My Olympic Dreams Are Shattered.

[ABSTRUSE]

this is much more thrilling than watching it on the telly.

Can I have your corn pads to sell on Ebay?

 

[shereads]

I too would like to see more of the lower-tier athletes.

I'm one of those people who finds losing more interesting than winning. There's not much to understand watching a top-ranked gymnast or swimmer, say. It's like watching a machine. It's the ones who know they don't have much of a chance that fascinate me.

In all the races I'm always looking at the person way back at the end of the field and wondering what they're feeling, and in the gymnastics events I like to look behind the floor exercises and catch a glimpse of some third-rater wobbling on the balance beam. I can relate to that stuff.

---dr.M.

The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, etc. etc. etc.

I'll bet the athletic competitions are nothing compared to what goes on when the judges are off mic and off camera. There's your drama, your pathos, your inadvertent humor. (Or inadvertent wit. I get those two confused.)

What an opportunity for a reality TV series. Oh, to be the entrepeneurial young TV producer who bribes the Russian judges to wear a wire...

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat . . .

. . . the pelf of the souvenir hucksters.

 

[shereads]

. . . the pelf of the souvenir hucksters.

I bought one of those. But they called it a pelt.

 

[McKenna]

~snip~ It's the ones who know they don't have much of a chance that fascinate me.

I'm not sure if this hit the news in the U.S., but in the 2000 Olympics (I was living in Holland,) I can remember watching a swimming event with a fella -and I can't for the life of me remember from where- who swam his heart out, but was obviously inexperienced. I mean he still had a lap and a half to go when everyone else was out of the pool and drying off.

Does anyone remember any of this? Who was that guy and where was he from? I caught a 10 second blip on NBC about him, but I didn't catch his name. The announcers said he couldn't make it to these olympics because of a passport issue.

 

[hunting_tiger]

Go Shereads Go

Tries to start the Wave for Shereads.

The Olympic Stadium has been there since 1896 and it will be there for you when you get to the finish line.

McKenna .. Are you a member of of Eric the Eel's fan club too ?

www.moussambani.com

 

[CrazyyAngel]

I'm not sure if this hit the news in the U.S., but in the 2000 Olympics (I was living in Holland,) I can remember watching a swimming event with a fella -and I can't for the life of me remember from where- who swam his heart out, but was obviously inexperienced. I mean he still had a lap and a half to go when everyone else was out of the pool and drying off.

Does anyone remember any of this? Who was that guy and where was he from? I caught a 10 second blip on NBC about him, but I didn't catch his name. The announcers said he couldn't make it to these olympics because of a passport issue.

Actually I dont remember it ... nor do I remember much of the Sydney Olympics .

But this triggered another memory. There used to be a guy in ski jumping, a Brit called Eddie the Eagle if I remember correctly. Couldn't put together a decent jump if his life depended on it, but was fun to watch and was at every big event and even the Olympics if memory serves me right.

CA

 

[McKenna]

Re: Go Shereads Go

McKenna .. Are you a member of of Eric the Eel's fan club too ?

www.moussambani.com

Eric the Eel, that's him!!! Thanks HT! That guy has to be one of my favorite athletes.

 

[shereads]

Women's Marathon event, Day 4.

An uneventful day so far.

Did some stretches. Nursing a blister on left ankle.

The proprietor makes a mean Mousaka.

Will warm-up after lunch, and begin racing again in earnest after the evening rush-hour.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Anyone remember Rosie Ruiz?

She won the Boston Marathon some years back but was disqualified when they found that she'd ridden most of the race in cab.

Show me in the rules where it says that cabs are illegal! It was a slow cab at that.

---dr.M.

 

[shereads]

Anyone remember Rosie Ruiz?

She won the Boston Marathon some years back but was disqualified when they found that she'd ridden most of the race in cab.

Show me in the rules where it says that cabs are illegal! It was a slow cab at that.

---dr.M.

