<p>I find myself watching the people riding the bikes behind the rowers, waiting for them to crash into each other or fall over.</p>
<p>Haters gonna hate.</p>
<p>I found myself cheering for Japanese and Korean people in swimming today.</p>
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<p>I noticed them, too, notrichenough. Were they just fans/spectators doing that or were they affiliated with the rowers in some way?</p>
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<p>Did you stop to consider the possibility that I was not just talking about one race? Evidently not.</p>
<p>My point was that Americans seem to assume that Phelps is going to have the same string of successes in London. He probably wont, and nor will this Lochte guy in my opinion - swimming is increasingly being dominated by much younger people.</p>
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<p>In your opinion it wasn’t entertaining, but that is only your opinion and happily it is not shared by most people. You still haven’t said what would have made it more appealing to you?</p>
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<p>Equally I will never understand why Americans worship a two hundred year old piece of paper which does much more harm than good. But for your information, we don’t worship the Queen - you guys in the US care much more about her than we do.</p>
<p>Alwaysmom, the bikers were coaches.</p>
<p>Dionysus,
If you can still find it on line, visit The Guardian’s comment section of the article that followed the ceremonies live. Most of those commenting were Brits, and most did not enjoy the ceremony.</p>
<p>I am still rooting for Phelps, but I am rooting for Lochte as well. I think it would be great if they both come home with medals. I found myself rooting very hard for both the Americans and their opponents today during women’s volleyball, because it was such a good game and Korea was better than expected rather than the US almost blowing it. </p>
<p>Now I am waiting for all the silly heart-warming stories that I love despite myself.</p>
<p>gloworm, Dionysus enjoyed the Opening Ceremony. Why isn’t that OK with you?</p>
<p>Just watched women’s volleyball–exciting finish to the US/Australia match!</p>
<p>My kid and I went to the '96 Olympics together. It was my intro to beach volleyball. It was so HOT in Atlanta. They hosed the competitors off during the competition. </p>
<p>It’s nice to see the Americans, ages 33 and 34, who are mommies, hold their own.</p>
<p>Man lochte is a real competitor. Hope phelps gets first as this is his last Olympics </p>
<p>Sent from my Desire HD using CC</p>
<p>LasMa, it is fine with me. Did you read the comments of Brits? I did, and many, many didn’t like it. Dionysus seems to feel it is only Americans who didn’t enjoy it. Is that OK with you?</p>
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<p>That seemed pretty universal in newspapers everywhere. While the writers and reporters had divergent opinions, most of the comments of their readers were along the lines of being underwhelmed and bored. </p>
<p>Opinions are subjective. Some might have liked the opening ceremonies, and others not. However, there is a difference between having a different opinion and claiming whoever happens to disagree to be dense or unable to grasp the finer points of the humor and the sense of the burlesque in Great Britain. Some like Benny Hill and Monty Python. Others do not! That does not make the people who do not find it very funny … a bunch of idiots.</p>
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<p>oh really?..how about the declaration of independence…like that one?..lol</p>
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<p>You have an interesting conversational style. And apparently not unique in terms of CC accounts.</p>
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<p>Well, what can I say? You wrote that Phelps was too old. The winner of today’s race is older than Phelps. </p>
<p>Perhaps you could spend a few minutes and google the roster of the USA Men national team that competes in London, and let us know how many 16 to 20 years old are listed.</p>
