You Are Beautiful, Part 2

If you do an internet search for "Most Beautiful Olympic Athletes," you will get more than 3.5 million hits.  I was amazed.  There are more than 3.5 million beautiful Olympic athletes.  I enjoy a beautiful athlete as much as the next guy.  Well, actually more, because as I declared yesterday, I am part of the problem, but I didn't expect to find 3.5 million beautiful Olympic athletes.  I dedicated myself to looking at all of them today, just for you.

After a few hours, I learned that 3.5 million hits doesn't mean there are 3.5 million beautiful Olympic athletes.  It took a while to get over that disappointment.  However, there are 3.5 million sites dedicated to the most beautiful Olympic athletes.  That is awesome.  So, I dedicated myself to looking at all of them today, just for you.

After a few hours, I learned there aren't even 3.5 million sites dedicated to beautiful Olympic athletes.  I have yet to get over that disappointment.  With the Bronze Medal volleyball game over, the Gold Medal basketball game over, and the men's Marathon finished, I don't know what to do with myself.  I mowed the lawn.  The family started preparing for vacation.  However, I was prepared to spend the day looking at beautiful Olympic athletes.  For you.  All for you.  I'm a giver.  I didn't want to mow the lawn.  I didn't want to prepare for vacation.  I wanted to give.

Eventually, I overcame my disappointment at not having the opportunity to research beautiful Olympic athletes all day.  Just in time for my second You Are Beautiful post.

I will give my final thoughts and awards in the next couple of days.  During that time, I will admit that I didn't do as well this year as I did in 2012.  My memory is a little shorter as I reach old age, and I didn't prepare well for this post.  But I will do the best I can.

We came into Rio 2016 with concerns about crime and water quality and preparedness and Russian dopers.  Some of those concerns were realized, at least a little.  Some were not.  We also had our share of ugliness in various forms (cough, cough, Lochte.)  But if we looked, and let it come to us, there was great beauty to be found for the last 17 days.

Beauty comes in many forms.  It comes in two competitors helping each other:







And emotions, after crossing the finish line:



It comes in pairs:





And Teams:



It comes with the first medal of the games:



And the last:



Dominance is beautiful:


 As is history:
 


 And historical dominance:



Three time gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings learned that a Bronze is beautiful:



 Evan Jager learned that Silver is, too:




 Even not winning a medal is beautiful:



I saw a lot of beauty in Rio, and not just during the Women's Diving Competition:



 Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -

1.  Men's Modern Pentathlon coverage was much better than Women's.  That may be more on the sexist theme.  Great race for bronze medal.
2.  Matthew Centrowitz!!!!  Nothing else need be said.
3.  Great comeback for Men's Volleyball.  Glad to see both men and women take the bronze.
4.  Is it just me, or in competitions that end with a tournament is it more exciting to win bronze than silver?  If you make the Gold Medal game, you really lose gold.  You won silver in the last round.
5.  Danish Goalie came up HUGE in OT of Team Handball Semifinals v. Poland.
6.  I still need to see some sailing.
7.  I loved the Marathon course.
8.  US Men's Basketball Team picked a good time to play their best game of the Olympics.
9.  Rhythmic Gymnastics looks fascinating, but isn't an Olympic Sport.

Predictions Sum Up -

1.  No US Medals in Men's Marathon.  WRONG!
2.  Double gold for US in 4 x 400 Relays.  Yup  
3.  Matthew Centrowitz bronze in 1500.  I am a little behind so I already know what happened.  WOOOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!!!   WRONG!  And I have never been so happy to be wrong in my life.
 
Predictions -




Sniff, sniff.  I have nothing left to predict.

What to Watch for

1.  Closing Ceremonies.
2.  My final 2016 Olympics Post.  Favorite Moments and awards.
3.  Vacation planning.
4.  The Ryder Cup, Ironman World Championships, football, and lots of other sports.
5.  Random Posts from the Suburban Dad over the next 18 months.
6.  ONLY 529 DAYS UNTIL PYEONGCHANG 2018

My 2016 Volleyball Post

Topping out at about 5'10" (generously) and with a vertical leap somewhere around 3 ants high, one wonders why I would devote an entire post to volleyball.  This question becomes even more profound when you consider that as soon as swimming ended, I went to an every other day schedule, thereby limiting the wit and wisdom you so eagerly await from me. There are three reasons.  First volleyball is really cool.  Second, my Volleyball Insider/Information Specialist is actually an insider, so we want to take advantage of the few real resources we have.  Third, volleyball lends itself to greater themes, so I can write about volleyball, but really talk about other things.  So, today, volleyball.

The biggest mistake I have made with this is waiting.  The every other day schedule hurt things a little, but basically, I just delayed.  By delaying, I am getting to this after the US has failed to win a gold medal in volleyball for the first time since 1992.  Yesterday I watched the Men's Indoor team blow the chance to make the gold medal game, just one day after watching the Women's Indoor team do the same thing.  A couple days ago I watched Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross win a bronze medal a couple days after watching the last of the other Americans get knocked out of Beach Volleyball without a medal.  This was not our most successful Olympics.

