2012 Olympics: Who are you following? - Page 3

Griff · 08-06-2012, 05:29 AM

Shoot, I would've liked to have seen that, but I had to turn off the omnipresent beach volleyball.

DanaC · 08-06-2012, 06:05 AM

I've been glued to the gymnastics and swimming, mainly.

Aren't your women gymnastics team a joy to watch? Thoroughly engaging bunch of girls.

I can't believe GB are riding third in the overall medals table at the moment. After such a slow start too. I expect we'll slip down a little by the end of play, but hopefully not by much. Given the size of our nation, even with the 'hometeam advantage' that's pretty impressive, I think.

Turning into such a slog between US and China for first place. Come on USA, you can do it!

Griff · 08-06-2012, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

Turning into such a slog between US and China for first place. Come on USA, you can do it!

If they have many more athletes like Guo Jingjing we don't stand a chance! Her diving is just amazing.

ZenGum · 08-06-2012, 07:18 AM

In the gold medal tally, Australia is presently behind New Zealand.

There are questions being asked in parliament about this. The media are in lather. Angry mobs are forming.

Me, I am pleased with our team - heaps of silver and bronze, only one gold, is still pretty darn good at this level.

classicman · 08-06-2012, 01:44 PM

Griff - I got to watch some of the Fencing. Fascinating, even though I was struggling to keep up and the screaming after every point, not point was very distracting.
I did read an article about one woman who lost a match because of some error with the timer? Article here
I'd like to read your take on it.

Griff · 08-06-2012, 05:31 PM

We were talking about this at the club the other night and I have yet to see a really good video but our coach made a couple interesting points that haven't been part of the conversation.

The director did almost everything correctly under the rules. There were two problems. The German appeared to jump the direction "Allez" on one of her touches. The timer, expecting a restart, did not allow the clock to run which left extra time on the clock. The Korean girl was fencing the clock more than the opponent. All double touches are little victories for the Korean because she only needed to burn time not score.

Where the director may have made a mistake is on not forcing the fencers to start at proper distance. The Korean girl was creeping forward from the back line because she wanted room to retreat during the attack. If both feet go over the line its a touch. The German was creeping forward to shorten the attack distance because she has almost no time to hit. They end up in extension distance which means they can hit without an advance and without the clock running down. They should start in a proper en garde, which would have no crossover of blades at full extension. That would have eaten up the time.

The funny thing is in many Stateside tournaments the director runs the clock so there isn't the lag time from the directors mouth to the timers ear through the brain and out to the thumb. A tech fix would be simple, voice controlled timing, but FIE is pretty dopey so we may end up with another Byzantine rule.

I'm sure that is completely clear

so ask a follow-up if I lost you.

Griff · 08-06-2012, 05:39 PM

Oh, and when they put a second back on, that was by rule the director had no choice, unfortunately that was a full second not whatever increment was left or whatever increment the machine could actually measure, which is something I don't know. I felt terrible for the girl. If she left the strip it would be a tacit acceptance of the outcome. Apparently her coach had to dig up like $80 American to challenge the ruling. Cluster Foxtrot all the way around.

classicman · 08-07-2012, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

Oh, and when they put a second back on, that was by rule the director had no choice, unfortunately that was a full second not whatever increment was left or whatever increment the machine could actually measure, which is something I don't know. I felt terrible for the girl. If she left the strip it would be a tacit acceptance of the outcome. Apparently her coach had to dig up like $80 American to challenge the ruling. Cluster Foxtrot all the way around.

It was clearly FAR more than a second which transpired though.
What a messed up situation. How the judges ruled against her is beyond me. She got totally screwed.

Oh, and thanks. I must admit with the sound turned low it was a lot of fun to watch.

Lamplighter · 08-07-2012, 12:19 PM

NBC coverage is gathering a perfect storm today ... just for me.

More Men's Beach Volleyball AND Synchronized Swimming

But a bit more seriously, I have watched the Synchronized Swimming
and was surprised and impressed... well, at least surprised.

The routines have changed from the Busby Burkeley extravaganzas,
but the nose plugs/costumes with the facial makeup and
expressions are keeping it in the high-silly exhibition category.

Sundae · 08-07-2012, 02:43 PM

Damn.
Wrote a post, lost it. Made me cry. More below.

I've been following the Olympics mostly via radio. Partly because I am unfit to be with, partly because I do enjoy the coverage - they paint word pictures to explain why as well as what. No good in the 100m sprint, but excellent in something like cycling.

Today I watched the men's triathlon. I like the events where you get to see London and I knew we had two favourites in the race, the Browlee brothers. I cried when Alister crossed the line in a Union flag*. I cried when Jonny collapsed and had to be taken off on a stretcher. I cried at the huge roar when they got on the podium. Does that count as a tear-athlon?

Bro is in the velodrome today. I didn't cry when Victoria Pendleton was edged out by a sharp-elbowed Aussie. She was crying enough on her own. I did feel for her though.

Ste coined the term velodrama, although I've heard it since so he may have unknowingly cribbed it from elsewhere. Impressed me at the time though.

* for years I've been pedant enough to call it this. Historically it was only a Union Jack if flown by a ship. But that's anachronistically technical - popular useage has accepted Union Jack as a correct name for over a century. Imagine my chagrin to find the whole Olympics commentary team now calling it a Union flag! Boo, hiss. People will stop calling apes "monkeys" soon and I'll have no fun left whatsoever.

