Olympics 2012, in Londontown

Final. US wins 8-5.

 

Ding ding ding ding!!!!!!

 

I can say pretty easily that I've never been as riveted on water polo as the last couple of weeks, in part because the U.S. teams are better than usual, and largely because I could listen to Mike Emrick broadcast just about anything.

 

Interesting point. Anytime anyone puts up numbers like Bolt has there are going to be suspicions raised.

I remember how disappointed I felt whenBen Johnson was guilty of doping and lost the gold in the 100 meters inthe 1988 Olympics.

 

I've heard Emrick do college basketball and NFL football for CBS back in the 1990s. Quite good.

 

And tsunami relief efforts in Japan have ground to a halt.

 

U.S. amateur soccer (high school/college) is practically unlimited subs. HS has unlimited, college -- unless it's changed in recent years -- allows no re-entries before halftime, and then allows every player subbed out in the second half to be re-entered once. There's no substitution limit.

Completely changes the strategy of the game. Baseball is much the same way. No substitution in the pros means you have to really monitor a pitcher or a player with a tweaked muscle or make a tough choice when you need to pinch-hit. A re-entry rule like in high school ball allows you to pinch-run for your overweight first baseman when he gets on base in the fifth inning, and then put the 1B back in the game.

Soccer is the same way. Sub out your top scorers when you're up 2-1 for defenders, and then be screwed when the opponents tie the game up. Or leave the scorers in just in case, and get screwed because they tie the game up. Unlimited subs makes it pretty easy -- put your defensive lineup in when you're ahead, then put your scorers (rested) back in if you're behind.

 

I'm not sure how I feel about Nike having NCAA title style championship tee shirts ready for the USWNT.

 

Since Greg Ryan benched Hope Solo in the 2007 World Cup semifinals, the USA has played in three major tournaments. Hope Solo has played in every one of them. With Solo in goal for these last three tournaments, the USA is 5-0-1 in semifinals/finals.

Love her or hate her, Hope Solo was in-fucking-credible today.

 

OK, interesting. So specialization.

I would like to see that rule in the NFL, where you didn't just bring in pass rushers and nickel backs on third downs.

I understand the baseball end of it. Most of the soccer I've covered uses the unlimited substitution rule, so I never really thought of it in the way you described. Sort of looked as most players as two-way players.

I know hockey has almost constant subs and line changes, although some guys play power play all the time and others rarely do. Interesting differences.

 

It's official -- Eaton and Hardee take gold and silver in the decathlon.

 

Eaton and Hardee 1-2 in the decathlon.