Hey, remember how we were all stunned to discover that Zach Parise is participating in the men’s gymnastics at the Olympics?
Well it turns out he’s totally awesome. While guys from all the other countries were falling off all the apparatuses and tumbling out of bounds and generally wilting under pressure, Zach did what Zachs do best and kicked ass. And, in a surprisingly scintillating evening of the gymnastics that doesn’t involve glittery makeup and dance music, Zach, along with his NHLer teammates Marty Biron (pictured center, below) and The Fifth Staal (pictured left, below), won the bronze!
Zach’s number three! Zach’s number three! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
Aww, Gymnast Marty even looks like he’s yapping up a storm like Real Marty.
I felt really bad for the alternate US gymnast that was sitting in the stands. He’s having a complete breakdown and the camera won’t stop focusing on him. I kept yelling that NBC should let him be.
Oh, I know, Amy! That poor guy! My heart just broke for him. But the rest of it was so exciting! I want to watch high bar routines all day!
That poor guy sobbing in the stands was just so sad! It made me wish NBC had some reaction footage of Ma Phelps to force on us instead. Although I guess any less time listening to the guys on the floor going on about how they were showing how the USA does it, and how they were going to swim in the river, and this is how they roll, and so on and so forth was best for everyone invovled. :D
Good morning, everyone!
I missed the guy crying in the stands, but I at least caught the swimming (yay for Phelps!). And I finally saw synchronized diving and felt really, really bad for the Russians.
And that’s my story.
I love synchronized diving! And more than that, I love that woman they have doing the analysis on NBC. She’s so harsh! But yeah, those poor Russians.
love that woman they have doing the analysis on NBC. She’s so harsh! But yeah, those poor Russians.
That woman cracks me up. I think it’s the way she delivers it, all judge-y like, that makes me want to see HER go up and do a three and a half back somersault pike or whatever off the diving board. :D
When that one Russian pretty much went in the water on his back, the look on his face pretty much said “Oh my god, they’re going to send me to Siberia”, after he got out of the water. Poor thing.
My favorite thing about that diving announcer woman is that I never, ever, ever agree with her. I clearly know nothing about diving, but I’ll be like, “Oooh! That dive was awesome!” and she’ll hiss, “That was TERRIBLE.” Or I’ll be like, “That dive was ASS!” and she’ll be all, “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
that makes me want to see HER go up and do a three and a half back somersault pike or whatever off the diving board. :D
Boy, she sounds nothing like the people the BBC have. They’re all nice and “great synchronisation” or “wonderful entry” when even I can tell the divers effed up bad.
Good morning IPB! How we doing?
Although I guess any less time listening to the guys on the floor going on about how they were showing how the USA does it, and how they were going to swim in the river, and this is how they roll, and so on and so forth was best for everyone invovled. :D
Indeed.
My favorite thing about the diving lady is when she tells you what they need to score and then immediately after the dive goes, “Ooh, and they’re not going to get that.”
She is usually impressively accurate though when she predicts the judges scores.
Although I guess any less time listening to the guys on the floor going on about how they were showing how the USA does it, and how they were going to swim in the river, and this is how they roll, and so on and so forth was best for everyone invovled. :D
Yeah, that was pretty unbearable, just like the other night with women’s gymnastics when they insisted on showing the entire post-meet huddle. Now don’t get me wrong, I like that they were apparently loose and still having fun even though they kind of bit it a little, but did we really need to see it? Uninterrupted? For three whole minutes? Weren’t there, like, Olympic events or something we could have been watching instead of their sleepover conversation?
I was so happy for the men gymnasts! I’m always really glad to see people celebrating bronze like it matters, because it’s a pretty big accomplishment. (I hate that NBC keeps going on and on about how Katie Hoff is 0 for 2 at these Olympics; she won a silver and a bronze medal! Give the girl some credit!) I still felt kind of bad for the Germans, though. Not that I necessarily wanted them to come in front of the Americans, but they probably could have if their World Champion high bar guy hadn’t fallen off in the middle of his routine. I don’t think they showed it on NBC (I switched over to CBC), but I hope we get to see him compete in the high bar final, because if he hits that routine, it’ll be INSANE.
And Zach-a-like is the bomb, man. I can’t wait to see him in the All-Around. But does he have magnets in his feet or does he just weigh about a million pounds, because some of those stuck landings looked physically impossible!
The diving lady definitely knows her shit. Which further illustrates how little I know about the sport! :D Meg, you’re so right — the “Ooh, and they’re not going to get that” is consistently hilarious.
“Oooh! That dive was awesome!” and she’ll hiss, “That was TERRIBLE.” Or I’ll be like, “That dive was ASS!” and she’ll be all, “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Yeah, I noticed two things last night that she’s fanatical about: tucks and splashes. She made this big to-do about how the Russians needed tens to medal, and as they went in, she scaldingly said, “Well, they’re certainly not going to get that.”
Hee!
And I agree – I’m always reversed with her. I’m like, “That was pretty!” And she says, “That was awful”.
She ripped the Americans pretty solidly last night, too.
She is usually impressively accurate though when she predicts the judges scores.
She really, really is, which astounds me.
Weren’t there, like, Olympic events or something we could have been watching instead of their sleepover conversation?
I KNOW! And I always feel like the gymnasts look like Mean Girls, so that totally seemed to me like I was going to be listening in on them saying nasty things about the other gymnasts behind their backs.
I was so annoyed last night that NBC not only didn’t show us the other teams in the men’s gymnastics all falling off their apparatuses, but they didn’t have replays, either. We cut to the gymnastics and Trautwig was all, “It’s been CHAOS over here! MADNESS! UTTER INSANITY! And… we’re not going to show it to you.” Thanks ever so much, NBC. But to their credit, they stuck around for the end, I guess.
Zach-a-like is my favorite Olympian right now. He’s crazy! But that’s just how he rolls. He shows the world how the USA does it. He’s going to take a swim in the river, yo.
