Warping My Mind

I probably shouldn't admit this. I'll probably come to regret it. But, I suppose, I've already written two whole sentences, which I'm pretty sure is the point of no return.

I read that Chris Henry of the Cincinnati Bengals died yesterday.

My first thought was "Oh. Sad. He was so young," which I think is fairly typical and falls within normal limits.

My second thought, however much it pains me to admit it, was "I'm glad he wasn't on my Fantasy Football team. There's nobody worth picking up anymore."

What is wrong with me? When did this happen?

It's sick and wrong.

Fantasy football has warped my mind.

And so it goes.

Why I Love the X Games - Part Two

Here is some of the commentary from the Moto X Freestyle competition I was watching tonight on TiVO.

Commentator 1: It's interesting to note that no non-US or international player has ever won this competition.

Commentator 2: Isn't non-US and international basically the same thing?

Commentator 1: Uh, well Americans can be international, too, so I just wanted to be clear that it was non-US.

Damn, are they dumb! They know a lot about Moto X. They can tell you what the tricks are and pretty much the complete history of every trick, but when they get to jabbering outside of their industry specific knowledge, holy shit are they dumb!

Luckily, that just makes it more entertaining for me. It may or may not make the husband uncomfortable when I shout back at the television and tell them how dumb they are.

Why I Love the X Games

There is a new event at the X Games, it's called the Skateboard Big Air Rail Jam. Basically, there is a giant drop, then after a 50 ft jump, there is a long rail and a quarter pipe at the end.

The video is from last night's big air competition. You can see the drop (which is crazy dangerous!) is the same as in the video, only off the middle run, there is a rail for this competition.

It's the first time this event has ever been at the X Games. Competing in this competition, is Danny Way. He's a huge badass in the sport of skateboarding. He originated the Big Air competition (and took the sport's first gold medal). He has jumped the Great Wall of China. The.

Great.

Wall.

of.

China!!

Skateboard Big Air Rail Jam was his idea, too. He's a pioneer and has done a lot to really progress the sport.

Tonight, he dropped into the ramp with a bum wheel on his skateboard. Oh yeah, and his knee won't bend. For those of you not into skateboarding, when you fall, they generally try to fall so they are sliding on their knees. It's safer. It's why they all wear knee pads. Danny Way can't fall into a knee slide, so he's just got to slide on his ass and hope for the best.

And, if that weren't enough, he rolled his ankle. He bit it pretty hard on one of his early runs. Tony Hawk, who commentates for this event for ESPN, thought with Danny's other injuries that he might be done for the night.

But, no. Danny, who could barely walk, dragged his ass to the top for the winning run.

That's right. On a bum wheel, injured knee and rolled ankle, he fucking won!

After he won, Kier was interviewing Danny and asked him why, at this point in his career when he really has nothing to prove, did he come out here to compete in this event.

His answer?

He loves skateboarding.

It's inspiring to watch athletes who give their whole heart and soul to their sport, not for a paycheck or fame, but for the love of the game. They play through pain and injury, because they can't bear not to.

That's a beautiful thing. It reminds me why I love sports.

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.

Regrets

I've had a few. But after watching Strictly Ballroom, I would have to say that my great regret (perhaps, goal?) is that I have never been involved in a sport/extra-curricular activity that would allow me to be covered head-to-toe in glitter, rhinestones and sequins, and if I feel like a little "flair" ruffles and feathers.

Can't you see it now? My hair shellacked in place. Fluorescent rhinestoned/sequined/glittered/ruffled/feathered outfit. Rhinestoned makeup in neon colors. It would be awesome!

Badger Ball

If you see the Wisconsin Badgers Basketball team roaming around your home town, please return them to:

UW - Madison
c/o Bo Ryan
Madison, WI

I think they were replaced by robots tonight.
Unfortunately, robots who CANNOT play ball.
It was the most disappointing game I have seen in the tournament.

They showed no heart. They didn't get their rebounds. No one was ever under the hoop. No one drove to the hoop. They couldn't stop Stephen Curry worth junk. Where was the fight?

Sad, sad, sad. We deserved to lose... but oh how painful to watch it.
This is why I don't watch sports. I hate caring about something so pointless.

AND it's my mom's birthday today!
(Side note: Happy Birthday Mom!)
Way to ruin her birthday, Badgers!

Other disappointments today:
The selection of running shoes I've encountered so far... is it too much to ask for a little selection?
Mint Mojitos - Do they always taste like minty club soda?

On a brighter note: It's the weekend... can you feel my sigh of relief as the stress of the week melts away. Free time. Sweet, sweet free time and it's all mine. Fabulous! :)