2020(1) Olympics

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 9:19 pm

Because of course we need a thread, no matter how lame it promises to be. So far, the US women's softball (an occassional event) is kicking ass and the women's soccer is not. Aside from that, half our team appears to be banned due to COVID or from smoking weed. The opening ceremony will be broadcast starting at 6 am central time tomorrow.

Fun fact...I've been unemployed during more Olympic years than any other. I've not watched much sports since the end of football season, and since football is not an Olympic sport (boo! this better be fixed in the upcoming LA games!) my attention is sure to be divided once training camp starts.

Any freak sports you're looking forward to watching? Maybe you have a thing for Armenian women weightlifters, Australian kayakers, or Filipino boxers?

Zenn7 · Post by **Zenn7** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:54 pm

My wife likes to watch some of the Olympics, so we just signed up for Peacock w/o commercials.

We don't have NBC Sports (looks like you only get that with some sort of package of channels like Hulu TV or Youtube TV or Sling or Cable sub), which looks like it will have a lot of the events. We don't have a DVR, just a Roku stick.

Seems like she'll be able to see a few things live and stream highlights on demand at best.

Am I missing something significant in my summation? Any on demand options for the majority of the stuff?

Baroquen · Post by **Baroquen** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:59 pm

Jeff V wrote: ↑Thu Jul 22, 2021 9:19 pm
Any freak sports you're looking forward to watching? Maybe you have a thing for Armenian women weightlifters, Australian kayakers, or Filipino boxers?

No freak sports, really. But we'll probably watch some swimming (rooting for MD raised Katie Ledecky), see how the US team does in gymnastics, and I'll follow results for baseball, basketball and track & field. Not an olympics junkie but I'll enjoy it for what it is.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Fri Jul 23, 2021 8:45 am

Looking forward to gymnastics but hope to also catch some of the “edgy” events like skateboarding and surfing along with cheering for Katie Ledecky.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Fri Jul 23, 2021 8:35 pm

Anyone else watch the opening ceremonies this morning? The drone thing was cool, I hadn't even been aware of the existence of drone light shows until exactly one week ago...the campground we went to in Wisconsin had a 50-drone light show and that was impressive...I can only image 1800!

Zenn7 · Post by **Zenn7** » Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:15 pm

Zenn7 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:54 pm My wife likes to watch some of the Olympics, so we just signed up for Peacock w/o commercials.

We don't have NBC Sports (looks like you only get that with some sort of package of channels like Hulu TV or Youtube TV or Sling or Cable sub), which looks like it will have a lot of the events. We don't have a DVR, just a Roku stick.

Seems like she'll be able to see a few things live and stream highlights on demand at best.

Am I missing something significant in my summation? Any on demand options for the majority of the stuff?

We went with FUBO TV 7 day trial. Kill that on Thursday, then see whether I can get a Hulu TV trial for 7 days (I had a Hulu trial and sub earlier this year, but not the TV version). If that doesn't work, try setting up a different account for my wife. $65 just to watch the Olympics not really worth it. I sub'd to Peacock specifically to get Olympics stuff.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:32 pm

Just watched rowing on USA. More boring than I remember it being. Now archery is on, and US is losing to Indoneisia. The last time I watched archery was in 1984 when some fat bastard won the gold, I was amazed at the time that someone clocking in at 400 lbs could be called an "Olympic Athlete".

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:48 pm

And we lost. #2 seed US loses to #15 Indonesia.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:53 pm

Jeff V wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:48 pm And we lost. #2 seed US loses to #15 Indonesia.

I caught that! Bummer for the US team but nice underdog story for Indonesia. Now I’m jumping around the NBC Sports app on my TV from sport to sport

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:12 pm

I like underdog stories as long as the US isn't playing the role of chump. Victoria Ravenna will never let us live this down.

At least the US women's waterpolo team humiliated Japan like has never been done before.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:33 pm

I just watched surfing for the first time since Bay Watch was a thing. Is this a man-made wave pool or natural? The latter seems like it would be too unpredictable.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:53 pm

Jeff V wrote: ↑Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:33 pm I just watched surfing for the first time since Bay Watch was a thing. Is this a man-made wave pool or natural? The latter seems like it would be too unpredictable.

Looks like open ocean to me. If we do an "is it a sport or not?" poll this year I'd have to say "not" for surfing.

Baroquen · Post by **Baroquen** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:31 pm

Jeff V wrote: ↑Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:53 pm
Looks like open ocean to me. If we do an "is it a sport or not?" poll this year I'd have to say "not" for surfing.

I think you're right about it being the ocean. They're talking about how the typhoon is stirring up the waters making for good waves.

