# Here is a thread about the 2016 Summer Olympics **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 6, 2016, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911 "2016-08-06T05:00:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![nachtmusick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@nachtmusick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nachtmusick)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/201 "2016-08-13T12:32:43Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > So I’m watching Katie Ledeky smash the world record in the 800m Freestyle and I notice that when the swimmers get close to the wall, these guys ring these bells in their faces. What is that bell signaling? Last “lap”. Same idea as as the flag they wave on the last lap of car races, and the horn they let off during running events in track and field. In swimming it takes a sharp bell to penetrate through all the splashing. Also note the clothesline of flags they hang over the far end of the pool so that backstrokers can time their flip (and not break their knuckles on the wall). ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/202 "2016-08-13T12:45:43Z")
Hope Solo - classy, classy lady: > [@](#): > > Solo did not take kindly to the defeat. “I thought we played a courageous game. I thought we had many opportunities on goal,” she said. “I think we showed a lot of heart. We came back from a goal down, I’m very proud of this team. And I also think we played a bunch of cowards. Never heard that in 50 years of following football. I’d imagine the Swedes are lapping it up 😃 > **[Hope Solo calls Sweden 'bunch of cowards' after USA falter at Olympics](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/aug/12/hope-solo-sweden-cowards-olympics-football-rio-2016)** > > Hope Solo was incensed after the defending champions lost to Sweden in the Olympic quarter finals ---
**Author:** ![nachtmusick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@nachtmusick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nachtmusick)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/203 "2016-08-13T13:01:35Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > Depending on the venue and sport, your ticket might be for something like “Pool play, Group B, day 3”, which could be several matches. So if you’re a big supporter of the US Water Polo team, maybe you don’t care about the early morning match between Slovenia and Hungary. Particularly if you partied too hard the night before. > > And if you’re a fan of the US Women’s Soccer team, maybe you’re trying to sell off your hot ticket to the gold medal game… > > (and I just bet some NBC execs are trying to figure out how to shuffle their coverage now that this gold medal game will be a lot less popular to US viewers now) I’m noticing that all events featuring Brazilians are packed, the rest are not. I blame this on the media who scared-off travelers with their bullshit Zika/water quality/infrastructure bogeymen stories. Now they have lots of more compelling sports stories to write, while the generous hosts take a beating. Fuckers. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/204 "2016-08-13T13:27:18Z")
Another close game for USA basketball Serbia has a very good team. 94-91 [USA Basketball vs. Serbia 2016 Rio Olympics final score: U.S. men barely survive against another inferior opponent - SBNation.com](http://www.sbnation.com/2016/8/12/12457934/usa-basketball-vs-serbia-2016-rio-olympics-final-score-demarcus-cousins-nikola-jokic). Good analysis of team USA problems. > [@](#): > > With wing players like Kevin Durant, Paul George and Klay Thompson on the roster, the United States was not expected to struggle defending wing players. That’s exactly what has happened over their last two games in Rio. There have been botched switches all over the perimeter, and nearly all of the United States’ wings and guards showed a shocking inability to get around screens. ---
**Author:** ![nachtmusick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@nachtmusick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nachtmusick)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/205 "2016-08-13T16:18:30Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Hope Solo - classy, classy lady: > Never heard that in 50 years of following football. I’d imagine the Swedes are lapping it up 😃 > > [Hope Solo calls Sweden 'bunch of cowards' after USA falter at Olympics | USA women's football team | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/aug/12/hope-solo-sweden-cowards-olympics-football-rio-2016) I watched the match - Ms. Solo is solidly in sore loser territory. The Swedes played fairly aggressively, as far as I could tell. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/206 "2016-08-13T17:00:48Z")
She said almost exactly that. IIRC, her post-game comments included something like, “Losing sucks. I’m no good at it.” I’m totally cool with her being a sore loser. Like I’ve said before, I’m not here for any of this “humility” or “grace under defeat” nonsense. Like the saying goes, show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/207 "2016-08-13T17:00:55Z")
She’s an embarrassment - everything a lot of the world wants to think about ugly Americans. What is she even talking about - the Swedes had the better tactics. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/208 "2016-08-13T17:46:56Z")