My favorite thing about that diving announcer woman is that I never, ever, ever agree with her.
I generally switch over to CBC during commercial breaks, mainly because the commercials drive me insane, and the difference in the way they analyze some of the events is hilarious. Obviously NBC is pretty USA-heavy, but CBC is just laid back in general. Like last night when that Chinese gymnast stepped over the line on his vault landing, the CBC people were all like “What a beautiful vault! That’s what Chinese vaulting is all about!” and then I flipped back to NBC and they were obsessing over him stepping over the line and how that was going to be a big setback. (It wasn’t.)
And I agree that that diving lady is amazing. That was an overall fun event to watch last night, but I agree I know nothing about diving. By the end I gave up trying to play judge, and just focused on what I did know. One of those German divers was pretty foxy.
I like that they were apparently loose and still having fun even though they kind of bit it a little, but did we really need to see it? Uninterrupted? For three whole minutes?
I definitely felt like we were intruding on a semi-private moment for the team. What was especially bothersome was that the longer NBC showed it, the more camera guys crowded around them.
Also, what was Cris Collinsworth doing sitting in the stands last night next to Ma Phelps? They didn’t interview her or anything, did they?
He shows the world how the USA does it.
Heh. When he first said that, I thought, “He’s probably the only person in the world who would define ‘How the USA does it’ as men in leotards flying through the air doing pikes and layouts, but Zach-a-like doesn’t care. This is how he rolls.”
I was so annoyed last night that NBC not only didn’t show us the other teams in the men’s gymnastics all falling off their apparatuses, but they didn’t have replays, either.
I know, really! During the Germans’ pommel routines they mentioned that guy falling off the high bar, which I thought meant they were going to show it, but no. I guess we’re just expected to take their word for it, but come on! What do people watch the gymnastics for if not to see people screw up?
Gambler, you’re right — one of those German divers was TOTALLY foxy! (Especially in HD. Man, I am SO glad we got our new dish and now we get everything in glorious HD!)
Also, what was Cris Collinsworth doing sitting in the stands last night next to Ma Phelps?
I nearly lost it when they showed that. Seriously, NBC, give it a rest.
What do people watch the gymnastics for if not to see people screw up?
Seriously! I want to see catastrophe, and apparently there was PLENTY of it last night that they never shared with me. BOOOO!
Seriously! I want to see catastrophe, and apparently there was PLENTY of it last night that they never shared with me. BOOOO!
Poor show. The only catastrophe we saw was the American sitting down on the pommel horse. That’s a really lame excuse for a disaster. He didn’t even fall!
The only catastrophe we saw was the American sitting down on the pommel horse. That’s a really lame excuse for a disaster. He didn’t even fall!
Yeah! As much as they breathlessly tried to tell us that it counted as a fall, it was hardly worthy of the intro to “Wide World Of Sports”.
That’s a really lame excuse for a disaster.
I agree. Its not like he landed bit-first on one of the pommels or anything. That would be a disaster.
That would be a disaster.
Word. I’m so glad the men don’t do beam, because I hear that, unsurprisingly, that’s plenty painful even if one doesn’t have dangly bits.
I’m so glad the men don’t do beam, because I hear that, unsurprisingly, that’s plenty painful even if one doesn’t have dangly bits.
I had a classmate in highschool who was on some national gymnastics team and she’d mentioned the beam was her least favourite because it hurt like shit. I’d never even thought about the consequences it would have for boys. Yowch.
Dont forget that one guy was a dead ringer for John Madden!
Pam, I’m glad you noticed Madden, too! That team was FRIGHTENINGLY NHL-riffic, with a heavy emphasis on Devils. (That guy also did his floor exercise every bit as well as I would imagine Madden would. :P)
That guy also did his floor exercise every bit as well as I would imagine Madden would. :P
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It’s true, though! He tumbled out of bounds and fell on his knees and I was like, “Pfft. Typical Madden.”
(I am having a hard time grasping that these guys aren’t actually the NHLers I say they are.)
I loved when mini-Zach (or whatever we’re calling him since he’s probably bigger than Zach!) said he was going swimming in the river!
Yea, the Madden lookalike was icing on the cake after seeing Mini Zach!
John Madden is not graceful. Nor is his olympic counterpart.
Jesus…I just checked and mini-Zach is 5′1″. That’s shorter than me!
Yeah, Zach-a-like is itty-bitty. Just like real Zach! I love that he’s too short to do the pommel horse. Just like real Zach! :P
(I am having a hard time grasping that these guys aren’t actually the NHLers I say they are.)
So am I. I was just watching the gymnastics you guys have been talking about (fuck tape delay) and I was all “awwww, Zach and Staal #5 and awwwww, they’re so awesome” and I totally had no idea who they were talking about when they mentioned their real names. (and mini-Zach is such a leader, yo. I wonder if real-Zach is going to look at that and say “Say, I can do that!”)
Jesus…I just checked and mini-Zach is 5′1″. That’s shorter than me!
Are you serious?! He’d fit in my purse!
Zach-a-like is itty-bitty.
But the Zach-a-like probably makes Boxworthy-a-like feel taller in comparison.
Being 5′2″, it’s hard to imagine that an elite male athlete could ever be shorter than me. Mini-Zach is just small and fiesty, like our dear Zach. I bet he has a weak slap shot too!
(And speaking of satellite dishes, ours gets installed tomorrow! Yay!)
(and mini-Zach is such a leader, yo. I wonder if real-Zach is going to look at that and say “Say, I can do that!”)
“That’s how the USA conducts itself, my good fellow! That’s how we proceed!”
(and mini-Zach is such a leader, yo. I wonder if real-Zach is going to look at that and say “Say, I can do that!”)
“That’s how the USA conducts itself, my good fellow! That’s how we proceed!”
But the Zach-a-like probably makes Boxworthy-a-like feel taller in comparison.