Griff · 08-07-2012, 08:39 PM

If you want more tears here is a full explanation of what happened to Shin A Lam in that epee bout.

http://shinalamandtheinfinitesadness.blogspot.com/

Lamplighter · 08-07-2012, 09:43 PM

Seems to be a well-reasoned presentation...
... are there dissenters to the sequence of events portrayed here ?

Griff · 08-08-2012, 05:38 AM

Fencers love a good argument. FIE has a statement here. I'll have to read more but the thread attached will probably indicate what the consensus is.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-09-2012, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Noah Zucker · Hoboken, New Jersey

BREAKING: The Iraqi Information Minister found employment with the FIE.

Shameful.

ZenGum · 08-09-2012, 07:53 PM

Without bothering to look it up, I believe Pistorius was required to qualify as per normal, and that his blade legs are not allowed to be longer than legs would normally be for a person of his height, and thus do not give him an "unfair" advantage.

08-06-2012, 05:29 AM	#1
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Shoot, I would've liked to have seen that, but I had to turn off the omnipresent beach volleyball. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-06-2012, 07:18 AM	#4
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	In the gold medal tally, Australia is presently behind New Zealand. There are questions being asked in parliament about this. The media are in lather. Angry mobs are forming. Me, I am pleased with our team - heaps of silver and bronze, only one gold, is still pretty darn good at this level. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

08-06-2012, 01:44 PM	#5
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Griff - I got to watch some of the Fencing. Fascinating, even though I was struggling to keep up and the screaming after every point, not point was very distracting. I did read an article about one woman who lost a match because of some error with the timer? Article here I'd like to read your take on it. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

08-06-2012, 05:31 PM	#6
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	We were talking about this at the club the other night and I have yet to see a really good video but our coach made a couple interesting points that haven't been part of the conversation. The director did almost everything correctly under the rules. There were two problems. The German appeared to jump the direction "Allez" on one of her touches. The timer, expecting a restart, did not allow the clock to run which left extra time on the clock. The Korean girl was fencing the clock more than the opponent. All double touches are little victories for the Korean because she only needed to burn time not score. Where the director may have made a mistake is on not forcing the fencers to start at proper distance. The Korean girl was creeping forward from the back line because she wanted room to retreat during the attack. If both feet go over the line its a touch. The German was creeping forward to shorten the attack distance because she has almost no time to hit. They end up in extension distance which means they can hit without an advance and without the clock running down. They should start in a proper en garde, which would have no crossover of blades at full extension. That would have eaten up the time. The funny thing is in many Stateside tournaments the director runs the clock so there isn't the lag time from the directors mouth to the timers ear through the brain and out to the thumb. A tech fix would be simple, voice controlled timing, but FIE is pretty dopey so we may end up with another Byzantine rule. I'm sure that is completely clear so ask a follow-up if I lost you. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-06-2012, 05:39 PM	#7
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Oh, and when they put a second back on, that was by rule the director had no choice, unfortunately that was a full second not whatever increment was left or whatever increment the machine could actually measure, which is something I don't know. I felt terrible for the girl. If she left the strip it would be a tacit acceptance of the outcome. Apparently her coach had to dig up like $80 American to challenge the ruling. Cluster Foxtrot all the way around. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-07-2012, 12:19 PM	#9
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	NBC coverage is gathering a perfect storm today ... just for me. More Men's Beach Volleyball AND Synchronized Swimming But a bit more seriously, I have watched the Synchronized Swimming and was surprised and impressed... well, at least surprised. The routines have changed from the Busby Burkeley extravaganzas, but the nose plugs/costumes with the facial makeup and expressions are keeping it in the high-silly exhibition category. Attached Images

08-07-2012, 02:43 PM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Damn. Wrote a post, lost it. Made me cry. More below. I've been following the Olympics mostly via radio. Partly because I am unfit to be with, partly because I do enjoy the coverage - they paint word pictures to explain why as well as what. No good in the 100m sprint, but excellent in something like cycling. Today I watched the men's triathlon. I like the events where you get to see London and I knew we had two favourites in the race, the Browlee brothers. I cried when Alister crossed the line in a Union flag. I cried when Jonny collapsed and had to be taken off on a stretcher. I cried at the huge roar when they got on the podium. Does that count as a tear-athlon? Bro is in the velodrome today. I didn't cry when Victoria Pendleton was edged out by a sharp-elbowed Aussie. She was crying enough on her own. I did feel for her though. Ste coined the term velodrama, although I've heard it since so he may have unknowingly cribbed it from elsewhere. Impressed me at the time though. for years I've been pedant enough to call it this. Historically it was only a Union Jack if flown by a ship. But that's anachronistically technical - popular useage has accepted Union Jack as a correct name for over a century. Imagine my chagrin to find the whole Olympics commentary team now calling it a Union flag! Boo, hiss. People will stop calling apes "monkeys" soon and I'll have no fun left whatsoever. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

08-07-2012, 08:39 PM	#11
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	If you want more tears here is a full explanation of what happened to Shin A Lam in that epee bout. http://shinalamandtheinfinitesadness.blogspot.com/ __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-07-2012, 09:43 PM	#12
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	Seems to be a well-reasoned presentation... ... are there dissenters to the sequence of events portrayed here ?

08-08-2012, 05:38 AM	#13
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Fencers love a good argument. FIE has a statement here. I'll have to read more but the thread attached will probably indicate what the consensus is. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-09-2012, 07:53 PM	#15
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Without bothering to look it up, I believe Pistorius was required to qualify as per normal, and that his blade legs are not allowed to be longer than legs would normally be for a person of his height, and thus do not give him an "unfair" advantage. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

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