555 replies to this topic

[Ennui]

i keep hearing band of horses during the breaktime spotlights on athletes. i also heard them during a commercial while watching the games

[held]

combination of "that good" + Speedo LZR suits

yeah they're that good. btw per wiki's exaggerated claim...
It does NOT take up to 30 minutes to that suit on!!

[Agrimorfee]

edit- I missed Kitajima's race I heard he went nuts at the end.

Not unusually nuts from what I saw--he just gave a impassioned yell--but maybe it was considered poor sportsmanship by some.

[helmet52]

This sort of puts it out of his hands so to speak and he's not the record holder for the 100 fly and that's his 7th race? Not to knock the guy but I just don't see the odds being in his favor with this deal (again)

The odds are now hugely in his favor. Of his 4 remaining individual events, he's the world record holder in 3 of them. While he may not hold the world record in the 100 fly, he crushed the current record holder Ian Crocker in the Olympic trials (I was there in Omaha). Not only did he crush Crocker, but Phelps swam the entire Olympic trials UNTAPERED. You heard it here - Crocker has no chance of beating Phelps in the 100 fly.

The 4 x 100 medley relay is usually a cake walk for the US, so the only remaining race that Phelps could realistically lose is the 4 x 200 free relay (where the US will be favored).

I'm very confident he's going to win 8 golds.

[held]

While he may not hold the world record in the 100 fly, he crushed the current record holder Ian Crocker in the Olympic trials (I was there in Omaha).

ah. that's it then. See I didn't realize he'd beateb the time. I should've noted that. If he's already squashed that record (which I didn't see noted elsewhere) then its pretty much a done deal. Twas my only real stumbling block.

went to Omaha... ya crazy bastard. WHY DIDN'T YOU INVITE ME?!

edit- fuck tapering... overrated.

[nobodies]

combination of "that good" + Speedo LZR suits

yeah they're that good. btw per wiki's exaggerated claim...
It does NOT take up to 30 minutes to that suit on!!

I thought that sounded odd, but I've never tried to put one on (and it probably would take me 30 minutes, but that would have nothing to do with the suit and everything to do with how out of shape I am). In wiki's defense though, the article it cites does refer to a 30 minute time, but I just don't see how that could be.

[helmet52]

While he may not hold the world record in the 100 fly, he crushed the current record holder Ian Crocker in the Olympic trials (I was there in Omaha).

ah. that's it then. See I didn't realize he'd beateb the time. I should've noted that. If he's already squashed that record (which I didn't see noted elsewhere) then its pretty much a done deal. Twas my only real stumbling block.

Phelps didn't break the 100 fly world record in the trials, but i'm sure he'll take it down in the Olympics. Ian Crocker broke the world record over 3 years ago - he's way past his prime and Phelps beat him easily in the trials. Phelps should cruise in all 4 of his remaining individual events.

Should be fun to watch.

[nagode]

water polo on now...one of my favs...definitely one of the 3 most grueling sports out there...

[nobodies]

combination of "that good" + Speedo LZR suits

yeah they're that good. btw per wiki's exaggerated claim...
It does NOT take up to 30 minutes to that suit on!!

I thought that sounded odd, but I've never tried to put one on (and it probably would take me 30 minutes, but that would have nothing to do with the suit and everything to do with how out of shape I am). In wiki's defense though, the article it cites does refer to a 30 minute time, but I just don't see how that could be.

Also, here's a decent Sports Illustrated op/ed piece about the large number of new swimming world records.

Two cent version of the article:

records are dropping because of new technology (both swimsuits and pools) and changes in stroke rules, but we should also be questioning whether doping is involved.

[RadioHitchcock]

Activites that are judged rather than determined impartially by time or points are not really sports but artistic/athletic demonstrations. Gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, diving . . . The ever more complex point systems are just attempts to cover this up and give the impression of impartiality (and usually are a direct response to judging scandals).

None of the summer sports are as bad as figure skating, though, where someone can fall down and still medal.

wrestling in not judged, it is a point driven sport.

"main objective in wrestling is to pin the opponent, which is achieved by holding his or her shoulder blades to the mat for about a second. A pin, also known as a "fall," automatically ends the match. A wrestler who does not pin the opponent during a match must accumulate more points -- for performing techniques or moves within the rules -- to win the bout."

points aren't judged by how fancy the throws are.

[James D]

Same for boxing, as well surely. If you make a hit, you make a hit.

[Tracy Jacks]

In both sports the points are awarded by refs/judges. Not as bad as gymnastics or skating, I'll give you that, but also not as impartial as a ball entering a goal or a timed event.

[nobodies]

In both sports the points are awarded by refs/judges. Not as bad as gymnastics or skating, I'll give you that, but also not as impartial as a ball entering a goal or a timed event.

A knockout (in boxing) or a pin (in wrestling) are every bit as conclusive as a ball entering a goal. The scoring systems are only used if one of those events fails to occur because time constraints as well as the safety of the athletes prohibit matches that extend until there is pin/knockout.