Regardless, volleyball is my second favorite Olympic sport to watch.  I like Indoor and Beach and have yet to answer my own question about which I like better.  The Indoor provides power and speed.  I love the quick sets, which women seem to do more than men, at least by my limited amateur eye.  Beach volleyball provides athleticism and atmosphere.  The atmosphere for Beach Volleyball matches that of even the soccer games.  There are many reasons Beach Volleyball has become a premiere sport during the Olympics and the four Olympic run by Kerri Walsh Jennings is only one of them.

I checked with my Volleyball Insider/Information Specialist about my perception that Indoor requires more skill and Beach requires more athleticism.  He told me I was correct.  An Indoor player can be great at one skill and contribute.  A Beach player needs to be able to do it all.  Anyone who watches a decent amount of each can figure that out, but it was nice to get confirmation.  Of course, you notice something else when you watch a lot of volleyball.  The men dress like athletes.  The women, well, not quite as much.

It is safe to say that the people in charge of Volleyball have bought in completely to the saying, "Sex Sells!"  If you do an internet search to determine the rules for women's clothing in the Beach Volleyball competition, you will learn three things.  First, the rules changed in 2012 to allow women to dress more modestly.  Prior to 2012, women had to wear a two piece suit.  In 2012, the rules changed to allow women to wear shorts, pants, shirts or one piece suits.  Second, the women generally want to wear the two piece suits.  At least that's what they say.  I guess if they have the option, we have to believe them.  Third, the only rule about the two piece suit I could find is that the fabric on the hip can be a MAXIMUM width of 6 centimeters.  I guess that is progress.  You only have to wear skimpy clothes if you choose a particular outfit.

The Indoor game isn't much better.  The shorts that Indoor Volleyball players wear look like something you can get from a Victoria's Secret catalogue.  They barely cover the whole butt and if you look closely, you can tell what style of underwear the women are wearing...I am told.  Someone told me that.  I haven't checked.  Really.  I swear.

Men wear shirts and shorts.  That's it.

I am, of course, part of the problem.  I love women volleyball players, whether they are wearing skimpy bikinis, tiny little shorts or stretchy pants.  I think I prefer the stretchy pants.  I have also written a blog for two weeks and provided you with more commentary about whether the bathing suits on divers and synchronized swimmers cover the butt than I have interesting tidbits you didn't already know.  (Related side note - it appears the platform divers wear suits with more coverage than the springboard divers.)  I love them for more than their outfits.  I love the athleticism, the skill and the dances by the US Indoor team.  The skimpy bikinis, boy shorts and stretchy pants are simply a bonus.  As are bathing suits that don't cover the butt.  To make matters worse, as I watched the bronze medal match today, I had the thought that if one were inclined to make a "Volleyball Women of the 2016 Olympics," Calendar, you could fill all 12 months with players from this match.  Yeah, I'm part of the problem.

This year, the issue of sexual equality found a new story.  "Let Iranian Women Enter Their Stadiums."  Is that a political message?  An Iranian woman named Darya Safai attended Olympic Volleyball matches holding a sign that said, "Let Iranian Women Enter Their Stadiums."  She was asked to leave because the Olympics bans political statements.  Iranian women are legally not allowed to attend volleyball games.  A group called Open Stadiums is pushing to remove the ban on women at volleyball games.  The chairwoman of USA Volleyball Lori Okimura brought her “Let Iranian Women Enter Their Stadiums” T-shirt to Brazil, in support of the group.

Is this a political statement?  If you think sexual equality is political I guess so.  Safai insists it is a statement of human rights and equality.  I understand why the IOC doesn't allow political statements.  You don't want politics to get in the way of the competition.  They don't want politics to get in the way of the money train.  However, human rights and equality aren't exactly political.  The IOC could do a little more in that area.  Letting Safai stay at the volleyball game with her sign was a small step in the right direction.  A small step.

Volleyball does offer something for everyone.  Skill, power, athleticism, beaches, stadiums, teams, duos, dancing teammates, human rights, the chance for deep discussions, the chance for great bar arguments (beach v. indoor - discuss some more) and attractive women in tight, skimpy outfits.  Yeah, I am part of the problem.

Today's Olympic Story Line - Women's Triathlon.  Today, Gwen Jorgensen won gold in the Women's Triathlon.  Jorgensen was the overwhelming favorite coming in to these Olympics.  During one stretch from 2014-2015, she won 13 straight races, which is unheard of.  Even crazier, upon graduating from college, she started working for Ernst & Young as an accountant.  She started triathlons because US Triathlon called her and suggested she try, because she had been a strong swimmer and runner at the University of Wisconsin.  She tried it out, but kept her job at Ernst & Young for a while, before turning to triathlons full time.  In 2012, she had a flat tire and finished 38th.  With all the pressure of a heavy favorite, she swam, rode and ran a great race, pulling away in the last 2 kilometer to win gold.  Seems like quitting her job was a good call.

Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -

Two days, because I took yesterday off, and I have learned that a day off makes me forget a ton.

