sleepy
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Post by sleepy on Jul 31, 2012 1:30:24 GMT -5
So, it's really stupid that they only let 2 people from each country advance in gymnastics I think its mores stupid that they dont come into the games already having qualified for the individual comp. Why do they do that at the olympics? Why not at each countries qualifying event? In what sport do you qualify for an Olympic spot at your own National qualifer? The reason all spots in gymnastics are determined at the actual games is because of how important peaking is gymnastics. You really can't be peaked for more than two weeks maximum in the sport during the year so it would be unfair to penalize gymnasts who are weaker when not in peak form. Someone like Raisman seems to have been perfectly paced and peaking at the perfect time and deserves to be rewarded for that. She really cleaned up on bars and vault the last three weeks and can't perform any better than she did in Pre-lims. Jordyn seems to have peaked a year too early and has been a bit off all year. It's unfortunate for Jordyn that her teammate had the meet of her life the same day she had a few wobbles, but the results were fair. As far as the two per country rule goes, it's a bit ironic considering the American's were one of the biggest supporters of the rule back in 2004 when they got sick of seeing Russia and Romania sweep the AA podium. Now that we are by far the best AA nation in the world, we seem to be crying foul. Douglas was burned by this rule last year, qualifying 5th in the world but still behind Raisman and Wieber. In 2008 Alicia Sacramone and Bridget Sloan were both victims of this rule for individual finals because Nastia and Shawn were both so strong. And that's not including any of the other countries. Is the rule unfortunate for the big four gymnastics countries (Romania, Russia, US, China)? Yes, but it's there to create parity in the AA. Everyone on the US team was well aware of the rule, and Gabby and Aly went in knowing they had to earn their AA spots. I don't think Jordyn went in with that same mentality and that was the difference.
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Jul 31, 2012 5:09:28 GMT -5
I think its mores stupid that they dont come into the games already having qualified for the individual comp. Why do they do that at the olympics? Why not at each countries qualifying event? In what sport do you qualify for an Olympic spot at your own National qualifer? T&F.
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thebin
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Post by thebin on Jul 31, 2012 8:48:31 GMT -5
I think its mores stupid that they dont come into the games already having qualified for the individual comp. Why do they do that at the olympics? Why not at each countries qualifying event? In what sport do you qualify for an Olympic spot at your own National qualifer? The reason all spots in gymnastics are determined at the actual games is because of how important peaking is gymnastics. You really can't be peaked for more than two weeks maximum in the sport during the year so it would be unfair to penalize gymnasts who are weaker when not in peak form. Someone like Raisman seems to have been perfectly paced and peaking at the perfect time and deserves to be rewarded for that. She really cleaned up on bars and vault the last three weeks and can't perform any better than she did in Pre-lims. Jordyn seems to have peaked a year too early and has been a bit off all year. It's unfortunate for Jordyn that her teammate had the meet of her life the same day she had a few wobbles, but the results were fair. As far as the two per country rule goes, it's a bit ironic considering the American's were one of the biggest supporters of the rule back in 2004 when they got sick of seeing Russia and Romania sweep the AA podium. Now that we are by far the best AA nation in the world, we seem to be crying foul. Douglas was burned by this rule last year, qualifying 5th in the world but still behind Raisman and Wieber. In 2008 Alicia Sacramone and Bridget Sloan were both victims of this rule for individual finals because Nastia and Shawn were both so strong. And that's not including any of the other countries. Is the rule unfortunate for the big four gymnastics countries (Romania, Russia, US, China)? Yes, but it's there to create parity in the AA. Everyone on the US team was well aware of the rule, and Gabby and Aly went in knowing they had to earn their AA spots. I don't think Jordyn went in with that same mentality and that was the difference. If we were indeed a big supporter of the 2 athletes only rule then I agree it is bad form to bark now. But I don't like the rule at all. You SHOULD be able to sweep the podium as a nation if you really nail it. This isn't little league. I understand the impulse to keep one particularly deep team from flooding the finals. I don't think anyone's interest is serverd if 7 or 8 of the top 10 AA finishers are russian or chinese or American. But the cap shouldn't be two- the podium sweep- a valid accomplishment- should at least be possible.
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Jul 31, 2012 12:33:49 GMT -5
The rule stinks, and if we supported it, then shame on us.
Thanks, Boz, for posting my favorite MP skit. When my wife was studying for her neurology boards, she used to use me as a guinea pig to practice workups. I'd hit her with a different silly walk every night to make it more challenging.
