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Colonel Flagg · #1

Why don't the men wear slinky speedos like the women for beach volleyball? Not that it matters much to me, but some of us (and you know who you are!) might like to see a little beefcake.

Colonel Flagg · #2

How dominant is Michael Phelps? I just saw the 200 Freestyle final. At the start he was a half-body-length ahead of the field. (The Swiss swimmer kept up for about a lap, but faded quickly.) After each turn, he gained another half-length, and kept it going for 200 meters. He swam the race in world record time, beating the silver medalist (Park, from S. Korea) by nearly 2 seconds.

One word. Wow.

Pub Lover · #3

I fully expect him to reach his goal of the most golds at a single Olympics.

In your face, Mark Spitz. :spitsinspitzface

Pentegarn · #4

I think it is jacked up that the Olympic's didn't invite Spitz to witness it. He says he wants to be there and fully believes it is going to happen, he even wanted to be the one to give Phelps the medals he is going to win.

Colonel Flagg · #5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pentegarn

[... Spitz] even wanted to be the one to give Phelps the medals he is going to win.

I don't have a problem with that. Former olympic champions don't typically hand out the next olympic victors' medals, do they? It would, have been nice, I guess, to have Spitz present at the "Cube" for Phelps' last race, just in case. But that didn't happen.

Seriously, if the USOC wants to, they can have Mark and Mike pose next to each other, each with all their golds around their neck (à la the Post Olympics SI cover from '72). But frankly, that would be a little cheesy.

Or maybe a lot cheesy. :wisconsin

Pub Lover · #6

Erakovic got knocked out in round one. The game was delayed for three days due to rain, but it didn't help her any. Next up, her losing in round one of the US Open.

Dimnos · #7

Stuff like this is what makes weightlifting interesting. I mean it sucks to be him and all but...

Pentegarn · #8

Oh dear God

WhiteRat · #9

Who wants to start praying to Michael Phelps?

WhiteRat · #10

Them china men are up to no good:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...sts/index.html

10,000 Volt Ghost · #11

Not to take anything away from Phelps but doesn't the U.S. have some radical new swimsuit technology? I still think he would beat the competition but I'm not sure if he would still be clubbing the records like he is.

Edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRat

Them china men are up to no good:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...sts/index.html

I think time goes faster in China. So by next year the same gymnast is going to at least be 19.

Pentegarn · #12

You are not mistaken. I believe (Adidas maybe?) made suits that force the body into a more aerodynamic shape. Critics are calling it 'preformance enhancement clothing'

WhiteRat · #13

I thought other countries had access to the suit as well? I always thought that Adiddas wasn't an American exclusive when it came to making money.

Colonel Flagg · #14

It's the LZR suit from Speedo, and yes, they are more than happy to supply it to anyone who wants it. The only people complaining about performance enhancement clothing are the other swimsuit manufacturers, and of course, those teams that are contractually obligated to wear suits of different manufacture.

It's a pretty fine line. I seem to remember there was a type of pole that was deemed illegal for pole vaulting - I think it had better shape memory or something, which gave it better snap at the same weight. However, in this case there was independent testing conducted by labs reporting to the Swimming Committee (I don't know the official name) that showed that the advantage was statistically non-meaningful.

And there is, of course, the Placebo Effect - if you believe the suit gives you an advantage, then you perform as if it does.

10,000 Volt Ghost · #15

Well then...GO U.S.A.

Pentegarn · #16

How bout that freaking finish Phelps dropped last night!

USA! USA! USA!

WhiteRat · #17

Yeah, that was pretty impressive. From the naked eye it's extremely difficult to tell who won.

I'm more interested in the sprinting/mid distance events of track than the other sports. Tyson Gay finished 4th in the 100 semi's failing to qualify for the finals. Guess his hamstring injury might have set him back just a bit. Usain Bolt of Jamaica won the Gold and shattered his previous world record of 9.72s with a 9.69s. American Walter Dix of FSU finished with the Bronze. I really like Dix because during the Olympic Qualifiers he turned down several sponsorship offers and chose to remain an amateur, running in his FSU singlet instead of being plastered with sponsors.

WhiteRat · #18

This little bitch got his metal taken away. What a god damn cry baby.

Dimnos · #19

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRat

This little bitch got his metal taken away. What a god damn cry baby.

Ha ha. Im glad they took his metal away. They should make this pic into a poster about good sportsmanship to put up all over the place at the next olympics as an added punishment. What a dip

Colonel Flagg · #20

How about the story of that Chinese Hurdler - Li Xiang? The hype before the olympics was huge, what with all the stories (in ESPN and SI to boot) claiming him to be the "hope of 1.3 billion chinese" only to come up lame in the first 110 meter Hurdle qualifying heat.

Sucks to be him right about now.

Pentegarn · #21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colonel Flagg

How about the story of that Chinese Hurdler - Li Xiang? The hype before the olympics was huge, what with all the stories (in ESPN and SI to boot) claiming him to be the "hope of 1.3 billion chinese" only to come up lame in the first 110 meter Hurdle qualifying heat.

Sucks to be him right about now.

Especially once the Chinese government starts torturing him for not living up to the hype.

Colonel Flagg · #22

Jim Caple of ESPN.com must read I-Mockery. The last page of his latest article includes the following line:

'And as for [Jonathan] Horton? He has the silver from the high bar, a bronze from the team all-around and, well, you never know, someone might make "Gymkata 2."'

Colonel Flagg · #23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dimnos

Ha ha. Im glad they took his metal away. They should make this pic into a poster about good sportsmanship to put up all over the place at the next olympics as an added punishment. What a dip

Compare this to little Shawn Johnson, who got beat in both the all-around and on "her" event (floor exercise) by the last performer. In a sport more affected by disputed judging than any except perhaps fencing, she congratulates the winner, smiles for the camera and accepts her silver medal graciously.

The 16-year-old 4'9" gymnast has more maturity than the 6'2" 240# wrestler.

I'd go you one better - what a wanker!