# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/161 "2008-08-12T14:18:05Z")
The Icelandic Handball Team ROCKS! First beating the Russians, now the World Champions from Germany! Wohoooooooooooooooooo! They ROCK! ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/162 "2008-08-12T14:41:07Z")
[QUOTE=WormTheRed] The Icelandic Handball Team ROCKS! First beating the Russians, now the World Champions from Germany! [/QUOTE] I missed that game but have been enjoying watching some of the other team handball games. I think this is my new favorite sport. Water polo, OTOH, has dropped to my least favorite, displacing dressage. I guess I just don’t understand all the whistles, fouls, and rules to water polo. When I was younger, the sport sounded like a lot of fun, but watching it on TV looks like two groups of people trying to drown each other. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/163 "2008-08-12T14:45:48Z")
Don’t know nothing about water-polo (but I would want to see the notorious one between the USSR and Hungary) but handball ROCKS! (at least until they start loosing against teams like Veryfarawayistan and Upper Nowhere - which is what I’m expecting them to do very soon) ---
**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 12, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/164 "2008-08-12T14:51:37Z")
**UncleRojelio** , I think you’ve got the gist of water polo, actually. That’s why it’s fun… to play. 😃 Watching kind of sucks, because you can’t catch all the fouling that goes on underwater, so it makes the calls confusing. edit: [pic of Blood in the Water match](http://www.smh.com.au/news/175-years/cold-war-violence-erupts-at-melbourne-olympics/2006/04/17/1145126047088.html) ---
**Author:** ![Deftones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Deftones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deftones)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/165 "2008-08-12T16:55:49Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray] I may have to fly to China to stab Al Trautwig in the eyes – after complaining for three days how difficult it is to understand the “new” gymnastics scores (where you have to add _two numbers_ together) – he actually mocked one of the US gymnasts who was trying to add up the team scores. As if we’d think someone offcamera wasn’t feeding Al the same damn numbers _he_ just had difficulty getting out. At least the two other talking monkeys are hasbeen Olympians. Ass. However, how awesome were the US men’s gymnasts? whooping and freaking out like the bronze they’d won was gold. I think they became my favorite Olympians so far, just for that. [/QUOTE] It was a nice display of laying it all out even though they were portrayed as a hastily cobbled together team in the feel good NBC commentary. I have my doubts about how true that is though because to get that level of U.S. Gymnastics there really aren’t any “scrubs” or hasty decisions being made you’re either just _slightly_ more skilled than the other guy or less mistake prone. As it is U.S. gymnastics as a whole has been pretty lackluster the past 10 years Hamm or no Hamm. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/166 "2008-08-12T16:57:59Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray] edit: [pic of Blood in the Water match](http://www.smh.com.au/news/175-years/cold-war-violence-erupts-at-melbourne-olympics/2006/04/17/1145126047088.html) [/QUOTE] Wonder if the IWPA\* are proud of the fact that this is the by far most famous water polo match ever 🙂 \*International Water Polo Association (don’t know if they’re called that, but it has a nice ring to it) ---
**Author:** ![Rattlehead02](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rattlehead02/32/3944_2.png) [@Rattlehead02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rattlehead02)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/167 "2008-08-12T18:02:33Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray] I may have to fly to China to stab Al Trautwig in the eyes – after complaining for three days how difficult it is to understand the “new” gymnastics scores (where you have to add _two numbers_ together) – he actually mocked one of the US gymnasts who was trying to add up the team scores. As if we’d think someone offcamera wasn’t feeding Al the same damn numbers _he_ just had difficulty getting out. At least the two other talking monkeys are hasbeen Olympians. Ass. However, how awesome were the US men’s gymnasts? whooping and freaking out like the bronze they’d won was gold. I think they became my favorite Olympians so far, just for that. [/QUOTE] Is Al Trautwig the kinda whinier voiced guy doing color commentary? If so, I’ll lend you my ice pick. He is absolutely awful. This is the first time I’ve ever really sat down and watched gymnastics. But man, he just never shuts the fuck up. The best example was after Raj (?) was done on the parallel bars (I think). Al was gushing about how great a team mate he is, and just going on and on. Fine, might be the best team mate ever. But then the next guy is starting his routine and Al is still going on about Raj. Hey shithead, how about either S’ingTFU or talking about the current routine. All that said, that was awesome last night. That Chinese guy on the rings doing the “inverted cross”, is that as revolutionary as old Al was making it out to be? Either way it was impressive as hell to watch. And the last USA pommel horse