Mainstream

    I am hearing lots of complaints about NBC's coverage, and what events show up in prime time.  It is virtually impossible to get to nine or ten pm EST without hearing or seeing results from somewhere.  But really, it is not NBCs fault that the planet is round.  NBC has bills to pay, too, huge ones, in fact, and when you add together all they are covering, I don't think the complaints are valid.
But.
   This afternoon I decided I would write about Missy Franklin, and be a part of the prime time party, experience her swim, no matter the outcome, asmillions of others do, and share that with the blogosphere.
   And what does the National Broadcasting Company do?  Not only will they feature Franklin's final in prime, but they run a lengthy feature on the Colorado girl, and in station breaks, they tease the swimmer's reunion with her parents on their morning broadcast.
    Well, they're not stopping me.
    We see athletes thank God, often.  It has become cliche.  "first I want to give thanks and praise to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."  Far be it from me to question another's commitment to his or her faith.  Following Franklin's stirring win in the backstroke race tonight, she did bring God into her interview with NBC's Andrea Kreamer.  But she said she was happy about "what God had allowed," and seemed most pleased simply that her parents were able to attend the swim.  This is a great kid.  Humble, happy, hardworking, an example.  I hope that we get to see her swim in Rio in four years.  Congratulations gold medalist, Missy Franklin.

A Fast Start

If you knew the United States men's archery team was going to win silver - and lose Gold by one point on the final arrow of the competition, you're a championion, in my book. If you knew that the Spanish men would be eliminated from play in the opening round, you know a lot. If you told me that Jordyn Wieber would not be involved in the individual all around finals, my eyebrows would have been raised, to say the least. But, as my father used to say, that's why they play the games. Or, in this case, the Games. I just saw a fifteen year old obliterate the field in her heat of the women's hundred breast rose. Never heard of her before the moment she dove in the pool. Rita Meilutyte. This, to me, is the beauty of the Olympic Games. As of twenty minutes ago, I had no desire to see the women's hundred breaststroke final, but now, the DVR is set. I would like to think that sporting competition in the Olympics is above reproach, but I get the feeling that Abby Wambach would tell you differently. In Abby's game against Columbia, she was brutally founded by a woman named, ironically, Lady Andrade. Andrade evidently was frustrated enough by Wambach's play that she simply hauled off and belted her in the face. Andrade tried to do it again, later, but missed, and hit Wambach in the neck. the International Olympic Committee will review the incident, Wambach stated after the match that the team has the punch on tape. It will not be the last unsportsmanlike event you will hear about in the next two weeks. The point here is that there is a lot going on, a lot to see, read and hear. these Games have yet to establish their identity, but in the next couple of days, Phelps will swim several more times, as will Ryan Lochte. gymnastics will take over in prime time In mid week, and then ,for me, the real fun, track and field will start. In the meantime, we're going to get all the field hockey, badminton, cycling, rowing and soccer you can handle. Maybe tomorrow we'll meet another budding star. The Games are rolling, folks. 82 medals awarded already. Can't wait for tomorrow...

XXX

     Today is a day to celebrate youth.

     Today is a day to be hopeful about the future of the planet.  One thing the Olympics remind us is that we CAN get along, if only for two weeks, if only in a sporting setting.  But, it is a start.  One of Baron Coubertin's original aims was to bring together countries that had recently warred, in an effort to aid a healing process.

     People have every right to complain that the Olympics are a sham, that the billions of dollars spent hosting are a waste, that the nationalism shown by TV networks is jingoistic posturing.  I get it.  But we need the Olympic Games, as a reset, as a reminder, as a world party.  To me, it is vitally important that this tradition continue.

    I'm excited for these Games, I think they have great potential.  We are going to meet some amazing people in these next 17 days and nights.  It is a unique opportunity.  I'm thankful that both my Mother and my Father shared their enthusiasm for the Games with me.  I recently found a copy of a board we played at home when I was in high school called "Decathlon."  My father knew the track athletes so well he knew exactly who to choose, when -  Bob Mathias will win this event, Rafer Johnson will win that one.  I'd love to play that game with my Dad again, but I'll be very happy to share the London Games with the young.  It was suggested recently that the American youth don't carry the "buzz" for the Games that my generation did.  The thought is that their leisure hours are so devided, so full of choices that the Games don't count as much.  No disrespect, but I hope the thought is not true.

