The Olympics 2008

Posted by: nicnaim on 08 August 2008

Got to hand it to the Chinese, that was one hell of a show. London has a hard act to follow. Roll on the sport.

Regards

Nic
Posted on: 15 August 2008 by BigH47
A normal American diet?

Phelps diet
Posted on: 15 August 2008 by 555
I'm taking up swimming Biggy!
Posted on: 15 August 2008 by nicnaim
Howard,

You would think so looking at the size of some of them, only without all the swimming that Phelps does!

Regards

Nic
Posted on: 15 August 2008 by Exiled Highlander
Nic

That's an entirely uncalled for remark that is clearly racial stereotyping....just because it is true doesn't make it any less hurtful! Winker

BTW, very couple of weeks on a Sunday morning I go here and have breakfast (it is my lunch as well in all fairness).

Cheers

Jim
Posted on: 15 August 2008 by BigH47
Is there a Black Bear Diner in your parts E.H.? Excellent food and good VFM,bloody enormous portions even the "old folks" selections for the "smaller" appetite are big.
Posted on: 15 August 2008 by Exiled Highlander
Howard

No Black Bear Diners in these here parts pardner.....

Got huge platefuls the other night at somewhere so good I can't remember where I was...but bigger is clearly better is the mantra.

Cheers

Jim
Posted on: 15 August 2008 by nicnaim
quote:
Originally posted by Exiled Highlander:
Nic

That's an entirely uncalled for remark that is clearly racial stereotyping....just because it is true doesn't make it any less hurtful! Winker


Cheers

Jim


Jim,

Guilty as charged. However, I remember taking the kids to Disneyland a few years back and was surprised at the number of mobility scooters around, thinking there was a higher than average number of less abled folk around.

All became clear when waiting to get a drink and a hot dog at one of the concessions. A number of these scooters pulled up nearby, the riders disembarked, and promptly waddled up to order jumbo portions of food and drink.

It was only then that it dawned on me that these people were not disabled, just too fat to walk.

This is not meant to be an attack on fat people, but I was shocked at the general state of health of the people in the resort, who surely cannot be fully representative of the nation that produces superstars like Phelps?

Regards

Nic
Posted on: 15 August 2008 by MilesSmiles
Back to the regular programme ... Winker

Women's Soccer
The US team did not impress me so far and struggled into the semi final over Canada. They will meet Japan who kicked out China. In the other semi final Germany meets Brazil - its a shame they meet in the semi and we won't get a repeat of last year's WC final.

Posted on: 15 August 2008 by Exiled Highlander
Nic
quote:
but I was shocked at the general state of health of the people in the resort, who surely cannot be fully representative of the nation that produces superstars like Phelps?
It is a big problem when you look at the population in general. I am always amazed when I come back to Europe at how much smaller everyone is....and then I glance in the mirror (not that I am vain of course) and see my own waistline and I figure it is time to get out of Dodge! Smile

The scary part though is the number of overweight kids, teens and young people....

Cheers

Jim
Posted on: 15 August 2008 by MilesSmiles
Amazing race - and gold #7 for Michael Phelps.

Only a US disqualification is now between him and writing yet another chapter of Olympic history.
Posted on: 16 August 2008 by tonym
I'm just recovering from the coxless fours rowing final.

What an amazing, exciting race! Well done to our boys!! Big Grin
Posted on: 16 August 2008 by bazz
I enjoyed the two races before that Cool
Posted on: 16 August 2008 by DelR
Do the medals have 'made in China' on them?
Posted on: 16 August 2008 by dsteady
quote:
Originally posted by nicnaim:
quote:
Originally posted by Exiled Highlander:
Nic

That's an entirely uncalled for remark that is clearly racial stereotyping....just because it is true doesn't make it any less hurtful! Winker


Cheers

Jim


Jim,

Guilty as charged. However, I remember taking the kids to Disneyland a few years back and was surprised at the number of mobility scooters around, thinking there was a higher than average number of less abled folk around.

All became clear when waiting to get a drink and a hot dog at one of the concessions. A number of these scooters pulled up nearby, the riders disembarked, and promptly waddled up to order jumbo portions of food and drink.

It was only then that it dawned on me that these people were not disabled, just too fat to walk.

This is not meant to be an attack on fat people, but I was shocked at the general state of health of the people in the resort, who surely cannot be fully representative of the nation that produces superstars like Phelps?