If we're doing "sport or not" I'm throwing skateboarding into the "not" category. I felt like I was watching the X Games. Turned it off. (Now get off my lawn!)

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 9:30 am

Archinerd · Post by **Archinerd** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:36 pm

I'm surprised those guys aren't wearing helmets.
I know I can't do what they do, but if they don't think they are taking a risk to even bother with a helmet, then how much effort is really being invested?

Been dropping in and out of other coverage.
My favorite part so far was watching the guy from Tunisia out swim Australia & U.S. to win Gold in swimming (Men's 400m Freestyle).
Also, I have no idea what is going on in Judo.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:49 pm

I think the skaterboarder in the clip above would trade in any helmet given to him for a cup.

Lassr · Post by **Lassr** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:29 pm

I watched Lee Kiefer win a gold in fencing yesterday morning. Got a little tense at the end as the Russian pulled close, but she did it.

https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/lee-ki ... idual-foil

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:34 pm

I signed up for like 3 NBC paid services so the kiddo could watch live archery. None of them show live archery. Once again, fuck US coverage.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 3:57 pm

I still love the IOCs ban on Russia. They really showed them it's wrong to dope, didn't they!

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:15 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:34 pm I signed up for like 3 NBC paid services so the kiddo could watch live archery. None of them show live archery. Once again, fuck US coverage.

Peacock was showing it the other day. I think once the favored-to-medal US team was eliminated, it was put on the back-burner.

Also, Archery not a sport, it's a skill. Doesn't seem like any of the contestants this year have William Tell level of talent. (Peacock was showing Archery highlight as I typed this)

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:20 pm

My adoptive country, The Philippines, scored a gold in women's weight lifting. Good for them! NBC shafted them during the opening ceremony, running commercials during their entrance.

Madmarcus · Post by **Madmarcus** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 7:47 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:34 pm I signed up for like 3 NBC paid services so the kiddo could watch live archery. None of them show live archery. Once again, fuck US coverage.

You need to get the Korean coverage. Plenty of archery, table tennis, badminton, taekwondo, and other minor sports.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 8:32 pm

Jeff V wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:20 pm My adoptive country, The Philippines, scored a gold in women's weight lifting. Good for them! NBC shafted them during the opening ceremony, running commercials during their entrance.

China cut off the feed to avoid showing the Taiwan delegation. Unfortunately, alphabetized as they are in the Japanese language, the China delegation was also suppressed, as they followed in immediately afterward, and the feed didn't come back in time.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 7:40 am

As my former gymnast daughter said as we watch the gymnastics live coverage…OH NO!

Spoiler:

At least…

Spoiler:

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:23 am

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:27 am

Jeff V wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:15 pm

Also, Archery not a sport, it's a skill. Doesn't seem like any of the contestants this year have William Tell level of talent. (Peacock was showing Archery highlight as I typed this)

Is a competitive skill a sport? I don't know. Golf, air rifle, darts... By the classic definition as a competitive physical activity I'd say yes, they all are. By the colloquial definition oft debated in bars, probably not.

I will say this, 77 yards doesn't look like much on TV but if you're standing on the line looking at a target 77 yards away, that's a really long shot. It's pretty amazing to me, even as someone who shoots rifles at 200+.

William Tell trick stuff is at one or two dozen yards, max. I'd wager that if you got the Olympic shooters down to that range they could consistently hit a penny.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:31 am

$iljanus wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 7:40 am As my former gymnast daughter said as we watch the gymnastics live coverage…OH NO!

Spoiler:
Simone Biles out for the rest of the team competition

On sports radio this morning, I heard the news. It was broken thus:

Spoiler:

wonderpug · Post by **wonderpug** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:37 am

Jeff V wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:15 pm Also, Archery not a sport, it's a skill. Doesn't seem like any of the contestants this year have William Tell level of talent. (Peacock was showing Archery highlight as I typed this)

How do you feel about shot put, javelin, or discus?

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:44 am

Depends. Would Jeff be a target in those competitions?

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 11:34 am

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 11:49 am

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 12:09 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 11:34 am

I'd posit that "fail" is the wrong word there. That's probably the most successful javelin throw in centuries.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Wed Jul 28, 2021 8:32 am

(Quick research) Juha Lauri Laukkanen, 1994 Bislett Games in Oslo. The only fail was on the part of the judge who decided to daydream on the javelin field. He was impaled through the arm.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:16 pm

wonderpug wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:37 am
How do you feel about shot put, javelin, or discus?