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to all of you! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Pookie was remarking last night that Zach-a-like’s high bar routine is just like real Zach, in that we were told repeatedly that it’s just about how hard he works on it. We were imagining that you could see his little legs pumping like mad while he flipped around and around the bar, just like when Zach is trying to skate fast. :D
(And Pam, that’s SO EXCITING about your dish! WOOOO!)
“That’s how the USA conducts itself, my good fellow! That’s how we proceed!”
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I agree with everything said about the diving, the announcing, the foxy guys, the shortness of Zach-a-like, all of it! As for the Madden guy, he looks equal parts Madden and Andy Greene. Which is TERRIFYING.
Did you see his face in the super slo mo replay of his dismount on the bar? That was some serious determination. He’s the like the little engine that could!
equal parts Madden and Andy Greene
Those are the ingredients for “Least talented Hockey Player in the World” cocktails!
That was some serious determination.
Dude, seriously. I wasn’t down with the whole Zachparison until that moment. It was kind of awesome.
Those are the ingredients for “Least talented Hockey Player in the World” cocktails!
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Those are the ingredients for “Least talented Hockey Player in the World” cocktails!
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We should make a Joe Hagerty Sombrero that would be something like Goldschlager and Wine Cooler.
My favoritest thing about Zach-a-like is that his style is sooooo Zachian. It’s scary!
We should make a Joe Hagerty Sombrero that would be something like Goldschlager and Wine Cooler.
Dude, after that floor exercise, I don’t want to drink a Joe Hagerty ANYTHING. :P
The Joe Hagerty Sombrero tends to all slosh out of the glass while it’s being poured.
The Joe Hagerty Sombrero tends to all slosh out of the glass while it’s being poured.
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Yea, that was kind of mean. Don’t get me wrong, I love what John Madden does for the Devils. But he does not have an ounce of skill!
she’d mentioned the beam was her least favourite because it hurt like shit.
This is what I dont get about the appeal of the sport. What makes young girls want to do this? They train endless hours, endure major injuries (gymnastic injuries are never minor) and they screw up their bodies for a lifetime. The different apparatus (apparati?) look painful, and the pressure on these girls in the olympics is insane. Not only that, but you top out at like 16, and then you’re a has-been. It doesnt even look fun!
What makes young girls want to do this?
I dunno, but she was really hot. I’d definitely think about practicing all those hours every day if I could go to the Olympics and have an ass like that.
This is what I dont get about the appeal of the sport. What makes young girls want to do this?
Heh, my sister did gymnastics for years (although never anywhere near that seriously) and when she stopped after high school was like, “Well, no daughters of mine are ever going to do gymnastics. It’s so unhealthy for you and boring.
I loved watching the gymnastics as a little girl. As an adult it looks very different.
I still like watching it and the athleticism is incredible. I just don’t get why people want to do it.
When I watch soccer or softball in the olympics, it looks great. I think “that must be so awesome and fun to be out there right now!” (I played both, maybe that’s why)… But still, in gymnastics it’s like “God I’m glad that’s not me!”
I loved watching the gymnastics as a little girl. As an adult it looks very different.
Meg, that’s so true! It shocks me with every summer Olympics, because my memories of watching gymnastics are from childhood, when it seemed amazing and magical, but as an adult now I A) expect all the athletes to break their necks gruesomely, and B) cringe at how malformed and unhealthy they all are.
And Pam, I completely agree that gymnastics doesn’t look even remotely fun. I’m not at all athletic, so most sports make me think, “Oof. That looks like it sucks.” But gymnastics is ESPECIALLY so. (I remember taking the odd gymnastics class when I was in, like, kindergarten. I hated every second of it.)
I still like watching it and the athleticism is incredible. I just don’t get why people want to do it.
Hmm, it’s not that I dislike watching it now so much as I’m much more conflicted about it now. Put it a different way: As a little girl watching, say, the Barcelona Olympics when I was eight, I wanted to be able to do all those things they could do. Me and my sister, who was five, used to pretend to be the gymnasts and do tricks. Now I feel that way watching other sports, but never gymnastics.
Oh, I understood what you meant, Meg. I think watching it is almost like watching a freak show nowadays. The things they can do are amazing, and then you see a 16 yr old girls’ biceps and it’s just weird and so on. Like, it’s not pretty, but it’s fascinating.
Uh, minus the actual pretending that is. I want to be able to do those things, but I don’t acually run around my apartment pretending to be Kerri Walsh or anything. Just to clarify.
an adult now I A) expect all the athletes to break their necks gruesomely, and B) cringe at how malformed and unhealthy they all are.
Agreed. But like you said, I know that now, I didn’t know that as a kid.
I remember taking the odd gymnastics class when I was in, like, kindergarten. I hated every second of it.
OMG yes. Flutter loved it and competed until she was about 8, but I was just never graceful, I think. I couldn’t do ballet either. (mostly because my mother refused to let us go, because her mother had forced her to and she didn’t want that world of eating disorders for us. But I would have sucked anyhow)
I don’t acually run around my apartment pretending to be Kerri Walsh or anything.
Lame. What sort of self respecting Olympics watcher are you? :P
I want to be able to do those things, but I don’t acually run around my apartment pretending to be Kerri Walsh or anything. Just to clarify.
PLEASE! We all know you do, Meg!
I couldn’t do ballet either.
I also discovered at a young age that graceful things like dance were not for me.
She pretends to be Misty May instead, that’s it!
I don’t acually run around my apartment pretending to be Kerri Walsh or anything.
Sure, sure, Meg. :P
She pretends to be Misty May instead, that’s it!
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She pretends to be Misty May instead, that’s it!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
She pretends to be Misty May instead, that’s it!
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I will say this, the Olympics has totally been inspiring me to do more sit ups.
And, yeah, dance was not for me either. I took a year of jazz and was a disaster.
