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[Cloudy]

 

[Flynn]

Nightmare Team?

 

[Shogmaster]

Finally! Takes the lead.

 

[Optimistic]

Fuck this is tense!! We (Australia) are up by two going into the fourth quarter.

 

[Cloudy]

Duncan in the high post is working much better. Nice slam lol

 

[Ripclawe]

The US team sucks ass, there is no getting around it, stu jackson made up this disaster.

 

[Cloudy]

The simple solution. Bench Jefferson and start Marion....

 

[Shogmaster]

Saved face one more day. Played really well the last quarter though.

Maybe they've finally [GW] turned the corner [/GW].

 

[Optimistic]

Fuck.

 

[Lord Error]

Someone said to me that US team basically sucks in defense because they cannot play heavy defense in the NBA, like you can play in regular basketball - because of different rules. Basically, they are used to their lighter defense and are finding it hard to adapt to a different style. Is there some truth to that?

 

[Cloudy]

^ Nope. That's BS. The reason this team is struggling is because they're underestimating the opposition and have no consistent shooters. It's primarily a fast break team and if they get to do that all game, no one will beat them. But if the other teams are shooting well, you're not gonna get too many fast break opportunities....

edit: Yes, the international game is called much looser but that's not why Team USA is shotting like crap from anywhere not directly under the basket

 

[Shoryuken]

I'm not sure WTF Larry Brown was thinking this whole time, but I'm glad he finally woke up. I never understood why Richard Jefferson over the former and future all star Shawn Marion. Shawn Marion was the spark Team USA needed to turn around this game.

 

[kevm3]

This team hs me feeling sort of like the 03 Spurs. These guys didn't pull it out until the end, but victory was sweet. These are those uncomfortable, heart attack victories. These guys played superb in the 4th. They were doing very well offensively, especially by giving Duncan a hell of a lot more touches and especially by taking more interior shots instead of bricking three after three. We're slowly playing towards our strengths.

 

[pilonv1]

http://img30.exs.cx/img30/1725/jeffbrick.jpg

Shooting 4-19, 0-11 on threes. All this for SEVENTY EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS! What a bargain. No wonder they let K-Mart go.

The reason this team is struggling is because they're underestimating the opposition and have no consistent shooters

And they're so used to playing one on one and exploiting matchups that they have no idea what to do. This problem is multiplied by the number of high school players who haven't been taught how to play a zone properly (one of the benefits of going to college). And they're only young players, if there were some veterans out there they could outsmart the opposition instead of trying to out dunk them.

 

[open_mouth_]

Lebron James is an absolute beast. Jefferson should be sitting right next to Okafur and never be allowed to leave his seat until the game is well over. Marion should start and Lebron should get at least 25 minutes backing up the 2-3 spots. The kid is the most exciting thing team USA has going for it.

You want the world to be in Awe for Team USA like the old days?? Just give this 19 year-old phenom a chance to shine and grow by leaps and bounds right before the eyes of the world and lead Team USA to the gold like I know he can. Now, that would be a story worth telling/watching. F*ck Jefferson.

 

[pilonv1]

Lebron James is an absolute beast

Yes his 2 airballed threes looked like they were shot by some sort of animal.

 

[Ristamar]

Someone said to me that US team basically sucks in defense because they cannot play heavy defense in the NBA, like you can play in regular basketball - because of different rules. Basically, they are used to their lighter defense and are finding it hard to adapt to a different style. Is there some truth to that?

These guys had very little time to practice together (6 weeks?) as opposed to some of the other squads that have played and practiced together for months, even years. Also the US players' skill sets don't always compliment those of their other team members. There's a lot to be said for having the "right" players working as a cohesive unit, rather than the "best" individuals. Just look at the Pistons...

 

[Paradox]

Booo... this must of been on really early. Just woke up and I figured it would of been on at 2/3ish like the others

 

[DaCocoBrova]

It's their perimeter shooting. Or lack thereof.

Period.

 

[tracky_dacks]

Basketball: Australia (

Spoiler

79

) vs. USA (

Spoiler

89

)

Spoiler

Damn, thought we could have won that.

Edit: Shit didn't realise there was thread on the game.

 

[RobotChant]

``Maybe they can learn a little from us about moving the ball around,'' she said. Then she added with a laugh, ``We learned a lot from them, too, things we shouldn't do.''

You know you're bad when Lisa Leslie can crack jokes about you.

I haven't seen this game but I haven't seen Carmelo play much. What did he do to get into Browns dog house? He played against the zone a lot when he was at Syracuse, didn't he.

 

[Gantz]

They sent Iverson over there. He'll fuck up any team.

 

[Ramirez]

They sent Iverson over there. He'll fuck up any team.

Wheres the huge rolleyes when you need it?