attempt. That was spectacular. Finally, is there any look for a woman less flattering than Olympic swimming gear? Even the most toned bodies tend to look a bit flabby in the back where the suit opens for their arms and shoulders. Add to that the cap and the goggles and [this](http://www.buzznews.fr/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/laure-manaudou-nuefederica-pellegrinimis-en-lignephotosluca-marinmaure-manaudousex-tape.jpg) looks like [this\*.](http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0cpIcoedAefJu/340x.jpg) \*Still hot, but damn that is not good look. ---
**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 12, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/168 "2008-08-12T19:22:49Z")
All their voices are kind of whiny. But the ex-gymnasts have voices just made to represent the Lollipop Guild in welcoming you to Munchkinland. Lightray’s guide to annoying gymnastics commentators: Tim Daggit: squeaky-voiced male commentator, talks over the men’s routines Elfie Schlagel: squeaky-voiced female commentator, talks over the women’s routines Al Trautwig: not as squeaky, waaaay more annoying ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/169 "2008-08-12T21:16:14Z")
I know this isn’t Phelps’ fault, but the press is really making me wish for him to fail. What’s more, I want him to get beaten by someone nobody likes (don’t know enough about swimming to know who that might be). I’m sure Phelps is a nice guy, but enough already. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/170 "2008-08-12T21:23:28Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray] **UncleRojelio** , I think you’ve got the gist of water polo, actually. That’s why it’s fun… to play. 😃 Watching kind of sucks, because you can’t catch all the fouling that goes on underwater, so it makes the calls confusing. edit: [pic of Blood in the Water match](http://www.smh.com.au/news/175-years/cold-war-violence-erupts-at-melbourne-olympics/2006/04/17/1145126047088.html) [/QUOTE] There was some of that going on in today’s Croatia vs Serbia match. No actual blood in the water, though. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/171 "2008-08-12T23:23:10Z")
just hope russia and georgia don’t meet up in water polo. so far the athletes are staying above the fray. at least on the woman’s side. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/172 "2008-08-13T02:11:13Z")
So Alain Bernard had his world record back for about 3 minutes. That has to be some sort of world record for shortest time holding a world record. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/173 "2008-08-13T02:24:42Z")
2 swimming questions: 1) Why doesn’t Phelps wear the LZR for the butterfly? 2) Why don’t swimmers do flip turns when swimming the fly? ---
**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 13, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/174 "2008-08-13T02:28:49Z")
[QUOTE=drm] I know this isn’t Phelps’ fault, but the press is really making me wish for him to fail. What’s more, I want him to get beaten by someone nobody likes (don’t know enough about swimming to know who that might be). I’m sure Phelps is a nice guy, but enough already. [/QUOTE] They were just saying on Aussie TV what guts Phelps has to even attempt the 8 gold medals because of all the hype and how well he is doing to not get caught up in it. Guess your post kind of emphasises what they mean. ---
**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 13, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/175 "2008-08-13T02:35:16Z")
[QUOTE=MilTan] 2 swimming questions: 1) Why doesn’t Phelps wear the LZR for the butterfly? 2) Why don’t swimmers do flip turns when swimming the fly? [/QUOTE] Phelps wears the LZR in finals. Swimmers have to touch with both hands so they turn like in breaststroke. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/176 "2008-08-13T02:39:23Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] They were just saying on Aussie TV what guts Phelps has to even attempt the 8 gold medals because of all the hype and how well he is doing to not get caught up in it. Guess your post kind of emphasises what they mean. [/QUOTE] I feel bad for rooting against him, I really do, because every time I see him I like him. I guess I’ll just have to try to do my best to ignore all of the press and enjoy the show. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/177 "2008-08-13T02:40:54Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] Phelps wears the LZR in finals. [/QUOTE] That’s what I thought, too, but he didn’t appear to be wearing one in the recently completed 200 fly final. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/178 "2008-08-13T03:35:59Z")
I’m watching women’s gymnastic vault right now. The Chinese are up. They’re all wearing glittery makeup. What the hell does makeup have to do with women’s gymnastics? Pretty sure the guys don’t wear glitter. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/179 "2008-08-13T03:46:54Z")
Not in competition, maybe. But catch them out on the town some Saturday night. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960/180 "2008-08-13T05:34:22Z")
Wow, The 400 meter swimming relay beating the previous record by 5 seconds was pretty amazing. At a few points it looked like the US was a half a pool-length’s apart from the others. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-beijing-08-olympics-games/458960.md?page=10)