1.  It appears the way to protest a foul in shot put is to scream "PROTEST!  PROTEST!" at the guy holding the red flag.  It also appears that screaming during and after the throw greatly improves your performance.  Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs went gold, silver for the US.
2.  NEYMAR!!  Gold for Brazil in Men's soccer.  First ever gold for Brazil.  Who knew?
3.  I am still loving the BMX competition.
4.  Very disappointed with the Modern Pentathlon.  TV coverage only showed about 20 minutes and the run course was far less interesting than in London.
5.  I am a bitter American.  I was rooting for Germany in the Women's Soccer Gold Medal game just because Sweden knocked us out.  At least I was rooting for a winner.
6.  I still need to see some sailing.
7.  As the youngest of three boys, I felt for Jonny Brownlee, as he had to watch his older brother literally walk backwards in celebration before crossing the finish line in the Men's Triathlon.  Jonny did win silver, so I am sure that softened the blow, but why do older brothers have to be so obnoxious?
8.  US Women's Water Polo - dominant.
9.  Hey Ato Boldon, don't call Usain Bolt one of the greatest sprinters of all time.  He is THE greatest.
10.  Loved seeing Alyson Felix win another gold medal.

Predictions Sum Up -

1.  US Women's Water Polo - gold.  Yup  
2.  US Women's Basketball - gold  Yup  
3.  US Men's Basketball - gold.  Pending
4.  US Men's Volleyball - gold (They are on a mission.)  WRONG!
5.  US Women's Volleyball - bronze.  Yup  
6.  Ashton Eaton wins gold in Decathlon (starts tomorrow, I have to get this in before it starts).  Yup
7.  Bolt - Gold.  Yup

8.  Lexi Thompson gets silver in golf.  WRONG!
 
Predictions -

1.  No US Medals in Men's Marathon.
2.  Double gold for US in 4 x 400 Relays.
3.  Matthew Centrowitz bronze in 1500.  I am a little behind so I already know what happened.  WOOOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!!!

What to Watch for

1.  You Are Beautiful, Part 2.  Hmm, I really am part of the problem, aren't I?
2.  Men's Marathon.
3.  Closing Ceremonies.
4.  My final 2016 Olympics Post.  Favorite Moments and awards.
5.  Vacation planning.
6.  The end of the Olympics so you can stop following Rule #1, which I know you have all been following.

Protecting the Rings

Did you know that the US Olympic Committee owns the only trademarks specifically protected by US Law?  I know this doesn't sound very exciting, but stick with me for at least a little while.  US laws protect all trademarks in use in U.S. commerce.  However, that isn't good enough for the Olympics.  The Olympics get special treatment.  Congress has passed a specific law setting forth protection for the Olympic Symbol, as well as a few other logos, and the words, “Olympic”, “Olympiad”, “Citius Altius Fortius”, “Paralympic”, “Paralympiad”, “Pan-American”, “America Espirito Sport Fraternite”, or any combination of those words.  Protection of the Olympics knows no bounds.


But wait, there's more.  Such special protection is not limited to the U.S.  Even China, not exactly the leader in intellectual property protection, has a special law to protect the Olympic trademarks.  About 51 countries are also signatories to a treaty that grants special protection to the Olympic trademarks.  This makes sense.  There aren't enough problems in the world to deal with, so we need a special treaty to protect the marketing rights of a multi-billion dollar international organization.


You want to host the Olympics?  Aside from all the costs involved, keep in mind that prior to awarding a host country the Olympic Games, the IOC requires each bidding country to commit to enacting intellectual property legislation granting special trademark protection to the IOC, host country Olympic committees, and official Olympic sponsors. The legislation must protect several Olympic marks and restrict the ambush marketing activities of businesses who are not official sponsors of the Games.


Ambush marketing.  What is that you say?  Let's ask Nike.  Ambush marketing is when you give Michael Johnson special shoes, he lights up the Olympics with two jaw dropping performances and then you get Time Magazine to put him, with those shoes hanging around his neck, on their cover.  All this without paying crazy fees to be an official Olympic sponsor.  That is a ton of free advertising.  Well, not free, the shoes apparently cost $30,000.00.  But $30,000.00 is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of being an official Olympics sponsor.  Being an official partner of the Olympics, known as TOP sponsorship (The Olympic Partners) costs $100 million.


But wait, there's more.  Nike also put a "Nike Centre" next to the athlete's village.  I don't know what a "Nike Centre" is, but I imagine it as Mecca to Nike worshippers, like Middle.  At a minimum, we can all assume it is a place where athletes and fans can go spend money to benefit Nike, instead of the Olympics.  It may also be where fans were given flags with the Nike swoosh on them, so the fans could wave them at Olympic events and get the Nike swoosh on TV.  Yeah, that happened, too.


After Nike's well planned and orchestrated coup, The IOC and the USOC became a lot more stringent about who does and says what, as it relates to the Olympics.  Nike also got their karmic kick back.  Nike's campaign, like a lot of athletic apparel campaigns, was directed to winning.  "You don't win silver, you lose gold."  We love winners.  We praise winners.  However, particularly when it comes to the Olympics, we praise the effort and sportsmanship.  There are 555 US athletes on the Olympic Team.  Most of them aren't winning a medal.  No one wants to pretend like they aren't all great athletes.  Saying those that "only" won silver are essentially the "first losers" is even worse.  You have to be careful with the Olympics. You can get it from the IOC or the people if you don't do it right.


