2020, uh, 21, uh, who knows Tokyo Olympics thread

John-John Florence didn’t make the medal round in surfing?

 

As bad as DeChambeau is, the only way to get worse than Reed is to get political ...

 

… and the agony of defeat.

 

My mother -- 89 years old -- sat in front of her TV and marveled at the inaugural Olympics skate-boarding competition.

It was so cute, and I couldn't help but get a kick out of it.

Her: "I just don't understand how they hold on to that board!," she exclaimed. "Do they have glue on the bottoms of their shoes?"

Me: "No, Mom. It's gravity"

Her: "Look at that! He went down the stairs...He's going down the banister -- backwards! Oh my gosh! Look how high they go! Look at that! How do they do that!? I don't understand! While they're up in the air, the skateboard flips over, and flips over, and they land on it, right-side-up!," she says, hitting one hand to her other open palm in order to make the point.

Me: (Just laughing at her, and her new sport): "I know, Mom. Yep, they're pretty amazing."

Her: (The play-by-play commentary continues): "Oh, this guy was doing so good, and then he fell. Oh, now this guy fell! Ohhh...aww...They're all falling, WriteThinking!"

Me: (No comment, just enjoying her "discovering" skateboarding).

Her: "You know, at first, I was like, 'Eh,' and I almost wasn't going to watch this. But I'm glad I've seen it...."

Me: (Just continuing to watch, her, more than the TV).

Her: "Oh, Nyjah (Huston). You blew that. C'mon, Jagger (Eaton), you've got to do it for us! See, now I feel like I know 'em. I'm calling them by their first names!'

She sounded proud of herself.

And I have to admit, I was kind of proud of her, myself. I never thought I'd see the day when my lil' old mom knew who Kelvin Hoefler (of Brazil) was.

So funny...

 

I second that sentiment. It was really brought home with some telling, almost haunting, overhead shots of the beach volleyball arena while April Ross and Alix Klineman competed against a duo from China. The stadium was completely empty, unlike some other venues, none of which were crowded but a few of which at least had some people in them.

 

Chernobyl is a dick move but really damn funny

 

I just flipped past USA-Japan water polo and I miss Doc doing that sport too.

Meanwhile, USA and Aussies tied 0-0, bottom 7 on NBCSN.

UPDATE: Aussies get one in the eighth (crazy baseball rule!), but USA walks it off in the bottom of the frame.

 

And another one

 

It’s got to be residual from his earlier infection, right?

 

I forgot how much I enjoy watching weightlifting.

 

/approves