I swam, and I have to say, on behalf of swimming, it seemed healthy at the time and it seems healthy now.
I swam, and I have to say, on behalf of swimming, it seemed healthy at the time and it seems healthy now.
Well, other than the doping. :P
Well, other than the doping.
No, Schnookie, not doping — stretching. Sheesh! Don’t you listen to a word Dara Torres’s coaches tell the media?
Well, other than the doping. :P
Well, that applies to most sports. I mean tas a participatory sport for regular citizens. I wasn’t terribly good but I swam with quite a few All-Americans–not future Olympians by any means, but certainly people who could look forward to nice scholarships and such–and they, generally speaking, didn’t get injured or have people telling them to follow unhealthy practices or anything of the sort. That really wasn’t true of people I knew in many other sports.
No, Schnookie, not doping — stretching. Sheesh! Don’t you listen to a word Dara Torres’s coaches tell the media?
Well unless she has incredibly ingenious dopers we’ll find out eventually, since they’re saving her blood for a generation or whatever the hell it is they do with people who sign up for the extra drug testing.
And I thought it was the swimsuits causing world records to drop like flies!
And I thought it was the swimsuits causing world records to drop like flies!
I’ve been hearing about that. And about how they should be banned (the suits, not the records) because it provides an unfair advantage to some athletes. I think that’s bull, a requirement for use of a suit (for any sport) at the Olympics is that it is universally available to every athlete who wants to use one at the Olympics, so there are no unfair advantages. Whatever.
…and they, generally speaking, didn’t get injured or have people telling them to follow unhealthy practices or anything of the sort.
I guess once someone reaches the pinnacle of competition(apparently) it’s win at all costs. Sadly, as you pointed out, sometimes it doesn’t even need to get that far. High schoolers are juicing up now.
Going way back to the discussion on why guys don’t compete in the beam events. Becuase holy shit, ow…that’s why. I’ve never done a day of gymnastics in my life, but I’ve taken my fair share of nut shots, mostly skateboarding and playing basketball. Those were bad enough, but landing with all your body weight squarely on those badboys…yikes. Forget about ever having kids.
And I thought it was the swimsuits causing world records to drop like flies!
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And I totally get what you mean, Meg, about swimming being healthy. When we were kids we swam on a summer team that was coached by a big-time college coach. It was a surprisingly delightful experience, and all the swimmerly-inclined people I’ve known since then were just like what you’re talking about.
I think that’s bull, a requirement for use of a suit (for any sport) at the Olympics is that it is universally available to every athlete who wants to use one at the Olympics, so there are no unfair advantages. Whatever.
Agreed. I think they should stick to fussing about the doping that no doubt is going on among at least a portion of the athletes and not worry about the suits. Unless they want to make them swim naked swimsuit technology is always going to be a factor. The world records in swimming haven’t been all that terribly meaningful for years anyway.
Becuase holy shit, ow…that’s why.
Hee hee! :D
Unless they want to make them swim naked swimsuit technology is always going to be a factor.
Just like the Olympics of old. Can you imagine watching something like that today? Talk about uncomfortable…for the athletes and the viewers alike!
Going way back to the discussion on why guys don’t compete in the beam events. Becuase holy shit, ow…that’s why.
I was wondering when you were going to drop by and give us the male perspective ;P
Can you imagine watching something like that today?
I can’t, and I don’t want to. Icky.
Can you imagine watching something like that today?
I can’t, and I don’t want to. Icky.
HAHA! I can, and I totally think they should! It’s the true Olympic spirit, yo. :P
I was wondering when you were going to drop by and give us the male perspective ;P
Heh, no problem!
Been super busy trying to catch up from being gone for a week. The work didn’t want to stop piling up.
I can, and I totally think they should!
Well more power to you for it!
Just like the Olympics of old. Can you imagine watching something like that today?
That ringing sound you hear is the Parents Television Council, Focus on the Family and who knows who else lighting up the bat phone to the FCC.
I was poking around the internet today and apparently the British diver that was partnered with the 14-year-old in the synchro event thew the kid under the bus with the press. It was pretty sad to see this kid get ripped by his teammate.
Can you imagine watching something like that today?
I can’t, and I don’t want to. Icky.
HAHA! I can, and I totally think they should! It’s the true Olympic spirit, yo. :P
Imagine the ratings they’d get!
I was poking around the internet today and apparently the British diver that was partnered with the 14-year-old in the synchro event thew the kid under the bus with the press
I heard about that. Tacky, tacky, tacky.
apparently the British diver that was partnered with the 14-year-old in the synchro event thew the kid under the bus with the press.
I read that. I felt like telling him that the kid definitely wasn’t the one who let the side down. *glare*
We tuned in to one of the NBC lesser-knowns last night and caught some badminton. That shit kills me! So action packed. It’s almost as fun to watch as table tennis.
It was pretty sad to see this kid get ripped by his teammate.
What a jackass. That poor kid. Like competing at the Olympics at fourteen isn’t stressful enough, then to have that thrown on you.
It makes me want to FedEx that guy a copy of Miss Manners’ book.
The badminton is CRRRRRRRAAAZY. We were watching a bit this weekend, and basically saw the women’s badminton version of Roger Federer mowing down some lowly unranked player. Boomer kept saying, “This looks like what would happen if I was competing against that woman.” I suspect that is not the best introduction to watching the sport.
We were watching a bit this weekend, and basically saw the women’s badminton version of Roger Federer mowing down some lowly unranked player.
We were watching an Indonesian vs. Korean mixed doubles game. It was pretty evenly matched, and freakin’ intense. I felt bad because I couldn’t really tell which one on the Indonesian team was the girl! Tracie then pointed out with a straight face, “the one with the short hair.” Thanks, huge help…
The women’s badminton haricuts are so crazy! The chick from Taipei was awesome. Haircut-wise.
