what we've learned from the 2012 Olympic Games

AlsDonkBoxSquat

At my work we started putting this list together as a farce, I though it would be fun to share and add onto here:

What we’ve learned from the 2012 Olympic Games:
1. Even professional lifters need safety rails (weight lifting)
2. Al needs to spend more time in the sand (women’s beach volleyball) and wearing button downs (Men’s swimming)
3. Gold medals are heavy and exciting (men’s rowing)
4. Even a sure thing cracks under pressure (men’s water polo and women’s vault)
5. All a silver medal means is that you are the first loser (apparently there’s some controversy about painting mail boxes in the home towns of medalists in the UK)
6. Youth does not equal “top of your game” (women’s beach volleyball)
7. Beach volleyball . . . Olympic sport? . . . Genius.
8. USA GOLD is an anagram for DOUGLAS (as in Gabby) (Women’s Gymnastics)
9. NBC doesn’t know a thing about covering sports.
10. Cameroon is not an ideal vacation destination

corn63

Yes. People pee in the pool.

Dezmodus

I learned how to do that cool underwater undulating thing the swimmers do, and lemme tell ya, that's a torso WORKOUT!

bluefox9er

1. NBC should be BANNED from ever covering any sort of live sports. NBC are NOT, I repeat, NOT bigger than the Olympics

2. "beach Volleyball" and ''sailing'' are cute, and so are BMX bikes, but none of them should be Olympic Events.

3. The Olympics will inspire generation of future athletes

4.If I never ever ever see 'sailing' on TV again, it will be way too soon

5. Team USA Basketball team...grow a pair and act like decent human beings. You are representing your COUNTRY.You are playing athletes, not fellow *****es in that greed,drug and one-upmanship empire of all that is wrong in sports ( i.e., the NBA)

6.We are lucky to be alive in a time where true GREATS such as Phelps and Bolt have performed int heir events at their very best.

7.No apologies to Beijing, but the London OLYMPICS have been THE BEST EVER. It's a HUGE bar for Brazil to raise in 2016.

8.Real fans don't get tickets. This is true of all sports, not just the Olympic games.

FireBrand80

Women's Beach Volleyball needs it's own channel

whoviangleek

Also:

1. The US has terrible sportsmanship (by having fits when they get silver instead of gold)
2. China still wins everything (diving)

jnh17

I've learned that it's probably not good for my heart to watch diving. Every time I'm just assuming I'm going to see someone crack their skull (you know, I'll see it 12 hours after happens -- thanks NBC). I mean, they have to at least screw up a time or two in practice, know what I"m saying? Can't handle it.

jnh17

Also:

1. The US has terrible sportsmanship (by having fits when they get silver instead of gold)
2. China still wins everything (diving)

Does anyone get scared for the people from China when they don't win? In the back of my mind, I think they've got a family member getting jailed at the very least. They do NOT MESS AROUND.

FireBrand80

Also:

1. The US has terrible sportsmanship (by having fits when they get silver instead of gold)
2. China still wins everything (diving)

I don't see anything wrong with being disappointed with second place. That young lady's face happened to express her disappointment more than others, but I doubt she's the only one to have been unhappy with second place.

wolverine66

I've learned that it's probably not good for my heart to watch diving. Every time I'm just assuming I'm going to see someone crack their skull (you know, I'll see it 12 hours after happens -- thanks NBC). I mean, they have to at least screw up a time or two in practice, know what I"m saying? Can't handle it.

everytime they jump off, i hold my breath a split second until they pass the platform for this very reason.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

Also:

1. The US has terrible sportsmanship (by having fits when they get silver instead of gold)
2. China still wins everything (diving)

I don't see anything wrong with being disappointed with second place. That young lady's face happened to express her disappointment more than others, but I doubt she's the only one to have been unhappy with second place.

