2008 Beijing Olympics Thread

catbox_9 wrote:

They don't compete. They don't have a national Olympic committee and their country has less than 4,000 people.

They should start one!


GO EASTER ISLAND

All they have is big heads! lol

U guys are crackin' us up over here!

catbox_9 wrote:

In other news, Afghanistan wins its first-ever medal.

Turns out he got more than that....

President Hamid Karzai immediately called to congratulate Nikpai. He also awarded him a house at the government's expense, said Humayun Hamidzada, the president's spokesman.

I heard a story on NPR how many athletes apply for citizenship in another country so they can play on that country's Olympic team...

USA wins gold in beach volleyball (women's) beating China

I could also see Racquetball as an addition. I used to play and loved it!

China has 45 golds

That's the most since the Unified Team had 45 in 1992. The last time someone had more was 1988 when the USSR had 55.

Most golds in one Olympics:
United States - 83 (1984)*
USSR - 80 (1980)*
United States - 79 (1904)**
Great Britain - 56 (1908)
USSR - 55 (1988)
USSR - 50 (1972)
USSR - 49 (1976)
China - 45+ (2008)
United States - 45 (1968)
United States - 45 (1924)
Unified Team - 45 (1992)

*Denotes games were boycotted by a lot of nations.
**1904 probably shouldn't even count - The Americans won 242 of the 283 medals awarded
Nations competing at home are in bold

----------
For those that care the winter Olympics record is 13 in 1976 (USSR) and 13 in 2002 (Norway).

Thursday, August 21, 2008
SHOCKER: Japan steals gold from U.S. softball team
Associated Press

BEIJING -- Losing in the Olympics for the first time since 2000, the U.S. softball team was denied a chance for a fourth straight gold medal Thursday, beaten 3-1 by Japan in the sport's last appearance in the Olympics for at least eight years -- and maybe for good.

Yukiko Ueno, Japan's remarkably resilient right-hander, shut down the Americans and handed them their first loss since Sept. 21, 2000 at the Sydney Games. The U.S. had won 22 straight since then, most of them with lopsided scores.

Another gold was certainly within reach. Instead, they walked off Fengtai Field with their heads bowed.

The U.S. team never led and made two uncharacteristic errors in the seventh inning to help the Japanese add an important insurance run -- one they didn't even need.

When Caitlin Lowe grounded to third for the final out, Vicky Galindo, who led off the U.S. team's seventh inning with a pinch-hit single, wrapped her hands over her helmet and cringed.

Moments later, U.S. coach Mike Candrea huddled his stunned players, many of whom couldn't even look up. Lowe choked back tears as slugger Crystl Bustos tried to console her overwhelmed teammates.

Bustos, who homered in the fourth for the Americans' only run, was first in line to congratulate the Japanese players. As she shook hands with the U.S. team, Japan catcher Yukiyo Mine was overcome by tears.

Bustos finished these Olympics with six homers. She has 14 in her Olympic career.

The International Olympic Committee voted softball off the 2012 program in London and the sport is hoping to be reinstated next year in time for the 2016 games.

Well they might as well go hang themselves

This tournament is kind of screwed up though - they beat Japan twice already!

catbox_9 wrote:

Well they might as well go hang themselves

This tournament is kind of screwed up though - they beat Japan twice already!

or throw themselves off cliffs

laprimamirala wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

Well they might as well go hang themselves

This tournament is kind of screwed up though - they beat Japan twice already!

or throw themselves off cliffs

Or jump out their plane with no parachute.

We gave up 3 runs that game We gave up 2 the previous 8. Now I'm not sure I want to tell people I'm American.

I guess I'm Canadian, eh.

What else can go wrong

In the 400m relays, neither the men or women get past the preliminaries. They're arguably the favorites in both and they both up

The men AND women BOTH dropped the baton. What is this? Middle school track and field?!!?!? You just don't do that They can jump out the same plane and leave the parachutes behind

Thursday, August 21, 2008
U.S. women beat Brazil to win gold in soccer
Associated Press

BEIJING -- Outplayed for most of the night, the Americans got the only shot they needed.

And now they're Olympic champions, once again.

Carli Lloyd scored in the sixth minute of extra time Thursday night, Hope Solo bailed out her teammates time and again, and the United States beat Brazil 1-0 to win the gold medal in women's soccer for a third time in four Olympics. As the final whistle sounded, the Americans charged across the field, hugging anyone in sight. Someone handed out flags, and several players took off, running.

