Olympics 2012, in Londontown

Which takedowns do you think were penalties?

 

I am not a big fan of saying "the ref cost us the game" in any sport. As said earlier in the thread I think the US simply had more scoring chances and they got the goals when they needed them. Canada gave up a bad corner goal when they did not protect the post on a corner, something you are taught as soon as you start playing.

I will dispute your assertion on the handballs.

Canadian player turned her body to the ball. The ball came to her hand, not her hand to the body. Rapinoe stuck out her arm, it was at her side bit not against her body.

Delay of game call was BS. A ref at the level of competition should be able to tell the difference between real stalling and a play that happens to take a moment to get going. I know it is in the rules but it just is nota acall you make at that point in the game.

 

I'm counting the 400 hurdles as a gold for the U.S. Damn Felix Sanchez was born in New York, grew up in California and went to USC. As far as I know has NEVER lived outside the U.S.

You're American, Felix! I don't care where your parents are from!

 

If I'm still going to be bitter that Germany didn't get a handball called against them in the QFs in 1998, I'm going to have to say that the handball call today for the women was charitable at best.

 

David Jones says if you don't "get" soccer after that game, well ...

http://blog.pennlive.com/davidjones/2012/08/us_womens_4-3_olympic_soccer_d.html

 

Turnaround is pretty quick for this one. Japan has the advantage of already being in London for the semi and not having to go 120 minutes. USA may very well go into party mode once it reaches the Olympic Village.

 

Just saw the cheap shot on Carmelo Anthony. What a little shit.

 

Yeah, but sadly that game was the exception and not the rule. Here's hoping tomorrow's men's semis and the finals will be as exciting.

 

Loved the diving video. But I'll see your 'back-whacka' (love the Australian slang) and raise you one off the PLATFORM.

Speaking of diving, can someone please explain to me what the purpose of the whirlpool is? Hot water? Cold water? Is there a time limit or can you hang out all day? Are drinks provided?

On soccer, only at Old Trafford can a match between a team in white kits and a team in blue kits be decided by the one in the red. I've seen some remarkably pissed off Canadian Twitterers. One reported that there was a fight in a hotel bar between Americans and Canadians in Manchester. Glad we've learned the whole hooliganism thing. We truly are catching up to the rest of the world.

On basketball. I imagine the German-language commentary went something like this:

"Melo has been punched in ze tahsticles. Look, ze pain is so intense he has to vomit."

Finally, I know sailing hasn't been getting some pub. But here's some excellent commentary:

http://kottke.org/12/08/some-boats-in-a-race

 

If he had any dives left after that, why not just go for a full-on bellyflop or cannonball? Earn some entertainment points, at least. A cannonball off the 10 meter platform might be the greatest Olympic moment ever.

 

Following the men's 10M platform final in Atlanta (last event at the aquatics center) some of the workers had started the teardown. It was very late (around midnight) and some media and PR types start climbing the tower and diving in.

It was impressive in its own sort of way. I have always had a "thing" about heights. I walked about 1/3 of the way up the tower before my brain kicked in and I realized I wanted to live to see the closing ceremonies and walked back down.

 

The Latvians? Isn't that who killed Doc Brown?