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

One of my favorite Olympics memories was Bob Costas trying to narrate the competitive walking highlights and being utterly unable to get through it with a straight face.

 

Hey NBC, if you want to know why your ratings are tanking, here's why: you just did an hour and 17 minutes to open your primetime broadcast with skateboarding and women's diving, none of which was live.

 

What the hell, NBC? We watch two 1,500-meter semifinals, a bunch of skateboarding and platform diving and then only get a fucking 2-minute package on a U.S. woman winning the pole vault?

Come on.

 

Must have caught them by surprise, since they did a longer package on the higher rated pole vaulter the previous night or time who didn't make it to the finals.

 

I think NBC feels it must start each show with some T and A, which is why we get so much women's beach volleyball as well.

 

Lots of A, but not much T on those women volleyball players. Need a little more meat on the bone for the T.

 

Welp, my dumb ass somehow just put two $20 bets on Alix and April so I guess I’m watching the beach volleyball. Fuck me.

 

When beach volleyball was first added, it was popular on TV because of skimpy uniforms, USA dominance and the raucous atmosphere at the venue. That's affected the TV programming ever since. So I blame Karch Kiraly.

 

How much are you cheering for that back into the net?

 

On the plus side, a lopsided affair means a quick resolution in Olympic beach volleyball

 

Race walking seems to be one of the few sports where the women can beat -- even whip -- the men straight up. Several of our big local road races are part of a state track club circuit, and they draw some of the best race walkers in the state. Talking people who do a 5K in about 30 minutes and even a few who have competed nationally. It hasn't been uncommon over the years for the overall winner to be a woman, or for her to win by a sizable margin.

 

That was way less stress than most bets. You go ladies!