Tracie then pointed out with a straight face, “the one with the short hair.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
And “Guess The Gender” is one of my favorite Olympic-watching activities. HOURS of entertainment!
And “Guess The Gender” is one of my favorite Olympic-watching activities. HOURS of entertainment!
Pretty much, huh?
I just can’t wait for track and field to kick off. I enjoy watching everything, but that’s what really gets me fired up.
And “Guess The Gender” is one of my favorite Olympic-watching activities. HOURS of entertainment!
But it usually only works in certain sports, you know?
There was a story on CNN yesterday showing how an East German female shot putter is now a man because of the doping she was put through without her knowledge.
There was a story on CNN yesterday showing how an East German female shot putter is now a man because of the doping she was put through without her knowledge.
Zach’s like, “Story of my life.”
There was a story on CNN yesterday showing how an East German female shot putter is now a man because of the doping she was put through without her knowledge.
That’s pretty brutal. I’m assuming that was back in the 60’s or 70’s?
I’ve read some similar stories about female Olympians from the USSR back in the day. They would have their athletes get pregnant, then abort shortly before the Olympics, to gain some sort of big estrogen/hormone boost. Unbelievable.
I’ve read some similar stories about female Olympians from the USSR back in the day. They would have their athletes get pregnant, then abort shortly before the Olympics, to gain some sort of big estrogen/hormone boost. Unbelievable.
That is so…gross. And wrong. And horrifying. Not cool.
andrew, I read that story, and I gotta say: that shot putter must have had an awful lot of therapy. How horrible.
Speaking of all this, did you hear the announcers bemoaning how sad it is that now the Romanian women gymnasts chit-chat while working and smile and have fun and how it’s destroying their gymnastic tradition? Um…
They would have their athletes get pregnant, then abort shortly before the Olympics, to gain some sort of big estrogen/hormone boost.
Yeah, I’d heard about that, too. Meanwhile, Elfi Schlegel’s all, “Man, I miss the good old days when Romanian gymnasts were under the thumb of a cruel regime…”
did you hear the announcers bemoaning how sad it is that now the Romanian women gymnasts chit-chat while working and smile and have fun and how it’s destroying their gymnastic tradition?
Nope, never heard that before. ;)
Also, there’s a pretty big to do over the little girl who sang at the opening ceremony. Turns out she was lip syncing to a recording of another little girl, one who wasn’t allowed to sing at the ceremonies because she wasn’t cute enough. How horrible for the little one to be told she’s not cute enough to participate in her country’s biggest moment.
I did hear that, Pookie. And then there was the story of the 20-year-old gymnast who begged her parents to let her quit a few years ago but was refused. And isn’t it great that she wasn’t allowed to quit because that moment was just magical. The gymnastics announcers have some seriously fucked up priorities.
did you hear the announcers bemoaning how sad it is that now the Romanian women gymnasts chit-chat while working and smile and have fun and how it’s destroying their gymnastic tradition?
I rue the day we ever let them out of their shackles and took the bits out of their mouths.
Can’t we ever go back to the good old days, when we yoked gymnasts like oxen?
(The announcers should get over it. Chit chatting before competition? Smiling? Heaven forbid.)
And isn’t it great that she wasn’t allowed to quit because that moment was just magical.
With the whirlwind of human interest stories going on, it’s amazing that sometimes the human being isn’t the focus of the story being told.
Mini-Zach’s Athlete Profile is on nbcolympics.com if anyone is interested.
Does his athlete profile include dropping to 17th in the Gymnast Draft?
In hockey (sort of) related news: only 3 rounds of drafting left to go for the keeper league that I’m in! Man, 16 owners, 20 rounds….it’s tough. The pickens are getting slim. Jonas Hiller is my 3rd goalie. Yowza.
Geez, andrew, how are there even any players left?
In other hockey (sort of) related news: I’m Pandoodling over my Pandolfo sweater that arrived yesterday!
Man, 16 owners, 20 rounds
Sounds like a long, deep draft.
Yahoo has the fantasy hockey page set up, but leagues can’t form until later this month.
I have no idea. We’re down into Chris Neil/Joffrey Lupul territory, so it’s getting interesting, that’s for sure. But I’ve still got a few unknowns up my sleeve.
Wow, Genna, that was quick! How exciting! Pandodoodling, indeed!!! :D
Sounds like a long, deep draft.
Yeah, and the commish has us setting up rosters of 24. So after 20 rounds, it’ll just be a free agency-free for all to fill the last 4 spots. My brain is getting tired.
I’m Pandoodling over my Pandolfo sweater that arrived yesterday!
Genna…you bought a Pando sweater!? Sounds like you just earned yourself a spot in the IPB hall of fame.
Congratulations on the new sweater, Genna!
I’d have pictures, but it seems like my camera ran away with my graphing calculator. I’m kind of upset though cause there are two creases in the crest, but what can you do. I guess that’s what happens when a 1/3 of the box is inside the other 2/3.
Sounds like you just earned yourself a spot in the IPB hall of fame.
Heh. Genna’s such a suck-up. :P
I don’t think I can get in until I get a Martin sweater. They have strict rules, ya know :P
I don’t think I can get in until I get a Martin sweater. They have strict rules, ya know :P
What can I say? We set the bar very high.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
LOL, I’m so used to thinking that Pando has a raccoon wife that when he mentioned his wife in his “Catching up with Jay Pandolfo” interview, I automatically thought 1) he’s married?!? and 2) can you bring raccoons on an airplane?
I automatically thought 1) he’s married?!? and 2) can you bring raccoons on an airplane?
He puts her in a cat carrier. She’s perfectly calm on planes, but it upsets the other passengers when she’s loose. :P
I believe he’s recruiting his cousin in Italy to play for the baby Devils. He wasn’t very smooth with transitioning to another topic (the Red Sox) to stop talking about him and hockey.
Yeah, it won’t surprise me someday when the entire Lowell and Trenton Devils rosters are made up of Pandolfo cousins.
