2012 London Olympic Games - Day Five- General Thread

[Anita18]

Volleyball question: why do both teams have a short person, in another color uniform playing?

That's the libero, the main defender. They'll never spike or set (which is why they can be short), and are the only players allowed to stay in the back to return balls. That's their job.

[Gil-Galad]

Does anyone read Japanese news - how do they feel about the Bronzes? Do they take it with humour like the French 4 years ago (who back then collected a zillion Silver medals) or does it make them grumpy?

[justAfsfan]

So much controversy surrounding the athletes from East Asian countries during these Olympics...

I wouldn't call the swimmer one controversy, I call it sour grape from US staff + media!

[skipaway]

That's the libero, the main defender. They'll never spike or set (which is why they can be short), and are the only players allowed to stay in the back to return balls. That's their job.

Thanks.

[rfisher]

Destinee Hooker is gorgeous. I'm talking model gorgeous. And is a killer volleyball player at that.

[skategal]

The American medal table usually ranks by total medals as first sort. Whereas international usually ranks by gold medals as first sort.

We are from Canada and shortly after the vancouver Olympics my DH had to go to Europe on a business trip. All his business colleagues in Europe were congratulating him on Canada 'winning' the Olympics.

My poor husband was like ' Er...thanks...I guess???'

He found out later it was because Canada had won the most gold medals.

[rfisher]

Holy crap. The US/China women's volleyball game is unbelievable. Wow. Both teams are outstanding.

[suep1963]

I know.

[rfisher]

I'm scaring my dogs playing the game with the US== match point 6 and the US finally, finally puts it away. What a game!

[Lorac]

Wiggo on the BBC - he is so laid back and self-deprecating - I love him

[SHARPIE]

Wiggo on the BBC - he is so laid back and self-deprecating - I love him

He's not really do -able though innit ? I love him in a mad little brother way.

[suep1963]

Terry Gannon getting really excited during the men's 8

[Lorac]

He's not really do -able though innit ? I love him in a mad little brother way.

Agreed - not do-able - the side burns sorta put you off Definetly lovable in a little bro way

[Theatregirl1122]

He's not really do -able though innit ? I love him in a mad little brother way.

He's not winning any hottest Cyclist awards, that's for sure (Mark Renshaw says hi!) but I agree he's definitely amusing (and his rant when doping was brought up was legendary). The tweets from the whole british cycling team have been funny. Millar was tweeting about the TT while it was happening and it was more like reading a fan than a team mate.

[susan6]

He's not winning any hottest Cyclist awards, that's for sure (Mark Renshaw says hi!) .

More like "Fabian Cancellara says hi"....(too bad he's not in proper TT form now)

Good for Wiggo and Froome to represent for the host country. Brad has always seemed like he just stepped out of a Harry Potter book. The side burns, the scrawny bod, heck even his name. "Bradley Wiggins". (waves wand) "Velo accelerato!!!"

[KCC]

Wouldn't that make him the "most decorated"?

For example, last Olympics Phelps broke the record for most golds, this one he broke it for most decorated. They are two different records.

The whole (different) discussion as to whether MP is the "greatest Olympian ever" because he has the most medals makes me wish that sports like swimming only awarded medals for an "all around" and team, instead of for every combination under the sun. For "all around", you could accumulate points in each match of different lengths and strokes. Not to take anything away from swimmers, but I would not consider someone the greatest Olympian if they just happened to compete in a sport that awarded lots of medals. I would rather see someone compete in two or more different sports, or even better, in both summer and winter sports in order for them to be considered the greatest Olympian. Not likely, I know, but it cannot be just about the number of medals.

[Theatregirl1122]

More like "Fabian Cancellara says hi"....(too bad he's not in proper TT form now)

I am willing to accept applications from Fabian, Tyler Farrar, Tejay Van Garderen, and anyone else who might want to compete, really, along with Renshaw.

Good for Wiggo and Froome to represent for the host country. Brad has always seemed like he just stepped out of a Harry Potter book. The side burns, the scrawny bod, heck even his name. "Bradley Wiggins". (waves wand) "Velo accelerato!!!"

Oh now you've done it. The people who thought Spartacus had a motor in his bike will probably never rest until they prove that Wiggo is using magic to cheat.

[Prancer]

The whole (different) discussion as to whether MP is the "greatest Olympian ever" because he has the most medals makes me wish that sports like swimming only awarded medals for an "all around" and team, instead of for every combination under the sun. For "all around", you could accumulate points in each match of different lengths and strokes. Not to take anything away from swimmers, but I would not consider someone the greatest Olympian if they just happened to compete in a sport that awarded lots of medals. I would rather see someone compete in two or more different sports, or even better, in both summer and winter sports in order for them to be considered the greatest Olympian. Not likely, I know, but it cannot be just about the number of medals.

I think Jim Thorpe would have a great case, except, you know, he was stripped of his medals.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...tory=fullstory

[Theatregirl1122]

I don't think it is fair to consider Michael the greatest Olympian ever solely because he's won the most medals when, for example, a figure skater only has (until now) one shot every four years. But I also don't think it is fair to remove him from the conversation because he only competed in one sport. I don't think he's the only choice for greatest Olympian ever but I do think he's very solidly in the conversation and one of several totally valid choices. But, as we all know from figure skating, no matter how great you are, it is very difficult to get it right every time. Even if you have more chances than other people, it is still much harder to win so many times. If one person has 8 events and another has only 4 and they both win gold every time, was the athlete with 8 chances better? Maybe not. They did have 4 more chances to get gold than the person with 4 chances, but they also had 4 more chances to fail. And it takes a crazy level of concentration to do so many events. Michael swam 17 times in Beijing. People are freaking out that skaters might have to skate four times.

Like I said, I don't think having the most medals makes it cut and dry that Michael is the best, but I think he probably is.

[AYS]

TG: Great post!