 

[bjork]

Only Jordan can save them now.

 

[Subitai]

Why do NBC rank medals according to total instead of gold->silver->bronze like everyone else does? Anything to make the Americans look good I suppose.

BTW Australia just won another gold so that makes five with more to come from shimming later on tonight. Not bad going three days in.

Well it doesn't matter now anyway. Except if you're Japanese or Aussie, and not Russian. I think China will have the most next time around since you automatically compete in every event as the host and you got home field crowds.

Country Gold Silver Bronze Total

United States 14 11 10 35
China 14 9 6 29
Russia 3 8 10 21
Australia 7 5 7 19
Japan 9 4 2 15
Germany 4 2 7 13
Italy 4 5 3 12
France 4 3 4 11
South Korea 2 6 3 11
Netherlands 2 5 4 11
Great Britain 0 3 4 7
Ukraine 5 1 1 7
Cuba 0 1 5 6
Hungary 2 3 1 6
Greece 3 0 1 4
Poland 1 2 1 4
Slovakia 1 2 1 4
Romania 2 0 2 4
Turkey 2 0 1 3
Bulgaria 1 0 2 3

 

[yoshifumi]

women's gymnastics news:

Spoiler

carly patterson wins all around gold, first usa all around gold since 1984. svetlana khorkina (russia) wins silver. chinese gymnast wins bronze, i forget her name

 

[Tool]

Well it doesn't matter now anyway. Except if you're Japanese or Aussie, and not Russian. I think China will have the most next time around since you automatically compete in every event as the host and you got home field crowds.

Country Gold Silver Bronze Total

United States 14 11 10 35
China 14 9 6 29
Russia 3 8 10 21
Australia 7 5 7 19
Japan 9 4 2 15
Germany 4 2 7 13
Italy 4 5 3 12
France 4 3 4 11
South Korea 2 6 3 11
Netherlands 2 5 4 11
Great Britain 0 3 4 7
Ukraine 5 1 1 7
Cuba 0 1 5 6
Hungary 2 3 1 6
Greece 3 0 1 4
Poland 1 2 1 4
Slovakia 1 2 1 4
Romania 2 0 2 4
Turkey 2 0 1 3
Bulgaria 1 0 2 3

Go Canada Go!!!! Look at that total baby!

 

[Fresh Prince]

Yep Australia is on it's way out of the Top 5......

 

[Killthee]

women's gymnastics news:

Spoiler

carly patterson wins all around gold, first usa all around gold since 1984. svetlana khorkina (russia) wins silver. chinese gymnast wins bronze, i forget her name

I can't wait to see this. And was anybody else pissed off by NBC's coverage of the mens all around? They would show a couple of rotations and then out no where go to swimming.

 

[Kandinsky]

Spoiler

YESSS!!!!!, Chile won doubles and singles today, Im so happy

 

[MIMIC]

OMFG!! Japan is kicking the SHIT out of us in women's tennis (doubles).

They are really good.

 

[distantmantra]

I can't wait to see this. And was anybody else pissed off by NBC's coverage of the mens all around? They would show a couple of rotations and then out no where go to swimming.

Yet another reason why I'm glad we get the CBC in Seattle.

 

[pollo]

Stadium of Ancient Olympia
Though a mad dash is underway to finish some Olympic venues for the Games, two have been ready for thousands of years. The men's and women's shot put will be held in the Stadium of Ancient Olympia, where the original Games took place. In homage to its historic heritage, the stadium -- which held as many as 40,000 spectators in the 10th century B.C. -- will feature no temporary structures or grandstand, no electrical boards, and no artificial lighting. Also, the Olympic marathon returns to the site that provided its name. As legend has it, in 490 B.C. a Greek messenger named Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens, heralding the Greek victory over the Persians. The marathon competitors will retrace his historic steps, hoping to herald a victory of their own.

Fucking surreal...imagine running the same route that Pheidippides ran some 2500 years ago.....and then to actually win. Man thats like the best natural high one can get.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

Did anyone see or read about how some badminton player was going off on how the olympic badminton is no better than what you play in your backyard? I heard she went off for like five straight minutes.

 

[MASB]

I can't wait to see this. And was anybody else pissed off by NBC's coverage of the mens all around? They would show a couple of rotations and then out no where go to swimming.

I imagine NBC does that because not everyone loves gymnastics. So to hang onto the audience, they switch from time to time to other sports that non-gymnastics lovers may like.

Spoiler

Yay for Patterson! She had a great floor exercise and balance beam. I thought for sure Khorkina would win it anyway, because of the nostalgia factor. The same thing that happened to Gina Gogean of Romania at the 2001 World Championships. I was a fan of Gina and wanted her to win, but it was clear that she wasn't the best gymnast that night and won the all-around, simply because it was her last performance, nostalgia, etc. I thought the same nostalgia factor would work for Svetlana, no matter how well Patterson did. But I think the best gymnast won tonight.