:^::::::::::::
It’s either that or the NHL is really doing a Euro expansion and Pando wants his cousin to play for Diavolo aka the Devils’ sister franchise in Europe.
Oh my gosh. Instead of seeing sports, we’re seeing Mary Carillo saying to Blob Costas, “Well, you’ve gotta see a panda bear.” WTF?!?
I liked Mary saying that pandas will “cute-ify” any country. Got pesky human rights violations hanging over your head? Pollution problems? Stuff like that? No worries! Just get some pandas!
Wow, pandas have amazing powers, who knew?
They really do, Myra. They can make ANYTHING cuter.
Hey Myra, if you’re still here — break a leg in your interview tomorrow!
I always new my favorite stuffed panda from when I was a kid was special. My mom didn’t believe me. :P
Thanks Pookie! I can’t decide if I am more nervous or excited! It’s seems like it has been forever since I have had to be somewhere on time on a regular.
basis.
I think you should be excited! No need to be nervous! You’ve got it in the bag!! (Okay, you can be nervous about what insane urge is driving you to want to be GOING TO WORK every day, but whatever. :P)
HOLY CRAP! In the background of the gymnastics right now you can hear the music from the other girls doing floor exercise — and someone is using the music from TCM’s commercials for “Sunday Night Silents”. I WANT THAT PERSON TO WIN!
(Okay, you can be nervous about what insane urge is driving you to want to be GOING TO WORK every day, but whatever. :P)
I think you may have hit the nail on the head, Schnookie. But money, or lack there of, has that effect on people. :D
The music choices for the floor exercises are so bizare and random. I think Marta must pick the music for the US team because they always sound like some sort of Russia folk music. Not what you would expect a little American pixie to perform to. :)
Not what you would expect a little American pixie to perform to. :)
Please! They’re totally Mean Girls! They think the Russian music sounds cool! :P
(And yeah, that “lack of money” will really drive a gal to do crazy things. Like getting a job. It’s so terrible.)
I do like this Chinese grannie gymnast.
I love her too! I bet she gives Werther’ses to her teammates between apparatuses.
And then tells them that she used to have to vault uphill both ways.
You bet she did, Pookie!
Enjoy the rest of the Olympic evening. I’m off to bed early so I can pretend like I’m a grown-up tomorrow!
Good night, Myra! Good luck!
Good morning, IPB!
And then tells them that she used to have to vault uphill both ways.
And off an actual horse, too. Not that table-y thing they use now.
And off an actual horse, too. Not that table-y thing they use now.
And she had to work ten hours a day to scrape together money for sugar cubes and carrots to feed the horse, because bribing it with treats was the only way it would stand still.
Morning, IPB!
To the horse: :^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Poor Chinese granny lady! Life was so hard back then! :P
Good morning, everyone! I hope we’re all having a great day. I had the most shocking realization last night when I discovered it was Tuesday. I was fully confident that I’d already had my Tuesday night this week. It was really bizarre. Thank goodness all my Tuesdays are over now!
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: about the horse and horsey treats!
Good morning, everyone! I, too, can’t believe it’s only Wednesday. Fortunately, because of my wonky work-one-night-a-week schedule, when Wednesday’s finally over, I feel like Thursday and Friday are walks in the park.
I was fully confident that I’d already had my Tuesday night this week. It was really bizarre. Thank goodness all my Tuesdays are over now!
Heh! I woke up today and said, “Only Wednesday? Really? But I already feel like I got beat to a pulp. That’s not a feeling I get until early Friday!”
So far, so good, aside from the fact that two cups of coffee haven’t woken me up, but you know, I think that’s relatively minor. ;)
But I already feel like I got beat to a pulp. That’s not a feeling I get until early Friday!
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: And you’re so right — this week is chewing me up and spitting me out. (I’ve been very out of sorts the last few days, feeling anxious and a bit depressed. I think I’m getting all the negative side effects of Olympic Fever. All this exposure to Bob Costas can’t be good for me.)
All this exposure to Bob Costas can’t be good for me.)
You’re obviously feeling the effects of Costoxicity, methinks. It’s an overdose of Bob Costas.
I missed all the women’s gymnastics stuff last night, dammit!
I’ve been very out of sorts the last few days, feeling anxious and a bit depressed.
Its like hockey season in August. Our bodies aren’t used to these hockey related feelings in months that don’t run from October – April/May/June.
But I already feel like I got beat to a pulp. That’s not a feeling I get until early Friday!”
No kidding. I’m totally stressed out right now. Partially about work but mostly about the cat (and I really wish the vet would just get out of appointments and call me back). What I really want right now is to be in bed with tea and a book.
What I really want right now is to be in bed with tea and a book.
Aww, Meg! Can you take a mental health day or something?
HAHAHAHAHAHA! Costoxicity! Fantastic!
I have been terribly dissatisfied with how the gymnastics has been televised. I’m such a Grumpy McGrumperson, but it’s annoying as all hell that NBC demanded live content (understandable, considering tape delay is killer in the age of the interwebs), so the glamour events are run simultaneously, but during just a 2-hour window. So they cram all the big-time swimming and gymnastics events into the same two hours, and we end up getting FAR less coverage of both than I’d like. Now, I’m someone who’s willing to go to great lengths to avoid spoilers on the interwebs, so naturally I’m all like, “Why not just tape delay shit and let us watch FOUR hours of swimming and gymnastics starting at 8 pm?” Anyway, last night we never heard boo about the non-China and non-US teams. It sucked!
Meg, I am SO sorry that Pyramus is so unwell! You really should take a mental health day — you’ve been put through the wringer lately! And poor, poor little Pyramus.
Our bodies aren’t used to these hockey related feelings in months that don’t run from October – April/May/June.
Hee! That must be it! :D
Aww, Meg! Can you take a mental health day or something?
