# Everything Beijing '08 Olympics Games **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 5, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960 "2008-08-05T20:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/121 "2008-08-11T13:16:26Z")
[QUOTE=USCDiver] Lezak IS the man for the 100m Free… except Phelps set the American Record in the first leg. [/QUOTE] Which Lezak promptly broke. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/122 "2008-08-11T13:18:50Z")
Only the first leg of a relay race counts as an individual distance. So Lezak did not break it since he was not in the first leg. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/123 "2008-08-11T13:20:19Z")
[QUOTE=Švejk] Only the first leg of a relay race counts as an individual distance. So Lezak did not break it since he was not in the first leg. [/QUOTE] I didn’t realize we were talking about the individual distance. I was just pointing out that Lezak swam his leg faster, which seemed to be the entire point of the original discussion. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/124 "2008-08-11T13:21:41Z")
[QUOTE=USCDiver] Lezak IS the man for the 100m Free… except Phelps set the American Record in the first leg. [/QUOTE] Wow you guys do get distorted coverage. While Lezak is the man for saving Phelp’s attempt at 8 Alain Bernard (world record holder before the race) of France threw it away having a look at Lezak underwater in the last stroke. And Phelps may have set an American record in the first leg but Eamon Sullivan broke the world record by .26 second swimming 47.24 in the same leg as Phelps. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/125 "2008-08-11T13:22:51Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] Wow you guys do get distorted coverage. While Lezak is the man for saving Phelp’s attempt at 8 Alain Bernard (world record holder before the race) of France threw it away having a look at Lezak underwater in the last stroke. And Phelps may have set an American record in the first leg but Eamon Sullivan broke the world record by .26 second swimming 47.24 in the same leg as Phelps. [/QUOTE] That’s inane. Lezak looked back at him. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/126 "2008-08-11T14:22:53Z")
Doesn’t matter what records you break, if someone else out-touches you at the finish. That was Lezak’s race. And that is something that Katie Hoff should have known. That was ridiculous, pushing herself to get a body-length ahead, but at the cost of having _nothing_ left on the last length. That is the kind of mistake an Olympic veteran shouldn’t be making. Between Hoff’s obvious blunder, Hansen’s much-hyped “rivalry” with Katajima, and the women’s gymnastics, NBC’s jingoistic coverage is in full swing. The women gymnists injure themselves, bounce out of bounds multiple times, and fall flat on their back on a landing… yet stupid Tim Daggit keeps saying that the “only” advantage the Chinese picked up is going after the Americans in the final. “They’ll know exactly what they need to beat the Americans.” Um, Tim. All they’ll need to beat the Americans is to sit by and watch them come in second. The Chinese did better. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/127 "2008-08-11T14:48:14Z")
[QUOTE=Labrador Deceiver] That’s inane. Lezak looked back at him. [/QUOTE] No he didn’t. Both Bernard and Lezak breathe on the right, so Lezak had the look on Bernard all the way down the last lap. Bernard’s mistake was turning his head to the left under water to see where Lezak was. This destroyed his stroke mechanics. It was a great effort by Lezak to pressure him into the error but Bernard should have put his head down and worked to the wall. But still he is French so maybe that explains it. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/128 "2008-08-11T14:54:03Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] No he didn’t. Both Bernard and Lezak breathe on the right, so Lezak had the look on Bernard all the way down the last lap. Bernard’s mistake was turning his head to the left under water to see where Lezak was. This destroyed his stroke mechanics. It was a great effort by Lezak to pressure him into the error but Bernard should have put his head down and worked to the wall. But still he is French so maybe that explains it. [/QUOTE] I’m not convinced it cost him anything. The peek came close to the wall, and well after Lezak had made up a ridiculous amount of distance. To claim that the head turn “gave away” the race is absurd. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/129 "2008-08-11T15:06:56Z")
[QUOTE=Labrador Deceiver] I’m not convinced it cost him anything. The peek came close to the wall, and well after Lezak had made up a ridiculous amount of distance. To claim that the head turn “gave away” the race is absurd. [/QUOTE] Well that is kind of true. There is no guarantee that Lezak wouldn’t have won on the touch anyway, but when I watched it live I just laughed at Bernard’s stupidity. I used to swim competitively and I know that “having a look” doesn’t help you win a race, only hitting the wall does. I’m sure his teammates didn’t toast him after the race. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/130 "2008-08-11T15:13:11Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] Well that is kind of true. There is no guarantee that Lezak wouldn’t have won on the touch anyway, but when I watched it live I just laughed at Bernard’s stupidity. I used to swim competitively and I know that “having a look” doesn’t help you win a race, only hitting the wall does. I’m sure his teammates didn’t toast him after the race. [/QUOTE] In American football, it’s well known that providing your opponent with “bulletin board material” can be a bad idea. I wonder if that isn’t as well known in France, or maybe swimming circles in general. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/131 "2008-08-11T15:20:33Z")
