Five-ring circus: The Thread of the XXXIII Olympiad

Meant to mention this earlier, but what’s the deal with all those Cuban defectors in the triple jump?

 

So apparently after the relay Sha'carri didn't talk or do the press conference. I don't understand at all.

 

"We just didn't get it done."

Can't blame NBC's Louis Johnson. He kept pounding the question. The four guys on the relay just flat refused to explain a complete failure to execute a simple handoff. AGAIN. Instead, some sidetalk about good enough to break a world record but you can't pass a fricking baton worth shit.

Do your best and get beat? No problem. We can accept that. But you had ONE JOB.

And the irony of the Kevin and Kenan baton skit just before NBC showed the race in primetime was glorious. "Look. We can do it. And we haven't even practiced!"

 

Forgive me because I had the sound down a bit and on an antenna TV with bad reception, but it seemed like they grilled the passer at length, while the receiver, Bednarek, was the one who took off too early that was about 90% of the fuckup and didn't answer any questions.

 

Yep, that seemed to be the case. And yeah, "we win as a team, we lose as a team" would be fine. But they let Bednarek off the hook when it was obvious he somehow brain farted despite putting down a piece of yellow tape to make sure he didn't start before then. And he's not a rookie at this.

"You only cover us when we cost baton makers' children scholarships!"

 

The baton passer was pulling out every cliche in the book to not throw his guy under the bus, whether it was deserved or not. That was getting downright uncomfortable to watch as he dodged the question like Neo dodging bullets and Bednarek started doing the "When is this going to be over?" squirm behind him.

 

That look was pure "Bitch, please."

 

Warholm also got his steps all fucked up. But as you said, wouldn't have mattered.

 

Just saw Olympic breaking for the first time (and of course Thomas Bach is there).

I just can't.

 

The winner spun like a top, so there’s that. Now let’s have the Olympics in Rucker Park. Between breaking and 3 on 3, we’d have home advantage.

 

Like Ron Turcotte looking back at the field in the 1973 Belmont Stakes.