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Nevada Hoya
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Jul 31, 2012 12:35:09 GMT -5
In what sport do you qualify for an Olympic spot at your own National qualifer? T&F. Yes and no. T&F is like any sport; you have your national qualifier like all Olympic sports (at least in the US), but you have to have an A or B qualifier to compete in the Olympics, but that qualifer did not have to come in the national qualifier meet. It is the US rules that in track and field you have to compete in the OT meet and Olympic positions are based on how you finish in the meet, qualified by the A and B standards. There is also a wild card qualier; each country is allowed one person per country in the T&F portion, who doesn't have the A or B standard (see the Saudi Arabian woman entry in track and field).
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sleepy
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Post by sleepy on Jul 31, 2012 13:45:21 GMT -5
I'm not saying I agree with the rule, it is stupid and no one likes it. I just don't feel especially bad for anyone burned by the rule because it is part of the sport and everyone has to deal with. There are plenty of US girls that didn't even make the team that are top 24 AA based on the scores in prelims. No one seems to be crying for them. It's unfortunate that there are limitations on participants when you are from an country as deep as ours, but it's life and you have to be prepared for it. I don't think Jordyn or her coach were really prepared for the possibility of finishing 3rd on the team in the AA. It really shouldn't have been such a shock.
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Jul 31, 2012 14:15:29 GMT -5
I'm not saying I agree with the rule, it is stupid and no one likes it. I just don't feel especially bad for anyone burned by the rule because it is part of the sport and everyone has to deal with. There are plenty of US girls that didn't even make the team that are top 24 AA based on the scores in prelims. No one seems to be crying for them. It's unfortunate that there are limitations on participants when you are from an country as deep as ours, but it's life and you have to be prepared for it. I don't think Jordyn or her coach were really prepared for the possibility of finishing 3rd on the team in the AA. It really shouldn't have been such a shock. I think an alternative would be only 2 from each country unless a competitor is in the top-5 or top-10.
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thebin
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Post by thebin on Jul 31, 2012 14:40:39 GMT -5
I'm not saying I agree with the rule, it is stupid and no one likes it. I just don't feel especially bad for anyone burned by the rule because it is part of the sport and everyone has to deal with. There are plenty of US girls that didn't even make the team that are top 24 AA based on the scores in prelims. No one seems to be crying for them. It's unfortunate that there are limitations on participants when you are from an country as deep as ours, but it's life and you have to be prepared for it. I don't think Jordyn or her coach were really prepared for the possibility of finishing 3rd on the team in the AA. It really shouldn't have been such a shock. I agree that it isn't a "fairness" issue and we shouldn't treat it like one. It was known and for the time being we should shut up about it. But the rule should be amended. Not to allow unlimited participants in the final, but two is too restrictive in my opinion. I think the podium sweep is a tradition that must be possible- even as it must be very rare. Taking this away is sort of like making the grand slam illegal in baseball.
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Jul 31, 2012 15:09:13 GMT -5
Phelps with the all-time record for most medals. Very impressive. Congrats.
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Post by flyoverhoya on Aug 1, 2012 9:57:34 GMT -5
I know it's stating the obvious, but NBC is just awful. Found out how bad it really was last night when I set up my computer and TV at home to get the BBC live feeds. Every event as it happens, and then available for replay.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Aug 1, 2012 10:45:12 GMT -5
I know it's stating the obvious, but NBC is just awful. Found out how bad it really was last night when I set up my computer and TV at home to get the BBC live feeds. Every event as it happens, and then available for replay. What do you use to get past the regional blocking? Oh, and whoever created that, whether it was NBC, the BBC, the IOC, or some unholy combination...... ....screw you sideways.
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thebin
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Post by thebin on Aug 1, 2012 10:47:38 GMT -5
NBC has really acted like it is 1988 during this go around. I didn't expect all live by any means but still I'm a bit surprised at the full extent to which this year's Olympic coverage has been so canned. It wasn't nearly as bad from what I recall in Vancouver or Beijing. Not only are no major events availible live, but they edit the super long broadcasts in a very underhanded way so as to make you watch the entire thing if you want to see the major events like gymnastics and swimming...which don't conclude until well past 11PM despite results having been known to most of the world for many hours. I can understand a fair amount of tape delaying, but the way they have carried it out has been extremly cynical and abusive of the audience's patience. They are basically demanding you tune into NBC from 8-midnight for 15 nights in a row. And the ads breaks are run at an NFLian frequency.
By the way, the people defending NBC because they have to recoup their costs from the huge rights fees they paid to the IOC...you have it backwards. They only over-bid for these games because they knew they could soak us later with thousands of ads for 2 weeks. How can you use the enourmously inflated fees they willingly shelled out as an excuse for why the US should have to put up with a massively inferior olympic viewing experience compared to just about every other country in the world? I don't give a damn if they recoup their costs- let them lose money and have another network bid for the next games at a sane number and give us decent coverage as a result.
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Post by flyoverhoya on Aug 1, 2012 11:21:58 GMT -5
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Aug 1, 2012 11:26:38 GMT -5
Wow, that looks complicated and risky in a "You are now activating Skynet. Do you wish to proceed?" kind of way.
