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

I want her to be fine, but if you watch sports for any type of pleasure, there is no way you are not disappointed right now.

We watch sports to be amazed at what athletes can do. If I never see her fly through air like no one ever has, I’m going to be disappointed. I’m not pissed at her, but disappointed in the entire situation.

I don’t want another Bo Jackson. I don’t want this amazing athlete just to be taken in an instant.

I’m rooting for her to feel ready to compete again.

 

From the Helene Elliott tweet I posted uptopic, it sounded like the pitcher who knows he doesn't have his fast ball heading into Game 7.

One has to wonder, though, with as much as the sports associations are pouring into facilities, trainers, coaches, etc, will we see more money poured into psychological training? Thinking not only of Biles and the tennis player, but the catcher in the Giants organization who survived a suicide attempt, just retired and is staying with the team to avert similar tragedies. This is opening new ground.

 

Sports shrinks have been around for decades.

 

Can you imagine doing a vault with the power that she has, being in midair and not knowing where you are in relation to the ground? It's a miracle she didn't fall out and just break an ankle or something worse.

 

Playing the role of the Atlanta Falcons is the U.S. men’s rugby team. Blew a 21-0 lead, lost 26-21 to our former mother country.

 

Steel Curtain.

 

Five of the top six seeds are now out of the women's tennis tournament. And No. 4 Svitolina had to pull out a tough come-from-behind win over Sakkari.

 

Amen to that.

Also, I halfway wonder if she might have some concussion symptoms that might be worsened by the torque created on her vaults.

 

This has been my reaction, but I also can't help feeling like there's something I/we don't know. Honestly, it seems like there has to be some physical issue, as well as any mental ones, because Biles has been dealing with competition, pressure and expectations for her entire competitive life. She has even fostered and encouraged and put them out there herself, and she has known, shown and promoted herself as the amazing gymnast that she is.

In that sense, something feels strange about this -- like there's some hole in this situation that we just don't get, and that makes our knowledge/understanding of it incomplete or incorrect, even if we say we get it, that it's courageous, and want to be supportive of Biles, and/or her mental health, etc.

What she did might just be the most courageous thing ever, but it also has to rank among the most unimaginable, and, frankly, unlikely.

I can admit that I'm glad I'm not there and having to be a working journalist, having to deal with this story.

 

The gold- and silver-medalists in the "women's" street competition were 13-year-olds. The bronze medalist was a 16-year-old.

 

I thought the US got hosed on one of the late penalty calls. The ball carrier didn't release, but the tackler was lying on top of him. Maybe they get the call of he showed more effort to let it go.

Argentina got a red card 3 minutes in and still managed a comeback win over the Boks. Beyond improbable, and they were actually down to 5 for the final kick.

 

The Soviets played great defense too.