But wait, there's more.  There is more to protecting the Rings than just marketing.  Anything negative about the Olympics will get backlash.  If a high profile American athlete is the victim of a crime, it is a big story.  However, if that same athlete lied about being the victim of a crime, people lose their minds.  I have no idea what happened with Ryan Lochte, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen.  I will defer to a friend who said that pulling two people off a plane over a made up story seems a little over the top.  Yeah.  It kind of does.  But this is Rio defending itself against a well earned reputation for crime.  Let's ignore the Australians who were robbed before this thing started; let's ignore the Belgian medalist who was beat up and robbed on the beach, we need to make sure the whole world knows Ryan Lochte is a liar.  And Rio is safe.  Except, regardless of whether Ryan Lochte is a liar, Rio kind of has a crime problem.


But wait, there's more.  We need to make sure everyone knows the Olympics is about the spirit of cooperative competition.  Ignore the money, the incentives and the doping.  This is just a celebration of human athletic achievement intertwined with international good will.  Just in time, we get Abbey D'Agostino and Nikki Hamblin.  I am not saying these two young women don't deserve the credit they have received for their acts of sportsmanship and good will towards each other.  I am saying that maybe, just maybe, they were being human.  If they deserve this much praise, what does that say about our expectations.  Maybe we all understand this is big business and big money.  Maybe the money and doping and trash talking and occasional ruthlessness has made us all so cynical that when two Olympians act in a  way we all hope anyone would on any given day, we seem surprised.


To wrap this up, I need to think about myself.  Given the lengths the IOC has gone to protect their trademarks, am I at risk.  If only we had a trademark attorney to ask.  Oh, wait, we do.  I asked him.  He said I am fine.  If I called this Blog "Dan's Olympic Blog" there might be a problem.  Luckily, I decided on a different name.  So, we are safe.  For now.  And before you ask, those athletes who have the rings tattooed on themselves?  They are safe, too.


Today's Olympic Story Line - Hair ties and Steeplechase.  On Monday, Emma Coburn won a bronze medal in the Women's 3000 Meter Steeplechase.  Before the race, she didn't have a hair tie to hold her flowing blonde hair.  So she borrowed one from teammate Evan Jager.  Yesterday, Jager won the silver in the Men's 3000 Meter Steeplechase, using the same hair tie.  Coincidence?  I think not.

Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -

Two days, because I took yesterday off, and I have learned that a day off makes me forget a ton.

1.  Justin Gatlin learned the hard way that you can't ease up too much at the end of your semifinal heat.
2.  How has Jamaica dominated the sprints for 3 Olympics?  With the win in the Women's 200 last night, Jamaica has won the Men's and Women's 100 for each of the last 3 Olympics, the Women's 200 for 2 of the last 3 (and a silver in the one they didn't win), and we all know Bolt takes his 3rd straight 200 tonight.
3.  I am loving the BMX competition.
4.  The Women's 1500 finish was insane.  They were sprinting with 450 meters to go.  The favorite died at the end.  Jennie Simpson ran a controlled smart race and closed on 3 other runners in the last 250 to get bronze.  50 more meters and she would have won silver.
5.  Open water swimming had closer finishes than anything Katie Ledecky did.
6.  I still need to see some sailing.
7.  That day of no gold came and went quickly, didn't it.  And, as always, the Women led the way.
8.  We need Americans to get good at the kayak racing, so more will be on TV.

Predictions Sum Up -

1.  Walsh-Jennings/Ross don't lose a set.  Again.  WRONG!  They actually lost 3 sets in a row before righting themselves for the bronze.
2.  Jennie Simpson bronze in 1500  Yup 
3.  Ashton Eaton wins gold in Decathlon (starts tomorrow, I have to get this in before it starts).  Pending
4.  Lithuania beats Australia in basketball  WRONG! And devastating.
5.  US Men beat Argentina, by 7.  Yup   I said 27, right?
6.  Lexi Thompson gets silver in golf.  Pending

Predictions -

1.  US Women's Water Polo - gold.
2.  US Women's Basketball - gold
3.  US Men's Basketball - gold.
4.  US Men's Volleyball - gold (They are on a mission.)
4.  US Women's Volleyball - bronze.
5.  Bolt - Gold.

What to Watch for

1.  You Are Beautiful, Part 2.
2.  More BMX Cycling.
3.  Race Walking.  OK, no.  This is the silliest thing since trampoline.
4.  Modern Pentathlon.  This is worth watching.
5.  Track Relays.
6.  A volleyball post.
7.  The end of the Olympics so you can stop following Rule #1, which I know you have all been following.

I Love the Women

Let's start with the basics.  I am a heterosexual male, so yeah, I love women.  This is not newsworthy.


Today, I am not here to praise women for all their greatness.  It is hard to not praise women for all their greatness.  However, I will resist the urge to wax poetic about my overall love of women and stick to the subject at hand, the dominance of US women at the Olympics.


