BoiseBYU wrote:

Speaking of beach volleyball: I confess: watching the winning women's beach vclleyballers roll in the sand is TV worth watching. I mean seeing athletes celebrate their hard earned accomplishment is enjoyable. So why my aversion to watching the men do the same thing? (My problem I know)

Tough call...



or

I LOVE the Olympics...Here are my final thoughts--

Men's Volleyball ROCKS! Seeded I think fourth, they overcome the tragic stabbing of a very dear and close friend to win gold...the best story for me

Did you see the one-legged South African compete in the open water swim? She took off her artifical leg, sat on the dock, ready for the start of the event. She only wanted to be viewed as one more Olympian athlete. That moment was my favorite moment of the Olympics....

Well, we know why men's BB got Dwight Howard--to rebound, and Michael Redd, to shoot, now we know why we got Kobe-to play clutch when it was finally needed. I was the fool (paid for it the next day at church) to stay up and watch the game and when the US called time-out, up by two, I said well, now we see how they handle pressure and who steps up? Kobe. Sinks a tough shot in the lane, assists a three, makes a four point play, and just like that the gold is ours. He WANTED the ball and he performed. I would still build my team around LeBron, but he is clutch

Biggest disappointment? Not track. They only came in 2 medals less than Athens and that with a lot of botched batons and hurdles etc. No the biggest disappointment was boxing....one bronze medal. Asuming boxing remains an Olympic sport (I could never quite figure out the scoring) US men's bocing needs a top to bottom overhaul

More cool things: More countries than ever (204) came and more countries than ever won medals.

NBC actually did a very good job all in all with the production--more action and less "stories."

Grouchy thoughts: IOC are cowards--they let China get away with reneging on its promises of openness. Allowing China to keep Joey Cheek from entering the country was outrageous and the IOC let them get away with it. China had what 8 kazillion volunteers but never got around to approving one protest application?

China does not have a clue when it comes to diversity and opennes, but they sure know how to build some really cool venues....the bird's nest is iconic, as is the cube....

I do not know if I am in good company or not: SI also calls Phelps the greatest Olympian athlete....

We witnessed the greatest track performance in Bolt's three shattering world records...Jamaica is THE sprint center of the Universe

I can hardly wait for London 2012...Just think, by then BYU will have won a National Championship!

I loved the Olympics. I agree that Phelps was outstanding but not the greatest Olympian or athlete. (Sno, you make good points about the number of swimming events versus other venues.) I don't know who is but I wouldn't pick Jordon either. He more or less flopped at baseball. I don't know if Thorpe is, but I would like to know what he could have done with modern equipment and methods.

I would like to have seen 1 white guy on the BB team. Then again there wasn't a black guy on the volleyball team. I did enjoy the volleyball's win against Brazil. What a match. I enjoyed the Cougar, Miller who did very well.

I agree that judged events ought to be reevaluated and some or all dropped, (and throw in (or out) figure skating in the winter O's). The vaults were great but 10 seconds to glory and you get a chance at the same medal Bolt, Phelps and the marathoners get. How about those cute girls in their cute bathing suits flinging around those cute ribbons? I hedge a little cause I like boxing. However, I watched the Irish kid against the Chinese kid in light heavy and the Irish kid could hardly get a point no matter how many times he tagged his opponent. There is too much politics in the Olympics especially the judged events.

One of my favorite moments was the Bulgarian lady who won the single rowing skull. She cried when her anthem was played and it just got to me.

One other comment: When will we get to see swimming, rowing, water polo, track and field, wrestling etc. again? I love football and basketball but how about something on some of these other sports. I guess we'll have to wait 4 years.

Thanks Boise for a great thread.