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<p>You’re right. Do you think going to regular HS vs. home school/elite athletic academy has anything to do with it?</p>
<p>Women’s basketball 47-43 AUS at the half.</p>
<p>I like how usain bolt always says “Im number one, and always will be.” and he’s lives up to his statement in every race, its incredible.</p>