<p>How much do you think the slow down and raised head was worth to the Serbian swimmer? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>(P.S. I’m not sure whether that is serious or not, but it was the first thing that went through my mind as I watched the slow motion of the finish.)</p>
<p>mini, and I thought I was cynical!!! LOL</p>
<p>Men’s 100m final is on at 10:30 for those interested. It’s nice to see Donovan Bailey there and happy to have the opportunity to see his OR likely broken. I can’t help but feel badly for Mark Spitz that he wasn’t given a similar opportunity to be present at the swimming events.</p>
<p>Why wasn’t Spitz allowed?</p>
<p>Did you see him last night? Wow, I had such a crush on him as a girl!</p>
<p>It wasn’t that Spitz wasn’t allowed, it was that he wasn’t even invited. The Canadian Olympic team invited Bailey to attend and he is also doing commentary with the CBC.</p>
<p>“mini, and I thought I was cynical!!! LOL”</p>
<p>But I didn’t think I was being cynical - I was just watching (and that’s what it looked like). </p>
<p>There’s some really nice beachfront property in Serbia…</p>
<p>Of course, the Serbian guy doesn’t LIVE in Serbia…did they say Pasadena? They did mention Nastia going to SMU - maybe it was on the Today show. We LOVE that Shawn goes to normal high school. It just kills me when these 2nd graders of average talent quit normal school to train 36 hours a week.</p>
<p>If I was going to throw a race, I wouldn’t make it that close. :)</p>
<p>I feel really bad for Shawn Johnson. She has been sooo gracious, but you could see the disappointment and fighting back the tears. I hope she wins an individual gold.</p>
<p>Pre-touch pads, Phelps would have lost that race. Even on the slow-mo, underwater replays, it’s tough to see the touch. The Serbian swimmer lost the race because he chose to kick in when his last stroke fell short of the wall. Phelp’s last stroke fell short, too, bu he chose to take another, short stroke. Good decision. For swimmers at that level, it’s kind of a bone-headed mistake to misjudge your strokes that way. Phelps was super lucky.</p>
<p>The Serbian swimmer not only lives and trains in the US, he was born here so has dual citizenship. I’m not sure how I feel about athletes who are afraid they won’t make he US Olympic team, so choose to compete for the home country instead.</p>
<p>If you’ve been listening carefully to the swimming commentators, you’ll have noticed that many, many of the swimmers from other countries attend college and train in the U.S.</p>
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</p>
<p>This is so common. Maybe they should make a rule that everyone must compete for the country in which they were born. Then, of course, the U.S. would lose many of their competitors in this year’s Olympics!</p>
<p>None of the three 1500 meter runners (men) were born in the US. I welcome them to our team with open arms!</p>
<p>“If I was going to throw a race, I wouldn’t make it that close.”</p>
<p>“For swimmers at that level, it’s kind of a bone-headed mistake to misjudge your strokes that way.”</p>
<p>I expect he didn’t think he’d have to make it that obvious. :rolleyes: (There are some nice little million-dollar beach cottages near Pepperdine…)</p>
<p>Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. If someone moves to another country, embraces it and becomes a citizen, I’m all for them competing for that country. I mean cases where someone is born and raised in one country, yet competes for another country where they’ve never actually lived but where they have dual citizenship. </p>
<p>So how many reasons can you think of to explain why they do that?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Swimming is the Olympics is cool, it doesn’t matter what country you represent because it’s all about you.</p></li>
<li><p>You love the old country more than the new country and it doesn’t really matter if you owe your achievement to the resources available in the new country.</p></li>
<li><p>You love the old and the new country equally but it’s easier to make the team in the old country.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Are there more? Are any of them more noble?</p>
<p>This marathon coverage is horrible! Why won’t they ever say what mile marker they are at???!! I understand that when she sees the bird nest she’ll have about a mile and a half to go, but you aren’t telling me how far it is until she sees it!</p>
<p>Of course, as soon as I post that they finally say she’s a mile out. w/e</p>
<p>Go Michael and Dara we all proud of you.</p>
<p>This is becoming the most memorable Olympics for me. I thought Phelps’ performances will be the highlight of the Games, but now I am totally stunted by the men’s 100 metre run. Can not imagine someone can be so good that he can set a world record in the event without really trying.</p>
<p>For those who wants to see good badminton, do not miss the gold medal match in the men’s single. The winner puts on the greatest demonstration of singles’ badminton I have seen. He made his opponent (ranked in the top two in the world) looks third rate. Stunning</p>
<p>^I said to my friend that badminton is one the most entertaining sports to watch and he said “no way”. I thought he probably didn’t watch a real game before and showed him the videos on NBC website. He was instantly hooked!!</p>
<p>Oops re: our 3 1500 meter men. Lagat got out-positioned and Lomong and my boy Manzano crashed and burned. Oh well- good experience for them and they’ll be back! </p>
<p>My highlight was the Romanian marathoner (woman) running alone so much of the way to win the thing, and then having the energy to do all the victory laps! Also, poor Paula Radcliffe crashing and burning but not daring to drop out (as she probably should have) because the British press crucified her last Olympics when she did that! I’m thinking I’ll get me one of those little running outfits for my next race (Not…).</p>
<p>lets move on to the more exciting races shall uhmm lets say the men and women100m where Jamaica has taken gold in each and a sweep in the women. yes my country is reaching new heights</p>