<p>Heck, I’ll do it for you!</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.usaswimming.org/_Rainbow/Documents/6ca1c6be-e891-4188-ad67-436a61ff6b53/2012roster.pdf[/url]”>http://www.usaswimming.org/_Rainbow/Documents/6ca1c6be-e891-4188-ad67-436a61ff6b53/2012roster.pdf</a></p>
<p>2012 United States Olympic Swim Team
Men
Name Age Hometown Event(s)
Nathan Adrian 23 Bremerton, Wash. 100 Free, 400 FR-R
Ricky Berens 24 Charlotte, N.C. 800 Fr-R, 400 FR-R, 200 Free
Clark Burckle 24 Louisville, Ky. 200 Breast
Tyler Clary 23 Riverside, Calif. 200 Fly, 200 Back
Conor Dwyer 23 Winnetka, Ill. 400 Free, 800 Fr-R
Anthony Ervin 31 Valencia, Calif. 50 Free
Jimmy Feigen 22 San Antonio, Texas 400 FR-R
Andrew Gemmell 21 Wilmington, Del. 1500 Free
Matt Grevers 27 Lake Forest, Ill. 100 Back, 400 FR-R
Brendan Hansen 30 Havertown, Pa. 100 Breast
Charlie Houchin 24 Raleigh, N.C. 800 Fr-R
Connor Jaeger 21 Fair Haven, N.J. 1500 Free
Cullen Jones 28 Irvington, N.J. 50 Free, 100 Free, 400 FR-R
Jason Lezak 36 Irvine, Calif. 400 FR-R
Ryan Lochte 27 Daytona Beach, Fla. 200 Back, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Free, 800 Fr-R
Tyler McGill 24 Champaign, Ill. 100 Fly
Matt McLean 24 Sterling, Va. 800 Fr-R
Alex Meyer 24 Ithaca, N.Y. 10k Open Water
Michael Phelps 27 Baltimore, Md. 200IM, 400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Fly
Eric Shanteau 28 Lilburn, Ga. 100 Breast
Davis Tarwater 28 Knoxville, Tenn. 800 Fr-R
Nick Thoman 26 Cincinnati, Ohio 100 Back
Peter Vanderkaay 28 Rochester, Mich. 400 Free
Scott Weltz 25 San Jose, Calif. 200 Breast</p>
<p>Is it too much to hope NBC will tone down their Phelps hype now? I am so glad to see someone else win. </p>
<p>I hope someone else wins beach volleyball too, the Americans have won twice. I love to see upsets!</p>
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<p>Yes, totally amazing, especially given the tight connection between the bombings and the Olympics.</p>
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<p>Not sure why you used royal in quotes, but this is much more of an American phenomenon than a British one (in fact in many parts of Britain, the royal family is disliked as a matter of course). She is widely respected in most parts though, which should be rather telling given how unpopular other members of the family are.</p>
<p>I was happy to see Lochte win.He seems like an interesting guy. Already, Gillette and AT & T have rolled out new ads with Lochte.
I love volleyball and follow it because both my kids played/play. I was disappointed to hear in a piece today though that Misty May originally said she didn’t want to do the 2012 Olympics so Kerri Walsh asked someone else (Nicole Brandon or something like that?). Then Misty May got an epiphany that she wasn’t done so Kerri Walsh threw the new partner over. Or at least, that’s how it seemed to me from what was described. I know it’s business in the end but seems kind of harsh.</p>
<p>Regarding British dislike of the royal family, it was not until I got to know some people from the UK that I realized how foolish many of Prince Charles’ utterances really are.</p>
<p>Here are some direct quotes from Charles that are unbelievable:
[Prince</a> Charles on the wheel and other useless inventions | UK news | The Guardian](<a href=“http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/jul/15/monarchy.catherinebennett]Prince”>Prince Charles on the wheel and other useless inventions | Monarchy | The Guardian)</p>
<p>Prince Charles seems to me to be more respected in the US than in the UK.</p>
<p>I’m late to the thread because I was out of town but I enjoyed the opening ceremonies. I like that they had some “substance” rather than all glitz. I don’t remember the Beijing opening. I can’t stand Bob Costas and I thought he and Lauer and Viera were horrible. Lame and Lamer talked over the Arctic Monkeys!</p>
<p>I’m not at big McCartney fan but I thought he was fine. Unless they were going to import K.D. Lang back to sing “Hallelujah,” he was a good choice. </p>
<p>Michael Phelps has slacked on the training so I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t shine.</p>