Five-ring circus: The Thread of the XXXIII Olympiad

In general, I loathe short corners. Why?

At least it's not quite as useless as when they did that on occasion when they had Abby Wambach in the human scrum off of corners. One of the most fearless, aggressive players stronger than all her peers – and, most importantly, not afraid to stick her head in a set piece – and you go for a short corner? Not smart.

 

Short corners are great when you have a plan. The defense often breaks down.

 

That was some strike for Rodman.

 

US cyclist should be in a sprint for bronze in the men's road race. 7km to go.

 

Same reason the SWAC and Big Sky get to send representatives to March Madness. There’s something intangible that would be lost if these smaller schools/nations had no formal path to participate. And every great once in a while some magic happens and everyone forgets the parade of 95-58 clunkers along the way.

 

Welp, the US guy finished in the top 10 of the road race. Chasers caught him and another guy and he didn't have the legs for a bunch sprint for bronze.

 

US women's soccer team to semifinals. In a "slog" ... Foudy said as much. The PBP called it "a frustrating game to watch."

So the points of Poin and TV are noted. But soccer isn't always about beauty, particularly when tactics are this blatant. But that's also a part of the sport.

 

I'll still never get it that it's considered a good thing in soccer that nobody really knows when the game is over.

Oh well.

 

I am still waiting for someone to explain to me how Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, competes as a standalone country in the Olympics...

rb

 

Based on my extensive Olympic viewing, the majority of a judo match is the competitors adjusting their gi after a tussle that results in neither scoring a point.

 

The IOC recognizes National Olympic Committees rather than countries. Territories can have NOCs, and Puerto Rico does. So do American Samoa and Guam. Puerto Rico sent three boxers to the 1980 Moscow Olympics, but competed under the Olympic flag.

 

USA Basketball decides to play like USA Basketball.