"The team is definitely on a high right now, believing we were going to make a statement in the whole tournament," captain Christie Rampone said.

The victory was a bit of redemption for the Americans, who went to the World Cup as favorites last fall only to be humbled 4-0 in the semifinals by Brazil. And for no one was it sweeter than Solo, who was banished from the World Cup bronze medal game after criticizing then-coach Greg Ryan for not playing her against Brazil, even though she'd allowed only two goals in four World Cup starts, and had a shutout streak of nearly 300 minutes going.

Several minutes after the game ended, Solo sprinted back out onto the field, a gaudy imitation gold medal around her neck, a phone to her ear and a bright smile on her face. She closed her eyes when the American anthem began playing, and bounced proudly and gripped her medal when the team posed for pictures afterward.

The victory was the first in a major tournament for coach Pia Sundhage and gave the Americans their third gold medal since women's soccer was added in 1996. The United States' only loss was in the 2000 final to Norway.

For the Brazilians, it was bitter disappointment. This is the third time in a row they've been the runner-up at a top event. They outplayed the Americans in the 2004 final, too, and lost in extra time. They also fell to Germany in the World Cup final last year.

"I have no idea why we can't win a final," said Marta, who sobbed when she got her silver medal, her lip quivering.

The two-time FIFA Player of the Year has nothing to regret. Her speed and control mesmerized the American defenders, and her cat-like quickness allowed her to get to balls no other player would have come close to. She was credited with six shots on goal, but she seemed to be in Solo's personal space more often than a pickpocket.

"I'm more mad than sad," Marta said. "Again we had a chance to win the gold and again we let it slip away. It's hard to say why that keeps happening to us."

Earlier, Germany defeated Japan 2-0 in the bronze medal game.

Thursday, August 21, 2008
Women's basketball team to face Aussies for gold
Associated Press

BEIJING -- The U.S. women's basketball team passed its first test of the Olympics, beating Russia in its closest contest in Beijing. Now it's on to a fourth straight gold medal game.

Diana Taurasi scored 21 points and Tina Thompson added 15 to help the U.S. pull away from Russia 67-52 on Thursday in the semifinals. The Americans will face Australia in the gold medal game Saturday. The U.S. will be looking to win its fourth straight Olympic gold medal.

The Americans had been averaging 99.2 points as they cruised through the first six games, winning by an average of 43. The closest win was a 38-point rout of Spain, in which the U.S. only led by five at the half.

However, the Americans hadn't played a team as good as Russia, which had been inconsistent during the Olympics -- barely winning games in pool play.

For nearly 23 minutes, Russia gave the U.S. all it could handle, taking a 38-33 lead on Maria Stepanova's bank shot with 7:17 left in the third quarter. Then the Americans scored the next 12 points.

Thompson hit a tough turnaround jump shot to start the run. A 3-pointer by Katie Smith and another by Taurasi, and layups by Thompson and Lisa Leslie gave the U.S. a 45-38 cushion.

U.S.-born Becky Hammon, a naturalized Russian citizen, didn't score until making a free throw with 9:30 left in the game.

Hammon was the one I was referring to about switching nationalities.
Many Kenyan runners have become US citizens to compete in the Olympics
Hammon said she did it because there was no room for her on the U.S. team and she wanted to play in the Olympics strongly enough to do this.

catbox_9 wrote:

What else can go wrong

In the 400m relays, neither the men or women get past the preliminaries. They're arguably the favorites in both and they both up

The men AND women BOTH dropped the baton. What is this? Middle school track and field?!!?!? You just don't do that They can jump out the same plane and leave the parachutes behind

Told you we should have boycotted

gs78 wrote:

Told you we should have boycotted

But then the Chinese would be running away with the medal count.

Right now it's USA 102, China 89, Russia 57. They thought they could keep it close, but they can't!

An American wins the decathlon for the first time since 1996!

USA beats Argentina by 20 and will play Spain in the finals. A win and it's a gold and the embarrassment of Athens can be put to rest...for now.

Ireland has 2 bronze medals in boxing!

They've also clinched at least a bronze (but can still win gold or silver) in boxing. That means it's at least 3 medals for Ireland after winning 0 in 2004.

In 2000, they won just a silver. Not since 1996 have they won gold when they won 3 golds and a bronze.

catbox_9 wrote:

Ireland has 2 bronze medals in boxing!