EDIT: for women's gymnastics spoiler in case West Coast people didn't know.

 

[Ripclawe]

woooo, Trinidad won a medal!

THU 19 AUG 2004


Rank
by
Gold NOC NOC Name Total Rank
by
Total
1 USA United States 14 11 10 35 1
2 CHN China 14 9 6 29 2
3 JPN Japan 9 4 2 15 5
4 AUS Australia 7 5 7 19 4
5 UKR Ukraine 5 1 1 7 =11
6 ITA Italy 4 5 3 12 7
7 FRA France 4 3 4 11 =8
8 GER Germany 4 2 7 13 6
9 RUS Russia 3 8 10 21 3
10 TUR Turkey 3 0 1 4 =15
11 KOR Korea 2 6 3 11 =8
12 NED Netherlands 2 5 4 11 =8
13 HUN Hungary 2 3 1 6 =13
14 ROM Romania 2 0 2 4 =15
15 GRE Greece 2 0 1 3 =19
=16 POL Poland 1 2 1 4 =15
=16 SVK Slovakia 1 2 1 4 =15
18 BLR Belarus 1 1 1 3 =19
=19 GEO Georgia 1 1 0 2 =25
=19 RSA South Africa 1 1 0 2 =25
=21 BUL Bulgaria 1 0 2 3 =19
=21 THA Thailand 1 0 2 3 =19
23 SUI Switzerland 1 0 1 2 =25
24 UAE U Arab Emirates 1 0 0 1 =34
25 GBR Great Britain 0 3 4 7 =11
26 AUT Austria 0 3 0 3 =19
27 PRK DPR Korea 0 2 1 3 =19
28 CUB Cuba 0 1 5 6 =13
=29 CZE Czech Republic 0 1 1 2 =25
=29 ZIM Zimbabwe 0 1 1 2 =25
=31 IND India 0 1 0 1 =34
=31 INA Indonesia 0 1 0 1 =34
=31 KAZ Kazakhstan 0 1 0 1 =34
=31 POR Portugal 0 1 0 1 =34
=31 SCG Serbia/Monteneg 0 1 0 1 =34
=31 ESP Spain 0 1 0 1 =34
=37 AZE Azerbaijan 0 0 2 2 =25
=37 BEL Belgium 0 0 2 2 =25
=37 BRA Brazil 0 0 2 2 =25
=37 DEN Denmark 0 0 2 2 =25
=41 ARG Argentina 0 0 1 1 =34
=41 CAN Canada 0 0 1 1 =34
=41 COL Colombia 0 0 1 1 =34
=41 CRO Croatia 0 0 1 1 =34
=41 ISR Israel 0 0 1 1 =34
=41 MGL Mongolia 0 0 1 1 =34
=41 SLO Slovenia 0 0 1 1 =34
=41 TRI Trinidad/Tobago 0 0 1 1 =34

 

[DMczaf]

LOL Judges trying to rip the USA off of their gold medal.

http://sports.yahoo.com/oly/swimmin...YwNocA--?slug=je-swim0819&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

After American Aaron Peirsol crushed the competition by more than two and a half seconds in the men's 200 backstroke, there was an eerie announcement by FINA, swimming's governing body.


"Please wait for the results to be official," the announcement said. No one seemed to notice. Peirsol, grinning from ear to ear, continued to congratulate his competitors, giving them high fives and patting them on the back.


My stomach sank. I had a strange feeling that nothing good was happening during that long, extended pause. Results are always made official in the first few seconds after a race is completed. This was not typical.


Before we knew it, FINA announced that the swimmer in Lane 4 had been disqualified. The "No. 1" was removed from Peirsol's lane and "DSQ" was placed next to it.

Just as Michael Phelps was standing to swim the 200 individual medley, in which he later won for his fourth gold medal, a message flashed on the scoreboard that Peirsol had been reinstated as Olympic champion.

 

[Loki]

Courtney Kupets: Cutest female athlete of the games?


Survey says: YES!


She's hella cute-- if her neck wasn't so big from the muscles, she'd be even hotter.

 

[Ripclawe]

Courtney is the one in the back, BUT WTF is wrong with "Courtney McCool " in the front? her hands are fricking huge.... and she looks dead.

 

[Stele]

...

That is some weirdass taste. She's probably one of the worst.

 

[Truelize]

``Maybe they can learn a little from us about moving the ball around,'' she said. Then she added with a laugh, ``We learned a lot from them, too, things we shouldn't do.''

You know you're bad when Lisa Leslie can crack jokes about you.