> [@](#): > > All they’ll need to beat the Americans is to sit by and watch them come in second. The Chinese did better. Not that you would know it by watching the NBC coverage. They were keeping the audience updated on the Chinese scores, but showing only the American gymnasts. I wanted to see what the competition looked like, damn it! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/132 "2008-08-11T15:30:54Z")
[QUOTE=vibrotronica] Not that you would know it by watching the NBC coverage. They were keeping the audience updated on the Chinese scores, but showing only the American gymnasts. I wanted to see what the competition looked like, damn it! [/QUOTE] I expect/hope it’ll get better during the medal round. This was just the qualifying round, after all… but yeah. There are a few other countries there, right? Not just the US pixies, and the Chinese scores. During the gymnast’s huddle after the qualifying I felt like I was eavesdropping on a teenage slumber party. And after every event: hug the coach, hug all the others on the team. Hug. hug. hug. hug. I would’ve like to have seen just one high-five, or chest bump, or forearm bash…anything to break the routine. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/133 "2008-08-11T15:33:11Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] I expect/hope it’ll get better during the medal round. This was just the qualifying round, after all… but yeah. There are a few other countries there, right? Not just the US pixies, and the Chinese scores. During the gymnast’s huddle after the qualifying I felt like I was eavesdropping on a teenage slumber party. And after every event: hug the coach, hug all the others on the team. Hug. hug. hug. hug. I would’ve like to have seen just one high-five, or chest bump, or forearm bash…anything to break the routine. [/QUOTE] Did you catch the kiss? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/134 "2008-08-11T15:34:23Z")
[QUOTE=vibrotronica] Not that you would know it by watching the NBC coverage. They were keeping the audience updated on the Chinese scores, but showing only the American gymnasts. I wanted to see what the competition looked like, damn it! [/QUOTE] Having my TV on pretty much all day, they did show the Chinese team almosty exclusively for a hour or so, sometime before the Amercian team went. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/135 "2008-08-11T15:37:04Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] And after every event: hug the coach, hug all the others on the team. Hug. hug. hug. hug. I would’ve like to have seen just one high-five, or chest bump, or forearm bash…anything to break the routine. [/QUOTE] I’m glad this annoys someone else. All the damn hugging. It’s even worse in Volleyball, a damn hug after every freakin point, How needy is your spiker? Even the Men’s volleybar are starting to do it, There is a difference between a huddle and a group hug, and they are clearly on the hug side of the line. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/136 "2008-08-11T15:47:31Z")
[QUOTE=vibrotronica] Not that you would know it by watching the NBC coverage. They were keeping the audience updated on the Chinese scores, but showing only the American gymnasts. I wanted to see what the competition looked like, damn it! [/QUOTE] There are too many teams during the preliminary round to have them all out there at the same time. The Chinese were in an earlier session (which was covered by NBC) and they were comparing the American scores as they came in with the Chinese scores from earlier. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/137 "2008-08-11T16:00:00Z")
CNBC is showing the Olympics too. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/138 "2008-08-11T16:04:38Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] CNBC is showing the Olympics too. [/QUOTE] Yes, mainly boxing! I love it. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/139 "2008-08-11T16:05:04Z")
[QUOTE=wolfman] I’m glad this annoys someone else. All the damn hugging. [/QUOTE] Actually, having been around teenage girls, it’s probably essential that no one varies the routine. The conversation is probably already like: “omigod, did you see the look on Shana’s face when she hugged Kimberly? You could tell she just hates her.” “for sure. Ever since Stephanie told Shana that Kimberly rolled her eyes when Shana blew her dismount on the vault. I bet Shana doesn’t even go to Kimberly’s party next week.” “Omigod.” ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/140 "2008-08-11T16:11:33Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] Actually, having been around teenage girls, it’s probably essential that no one varies the routine. The conversation is probably already like: “omigod, did you see the look on Shana’s face when she hugged Kimberly? You could tell she just hates her.” “for sure. Ever since Stephanie told Shana that Kimberly rolled her eyes when Shana blew her dismount on the vault. I bet Shana doesn’t even go to Kimberly’s party next week.” “Omigod.” [/QUOTE] I would bet that they’re instructed to hug by their coach, for whatever reason. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960.md?page=8)