Dominance by US Women is nothing new.  In 2012, US Women won 29 gold medals, which would have tied Great Britain for third in the gold medal count.  US Men won 17 gold medals.  Overall, US Women won 58 medals, which would have been 5th in the medal count.  US Men won 45.  Since 1984, US Women have won medals at a higher rate than US Men for all but one Olympic games.  US Women win on the track, in the water, on the water, on bikes, in boats, on sand, on courts, on fields, as teams, in pairs, individually, and even, in some cases, with men.  Oh, I do love the women.


In 2016, so far, US Women are continuing where they left off four years ago.  The US Women have already won 16 gold medals, which would tie them with Great Britain for second most.  They have won 37 total medals, which would be 4th in the medal count.  These numbers do not, of course, include many of the team sport medals that US Women are destined to win, such as volleyball, volleyball, water polo and basketball.  Not to mention soccer, which is a virtual lock for a medal...what?  Really?  Huh?  Must have blocked that from my memory.


Setting aside soccer for the moment, our Women's Teams are crushing it.  Have you seen the dominance put on display by the Field Hockey Team?  This is a huge surprise and they are well on their way to a medal, too...WHAT?  Oh, man, I had this great blog post ready to go.


Again, we kid because we love.  I still love our Women's Soccer Team.  I'm a little shaky on the goalie.  I still have a new-found love for the Field Hockey Team, and I promise never to ignore them in another Olympics, as I did for the last 31.  I love even without dominance.  My love has no limits.


Our women are dominating from beginning to end.  The first gold medal of these Olympics was won by ... an American woman.  The last gold medal of these Olympics will be won by ... probably an African man.  Maybe I should have thought this out a little more.


Our women are winning young and...not so young.  Katie Ledecky is 19, she has 5 medals.  Simone Biles is 19, she has 4, with a chance for one more.  Virginia from Virginia is 19.  So is Lily King.  Lauren Hernandez, winner of a gold and a silver, is 16.  Kristin Armstrong is 43.  She won her third straight gold.  Kerri Walsh Jennings turned 38 yesterday.  She is going for her 4th straight gold.  Kim Rhode is 37.  She has 6 Olympic medals from 6 straight Olympics.


Our women are winning with kids.  Dana Vollmer has a son, to go with three medals from 2016.  Armstrong has a son, to go with 3 gold medals in a row.  Walsh Jennings has 3 kids, and is going for a 4th gold medal.  Rhode has one kid, to go with her 6 medals.


Our women are winning in long events (Ledecky, Leah Smith) and short events (Simone Manuel, Tori Bowie).  They are winning by jumping things (Emma Coburn), spinning on things (Madison Kocian), vaulting off things (Biles), throwing things (Michelle Carter) and lifting things (Sarah Elizabeth Robles).  They have won throwing other people around (Kayla Harrison) and stabbing other people (Sabre Team).  They have won on their back (Kathleen Baker and Maya DiRado) on their breast (Katie Meili) and on their butts (Genevra Stone, Women's 8).  Sadly, they did not win while showing a lot of butt, but they competed and there is still hope with synchronized swimming.  They won shooting things (Corey Cogdell, Rhode and Virginia from Virginia).  They won making history (Alyson Felix) and getting redemption (Aly Raisman).


If there is anything better than a woman, it is a team of women.  The US already has two Women's Team gold medals in gymnastics and rowing.  We have a silver in Team Pursuit (Cycling) and a bronze in Women's Sabre.  Our Women in swimming brought home two golds and a silver in relays.  Our women are so good, they managed to win a gold and a silver even when they had to compete with a man (Mixed Doubles Tennis:  Bethanie Mattek-Sands-Gold, Venus Williams-Silver) or an a team with a man (Equestrian Team Dressage -Bronze).


The Women's Teams who are still competing are poised for greatness.  The Water Polo Team won their group with a ridiculous +20 goal differential.  They beat Brazil 13-3 in the quarterfinal match.  And you thought the Women's Swim Team was the most dominant US team in the water.  The Indoor Volleyball Team also won their group, with quarterfinals starting today.  In Beach Volleyball, all we have is a player going for her 4th straight Gold Medal.  You think the Men's basketball team was the "Dream Team"?  Think again.  The Women's basketball team has won by an average of 40 points.  Now if we could just figure out that Team Handball thing.


I love the Women.  I love them when they win.  I love them when they don't.  I love them for trying.  I love them for being strong and fast and powerful.  I love them for breaking molds and breaking stereotypes.  Until 1984 Women weren't allowed to compete in the Olympic Marathon, allegedly because they couldn't handle it.  Women still don't compete in the 1500 freestyle.  That makes sense since the most dominant athlete at these games is a DISTANCE SWIMMER.  They do compete in the 10,000 meter open water swim, so someone has taken their head out of the 18th century.  I love them when they are classy, and even when they aren't.


Women make up more than half the US Team, but not half of all Olympians.  There are some countries that had to be threatened with sanctions if they didn't enter women into the Olympics.  There are still women who risk physical harm, just by competing or even trying to watch the competition.  They still do it.  I love these women, because they love competing.  They just want to play.


Today's Olympic Story Line - US Dominance, or not so much.  Today is more of fun trivia, or not so fun trivia, then a story line.  Sorry, but I got back in the pool yesterday and have limited time and energy.  Yesterday was the first Summer Olympics day since day 12 of the 2008 Beijing Olympics that the US did not win a Gold Medal.  I think we all know that we didn't have enough women competing.

Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -

Two days, because I took yesterday off, and I have learned that a day off makes me forget a ton.

1.  Middle thinks diving at the end of a track race should be illegal.  Alyson Felix may agree with him.
2.  If you didn't see Sarah Elizabeth Robles celebrate after her last lift in the Women's Weightlifting Competition, you missed a pure expression of joy and class.  This big, powerful woman completed her clean and jerk, squealed, dropped to the ground and I believe kissed the floor, before standing up and doing a curtsey for the crowd.  Just.  Plain.  Awesome.
3.  Synchronized Swimming.  I am torn between amazement at the athleticism and lung capacity necessary to do this and the ridiculousness of the coordinated entry, plastered on make-up, cemented hair, flailing legs and sparkly suits that don't cover the butt.  It is possible I am also a little too obsessed with suits that don't cover the butt.
4.  US Women's Team Pursuit cycling team broke the World Record, and held that for about 5 minutes.  Then they won the silver.  A silver medal is an amazing accomplishment, but that has to hurt.
5.  Usain Bolt - GOAT.  Although for 60 meters I was fooled into believing Justin Gatlin was going to beat him.
6.  I just can't get in to wrestling.  Or boxing.
7.  I still need to see some sailing.
8.  The Canoe competition looks like the most painful thing possible.  Forget waterboarding, if you really want to torture someone, make them do Canoe racing.
9.  Kayak racing is, however, awesome.  I was watching the 200 meter kayak race and The Wife thought I was on fast forward.
10.  Great finish by Clayton Murphy in Men's 800.
11.  Simone Biles is human...who knew?

 Predictions Sum Up -

1.  Usain Bolt - Gold.  Like Phelps, when the GOAT is going, you ride him.  Yup
2.  LaShawn Merritt - Silver in 400.  WRONG! Bronze
3.  Walsh-Jennings/Ross don't lose a set.  Again.  Yup
4.  Emma Coburn - Bronze in women's 3000 Steeplechase  Yup  And I love me some Women's Steeplechase.

 Predictions -

1.  Walsh-Jennings/Ross don't lose a set.  Again.
2.  Jennie Simpson bronze in 1500
3.  Ashton Eaton wins gold in Decathlon (starts tomorrow, I have to get this in before it starts).
4.  Lithuania beats Australia in basketball
5.  US Men beat Argentina, by 7.
6.  Lexi Thompson gets silver in golf.

What to Watch for:
1.  Does this Blog violate US Trademark laws?
2.  You Are Beautiful, Part 2.
3.  BMX Cycling.
4.  Team Competitions ramping up.
5.  Decathlon.
6.  Gymnastics Gala and Gala II.  I'm not making this up.  According to the schedule, there are two Galas.  Two.  Do we really need two Galas?  Do we even need one?

Transition Time

We are basically halfway through Rio 2016.  Don't cry.  I know it is sad that this journey is more than halfway complete, but we still have seven days to enjoy.  Even without the swimming.

This weekend has been the transition.  Swimming ended, track and field began.  Rowing is complete (thank, God!), trampoline has started.  Maybe that is not a good thing.  Team sports are coming to the end of the group stages and knockout rounds are starting or have started.  Medals are really starting to flow.  Don't blink or you will find yourself watching the Men's Marathon (yes, I do that and i watched the Women's this morning) wondering how the closing ceremonies snuck up on you.

I must admit, I almost shed a tear this weekend.  Every Olympics, I enjoy the swimming most.  When swimming ends and track and field begins, I convince myself all is OK.  I enjoy track.  I do enjoy track, but the heats are brutal.  Except the 100.  The heats of the 100 are great, because countries that only enter 1 track and field athlete usually enter that athlete in the 100.  These are athletes who have no chance to advance to the semis, much less medal.  They are there simply to run.  I enjoy watching these athletes.  Other than them, heats are brutal.

I don't know why track heats are so brutal.  Maybe it's because NBC forced them on us, on both NBC and NBCSN yesterday.  I watched NBCSN yesterday morning, and some NBC yesterday afternoon.  I saw Usain Bolt's 100 three times.  Three.  Three.  He's good, but he only ran for a little over 10 seconds.  I got the idea the first time.  I don't need to see it again.  I certainly don't need to hear Ato Bolton talk about it three times.  That may be it.  They don't just show the heats.  They talk about them endlessly.  A lot of talking, then 10 seconds of racing.  I like the racing, not the talking.

The good thing is the knockout rounds for team sports.  Except when we lose, like Women's Soccer.  The action gets more exciting for the knockout rounds.  It is also fun in my house, because the Wife gets completely stressed out watching Kerri Walsh-Jennings in an elimination game.  It's fun to watch my normally even tempered, enjoy the stories more than the competition spouse turn into a ruthless, nervous fan, occasionally yelling mean things at people on the TV.  Good times.

We're more than halfway there, but we have a long ways to go.  If you are a triathlete, you know the transition is important.  Don't get caught sleeping.  Or violating Rule #1.