I might just stick with being furious at NBC for being complete dooshbags.
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Nevada Hoya
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Aug 1, 2012 12:05:20 GMT -5
The NBC coverage of track and field has consistently been bad over the years. The best Olympic coverage was a few Olympiads back, when they had the triple cast. Every heat of every track and field event with minimum commentary; that was great, especially the video portion that really had up-close and personal views on the distance events, so that it was almost as if you were in the race itself. Apparently, that was too much of a good thing and they returned to the pablum that they try to feed us now.
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Aug 1, 2012 12:18:27 GMT -5
NBC has really acted like it is 1988 during this go around. I didn't expect all live by any means but still I'm a bit surprised at the full extent to which this year's Olympic coverage has been so canned. It wasn't nearly as bad from what I recall in Vancouver or Beijing. Not only are no major events availible live, but they edit the super long broadcasts in a very underhanded way so as to make you watch the entire thing if you want to see the major events like gymnastics and swimming...which don't conclude until well past 11PM despite results having been known to most of the world for many hours. I can understand a fair amount of tape delaying, but the way they have carried it out has been extremly cynical and abusive of the audience's patience. They are basically demanding you tune into NBC from 8-midnight for 15 nights in a row. And the ads breaks are run at an NFLian frequency. By the way, the people defending NBC because they have to recoup their costs from the huge rights fees they paid to the IOC...you have it backwards. They only over-bid for these games because they knew they could soak us later with thousands of ads for 2 weeks. How can you use the enourmously inflated fees they willingly shelled out as an excuse for why the US should have to put up with a massively inferior olympic viewing experience compared to just about every other country in the world? I don't give a damn if they recoup their costs- let them lose money and have another network bid for the next games at a sane number and give us decent coverage as a result. I have a question for all the people complaining about not being able to see events live: Do any of you have a job? Or maybe you have a big flat screen in your office so you can watch Phelps swim the 200 fly final at 2:45pm in the afternoon.
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Post by flyoverhoya on Aug 1, 2012 12:56:28 GMT -5
Yep. It's more a question of being awake at 4:00 a.m. to catch the men's 8+ final in rowing.
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thebin
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Post by thebin on Aug 1, 2012 13:00:46 GMT -5
Yes, we do have a big screen in our office where major sporting events like the NCAAs, World Cup, Euros, and Olympics are on. I think this is pretty common in NYC, certainly anywhere where a trading desk environment prevails. (Usually financial news on but exceptions are made for huge sporting events by tradition.) So right now we get live equestrian and women's water polo, etc. but no swimming or gymnastics or track later.
But for me that isn't the main gripe- wether I am technically watching it "live." Beyond watching it at work- which you can't really do other than a few minutes here and there- it is more that I wish I could DVR the events I want to see as they happen live so I can go home and watch THOSE right away...not a 5 hour broadcast that doesn't start till 8 and peaks 2 hours after I want to be sleeping. And where the event I want to see is chopped up in to many pieces so I have to stick it out on events I don't care about.
It isn't so much the tape delay but the manipulative way they are packaging the highlights into tiny pieces late at night with tons of ads.
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Nevada Hoya
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Aug 1, 2012 13:31:54 GMT -5
I also hate that since I want to see the events "live," i.e., the first time for me, I have to stay away from all media, because somebody is going to say, well Missy won the backstroke, which takes all the suspense out of watching the race. Since I am a big fan of track and field, that will be especially true this weekend and next week, so I can see the races fresh, so to speak. Even the local NBC affiliate will tell you the medal count even before you see that day's action on the parent NBC, so you sort of figure out who won and who lost.
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Aug 1, 2012 13:54:34 GMT -5
Yes, we do have a big screen in our office where major sporting events like the NCAAs, World Cup, Euros, and Olympics are on. I think this is pretty common in NYC, certainly anywhere where a trading desk environment prevails. (Usually financial news on but exceptions are made for huge sporting events by tradition.) So right now we get live equestrian and women's water polo, etc. but no swimming or gymnastics or track later. But for me that isn't the main gripe- wether I am technically watching it "live." Beyond watching it at work- which you can't really do other than a few minutes here and there- it is more that I wish I could DVR the events I want to see as they happen live so I can go home and watch THOSE right away...not a 5 hour broadcast that doesn't start till 8 and peaks 2 hours after I want to be sleeping. And where the event I want to see is chopped up in to many pieces so I have to stick it out on events I don't care about. It isn't so much the tape delay but the manipulative way they are packaging the highlights into tiny pieces late at night with tons of ads. So you're not bitching that you can't watch it live. You're bitching because you can't watch it in delay when you want to and you can only watch it on delay when NBC wants you to. Just throw the live computer feed up on the screen at your office. I fail to see what the big deal is.
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