Watching some of the golf coverage this afternoon. There was some discussion about ticket prices a few pages back, the tickets for golf are a bargain to see some of the world’s best golfers. And apparently Canada is defending the gold, from over 100 Years ago! 
I just realized why the women gymnasts’ hugs to each other look “insincere.” They hug with closed fists…likely because they have chalky hands.
Nailed it, missypie. yes, that white stuff would get all over the pretty leotards if they were embracing and patting each other on the backs.
The starred-out word in post #301 is “ch alky.” There was a website with that word in it - spammers kept promoting it, so we filtered the word!
We were taught to stand up and put our (right) hand over our heart for the Pledge. Smaller kids (and even some not so small) could often be seen checking their hands to see which thumb & forefinger made an “L” before choosing the other hand.
We were taught to stand for the “Star Spangled Banner” too, but only military personnel stood at attention or saluted. Everyone else just stood quietly. Men removed their hats. Women removed informal hats (baseball caps, stocking caps, etc.), but could keep formal hats on. You could recognize formal hats by the dress shoes they traveled with. Men clasped their hands behind their backs, or just left them at their sides. Ballplayers might put their hats over their heart, but I don’t remember anyone else doing it. Women either kept their hands at their sides or on their purses. People who sat, or who left their hats on, or didn’t put their hand over their heart for the Pledge were assumed to be either guests of our country or exercising their right not to participate. We didn’t comment on it.
I heard one of the commentators talking about a “packed house” for the swimming competition the other night. The shot they used was of a half empty aquatic center. Is half full considered “packed” for the Olympics?
I just can’t get excited one way or the other over hands over hearts during the anthem. If they do it, fine. If they don’t fine also. Just so long as they don’t be rude to their hosts or otherwise create some big ruckus or international incident during the anthems, who cares? The Olympic games should be about who is fastest, strongest, etc., not about who can do the best outward displays of nationalism.
Anyone watching the women’s all-around final?
Beach volleyball game was epic.
I watched the women’s all-around. I thought the judges scored Raisman low on the balance beam, and that her unevens score compared to some of the gymnasts who made major mistakes was also a little low, but I’m glad she was able to pull out the silver anyway.
Simone Biles is otherworldly.
Cash rewards for winning Olympic gold per country:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/olympic-gold-medals-come-with-big-cash----if-youre-from-one-of-these-countries-2016-08-10
Italy is unusually generous.
I watched the women gymnasts on my iPad. You would think with all of the down time waiting for scores or waiting for other groups to finish, they would not go to a commercial break so I missed the start of Raisman’s beam event. I am hoping that prime time coverage shows it a little better.
Prime time coverage will be tape delayed show we shouldn’t miss anything. Famous last words I know. We are talking NBC Olympics coverage, right?
Yea, but I am impatient. Home from work, but can’t get the events I want. OMG, I think I have them taped. Sorry.
SPOILERS are out there about the women’s all around tonight. Don’t worry, I won’t say what I just saw… sigh…
Tying in college and the Rio games, UC Berkeley has the most students and alumni among the athletes at Rio with 50. USC is not far behind with 44. Stanford has the most of any college on the US team and also the most among current students with 29. Berkeley has 16 current students at the games, and USC and UCLA have 15 each. The PAC-12 is kicking butt.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1911450-usc-olympians.html
College of Charleston has 11 which I find pretty impressive for a school of less than 11,000 students.
No spoiler - but I also thought Raismann’s beam score was low compared to the Russian’s. Any gymnastics Moms out there that can comment? Or any US commentary on that? I’m still watching live in a Chinese station, so the commentary is no help to me!
Aly just did the bars in the US and they said she had left something out that led to relatively major deductions.
We just saw Phelps walking in one of their little segments. He’s wearing one of those heavy (looking) long swim jackets. H asked why he would need one of those if he is just walking as he probably isn’t in his swimsuit/leotard/whateveritiscalled. So… anyone know why he’d need/want to wear it? Isn’t it warm there?
It’s frustrating that you can’t go to NBC’s streaming site to watch this afternoon’s events without seeing big spoilers.