Anyway, I'm not quite sure what you're arguing. Do you want boxing matches to turn into mixed martial arts?

[petras]

In both sports the points are awarded by refs/judges. Not as bad as gymnastics or skating, I'll give you that, but also not as impartial as a ball entering a goal or a timed event.

A knockout (in boxing) or a pin (in wrestling) are every bit as conclusive as a ball entering a goal. The scoring systems are only used if one of those events fails to occur because time constraints as well as the safety of the athletes prohibit matches that extend until there is pin/knockout.

Anyway, I'm not quite sure what you're arguing. Do you want boxing matches to turn into mixed martial arts?

I think he just prefers sports with clear winners and losers....no gray area. Boxing matchs that go the distance rely upon judges who may or may not make mistakes/be impartial to make the call.

[elcorazon]

In both sports the points are awarded by refs/judges. Not as bad as gymnastics or skating, I'll give you that, but also not as impartial as a ball entering a goal or a timed event.

A knockout (in boxing) or a pin (in wrestling) are every bit as conclusive as a ball entering a goal. The scoring systems are only used if one of those events fails to occur because time constraints as well as the safety of the athletes prohibit matches that extend until there is pin/knockout.

Anyway, I'm not quite sure what you're arguing. Do you want boxing matches to turn into mixed martial arts?

I think he just prefers sports with clear winners and losers....no gray area. Boxing matchs that go the distance rely upon judges who may or may not make mistakes/be impartial to make the call.

yeah. when 2 participants play within the rules until the match ends without a KO or Pin, the results wind up being based on the judges "sense" of who did better trying to win even though neither side actually won. I suspect that wrestling is usually pretty clear cut with well defined moves resulting in points, although certainly there can be controversy (as in any sport with points and referees or umpires). Boxing CAN be clearcut, but can be so strange in judging that it may be closer to figure skating/gymnastics/diving than to track and field where the winner goes to the fastest, furthest, highest, longest, etc.

[nobodies]

In both sports the points are awarded by refs/judges. Not as bad as gymnastics or skating, I'll give you that, but also not as impartial as a ball entering a goal or a timed event.

A knockout (in boxing) or a pin (in wrestling) are every bit as conclusive as a ball entering a goal. The scoring systems are only used if one of those events fails to occur because time constraints as well as the safety of the athletes prohibit matches that extend until there is pin/knockout.

Anyway, I'm not quite sure what you're arguing. Do you want boxing matches to turn into mixed martial arts?

I think he just prefers sports with clear winners and losers....no gray area. Boxing matchs that go the distance rely upon judges who may or may not make mistakes/be impartial to make the call.

I understood that, I just didn't think it was fair to lump boxing and wresting in with figure skating, which can be very subjective. And another point, there is typically a degree of subjectivity in virtually all team sports. Yes a basketball/baseball/soccer team may score more points/goals, but refereeing often plays into the victory. Likewise, Boxing/wrestling have very precise rules as to scoring (it's not subjective), but human error may play into the a victory or create an impression of subjectivity.

[elcorazon]

In both sports the points are awarded by refs/judges. Not as bad as gymnastics or skating, I'll give you that, but also not as impartial as a ball entering a goal or a timed event.

A knockout (in boxing) or a pin (in wrestling) are every bit as conclusive as a ball entering a goal. The scoring systems are only used if one of those events fails to occur because time constraints as well as the safety of the athletes prohibit matches that extend until there is pin/knockout.

Anyway, I'm not quite sure what you're arguing. Do you want boxing matches to turn into mixed martial arts?

I think he just prefers sports with clear winners and losers....no gray area. Boxing matchs that go the distance rely upon judges who may or may not make mistakes/be impartial to make the call.

I understood that, I just didn't think it was fair to lump boxing and wresting in with figure skating, which can be very subjective. And another point, there is typically a degree of subjectivity in virtually all team sports. Yes a basketball/baseball/soccer team may score more points/goals, but refereeing often plays into the victory. Likewise, Boxing/wrestling have very precise rules as to scoring (it's not subjective), but human error may play into the a victory or create an impression of subjectivity.

i'm no expert in any of these sports, but I suspect that figure skating, gymnastics, diving, etc. also have very precise rules as to scoring (it's not subjective), just like boxing & wrestling, but to the untrained eye, it seems like voodoo. Just like boxing and to a lesser extent wrestling.

I think wrestling is distinct because points are awarded right then and there by the ref - sure sometimes there's a judgement call, but in boxing, and the other sports, you do your performance and after it's over a group of judges then turns in a final score, which makes the whole thing seem a bit choreographed or at least makes it more of an art than a science (at least to the crowd). Why don't they have a scoreboard during a boxing match - showing who won each round? Why do the boxers not know if they can "run out the clock" or if they are actually in danger of losing on points? That's what makes it fishy.

[TJENZ]

I do not even pretend to understand this new gymnastics scoring. is there any score that is now = to the old '10'?