Today's Olympic Story Line - Kim Rhode.  There aren't a lot of people who can say they have done something Michael Phelps has not at the Olympics, but one of them is Kim Rhode.  Rhode became the first athlete to win medals at 6 straight Summer Olympics (yes, we have to specify Summer), by winning the bronze medal in skeet shooting.  This bronze goes with her gold from London, silver from Beijing, gold from Athens, bronze from Sydney and gold from Atlanta.  The time since London has not been easy for Rhode, who has had numerous health problems including gall bladder surgery over the past four years.  Unlike Phelps, Rhode has said she is coming back for Tokyo in 2020 and hoping LA hosts the Olympics in 2024, so she can go for medal numbers 8 and 9.

Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -


Two days, because I took yesterday off.

1.  A three way tie for silver.  Even when Phelps doesn't win, he does something historic.

2.  Anthony Ervin makes my accomplishments as a Masters swimmer seem small.  Very, very small.  Very, very fun to watch him, though.  And I like to think, as a fan, I am one of his "people."

3.  We are a backstroking family, so we were very excited to see Ryan Murphy break the World Record in the 100 back.  Except for the Wife, who was not amused that he broke Aaron Piersol's record.  I'm not sure she has given up hope of being Aaron Piersol's girlfriend.

4.  I got to see some track cycling this weekend.  Someone needs to let me know how I can become the motorbike driver for the Keirin competition.  I need to make this happen.

5.  Maya DiRado may, in fact, be the perfect human.

6.  I watched some equestrian.  A French woman got thrown from her horse.  This is terrible to say, but equestrian is more fun when at least one person falls off the horse.  The actual competition was impressive and enjoyable, but a fall or two just makes it bettter.  When the French woman fell, the commentator, in perfect Best in Show voice, said, "Oh my goodness, that is a shock."

7.  I need to see some sailing.

8.  The Synchronized Swimming suits are made with the same pattern as the Diving suits.  Almost no butt coverage.

9.  Jeff Henderson won the gold medal in the long jump.  This was the 1000th US gold medal in the history of the Olympics.  Jarrion Lawson was 4th based on his left hand brushing the sand on his last jump.

Predictions Sum Up -

1.  Ledecky wins.  World Record.  Yup. Slam Dunk.
2.  Adrian goes double bronze.  Ervin gets silver.  Flo wins gold.  Yup and WRONG!  GOLD!!!!! for Ervin.
3.  Phelps.  Gold.  No reason to believe he can't or won't do it.  WRONG!  Three way tie for Silver.
4.  Walsh-Jennings/Ross don't lose a set.  Again.  (We are just going to pretend Wednesday didn't happen.)  Yup.


Predictions -





1.  Usain Bolt - Gold.  Like Phelps, when the GOAT is going, you ride him.
2.  LaShawn Merritt - Silver in 400.
3.  Walsh-Jennings/Ross don't lose a set.  Again.
4.  Emma Coburn - Bronze in women's 3000 Steeplechase


What to Watch for:

1.  My love of the women.  Really it is coming.
2.  Does this Blog violate US Trademark laws?
3.  You Are Beautiful, Part 2.
4.  Open Water Swimming - Great competition.  Bad Water.
5.  Pole Vault
6.  Lithuania - Croatia in basketball


I almost finished before Prime Time coverage started.  Elimination race in track cycling cost me.

We're Winning the Olympics!

Yesterday, upon seeing the updated medal count, Eldest yelled, "Yaaa!  We're winning the Olympics!"


I think he is smart enough to know that a country doesn't win the Olympics.  I say I think, because in 1984, at the same age, I asked my mother if we won the Olympics.  The apple doesn't fall very far from the tree, and sometimes it knocks someone on the head and makes them ask a silly question.


We are, of course, winning the Olympics.  That's why we do this, right?  To win.  Not to get political, but we don't need Donald Trump to make America great again, or to become winners.  We need Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Simone Biles, Simone Manuel and Ryan Murphy.  Really what we need is more people to name their daughter Simone.  We may not want to limit that to daughters either.  Apparently, if you are named Simone, you are destined to win.  Yesterday, you won Olympic gold.  Tomorrow, you win the world.  Does anyone doubt that either Simone is a winner?  Does anyone doubt that either Simone will make America great again?  Does anyone else wish either Simone was running for President?


We are, of course, winning the Olympics.  We have the most gold medals.  We have the most silver medals.  We are third in bronze medals.  We have the most total medals.  We won the first gold medal.  Our women are killing it.  Our Men's Indoor Volleyball team finally got the message and won.  We win on sand, on land and in the water.  We are even going to win on top of the water.  With Simone Biles, you can say we won in the air.  We win as teenagers, in our 20s, in our 30s and even in our 40s.  We win so much, you would think Charlie Sheen is our head Olympics Coach.