Yeah, I've heard this isn't a US thing, but an all around thing where the Gold medalist is of course excited and happy, the Silver medalist is disappointed because they . . . almost . . . came . . . in . . . first, and the bronze medalist is excited because they made it to the podium (or almost didn't make it to the podium)

FireBrand80

Also:

1. The US has terrible sportsmanship (by having fits when they get silver instead of gold)
2. China still wins everything (diving)

I don't see anything wrong with being disappointed with second place. That young lady's face happened to express her disappointment more than others, but I doubt she's the only one to have been unhappy with second place.

Yeah, I've heard this isn't a US thing, but an all around thing where the Gold medalist is of course excited and happy, the Silver medalist is disappointed because they . . . almost . . . came . . . in . . . first, and the bronze medalist is excited because they made it to the podium (or almost didn't make it to the podium)

Not to mention that to get to that level in any sport you have to be a hyper-competitive person, bordering on obsessive.

beekuzz

What an amazing feat: United States' Manteo Mitchell competes in a 4x400-meter relay heat with broken leg.

To know that the failed dive of Stephen Feck actually happened! Funny, sad, embarrassing - but very real and human. So much of the time, they seem so super-human.

LonLB

I only learned what I already knew.


It does not interest me. Not even a little bit.


Summer time is just waiting for football season to start. Olympics or not.

beekuzz

Also:

1. The US has terrible sportsmanship (by having fits when they get silver instead of gold)
2. China still wins everything (diving)

I don't see anything wrong with being disappointed with second place. That young lady's face happened to express her disappointment more than others, but I doubt she's the only one to have been unhappy with second place.

Yeah, I've heard this isn't a US thing, but an all around thing where the Gold medalist is of course excited and happy, the Silver medalist is disappointed because they . . . almost . . . came . . . in . . . first, and the bronze medalist is excited because they made it to the podium (or almost didn't make it to the podium)

Not to mention that to get to that level in any sport you have to be a hyper-competitive person, bordering on obsessive.

Yes, the highest of competitive nature. But, with the time and dedication it takes, they have not always come in first and should be adequately prepared to be happy to medal at all considering everything that can and does go wrong. I'm pretty sure there are many that would be proud to medal anything or how about even compete in the olympics in the first place. The bothersome part for me is that in this world wide event, they are representing our countries. There are much more examples of bad sportsmanship, (i.e.racist texting, doping, getting kicked out, etc.). This is a disappointment to all of the olympics, not just the U.S. But being in the U.S., that's what we're seeing the most because the coverage is terrible.

FireBrand80

Also:

1. The US has terrible sportsmanship (by having fits when they get silver instead of gold)
2. China still wins everything (diving)

I don't see anything wrong with being disappointed with second place. That young lady's face happened to express her disappointment more than others, but I doubt she's the only one to have been unhappy with second place.

Yeah, I've heard this isn't a US thing, but an all around thing where the Gold medalist is of course excited and happy, the Silver medalist is disappointed because they . . . almost . . . came . . . in . . . first, and the bronze medalist is excited because they made it to the podium (or almost didn't make it to the podium)

Not to mention that to get to that level in any sport you have to be a hyper-competitive person, bordering on obsessive.

Yes, the highest of competitive nature. But, with the time and dedication it takes, they have not always come in first and should be adequately prepared to be happy to medal at all considering everything that can and does go wrong. I'm pretty sure there are many that would be proud to medal anything or how about even compete in the olympics in the first place. The bothersome part for me is that in this world wide event, they are representing our countries. There are much more examples of bad sportsmanship, (i.e.racist texting, doping, getting kicked out, etc.). This is a disappointment to all of the olympics, not just the U.S. But being in the U.S., that's what we're seeing the most because the coverage is terrible.

A majority of the athletes there don't have a realistic chance of medaling and probably do just have the "happy to be there" attitude. But the handfull of athletes that are the best in the world at their sports are competing to prove that they are #1. Again, I don't see anything at all wrong with being disappointed when they fall short. Disappointment is one of the risks of striving for excellence.

Laces_0ut

9. NBC doesn’t know a thing about covering sports.

i think their ratings are through the roof...so while the real sports fans (us) may not like the way its covered they are doing what will get the masses to watch the most.