Germany 4 Portugal 0 This new generation of Germans are very impressive. And really tall. It was like men playing against boys. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/209 "2016-08-13T17:49:36Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > She’s an embarrassment - everything a lot of the world wants to think about ugly Americans. > > What is she even talking about - the Swedes had the better tactics. Don’t try to hide the bigotry. Everyone knows Hope Solo is a twat and a disgrace. But what does she have to do with Americans? Especially how the other USA athletes have carried themselves with class and dignity. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/210 "2016-08-13T17:54:10Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > She said almost exactly that. IIRC, her post-game comments included something like, “Losing sucks. I’m no good at it.” > > I’m totally cool with her being a sore loser. Like I’ve said before, I’m not here for any of this “humility” or “grace under defeat” nonsense. Like the saying goes, show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser. I disagree. Losing is a learning experience. It presents opportunities to improve. Also, being a sore loser gives ur opponent emotional ammunition. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/211 "2016-08-13T18:00:24Z")
In fact, you learn more from defeat than you do from victory. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/212 "2016-08-13T18:07:44Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > She said almost exactly that. IIRC, her post-game comments included something like, “Losing sucks. I’m no good at it.” > > I’m totally cool with her being a sore loser. Like I’ve said before, I’m not here for any of this “humility” or “grace under defeat” nonsense. Like the saying goes, show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser. Well, just speaking for myself. I see a big difference between “losing sucks; I’m no good at it” and “the opponents were a bunch of cowards.” The first is fine, the second not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/213 "2016-08-13T18:28:57Z")
I might be wrong, but aren’t the soccer games being played in Brasilia and Belo Horizonte? Both places no where near Rio. I can see why it might appear the attendance is pretty scarce at these events. If you make it to Rio for the bulk of the events, how likely are you to hop on an airplane to go see a soccer game? Also, Hope Solo is a Roid-Rage Psychopath, and I’d say it to her face except she would probably kick my ass! 😃 I’m already getting burned out on this shit. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/214 "2016-08-13T18:34:59Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I disagree. Losing is a learning experience. It presents opportunities to improve… Where are we disagreeing, exactly? Losing _ **is** _ a learning experience. That doesn’t mean that any of the things you have to learn is how to be humble, gracious or self-effacing. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/215 "2016-08-13T18:42:26Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’m already getting burned out on this shit. Burned out of what, the Olympics? I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I’m burned out, but most of the events that I’m in it for (judo, weightlifting, gymnastics, archery) are already over. I’ll still watch all the basketball (men’s and women’s), most of the “field” events (not so much, the track events; not really interested in any foot race that doesn’t involve Bolt), and I’ll probably watch some women’s boxing, but there aren’t too many events contested during Week 2 that are relevant to my interests. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/216 "2016-08-13T19:14:00Z")
I cringe every time I see one of those scorekeepers, or whatever they’re called, trot out to mark the landing of a shotput or discus throw. I just saw one come perilously close to a discus before it hit the ground. ::shudder:: ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/217 "2016-08-13T19:24:19Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Germany 4 Portugal 0 > > This new generation of Germans are very impressive. And really tall. It was like men playing against boys. That was a pretty brutal game for Portugal. Germany outplayed them all over the pitch. There were some lovely flowing moves, and all four goals were quality. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/218 "2016-08-13T19:32:13Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Everyone knows Hope Solo is a twat and a disgrace. But what does she have to do with Americans? Especially how the other USA athletes have carried themselves with class and dignity. That’s the great shame of it, that her classless outburst is now ~the~ main thing that people around the world will remember of the USWNT this year. > [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > Losing _ **is** _ a learning experience. That doesn’t mean that any of the things you have to learn is how to be humble, gracious or self-effacing. Should be. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/219 "2016-08-13T20:22:02Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Should be. :dubious: Agree to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/220 "2016-08-13T20:32:12Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > Where are we disagreeing, exactly? Losing _ **is** _ a learning experience. That doesn’t mean that any of the things you have to learn is how to be humble, gracious or self-effacing. If you want to be a person with manners it is. Sure, there’s no law that says you have to be a nice person but if you choose not to be you get the public scorn that comes with it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911.md?page=12)