We are, of course, winning the Olympics.  We get a daily dose of Rebecca Lowe.  We get periodic stories from Kier Simmons.  We get picturesque views of Rio.  We are watching the greatest swimmer and most decorated Olympian ever.  We will get to watch the greatest sprinter ever in track and field.  You could make an argument that Simone is the greatest gymnast ever.  The greatest tennis player ever kind of let us down, by getting knocked out early in both singles and doubles, but she is another greatest ever in this Olympics.  We have two women's swimmers making a run at greatest woman swimmer ever, in Ledecky and Hosszu.  Hosszu has pulled off one of the greatest individual performances ever.  We get Kerri Walsh-Jennings doing unprecedented things.  Kayla Harrison won back to back gold medals.  And we can watch anything we want, because coverage is ridiculous.  We, as spectators, are winning these Olympics.


We are, of course, winning the Olympics.  Could you ask for crazier stories?  The diving pool is GREEN!  The weather is terrible Wednesday, gorgeous Thursday, terrible Friday.  The Russian team almost got banned as a whole!  A 19 year old American swimmer became the face of the anti-doping campaign while a 24 year old Russian swimmer became the face of evil.  A judo medalist got attacked on the beach.  Brazilians scream "ZIKA!" at random events for reasons no one can explain.  If you are looking for a distraction from life or from the presidential campaign or from the never-ending baseball season or from Rich Williams, you couldn't ask for anything better.


We are, of course, winning the Olympics.  It is hard not to.  Every 4 years, the world gets together to compete.  There is a lot not to like about the Olympic movement.  Money is too important.  Nationalism can sometimes go too far.  Brazilians yell ZIKA!  A terrible drug story lingers, just waiting to destroy a great achievement, as has happened several times.  Economic disaster for the host country is a real possibility.  Rules can be ridiculous.  If you can get past all that and enjoy the competition, the athletes, the moments of great sportsmanship, you win.  You win because of the athletes who have no chance of winning a medal, but earned the right to be there.  You win because of the athletes who accomplish something they never thought possible.  You win because of the athletes who fail to accomplish what they expected.  In his epic speech after winning the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the Espy Awards in 1993, Jim Valvano said to laugh, think and cry every day.  For the 17 days of these, and every, Olympics, that's not hard.  Without even trying, you could laugh, cry and think several times a day.


We are, of course, winning the Olympics.


Today's Olympic Story Line - Ryan Lochte.  I said I would occasionally cover a well known story.  Lochte finished 5th in the 200 IM last night.  This is likely his last Olympic swim.  In the post-race interview, he said he needed a mental and physical break, but won't rule out attempting to qualify for Tokyo in 2012.  This morning, he said basically the same thing, but implied he would almost definitely make a run at Tokyo in 2020.


Lochte is the second most decorated male swimmer in Olympic history.  He has won 12 Olympic medals, 6 of them gold.  Those numbers tie him for 18th all time in gold medals won and 8th all time in total medals won.  Last night, Rowdy Gaines said that, if not for Phelps, Lochte would be known as the greatest swimmer ever.  I think some people would make a strong argument for Mark Spitz.  But Lochte would at least be in the discussion.  Regardless, Lochte has been a joy both in the water and out of the water, from his brief reality TV show, to his accomplishments, to his crazy shoes, to his interviews and that smile, to his dyed hair.   He wins the Olympics every year, because he competes and he has fun.  I doubt he will be able to do it again in 4 years, even if he tries.  But I hope he tries.  Lochte helps the rest of us win the Olympics, too.

Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -

1.  Too.  Much.  Rowing.  Who decided that every rowing race needed to be shown this year?

2.  The Dalhousser/Lucena v. Nicolai/Lupo beach volleyball match yesterday was a classic.  The Americans won 24-22 in the third set, after 8 match points.

3.  US Men's Volleyball team is taking the motto, "It's OK to lose, just don't lose to Brazil," literally.  After a great win yesterday, hopefully, they will decide to beat some other teams as well.

4.  Kayla Harrison - Repeat gold medalist.  Sounds good to me.  She has not lost her swagger entering the arena over the last 4 years either.  I still don't understand judo, though.

5.  Iris Wang was clutch in her opening Badminton match.

6.  US Women's Field Hockey keeps rolling.  3-0 win over India.

7.  Was there gymnastics yesterday?

8.  I saw some air rifle shooting yesterday.  I thought Judo was confusing.

9.  Women's Water Polo.  Still just good.

Predictions Sum Up -

1.  Phelps wins.  Lochte bronze behind Hagino.  Yup and WRONG!  That was not the close race everyone was expecting, unless you were watching the race behind Phelps.
2.  Murphy joins Piersol, Krayzelburg, Carey and Naber as a double backstroke winner.  Yup.
3.  Simone Manuel, silver.  WRONG!   GOLD!!!!!!!!!
4.  US Men pull it together to beat Brazil in volleyball.  Yup.

Predictions -

1.  Ledecky wins.  World Record.
2.  Adrian goes double bronze.  Ervin gets silver.  Flo wins gold.
3.  Phelps.  Gold.  No reason to believe he can't or won't do it.
4.  Walsh-Jennings/Ross don't lose a set.  Again.  (We are just going to pretend Wednesday didn't happen.)

   What to Watch for:

1.  My love of the women.  Really it is coming.
2.  Does this Blog violate US Trademark laws?
3.  You Are Beautiful, Part 2.
4.  Medal rounds for team sports are starting.
5.  Lots of track cycling.
6.  Usain Bolt.
7.  Men's Skeet shooting.