Sport, you need some athletic ability to do those. Archery (like shooting, also not a sport) is a skill using a tool. I mentioned this before, the first time I recall seeing a US "athlete" medal in archery (1984 perhaps) dude was a least 400 lbs. And no, it wasn't a muscular 400 lbs.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:33 pm

So it's like NASCAR?

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:36 pm

hepcat wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:33 pm So it's like NASCAR?

Pretty much, except there's no place to put a beer holder in archery.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:38 pm

Jeff V wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:16 pm
wonderpug wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:37 am
How do you feel about shot put, javelin, or discus?
Sport, you need some athletic ability to do those. Archery (like shooting, also not a sport) is a skill using a tool. I mentioned this before, the first time I recall seeing a US "athlete" medal in archery (1984 perhaps) dude was a least 400 lbs. And no, it wasn't a muscular 400 lbs.

Not sure if you are biased or just naïve.

I've known a lot of obese people. There is a lot of muscle buried under the fat. And depending on the level of mobility, probably a decent amount of stamina.

Also, if you think that shooting a bow doesn't require any athleticism, then you clearly have never shot a bow. It's a hell of a lot more than "using a tool".

By your definitions, we should probably yank weight lifting also. Really, they are just lifting a bar. What's the big deal?

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:41 pm

TheMix wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:38 pm yank weight lifting

I see what you did there.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:41 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:27 am
Jeff V wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:15 pm

Also, Archery not a sport, it's a skill. Doesn't seem like any of the contestants this year have William Tell level of talent. (Peacock was showing Archery highlight as I typed this)
Is a competitive skill a sport? I don't know. Golf, air rifle, darts... By the classic definition as a competitive physical activity I'd say yes, they all are. By the colloquial definition oft debated in bars, probably not.

I will say this, 77 yards doesn't look like much on TV but if you're standing on the line looking at a target 77 yards away, that's a really long shot. It's pretty amazing to me, even as someone who shoots rifles at 200+.

William Tell trick stuff is at one or two dozen yards, max. I'd wager that if you got the Olympic shooters down to that range they could consistently hit a penny.

We used to fire arrows with flat tips at 100 to 150 yards. Missing the bail of hay was not uncommon, much less the target on the bail of hay. The Bull's eye? You can't even really see it at 150 yards.

TheMix wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:38 pm Not sure if you are biased or just naïve.

I've known a lot of obese people. There is a lot of muscle buried under the fat. And depending on the level of mobility, probably a decent amount of stamina.

Also, if you think that shooting a bow doesn't require any athleticism, then you clearly have never shot a bow. It's a hell of a lot more than "using a tool".

By your definitions, we should probably yank weight lifting also. Really, they are just lifting a bar. What's the big deal?

I haven't watched Olympic archery. Are they allowed to use compound bows. I would contend a compound bow doesn't require much athleticism but even 50 pound bow requires a bit of oomph to use at all well and a 50 pound bow is meant to train a tween.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Jul 28, 2021 2:59 pm

LordMortis wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:41 pm
LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:27 am
Jeff V wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:15 pm

Also, Archery not a sport, it's a skill. Doesn't seem like any of the contestants this year have William Tell level of talent. (Peacock was showing Archery highlight as I typed this)
Is a competitive skill a sport? I don't know. Golf, air rifle, darts... By the classic definition as a competitive physical activity I'd say yes, they all are. By the colloquial definition oft debated in bars, probably not.

I will say this, 77 yards doesn't look like much on TV but if you're standing on the line looking at a target 77 yards away, that's a really long shot. It's pretty amazing to me, even as someone who shoots rifles at 200+.

William Tell trick stuff is at one or two dozen yards, max. I'd wager that if you got the Olympic shooters down to that range they could consistently hit a penny.
We used to fire arrows with flat tips at 100 to 150 yards. Missing the bail of hay was not uncommon, much less the target on the bail of hay. The Bull's eye? You can't even really see it at 150 yards.

TheMix wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:38 pm Not sure if you are biased or just naïve.

I've known a lot of obese people. There is a lot of muscle buried under the fat. And depending on the level of mobility, probably a decent amount of stamina.

Also, if you think that shooting a bow doesn't require any athleticism, then you clearly have never shot a bow. It's a hell of a lot more than "using a tool".

By your definitions, we should probably yank weight lifting also. Really, they are just lifting a bar. What's the big deal?
I haven't watched Olympic archery. Are they allowed to use compound bows. I would contend a compound bow doesn't require much athleticism but even 50 pound bow requires a bit of oomph to use at all well and a 50 pound bow is meant to train a tween.

They use recurve bows only. Compound bows are an exhibition sport this year I think.

Either way, there is a lot of physicality involved.