Tie Breaker?

So, the 12 year old cheater went first in the Uneven Bars event finals and scored a 16.725.
Then, the non-cheater Nastia Liukin went and also scored 16.725.

The computer has some fucked program that figures out how to break the tie.
What the hell?
And naturally, the cheater has come out on top.

What a fucked up way to win the silver medal.

The announcers keep making comments like, well she [Nastia] knew the were tie breaking rules.
Um, okay. Who goes into the Olympics and thinks they're actually going to get a fucking tie?
A tie with a 12 year old cheater? A tie that gets you second place based on some stupid software program?

That's lame, IOC. And kind of bullshit.

ETA:
Bela Karolyi: Jah jah jah, this is ridiculous! Jah, jah, jah.

I couldn't have said it better myself, Bela.

Literally?

"You have to literally get back on the horse with your next event..." (Chris Collinsworth while interviewing gymnast Alicia Sacramone)
Huh?
No, Chris Collinsworth, not literally.
Unless...
Is she competing in some equestrian event, in addition to the individual finals?
Or, if I'm giving you a little leeway, is Alicia going to be the only girl competing in pommel horse this year?

He's going to try to win every gold medal possible...

While watching the Men's All-around gymnastics competition, the announcer said that he had talked to Yang Wei (the Chinese competitor) and he told them that he was going to try to win every gold medal possible.

I assume he meant gymnastics gold medals in events in which he is competing.

If so, no fuck, huh?
Who goes to the Olympics and thinks, well I'm going to go for the gold in the team competition, but I think I'll let off the gas a little and aim for the bronze in the all around.

I'm just guessing, but I'm pretty sure that EVERYONE is going for the gold in EVERY competition, no matter what.

But, thanks NBC commentators, thanks for letting me know that in fact that Yang Wei is trying to win. That was both informative and interesting. I bet he's going to give 110%, too.


** Side note: That poor Japanese gymnast... I feel so bad for him. He is having a TERRIBLE night.

Ethics

I decided while watching the Men's synchronized springboard diving tonight that I'm only allowed to root for the athletes I want to win, I'm not allowed to root against those they are trying to beat.
(Exception: Trash talking Frenchmen)

So, I did not allow myself to root against the Ukrainian team, so the Americans could medal.

It's important to have standards.
Plus, I will cop to having a bit of a blood-thirsty side that usually only comes out in relation to some sort of sporting event.
(No, not Brewers games, but Badger b-ball versus Ohio State or Michigan State? You betcha. I don't just want the Badgers to win, I want them to slaughter them.)
I try to keep that sort of thing in check.

Poor Girl

Alicia Sacramone looks like she is going to cry.
I feel for her, I really do.
It must feel like the weight of the world is bearing down on her shoulders.
Poor girl.
At least Nastia and Shawn also stepped out of bounds.
Not that that's good, but at least maybe she won't have to feel like the gold medal slipping through their fingers is entirely her fault.
A silver medal is still good. It still rocks, actually.

And just as a side note... really China? Really? All those girls are 16 are they?
Hmph. If you say so.

I think my mom could anchor this relay...

My favorite quote from the Olympics so far.
Rowdy Gaines said, "I think my mom could anchor this relay..." talking about the men's 4x200 freestyle relay.
Did you see that shit?
It wasn't as exciting as the men's 4x100 freestyle relay... true, but it was fucking amazing.
They didn't just break the world record. They crushed it.
They smashed it and ground it into little tiny bits of pieces.
It must have been awesome to get drafted for that team.

I imagine it went something like this....
Listen, kid, Michael Phelps is going to give you a phenomenal lead.
All you have to do is not suck.
Got that?
All you have to do is not suck and you can win a gold medal and perhaps break a world record.
Are you in?

That was awe inspiring. By the third swimmer, the Americans would have to gotten a cramp and died in order to lose. They would have had to quit swimming and started doing the doggie paddle.

So, I'll give you that Rowdy Gaines, your mother, my mother, any body's mother could have anchored for a win for the Americans.

It's a Marathon, not a Sprint

I am exhausted today.
The Olympics were on until past 11:30 last night and 11 on Sunday.
This leaves me conflicted.
I love sleep.
I will make a lot of compromises to get a few extra minutes of sleep.
I also love the Olympics.
The Olympics only come around once every couple of years.

This puts me in an impossible situation.
Go to bed and miss the United States men's gymnastic team's struggles to pull out the bronze medal last night?
Stay up and be exhausted?
Well it's obvious what choice I made, but I'm going to be one cranky bitch if I can't catch up on sleep at some point.

Oh well...
Did you see the United States struggles to pull it out for the bronze medal last night?
It was kind of crazy.
The hard part is not really understanding how they score gymnastics.
That Justin guy (may or may not be his name) impressed me the most.
Were there magnets in his feet?
It seemed like he stuck every landing like he was jumping into glue.
Impressive!

Also, did you see the American swimmers last night?
Holy buckets!
It's almost an embarrassment of riches on the US swim team!
Michael Phelps didn't just beat the competition... he crushed them!
Aaron Piersol has been a favorite for a while. His attitude out of the pool is such the laid back surfer dude. Yet, he's amazing to watch in the water. He doesn't seem like the type to have the killer instinct (ahem... like Michael Phelps) so maybe he's just that good?

Go team!

ETA:  The husband reminded me that in fact it was the Jonathan kid, not the Justin guy who impressed me.

Suck it, France!

Ha!
Did you just see that 4x100 freestyle men's relay?
Too bad for you if you missed it because it was fucking awesome!
France was talking shit about coming to smash the Americans, and instead Jason Lezak manages to pull off the last hundredth of a second win over the French anchor (who was said shit-talker).
The husband and I were just screaming at the tv for them to "Go! Go!"
Damn, I love the Olympics!
That's some beautiful stuff.