Olympics



  • Opening ceremonies Anybody watching?



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  • @Marco The parts i watched was traditional japanese culture things, typical opening ceremony stuff, far removed from American politics.



  • @Crimsonorblue22 im excited theyre here but havent been able to watch.



  • I’m pretty much a “ring-head,” having gone to two summer Olympics (Montreal, LA) and two winter games (SLC, Vancouver). So I’m all in on Tokyo. Already getting sore fingers from using my remote to catch events on the seven or eight cable channels they’re on, including CBC in Canada and the Spanish-language Telemundo. All while trying to keep an eye on my local teams and the whole UT/OU brouhaha.

    Shame that there are no fans in the stands. It really takes away from the atmosphere, especially during the opening ceremonies. Then again, after spending most of 2020 watching empty stadiums and arenas in other sports, it’s less of a shock than it would be otherwise.

    What I enjoy are getting to watch some of the lower-profile sports that you’d never see otherwise, like fencing, rowing (real big out here, what with all the U of Washington alumni) or archery.

    And if you’ve never seen (team) handball before, check it out. A basketball-like game where you shoot at a goal that’s roughly the size midway between a hockey and a soccer goal. Wouldn’t want to be a goalie in that sport. I got hooked the first time I saw a game in person, the gold medal match back in '84. It’s mostly played in Europe, but the USA could really be good at this, if only more people knew about it.



  • @nwhawkfan said in Olympics:

    Shame that there are no fans in the stands. It really takes away from the atmosphere, especially during the opening ceremonies.

    I did like how they painted the seats different colors to give the illusion os fans in the distance. But no audience roars (Tonga guy would have raised the roof), although the assembled performers, delegations, and athletes tried!.



  • Watched the Men’s Basketball team lose to France. That was ugly how they let France back in the game late in the 4th. Don’t think that team has the chemistry. Lillard was non-existent in the 4th. Outside of Jrue Holiday I didn’t think anyone stepped up.



  • I am watching swimming races, there have a few sensational finishes. Several teenagers are winning medals, good sign for US swimming.



  • @nwhawkfan

    Team handball might be one of my new favorite Olympic sports. I watched a few minutes back in 2016, then got to watch a match the other day and it was incredible. If the US put some emphasis on it, I think there would be lots of interest because it looks fun.



  • @justanotherfan makes me think of Dirk Nowitski whose dad was a star handballer. Glad he took after his pro bball mom, but what might have been?



  • @approxinfinity said in Olympics:

    @justanotherfan makes me think of Dirk Nowitski whose dad was a star handballer. Glad he took after his pro bball mom, but what might have been?

    After watching the sport, I can safely say that a young Dirk would have been ridiculous at team handball. He may have made them change rules.

    Oddly, the best NBA players that could probably easily convert to team handball are athletic wings that can pass, as that likely translates to being a good shooter in handball. Guys like Lebron (probably would be good at about any sport if he had grown up playing it), Kawhi, Russell Westbrook, but also a guy like Ben Simmons.



  • Good news…KU alum (and former NCAA champ) Bryce Hoppel qualified for the semifinals in the 800 meters, after finishing 3rd in his heat.

    Next race for Bryce will be early Sunday morning, Central time (Sunday evening in Tokyo). The final is next Wednesday.



  • @nwhawkfan I read that. I tried to stream it but it skipped to others sports, same with tv. Did you see it? I was wanting to see the Clemons gal in the hurdles.



  • @nwhawkfan hurdles are on tv now.



  • @Crimsonorblue22 said in Olympics:

    @nwhawkfan I read that. I tried to stream it but it skipped to others sports, same with tv. Did you see it? I was wanting to see the Clemons gal in the hurdles.

    Saw the heat but didn’t see much of the hurdles. As I mentioned, I’ve been bouncing back and forth thru all the channels.

    Nice to see NBC mention KU’s Billy Mills during the 10,000 meter finals. RUNNING BRAVE !



  • She qualified! They showed 1,2 and 5 heats. She was in 4th heat, 2 in her heat 4 go. Some dang fast gals!



  • Right now NBC is running a feature on Billy Mills’s 1964 win.!



  • It’s funny what you run across on other channels while the Olympics are going on. As I was channel surfing the other night I happened to catch an old Dick Cavett Show interview with Jim Ryun. This was right after he tripped and fell during a 1500 meter semifinal heat in the 1972 Olympics, a fall that Ryun claimed was caused by another runner. After his appeal was denied, he announced on the show he was retiring from amateur running, essentially ending his athletic career.

    The Cavett show also featured other US Olympic athletes like gymnast Cathy Rigby, wrestler Dan Gable, boxer Sugar Ray Seales, plus ABC’s Jim McKay, who praised Ryun for his sportsmanship after the fall.


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