No. My boss is out on vacation, so it would be particularly nasty of me to leave the remaining person in the department here alone. Also, I don’t actually do mental health days–I’m one of those people who is generally determined to go to work no matter what.
Schnookie, I completely agree about the NBC coverage. Lame!
Also, I don’t actually do mental health days–I’m one of those people who is generally determined to go to work no matter what.
I don’t do them, either, but I thought I’d at least put it out there for you. :(
I’m sorry, It sounds like a lot of things are stressful and if I had to deal with the sulfur baths and my kitty being ill in addition to every day stress, I’d be finding the nearest clocktower. Poor Meg! I wish there was something I could do to help you out.
Anyway, last night we never heard boo about the non-China and non-US teams. It sucked!
BOO! I personally think that if they have an NFL Channel and an NHL channel and all that, why not an Olympics Channel? You can rerun old Olympics/Olympics movies until the new Olympics rolls around and then give everything the coverage it deserves.
You can rerun old Olympics/Olympics movies until the new Olympics rolls around and then give everything the coverage it deserves.
That’s brilliant, Caitlin! BRILLIANT!
I’m sorry, It sounds like a lot of things are stressful and if I had to deal with the sulfur baths and my kitty being ill in addition to every day stress, I’d be finding the nearest clocktower.
Since it turns out he doesn’t have ringworm I’m actually done with the sulfur baths. Which is a definite plus, so thanks for reminding me! His fur loss of late seems to have accelerated though. It’s not really so much just the fur, either. It comes off in little tuftss still attached to the dried bit of skin that has peeled off. It’s like he’s shedding the layer of skin in which the hair follicle resides. And there are some little tufts that are just kind of hanging on by a flap.
And there are some little tufts that are just kind of hanging on by a flap.
Poor thing…that’s got to be awful.
I hope y’all find out what’s going on soon, so he can feel better and you can have a little stress off you!
Poor Pyramus! Maybe he’s just molting?
Pyramus is half-snake!
Good Morning IPBers!
I have great news! I got the job!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If everything goes as planned, I start this Monday!
And in a bizarre twist, I gave them my blog so they could see my personality, etc. (I’m big on full disclosure) The owner actually wants me to create a blog on their website about their company! I thought he was kidding but he wasn’t.
Congratuations, Myra! The company blog sounds like it could be fun to write.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations, Myra! That’s SO AWESOME! (I can’t believe you showed them your blog — you need to keep that secret so they don’t realize what it is you’re doing when you’re blogging while at work! :P)
Thanks y’all!
I’m afraid I’ll be blogging after hours for a while because I have a lot of catching up to do and a lot to learn since I’ve been out of it for so long. Plus, my boss will be sitting right next to me! :P
Oh and my family thought I was quite insane to give them my blog address but apparently it didn’t scare them off and actually may have been a help. I’d rather they know what they are getting into up front! :P
You’re so honest and upstanding, Myra. :D
(Although who am I kidding? There’s NO WAY my bosses don’t know what I’m doing all day… :P)
Well, Kid and I are going out to a celebritory lunch. Catch y’all later!
Poor Pyramus! Maybe he’s just molting?
Hee! Maybe! I talked to the vet this morning and it looks like we’ll be putting him on steroids. Unfortunately, one likelihood is cancer but as we have no intention of doing any kind of major treatment for that we don’t see the need to do a skin biopsy at this point. So fingers crossed that the steroids help.
Congrats on the job, Myra!
Oh no, Meg! I really hope it’s nothing serious! I’m sure the steroids will solve the problem. (We joke that Favre faked an injury when he was a kitten to get steroids. He was limping around, and that’s what the vet prescribed for it, and he ate his pills like candy. CLEARLY Pyramus is now flaking his own skin off in an attempt to get his little paws on some ‘roids.)
CLEARLY Pyramus is now flaking his own skin off in an attempt to get his little paws on some ‘roids.
It’s all in preparation for the Kittylympics. Poor Pyramus isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer and doesn’t realize that they’re testing for feline doping these days.
It’s all in preparation for the Kittylympics. Poor Pyramus isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer and doesn’t realize that they’re testing for feline doping these days.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: He’s probably hopeful that your vet will have stuff that the tests can’t pick up yet. (I hope he’s not getting training tips from Favre. Our cat is a terrible influence on the kitty youths of the world!)
(I hope he’s not getting training tips from Favre. Our cat is a terrible influence on the kitty youths of the world!)
I think he’s old enough that he’s going his own way, here. If he was getting training tips from Favre he’d probably have chosen some less traumatic health problem. :)
You’re right — Favre’s commitment to being cute all the time means he’d never advise a cat to flake his own skin off. Pyramus is such a creative strategist!
Pyramus is such a creative strategist!
He is! And as an added bonus he’s been getting constant Greenies and as much food as he wants since I’m attempting to pork him up just in case. I figure it’s best if he has some spare pounds that he can afford to lose.
Hey Guys!
You’re diving lady was in mid season form last night. Val said that when the Canadian women were going (A team which happens to have a rather large member, by diving standards), they hit the water and she was like “Oh, it’s a tidal wave.”
You’re = Your…oops
Meg, you’re playing right into Pyramus’s hands! :P
pam, we laughed SO HARD at the way the diving lady handled the chunky Canadian diver. I loved her saying, on the fat chick’s first dive, that she’d have trouble creating as small splashes as the Chinese because “she’s not as streamlined”. The tidal wave comment was priceless!
they hit the water and she was like “Oh, it’s a tidal wave.”
Hee. I saw that and laughed so hard. You know she was just waiting for that one.
Personally, I would not be happy about someone equating my splash to a tidal wave. I missed it too! I was in the shower at the time, and still laughed when Val told me about it afterward. But I did see the Canadian girl, and was like “she’s a diver?!?!”
But I did see the Canadian girl, and was like “she’s a diver?!?!”
Yeah, the bitchy announcer was probably like, “We’re all thinking it! I’m just saying it!”