I remember wondering how she thought she'd get away with it, and how she managed to hail a cab.

 

[shereads]

Re: Go Shereads Go

Tries to start the Wave for Shereads.

The Olympic Stadium has been there since 1896 and it will be there for you when you get to the finish line.

McKenna .. Are you a member of of Eric the Eel's fan club too ?

www.moussambani.com

Hello, HT. Nice to see the rare Swedish jungle predator roaming the AH.

 

[shereads]

Does anyone remember either of these Olympics-themed Saturday Night Live skits?

Martin Short and somebody as brothers trying to qualify as a synchronized swim team. Short is wearing a swim cap that buckles under his chin, and orange water wings. "I'm not as strong a swimmer as I'd like to be."

Robb Lowe (I think) as an Olympic ice skater favored to win the Gold. He loses his footing after a complicated jump and the announcer says, "That just cost him the gold. What a shame." He falls again. "Bad break. This kind of thing never happens to Kurt." He falls again. "He was just perfect in rehearsal." Gets up, falls again ("Ouch! That had to hurt.") Falls again. ("Kurt is definitely out of the medal competition now." "You're right, he's going on sheer courage at this point.") Falls again and again and again. ("That wrist looks broken to me...") Finally he's just a boneless dummy being flung across the ice with splayed limbs. It was so cruel. I laughed so hard, I couldn't breath.

Also: skiier Spider Sabich being "accidentally shot" 6 times during the downhill.

 

[Guest]

Does anyone remember either of these Olympics-themed Saturday Night Live skits?

Martin Short and somebody as brothers trying to qualify as a synchronized swim team. Short is wearing a swim cap that buckles under his chin, and orange water wings. "I'm not as strong a swimmer as I'd like to be."

Oh yes. Complete with Raiders of the Lost Ark theme music!

I remember their "coach" saying to them - "You're just pointing to each other. You're not angry with him, you're saying, I know you, I know you, I know you!"

So funny - it compares with classic SNL!

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Also: skiier Spider Sabich being "accidentally shot" 6 times during the downhill.

Now wait: Spider Savich (sp?) was shot after the Olympics by Claudette Longet, Andy Williams' ex-wife. I think it was in her Vail chalet and I'm sure she was just cleaning the gun. Six times.

---dr.M.

 

[shereads]

Now wait: Spider Savich (sp?) was shot after the Olympics by Claudette Longet, Andy Williams' ex-wife. I think it was in her Vail chalet and I'm sure she was just cleaning the gun. Six times.

---dr.M.

You're right, Doctor. The SNL bit was called The Claudine Longet Ski Invitational.

Is it spelled "Spyder Ceviche?"

Edited to add: Wives, take note. Illicit gun-cleanings with men named "Spider" are to be avoided at your chalet. I mean, how well could something like that turn out?

 

[Guest]

Edited to add: Wives, take note. Illicit gun-cleanings with men named "Spider" are to be avoided at your chalet. I mean, how well could something like that turn out?

So noted!

(Note to self, avoid all men named Spider. Do not avoid any illicit gun-cleanings, however.)




P.S. Hey She - isn't John Kerry on the Daily Show tonight?? Can't miss it!

(This message was written in silver so as to hide any political leanings - it will self-destruct in five seconds.)

 

[Vincent E]

US basketball team is trailing Argentina by 13-points right now. Lamar Odom is complaining about the refs calling fouls and travelling. Good grief, this team is an embarrasment.

 

[Weird Harold]

Good grief, this team is an embarrasment.

The group of individuals wearing USA basketball uniforms lost and will play Lithuania for the bronze. They have shown a few flashes of teamwork in this tournament, but for the most part, they're still a group of individuals and not a "team" -- not in the sense of the required complement required to play basketball nor in the sense of being part of the larger US Olympic Team.

I find myself tempted to root for Lithuania, but mostly I'm just disgusted and disinterested in the Bronze medal game.