    I do know a subset of young people who are looking forward to the Games, and I hope they will carry the spirit and fun forward to their next generation.  From Dylan's euphoric tweet two months ago, "So psyched for London 2012!", to Brigid's joy at the slam poet in the Opening Cermonies in Vancouver, to Megan's collection of USA Todays during the Beijing Olympiad, to Razz's excitement with this summer's Trials......

   Welcome, young folks.  Thanks for showing us how really great a people we can be.

    Bring It!

SSILATO -  (Silly Stuff I Learned About The Olympics)

                 Every Olymipic badminton shuttlecock has 18 feathers, each plucked from the left wing of a goose.

No Competition?

    If you closely review your Olympic events schedule today, you will find no competition.  No games.  No sprints, walks, jumps, dives, rows, cycles....nothin'.  The only thing going on in London today is the  Opening Cermonies.

   But, if you think there is no competition to be found today....Au contraire, mon petite Coubertin!

   Out in the middle of Lake George, the Leontine games have begun!  Correspondents on the scene tell us that the Opening Ceremonies, including a torch lighting and athletes parade took place yesterday, and competition in several disciplines begins this morning.

   Medals will be awarded in sprint events, a longer "Island Run", multiple swimming categories, the long jump, and several non-medal events, including water skiing and tubing.

    Evidently, on Leontine, the motto is expanded:  "Faster, Higher, Stronger, Wetter!"

   Thanks for keeping the spirit alive, we'd love to see some pictures!

Edited, Friday  AM -  Mea culpa.  There IS archery competition today, in fact, a World record was set!

Alternatives

    Last night, we learned that Greek triple jumper Voula Papachristou was expelled from the London Games.  My thought was, "here comes the first doping story" - but it wasn't.  Simply put, Voula is a racist, and her counduct was deemed to be "not in the Olympic spirit."  No kidding.

    Interestingly, the vehicle Voula used to make public her bigoted stance, and the method by which I became aware of her expulsion are one and the same.

    Twitter

    140 characters a pop -  and you can get lifted from an Olympic team, spread the word, and move on to the next nano-second's news.

   I'm following several London Twitter accounts, and Coubertins Rings is also on Twitter.  I'll look forward to tweets from Buffalo News columnist Jerry Sullvan at TBNSully.  I've also installed the Sports Illustrated and NBC "Olympics Live"  apps on my iPad.  I'm subscribed to several bloggers, including the excellent Olympic blog at espn.com that has entries from multiple writers.

    The New York Times coverage is extensive, following the paper on Twitter gives you links to a slew of free content.

    And, finally, there is tumblr.  I may be the oldest guy alive with a tumblr account, I'm at towerdude.tumblr.com.  This photo-heavy social site is great for a fun look at the Games.  You won't find results in the four-man-skull with no coxswain races, but you can see some outstanding photos of atheletes and spectators getting ready, gearing up.

    One More Day.  NBC's "plausibly live" coverage of the Opening Ceremonies begins tomorrow at 7:30pm, EST.

No Pressure

                I suppose Usain Bolt might be feeling some pressure, he’s only the “Fastest Man In The World.”  He set a world record in the 100 yard dash in Beijing, and the world will be watching to see if he can better his own feat in South London.

                Each Olympian likely feels pressure in one form or another.  It’s enough to think, “I’m going against the best in the world, I’m representing my country,”  but, um….how about a hemisphere?

                Say hello to Julie Zetlin, who just might have the largest single bag of expectations of any Olympic athlete.  Julie’s sport?  Rhythmic gymnastics.  I know, I know….

                Rhythmic gymnastics came to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984, with an individual all-around competition.  Team competition was added in 1996 in Atlanta.  It should come as no great shock to readers that the champions have and do still come from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Ukraine, Bulgaria…..you get the idea.  There are more 17 year-old long-haired brunettes in this competition than at your average One Direction concert.

                I do not know enough yet as to why, I am still learning, but Zetlin’s position among gymnasts is unique in that she does not represent the Unities States, solely.  She represents North, Central and South America.  Evidently, the competition qualifiers come from areas of the globe, and we have one opening for us Westerners.  So Julie Zetlin, a 22 year-old from Silver Spring Maryland, might just have supporters from Buenos Aires through Manitoba.  Julie’s mother was a nationalchampion in rhythmic gymnastics in Hungary, so there is an Eastern European tie, there.  Julie is fluent in Hungarian.