Laces_0ut

A majority of the athletes there don't have a realistic chance of medaling and probably do just have the "happy to be there" attitude. But the handfull of athletes that are the best in the world at their sports are competing to prove that they are #1. Again, I don't see anything at all wrong with being disappointed when they fall short. Disappointment is one of the risks of striving for excellence.

exactly. people who are saying you should be all smiles after losing have probably never lost an important/meaningful sporting event themselves.

taylor5877

was looking for something else, but found this:

jnh17

9. NBC doesn’t know a thing about covering sports.

i think their ratings are through the roof...so while the real sports fans (us) may not like the way its covered they are doing what will get the masses to watch the most.

There is literally nothing else to watch. Plus, it's the end of the summer so even if people had stuff saved on their DVR from when shows are in season, they've probably watched it. I only watch about 20 minutes a night (a 2 and 4 year old so not much tv watching for me) but even when I had it up to here with swimming (my hand is REALLY high right now), I still watched it.

TeamEdwardJenn

That Mary Poppins is the face of health care

Laces_0ut

9. NBC doesn’t know a thing about covering sports.

i think their ratings are through the roof...so while the real sports fans (us) may not like the way its covered they are doing what will get the masses to watch the most.

There is literally nothing else to watch. Plus, it's the end of the summer so even if people had stuff saved on their DVR from when shows are in season, they've probably watched it. I only watch about 20 minutes a night (a 2 and 4 year old so not much tv watching for me) but even when I had it up to here with swimming (my hand is REALLY high right now), I still watched it.

from what ive read the ratings are higher than anticipated. if they had shown track and swimming live it is believed the ratings would have been lower for prime time where it counts. so they did whats best for their ratings. and if you wanted to watch live you could have watched online.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

9. NBC doesn’t know a thing about covering sports.

i think their ratings are through the roof...so while the real sports fans (us) may not like the way its covered they are doing what will get the masses to watch the most.

When you're thursty enough you'll drink the water given to you, even if it's a little brown.

sillygoose1977

I learned that it doesn't matter how amazing any female athlete is because the focus will still be on her appearance. :grumble:

lizziebeth1028

You can smoke weed and still become the most decorated Olympian of all time!!! Phelps!!! :smokin:

teeley

I learned that money buys medals...oh wait I already knew that

Laces_0ut

I learned that money buys medals...oh wait I already knew that

through bribes or sports programs?

teeley

a bit of both...countries that have the money to support their athletes win....clearly

and officials who make clearly obvious bad calls....cough cough womens soccer...canada!!

LilRedRooster

1) NBC has blown their coverage completely since the 2000 Sydney games. They used to broadcast the Olympics full-time, live and available on several channels (I remember setting my alarm to wake up at 3am to catch Taekwondo finals), and as the years have gone by, restricting it to prime-time and an incredibly small portion of the actual competition from other countries has really pissed me off. I streamed the Olympics this year on a BBC stream so I could actually watch other countries (along with the opening ceremony when it was happening, and not 9 hours later), and didn't even tune in to NBC after watching one night.

2) NBC's commentators are also *kitten*, every last one. I've realized that over the past few years, but the coverage of this year's games, especially compared to the BBC commentators, has really driven that fact home. They all suck fat, sweaty unmentionable body parts.

3) People focus on really stupid things, like leotards and whether the athletes are "patriotic" enough. The spirit of the games is about pride in where you come from, certainly, but overlapping that is a desire to erase borders, politics, races, religions, and genders, and have everyone come together to play games. Because that's what unites everyone: The spirit of being human, playing games together, and showing the world how hard you've worked for your dreams. Not some stupid leotard color that's supposed to symbolize how "patriotic" people are. Fox News anchors once again proved their douchebaggery with that commentary.

Laces_0ut

a bit of both...countries that have the money to support their athletes win....clearly

and officials who make clearly obvious bad calls....cough cough womens soccer...canada!!

lol i hope you dont think that soccer ref was paid.

and of course the wealthier nations do better. but then you have success from places like Cuba and North Korea and thats inspiring.

tnichol4

Women's soccer rocks! Loved watching every game, love live streaming