They've also clinched at least a bronze (but can still win gold or silver) in boxing. That means it's at least 3 medals for Ireland after winning 0 in 2004.

In 2000, they won just a silver. Not since 1996 have they won gold when they won 3 golds and a bronze.

GO IRELAND

GO HIBNERNIANS (IRISH)!!!!

laprimamirala wrote:

GO HIBNERNIANS (IRISH)!!!!

Erin go Bragh

My first name is Gaelic

Sand-tastic: U.S. men win beach gold
Brazil's Emanuel, Ricardo claim bronze
By the Associated Press
Posted Thursday, August 21, 2008 6:05 PM ET

BEIJING (AP) - Phil Dalhausser blocked out the score, the sun and the sounds of the crowd that danced for Brazil while samba music shook the Olympic beach volleyball venue for the gold medal game.

Then he blocked just about everything else.

Rejecting four straight shots in the decisive set of the final on Friday to turn a tight match into a blowout, Dalhausser did it again on the championship point to give the Americans the sport's first Olympic gold medal sweep.

"I got in a zone, I guess," Dalhausser said. "I blocked it all out. It's just one of those things where you see everything perfectly and it all seems to be in slow motion."

Dalhausser and Todd Rogers beat Fabio Magalhaes and Marcio Araujo 23-21, 17-21, 15-4, winning their Olympic debuts in classic beach volleyball weather a day after Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor weathered a driving rainstorm to win their second straight gold.

It is the third beach volleyball gold for the American men in four Olympics since the sport was added in 1996. On Thursday, May-Treanor and Walsh continued a tradition that began when beach volleyball legend Karch Kiraly won the inaugural men's event in Atlanta with Kent Steffes.

"We're in good company," Rogers said.

The tallest player in the tournament at 6-foot-9, the bald bullet known as "The Thin Beast" had nine blocks in the gold medal match, including four in a row in the third set to help turn a comfortable 5-1 lead into a 9-1 runaway.

"When he gets on a roll, I just pull out my pompons and give a little cheer and keep smiling and clapping," Rogers said. "That's what good blockers do: When they get on a roll, good luck to you."

Brazilians in green and yellow wigs added a samba beat to the Chaoyang Park venue, while the Americans in the 12,200 seat-stadium had to make do with a few U.S. flags and a man in a red, white and blue Evel Knievel jumpsuit.

Dalhausser's bald head glinted in the sun, while Rogers wore his hat backward to keep the sun off his neck. In the stands, umbrellas were used for shade instead of shelter.

Earlier Friday, Athens gold medalists Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos of Brazil won the bronze, beating Jorge Terceira and Renato Gomes of Georgia 21-15, 21-10.

Brazil, a beach volleyball power that won seven of the first 18 medals awarded in the sport, had designs on another gold. And Marcio and Fabio, the 2005 world champions, had been 5-2 against the reigning champs.

But Dalhausser blocked those plans, then rushed over and tackled Rogers, both of them tumbling to the sand.

Marcio and Fabio led 6-1 and 9-3 in the first before the Americans took a 13-10 lead and closed it out on their third set point. Brazil scored four straight points to take the lead in the second, then scored three straight to break a 15-all tie and needed just two tries to close out the set.

"Brazil is a very, very good at beach volleyball," Dalhausser said. "You can't be overconfident against a Brazilian team."

what is it with these volleyball players jumping each other after they win!
not that there's anything wrong with that!

2008 Medals by Sport by USA

As of 8/22, 7:06 AM ET
________________ _____ ____
SPORT__________GOLD_____SILVER__BRONZE__TOTAL

Swimming	12_____	9_____	10____	31
Track & Field	5	9	7	21
Gymnastics	2	6	2	10
Shooting	2	2	2	6
Fencing	1	3	2	6
Cycling	1	1	3	5
Equestrian	1	1	1	3
Rowing	1	1	1	3
Wrestling	1	0	2	3
Taekwondo	0	1	2	3
Beach Volleyball	2	0	0	2
Sailing	1	1	0	2
Tennis	1	0	1	2
Soccer	1	0	0	1
Softball	0	1	0	1
Water Polo	0	1	0	1
Boxing	0	0	1	1
Judo	0	0	1	1
Total	31	36	35	102

1 medal in boxing matches the worst performance ever by the United States. In some other year (I forget which) they won just 1 silver. Basically this is the worst we've ever done. Something is rigged though - China already has 1 bronze and is going to fight in 3 more gold medal matches so they'll get 4 medals. Entering this year they had won a grand total of 1 medal in all their previous Olympic games.

catbox_9 wrote:

1 medal in boxing matches the worst performance ever by the United States. In some other year (I forget which) they won just 1 silver. Basically this is the worst we've ever done. Something is rigged though - China already has 1 bronze and is going to fight in 3 more gold medal matches so they'll get 4 medals. Entering this year they had won a grand total of 1 medal in all their previous Olympic games.