I haven't seen this game but I haven't seen Carmelo play much. What did he do to get into Browns dog house? He played against the zone a lot when he was at Syracuse, didn't he.

He freakin whined to a reporter that he didn't get to play much so he really didn't have any comments about the loss to Peurto Rico. Carmelo is a loser. First he takes himself out of that game against the Pistons. Now he complains about his playing time during the olympics. Good job guy.

 

[fart]

bob costas is kind of creepy..

 

[marsomega]

I imagine NBC does that because not everyone loves gymnastics. So to hang onto the audience, they switch from time to time to other sports that non-gymnastics lovers may like.

Spoiler

Yay for Patterson! She had a great floor exercise and balance beam. I thought for sure Khorkina would win it anyway, because of the nostalgia factor. The same thing that happened to Gina Gogean of Romania at the 2001 World Championships. I was a fan of Gina and wanted her to win, but it was clear that she wasn't the best gymnast that night and won the all-around, simply because it was her last performance, nostalgia, etc. I thought the same nostalgia factor would work for Svetlana, no matter how well Patterson did. But I think the best gymnast won tonight.

EDIT: for women's gymnastics spoiler in case West Coast people didn't know.

NO NO NO, She didn't win the all around. It was the beam finals. They blatantly ripped off the chinese gymnast because they wanted Gogean to win. Even though the chinese gymnast had the best routine hands down.

Khorkina won the all around in 97.

 

[Loki]

...

That is some weirdass taste. She's probably one of the worst.

Nah, that's a bad picture of her-- have you been watching the gymnastics competitions? She's really cute imo (except for the wide neck ).


fart: I agree; his diction seems way too affected for my tastes. I've never liked him, but at least his Olympic commentary hasn't been as wretched as his stint with NBC for the NBA, where he paired with Isiah Thomas to produce the most awkward announcing tandem in sports history. Costas' pretension didn't mesh too well with Thomas' earthy patois and shuck-and-jive style.

 

[fart]

i do agree with you but i was actually talking about his interview of carly patterson (did it bother anyone else that the commentators were calling her just 'carly' by about halfway through the coverage tonight?) that he did.

 

[Loki]

i do agree with you but i was actually talking about his interview of carly patterson (did it bother anyone else that the commentators were calling her just 'carly' by about halfway through the coverage tonight?) that he did.

Oh, I didn't catch that. The "carly" thing didn't bother me, as the gymnastic announcers usually like to make it seem that at least one athlete from each competition is endearing in some way so as to merit being called by their first name only, or by a nickname.


On a side note: Something Daggett (I forget his first name) and Elfie Flagel have been doing the Olympic gymnastics commentating FOREVER. They've been doing it since AT LEAST the '92 Olympics. Crazy-- time for some new blood.


And if Al Trautwig doesn't stfu about his "tenths of a point", with his mock concern, I'm gonna reach through the TV screen and choke him.

 

[Killthee]

On a side note: Something Daggett (I forget his first name) and Elfie Flagel have been doing the Olympic gymnastics commentating FOREVER. They've been doing it since AT LEAST the '92 Olympics. Crazy-- time for some new blood.

Tim Daggett. He was kinda annoying last night talking shit about Hamm after the vault and then slowly kissing his ass as his score got higher.

And if Al Trautwig doesn't stfu about his "tenths of a point", with his mock concern, I'm gonna reach through the TV screen and choke him.

If Tim mentions his Olympic experience one more time, I'll be right next to you.

 

[Loki]

Tim Daggett. He was kinda annoying last night talking shit about Hamm after the vault and then slowly kissing his ass as his score got higher.

Haha, yeah, that was funny.

Believe it or not, for the time I've watched, I haven't heard him explicitly bring up his Olympic experience once.


And Svetlana Khorkina has a face like an ostrich, and the legs of one to boot. Man, I've never seen such a tall female gymnast-- and her body structure is so totally different from the others also; everybody else has a similar body type in terms of musculature. Weird.


EDIT: Holy crap, is that Tim Daggett? The pic just loaded up (bless thee, dialup ). Geez, he looks like a wax sculpture.

 

[fart]

yah i missed yesterday's coverage so i'm not really burnt out on the commentators (except for costas i guess) yet

 

[Stele]

Nah, that's a bad picture of her-- have you been watching the gymnastics competitions? She's really cute imo (except for the wide neck ).

Yes, she's decisively average, if anything.

---
I don't think Tim Daggett was talking shit about Paul Hamm at all. He was just trying to inject some objectivity to mix with all the American rationalizing coming from the other two (especially Schlegel). Christ, the commentators made Brett McClure look like he had a chance to medal -- I don't think that guy had a single routine with a 10.0 SV. I almost laughed when I saw his Floor Exercise dismount.