Olympics 2012, in Londontown

Up 63-37 end of three.

 

I don't know if I could name 5 anthems ...

1. The Star Spangled Banner
2. O Canada
3. Les Marseillais
4. God Save the Queen
5. ???

I remember the WWF's Nikolai Volkoff used to play the Russian national anthem before every match back in the 80s, but damned if I know the name ...

 

I think it's called Deutchelied or something like that now, but Germany's anthem used to be called (and often still is) Deutchland Uber Alles.

And Elliotte - Walter Spearmon feels their pain. As does this guy from wrestling today: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/wrestling-coach-challenge-results-more-points-awarded-other-163124024--oly.html

 

Final: USA 86-50.

 

Gotta love Advance Australia Fair. Although it hasn't been heard much in London.

 

If this was hockey or softball, they'd be talking about getting rid of it because one team is too dominant. 41 wins in a row, dating back to the bronze medal game in 1992. And now five straight gold medals.

 

If one trusts Wikipedia, it's called the "National Anthem of Russia."

 

Teddy Atlas just said he believes AIBA is fixing fight decisions in favor of guys who participate in their pro-style boxing league. Bitter much? Though I can't blame him. AIBA and USA Boxing appear to be run worse than a local rec soccer program, so I can't blame the aggrieved parties for responding like those who bitch in rec-league soccer programs.

 

I've only been following the process the last year or so, but to paraphrase Howard Cosell, they seem to be making an argument for the abolition of the sport they're supposed to be governing. The qualification process should be simple, but instead it was made into a long and winding road. Not having a national team coach in place until just before the Olympics (even though team members bought along their own coaches to London) speaks volumes. And, as an aside, their PR team (as predicted by some on a thread I started months ago) was basically worthless.

Apologies if I'm d_b'ing myself on this thread or any of the other Olympic threads, but for all its faults, I like boxing and hate seeing what it has become. Clean house? Of course, but not without an accompanying change of course. Identify the top prospects early and create a national team and, above all, give them plenty of time to train for the Olympics and especially get them familiar with how the sport is scored.

 

Norway's team handball uniforms are kinda see-through. Just sayin'.