Friday, August 22, 2008
Drive-through citizenship taints Olympics
Jeff Schultz / New York Times news service

BEIJING -- Before 200 nations congregate for the next Summer Olympics in London, there are a few things the International Olympic Committee needs to tweak in the system. Just minor stuff that nobody really pays attention to, anyway.

Can the anthems.

Lose the flags.

Drop this whole antiquated concept of athletes representing their country for reasons of pride, patriotism and all that other stuff that gets forgotten the other three years and 348 days between Games.

The Olympics aren't about any of that anymore. They have become an exercise in passport free agency.

It was cute when Italy fielded a hockey team in Albertville with a roster including 14 Canadians and a goalie from Massachusetts. It was amusing four years ago when Greece, of all that is Olympic holy, built its baseball team in Athens with Americans.

But now we're just north of a swap meet.

The U.S. and Russia played in the semifinals of the women's basketball medal round Thursday. Becky Hammon, a nice girl from South Dakota, plays for Russia. She does this because she signed a contract with a pro team in Russia with the understanding that she also would play for the Olympic team. (Russia Olympic coach Igor Grudin also is sports director of CSKA Moscow, which signed Hammon for $2 million.)

There's no reason to take issue with an American athlete who seeks employment overseas, even if it is ironic one had to go to Russia to become a capitalistic pig. Seems to me Josh Childress did it recently. The difference is Childress didn't have Greek citizenship papers fast-tracked so he could play in the Olympics.

"I could never do what she did," U.S. player Kara Lawson said. "I will play for USA and that's the only country I will play for. That's the only uniform I will put on."

Sylvia Fowles, another U.S. player, said, "People have the right to do what they want. Becky -- she's just Becky. But we still have respect for her, somewhat."

Asked if she could ever see herself playing for another country, Fowles said, "No. I love my country."

The U.S. won the game, 67-52, advancing to the gold medal game. Hammon had a miserable night. She was double-teamed, made only 1-of-6 shots and finished with three points.

Afterward, she walked the patriot/mercenary tight rope as best she could.

"I'm not responsible for other people understanding the situation," she said. "All I'm responsible for is my actions and my words. I know where my heart lies and I love my country and I've said this 1,000 times -- I'm just a basketball player."

She sarcastically referred to the attention of her case as "a national fiasco."

But there really is no playing down the significance of Olympic free agency. It was a big enough issue for the U.S. players that Lisa Leslie said they debated it at lunch on game day.

IOC member Craig Reedle estimated there are 25 athletes in Beijing who obtained drive-thru citizenships. "If floodgates begin to open, then clearly it offends the overall principles and that, I am certain, we would look at," he told the BBC.

It's debatable whether there's anything the IOC can do. If a country wants to grant somebody naturalized citizenship in the name of a faster 4x100 relay, nobody can stop them.

J.R. Holden, who is from Pittsburgh, plays for Russia's men's basketball team (and also CSKA). Armenian wrestler Ara Abrahamian competed for Sweden. Rashid Ramzi won the 1500 for Bahrain, then pronounced: "I am Moroccan."

The two Georgian beach volleyball players who had that dramatic match against Russia the other day? They're actually Brazilian. Chris Kaman of Wyoming, Mich., played for Germany's basketball team. Then again, he was a Clipper, so nobody really cares.

We're no better. The U.S. has a Chinese table tennis player (Jun Gao) and volleyball coach (Ling Pang), and a Kenyan runner in the 1500 meters (Bernard Lagat).

But it's one thing to move to another country for a better life and then compete there. It's another to have country names attached by Velcro.

U.S coach Anne Donovan has called Hammon a "traitor." She toned it down Thursday, saying: "Becky made a great business decision."

But if this all about business, why are they raising flags and singing anthems?

Jeff Schultz writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. You can contact him at jschultz@ajc.com