Regards

Nic


Those scooter people are pretty tragic. American theme parks like Disney, Six Flags etc have always been a sort of grotesquerie of freaky Americana. I grew up in the Midwest near Cedar Pointe (sic) and during the hot, hot summers we used to go down there, fire-up, ride the roller coaters and then freak out to the parade of weird people.

daniel
Posted on: 16 August 2008 by jcs_smith
I used to work in a casino in Atlantic City and it used to amaze me everyday that the place was always full of people from the local ugly society.
Posted on: 16 August 2008 by TomK
Am I the only person with no sympathy whatsoever for Paula Radcliffe? She's made a fortune from running but blew it totally when it counted 4 years ago and then again tonight. Are there any other countries where failure is admired so much?
Posted on: 17 August 2008 by nicnaim
Failure? Team GB is currently 3rd in the medal table with 10 golds! The sailors and rowers are going great guns.

Paula was coming back from a stress fracture 3 months ago, strikes me that she was pretty brave to compete and finish.


I have really enjoyed the Olympics so far, the Men's 100m yesterday was unbelievable, and clearly he can go even faster.

Regards

Nic
Posted on: 17 August 2008 by Bruce Woodhouse
quote:
Am I the only person with no sympathy whatsoever for Paula Radcliffe? She's made a fortune from running but blew it totally when it counted 4 years ago and then again tonight. Are there any other countries where failure is admired so much?


She is the World Record holder and has run something like 4 of the 6 fastest times in history (forgive me if that stat is not exact). She re-wrote the rules on how fast women could do a Marathon. She has won competitive races such as London and New York. She has run through the pain today, to finish, to compete. With a recently broken leg. Others would have just hidden.

The media (and you) seem to have an issue with her apparent wealth. So what? Better see her rewarded than some grandstanding mediocre footballer.

She is no failure.

She is a brave, clean and world class athlete. Failing to peak at Olympics due to illness and injury is the peril all athletes must accept. It is not the same as 'blowing it'. Asafa Powell take note.

Bruce
Posted on: 17 August 2008 by MilesSmiles
quote:
Originally posted by nicnaim:
I have really enjoyed the Olympics so far, the Men's 100m yesterday was unbelievable, and clearly he can go even faster.

Regards

Nic


Same here - Phelps making Olympic history, the men's 100m and my favorite Olympic legend:

Dara Torres



She won 3 x Silver this time around. Nothing special you might say, except that she is 41 years old, had her Olympic debut 1984 in Los Angels winning a Gold medal, retired a few times (so these are only Winkerher 5th Olympics) and now has a total medal count of 12.
Posted on: 17 August 2008 by nicnaim
quote:
Originally posted by MilesSmiles:

Dara Torres



She won 3 x Silver this time around. Nothing special you might say, except that she is 41 years old, had her Olympic debut 1984 in Los Angels winning a Gold medal, retired a few times (so these are only Winkerher 5th Olympics) and now has a total medal count of 12.


Oliver,

Thanks for pointing this story out, I had not really picked it up from the coverage here.

That is incredible to compete over five Olympics in such a high intensity sport. Your life must be totally dominated by the training and competition. You would have to be very single minded and dedicated to do that. Playing five a side twice this week is enough for me!

Regards

Nic
Posted on: 17 August 2008 by Reginald Halliday
quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
She is a brave, clean and world class athlete. Failing to peak at Olympics due to illness and injury is the peril all athletes must accept. It is not the same as 'blowing it'.


The thing is, even she admitted she hadn't prepared properly because of her injury, she had not trained over the distance, she went out there to prove to herself she could finish. What were the selectors thinking? I don't feel sorry for her, she is selfish and another runner denied a place in the team because of her ego

Top marks for guts but she should not have been at the Olympics
Posted on: 17 August 2008 by Bruce Woodhouse
quote:
Originally posted by Reginald Halliday:
quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
She is a brave, clean and world class athlete. Failing to peak at Olympics due to illness and injury is the peril all athletes must accept. It is not the same as 'blowing it'.


The thing is, even she admitted she hadn't prepared properly because of her injury, she had not trained over the distance, she went out there to prove to herself she could finish. What were the selectors thinking? I don't feel sorry for her, she is selfish and another runner denied a place in the team because of her ego

Top marks for guts but she should not have been at the Olympics


..and she still finished 22nd, and beat the third British athlete.
Posted on: 17 August 2008 by Reginald Halliday
I feel sorry for Mara Yamauchi. A brilliant 6th place, yet the media only want to know about 'Plucky Paula' Roll Eyes

Edit: I just Googled 'Mara Yamauchi'. Top item is a pic of Radcliffe. Says it all.
Posted on: 17 August 2008 by Bruce Woodhouse
quote:
Originally posted by Reginald Halliday:
I feel sorry for Mara Yamauchi. A brilliant 6th place, yet the media only want to know about 'Plucky Paula' Roll Eyes

Edit: I just Googled 'Mara Yamauchi'. Top item is a pic of Radcliffe. Says it all.


Well it says the media are obsessed. Not Radcliffes's fault.
Posted on: 17 August 2008 by Reginald Halliday
Bruce,
I'm never going to agree with a man who uses Campag on his best bike Big Grin