You know she was just waiting for that one.
Yup! Al Trautwig came in armed with his lame call, “There’s a new China Syndrome and it’s called Gold Fever!” and the diving lady brought “It’s a tidal wave!”
Yea, that was pretty weak. Al is such a tool. He’s probably sitting there, thinking: “I’m the guy who interviews Brian Hollweg during the 2nd intermission, and I get stuck doin gymnastics?!”
I felt bad for the US women last night.
Um, I meant Ryan…not Brian…not that it matters since he isnt on the Rangers anymore.
Yeah, Brian/Ryan… it’s all the same to Al.
He’s been doing the Olympic gymnastics for as long as I can remember, and really, he’s unctuous enough doing hockey. He seems SO squicky when he gets talking about the gymnastics girls.
in 2004 they had Bill Clement covering table tennis. Now that’s a dis!
in 2004 they had Bill Clement covering table tennis. Now that’s a dis!
Hee! As someone who is not a professional journalist? I would kill to do play by play for table tennis, just so I could make everything overly dramatic and make horrible puns.
I’m not sure I could keep up with table tennis! It’s just so freakin’ fast at the Olympic level!
It’s just so freakin’ fast at the Olympic level!
Oh yes, I know…but then you can make some sort of snide, Diving Lady comment about how the German ping-pong player clearly hasn’t been keeping up with his conditioning and therefore, his arm position is so off!
HAHAHAHAHA! You’re so right, Caitlin! :D
I’m now imagining Bill Clement calling table tennis paired with the Snooker Announcers from “That Mitchell and Webb Look”.
Myra, I know you’re not here right now, but congratulations on the job!
Meg, I’m keeping my fingers crossed Pyramus is just faking to get attention and one of these days he’ll be like, “No, I’m fine!” and then go back to normal.
Pookie, I’ve been thinking of the snooker announcers all afternoon!
Hey, anyone around? Slow day huh?
Hey andrew, if you’re still here. I’m finally home and done watering the garden and sitting down and it’s going to be tough for me not to fall asleep. Heh. It’s definitely the dog days now, isn’t it?
How’s it going? (If you’re not around, I’ll just sit here and pretend like I enjoy talking to myself…)
Hey Schnookie,
I’m still around, for another 20 minutes anyways.
The dog days certainly are here. There’s no doubt about that.
I’ve been tracking down album artwork for my iPod, and in order to get some of the really obscure stuff I had to create a myspace account today. So, needless to say, I entertained myself by looking up old high school friends, college friends, old girlfriends, etc. Surprisingly it was an near-endless source of comedic entertainment.
Wow! MySpace? What, are you planning to become a sexual predator? Isn’t that the only thing that happens on MySpace? :P (Just kidding. That seems like it would be a WILDLY entertaining way to spend a workday!)
What, are you planning to become a sexual predator? Isn’t that the only thing that happens on MySpace?
That’s what I thought!
A friend of mine actually pointed it out as a very comprehensive source for ultra-oddball music (and thus, album artwork). Turns out he was right.
That seems like it would be a WILDLY entertaining way to spend a workday!
Dude, it sooo was. Although I was really hoping someone I went to school with had turned out to be famous (like Chris Connelley or something). As it turns out, no. None of my friends have made it big. Guess I’d better go back to playing the lottery.
That BLOWS! The very least your high school buddies could have done was become rich and famous so you could glom onto them. How inconsiderate!
The very least your high school buddies could have done was become rich and famous so you could glom onto them.
Well, that was the plan. I held up my end of the deal. I don’t know why they all wussed out. Sheesh.
Maybe the one who drew the short straw is still working on getting rich and famous? I mean, you all are still pretty young…
Maybe the one who drew the short straw is still working on getting rich and famous?
I bet I’m just looking up all the wrong people. I should stop wasting time laughing at my moron friends and start looking for the kids I hung out with in AP. They’re most likely the rich ones!
Anyways, I’m outta here. It’s quittin’ time. See you all later!
Have a great evening, andrew!
Hey, I don’t know if anyone is around this evening, but I am going to be looking at getting a laptop and wanted to get people’s opinions on which ones they liked and didn’t like. As I recall this is a serious laptop crowd! :P Thanks!
Hey Myra! If you’re still around, I’m game to talk laptops! I just got another Toshiba after a few years with a Sony, and I have never been happier. I love my Toshiba.
Myra, I am, on the whole, quite pleased with my Sony Vaio. It’s a nice size, the screen is nice, the colors clear. The one problem? The keyboard sticks a bit. Yeah, that’s a big problem for someone like me who types quickly but inaccurately. Other than that, I like it.
What I’ve discovered with laptops is that the battery life is a joke on pretty much every model and every make. So buy the one that looks the best to you, or has the best locations for USB ports, or is the size you want. I’ve also been pretty pleased with Consumer Reports’s laptop ratings. Your public library website likely offers access to past issues of Consumer Reports for free so you don’t have to pay to access the CR site itself.
I love my Toshiba too, Myra, if that helps. Little Blackie just keeps on ticking.
I like Toshiba’s keyboards the best! It’s like typing on a cloud!
Thanks y’all!
Thanks Pookie for the Consumer Reports library tip! I’ll check that out.
I’m pommerdoodling over the possibilities!
alix, your laptop is named Little Blackie? That’s so funny!
Myra, you’re welcome! New laptops are always pommerdoodle-worthy!
A new laptop is TOTALLY pommerdoodling-worthy!
It is indeed, Pookie. I’m special. Heh.
Oh and cloud typing is the best.
I think Little Blackie is the cutest name for a laptop. Mine’s just The IPB Machine. Lame. Actually, now it’s the New IPB Machine. Considering that I name almost every appliance I own (my stand mixer, for example, is the Billy Ruffian), I’m surprised I haven’t given my laptop a better name. :D
Billy Ruffian is adorable!