                Individuals compete in four disciplines, ball, hoop, club and ribbon.  That ribbon, by the way is 7 meters long, and must stay in “perpetual, fluid motion throughout the routine.”

                The odds-on favorite to win the Individual all-around gold medal is Evgenia Kanaeva, the two-time defending champion, from Russia.  Events are scored out of a possible 30 points, she is the only person in history to score a 30 in international competition. 

                All the Americas wish good luck to Julie. 

               

Foot Start, Head Start

    Although the Opening Ceremonies of the London Games are not until Friday, competition actually begins Wednesday.  Soccer, or what the rest of the world calls football, kicks off (!) Wednesday, when the women from, fittingly, Great Britian and New Zealand play.  The U.S. Women play France an hour later.
  In the Olympics, soccer is set up similarly to the World Cup, where group play determines quarterfinal opponents.  In international tournaments, there are usually several down days between games, at least two days of rest.  After Wednesday's opener, group play continues on Saturday.  So, the schedule is built to allow rest, but soccer will run the length of the Games, wit hthe Bronze and Gold medal contests on the women's side happening August 9.
   You may remember that in Beijing, the U.S. Women beat Brazil to win Gold.  Carli Lloyd, at the time 26, took a pass from a teammate and buried a 19-yard chance to put the U.S. ahead of "the best team in the world" for good. It would be truly amazing if the U.S. Women could repeat their Gold medal performance in London.
   Lloyd is a midfielder who scored twice in Beijing.  A former Rutgers student, she plays now for the Atlanta Beat. 


 Their group includes France, Columbia, and the DPR (Democratic people's Republic) of Korea, or, more commonly, North Korea.  This is not an easy group to get out of, only the top two teams in group play will advance, so a win against France is almost crucial, given that Columbia might be considered one of the favorites to win Gold.
   Nothing's easy. The women have been playing well, defeating Canada 2-1 in their "send-off" game two weeks back in Utah, and beat Japan before that match.   But Canada and Japan are not Columbia and Brazil.  We'll be watching the women closely Wednesday, and throughout the competition.  Wednesday's game will be played in Glasgow.  Coubertin's Rings will follow several teams and individuals, not all American, and trying to find any reason why one athelete or sport is followed here is pointless.  At one time or another, we latched on, for one of many reasons, and hopefully, we'll be able to tell an interesting story.  This one is for Jen.

   

Tucked Underneath Her Arm

    For years at Lawrence family gatherings, we would beg my mother's brother Bob to sing "the song."  The ditty in question was "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm", written by two guys named Weston and Lee, in 1934.  The song tells the story of Anne Boleyn, one of King Henry's unfortunate wives, and her sad spooky perambulations around the Tower of London.

  "Along the draughty corridors,
   For miles and miles she goes
   She often catches cold, poor thing,
   It's cold there when it blows
   And its awfully awkward for the Queen
   To have to blow her nose
   With her head tucked underneath her arm.

   With her head tucked underneath her arm.
   She walks the bloody Tower
   With her head tucked underneath her arm.
   At the midnight hour."


   
    As an adult, after a few Guinness, or a martini, this was a hoot.  As a nine year old, seeing my uncle's sincere face and listening to his powerful Irish baritone, it was scary as hell.  But we begged for him to do it!  My mother and father laughed and laughed.  I remembering thinking, "How can you laugh?  She's dead and her head's chopped off, and now she's walking around!"  I was determined never to go to this Tower of London place, if it showed up on a field trip or family vacation.  At least, not at midnight.


   Well, it gives me great pleasure to report that Anne got some special company in the last few days.  As a part of the build up to London 2012, the Olympiad's medals are being stored, until the Games open, at the Tower of London.  Being carefully watched by those Beefeater guys, officially known as the Yeoman warders.  Yesterday, a Royal Marine rappelled out of a helicopter with the Olympic Torch to the Tower, as well.  Let the showmanship begin!

Aside to tebi, latefor and Laura: The Mickey Mouse Club show had a serial called "Spin and Marty." They sang the Anne Boleyn song, regularly....