I write this not because you will learn anything new, or likely, anything that hasn't been said before, but "Lochtegate" is the story of these past few days, so here goes:
Getting drunk, staying out late, causing a ruckus and trying to cover it up is not news.
It does not merit two helicopters flying above a Rio gas station 4 days after the fact. It does not merit our national evening news broadcasts leading with a reporter standing at the gas station.
Did Lochte lie? It seems so. Did the four swimmers collude a story to try to save face? It seems so.
It is interesting to me that the city of Rio can see fit to remove American citizens from a plane and detain them, but has no official response to the media bus taking gunshots last week. I suppose it would be really easy for me to say, "Clean up the favelas!" Every major city in the world has slums, and quadrennially, those slums are right next door to an Olympic event. It happens.
Lochte and pals made a really stupid mistake. I'm not in the business of determining what the appropriate punishment is - I believe Lochte has done himself irreparable harm in the way of endorsement dollars.
We have three days left. Let's finish strong, everybody.
Coubertin's Rings - A fan's blog for the Olympic Games, Summer and Winter.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016
One Foot...
A track coach once said, "I like it (track) because everyone can do it. Put one foot in front of the other."
"Athletics" competitors are doing that these days in Rio, on a blue track in a stadium that looks huge, on TV. on the biggest stage in the world, runners have the spotlight at the Games.
Yesterday, three American women made history by sweeping the 100 meter hurdles event. Ashton Eaton performed well enough in the first day's decathlon events to position himself for a shot at gold. Justin Gatlin's sideways glance may have cost him a place in the 200 meter final.
The thing that I'm really jazzed about is the steeplechasers. In what may be the throw-away event of the Track and Field competition, Americans medaled on both the women's and the men's side.
First, Emma Coburn set an American record for the 3000 meter race at 9:07.63, and won bronze. Coburn led significant portions of the race, a strategy which proved valid when Ruth Jebet employed her well known finishing kick. If Coburn doesn't work to put herself out front, she probably does not hold on for third. Jebet is from Kenya - the middle and long-distance breeding ground of the world, but competed in Rio for Bahrain, a practice that has become more and more common in the last three or four years.
On the men's side, Evan jager ran an 8:04 to get silver. this is the first time Americans of both genders have medaled in Steeplechase. I will point out once again that this USA squad is being led by it's women, who represent more than half of the 554 competitors in Rio.
You may have heard about the hair tie - shortly before the beginning of the women's race, Coburn found herself without a hair tie, and so, borrowed Jager's. Jager wore the same time in his race....that is the most decorated hair tie in history. Find that thing on eBay. I'll bid on it!
"Athletics" competitors are doing that these days in Rio, on a blue track in a stadium that looks huge, on TV. on the biggest stage in the world, runners have the spotlight at the Games.
Yesterday, three American women made history by sweeping the 100 meter hurdles event. Ashton Eaton performed well enough in the first day's decathlon events to position himself for a shot at gold. Justin Gatlin's sideways glance may have cost him a place in the 200 meter final.
The thing that I'm really jazzed about is the steeplechasers. In what may be the throw-away event of the Track and Field competition, Americans medaled on both the women's and the men's side.
First, Emma Coburn set an American record for the 3000 meter race at 9:07.63, and won bronze. Coburn led significant portions of the race, a strategy which proved valid when Ruth Jebet employed her well known finishing kick. If Coburn doesn't work to put herself out front, she probably does not hold on for third. Jebet is from Kenya - the middle and long-distance breeding ground of the world, but competed in Rio for Bahrain, a practice that has become more and more common in the last three or four years.
On the men's side, Evan jager ran an 8:04 to get silver. this is the first time Americans of both genders have medaled in Steeplechase. I will point out once again that this USA squad is being led by it's women, who represent more than half of the 554 competitors in Rio.
You may have heard about the hair tie - shortly before the beginning of the women's race, Coburn found herself without a hair tie, and so, borrowed Jager's. Jager wore the same time in his race....that is the most decorated hair tie in history. Find that thing on eBay. I'll bid on it!
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Two Busy Days
How's your Wednesday looking? I have three meetings - fairly light, that will give me the opportunity to catch on a Secure ftp issue, get with my team members and refresh the projects list, and, like that.
Here's someone's else's day:
8:30AM - 100m dash - at which you need to run a 10.5 or better. (Jesse Owens won the 1936 100 meter dash in 10.3)
9:35AM - Long Jump - better jump at least 7.8 meters (25 feet, 7 inches) (Willie Steele won the long jump in '48 with a leap of 7.825)
11:15 - Shot Put - need to throw at least 15.6 meters (51 feet) (Leo Sexton won in LA in '32 with a 16.00 throw)
Then you get a break, but don't make big plans, you need to be back on the track for:
4:45PM - High Jump - just do a quick 2.15 meters (7'1") (The legend, Valeri Brumel, won in '64 in Tokyo, with a 2.16)
8:20pm - 400m - 0:48 or so. (Eric Liddel won in Paris in '24 with a :47.6)
Go rest up....tomorrow is harder.
The parenthetic winning times and distances are for the open event itself, not the decathlon......
Best of luck to Ashton Eaton, and all the competitors of the decathlon.
Here's someone's else's day:
8:30AM - 100m dash - at which you need to run a 10.5 or better. (Jesse Owens won the 1936 100 meter dash in 10.3)
9:35AM - Long Jump - better jump at least 7.8 meters (25 feet, 7 inches) (Willie Steele won the long jump in '48 with a leap of 7.825)
11:15 - Shot Put - need to throw at least 15.6 meters (51 feet) (Leo Sexton won in LA in '32 with a 16.00 throw)
Then you get a break, but don't make big plans, you need to be back on the track for:
4:45PM - High Jump - just do a quick 2.15 meters (7'1") (The legend, Valeri Brumel, won in '64 in Tokyo, with a 2.16)
8:20pm - 400m - 0:48 or so. (Eric Liddel won in Paris in '24 with a :47.6)
Go rest up....tomorrow is harder.
The parenthetic winning times and distances are for the open event itself, not the decathlon......
Best of luck to Ashton Eaton, and all the competitors of the decathlon.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Games
Many years ago, Sports Illustrated offered a board game based on the Olympic decathlon. Aptly named "Decathlon", the game allowed players to replicate, at the roll of dice, the performances of true Olympic decathletes.
If memory serves, the game came to me as a gift from my godfather, Joe Fox, one of two decent NYC High School track coaches I know. The detail in the game was pretty amazing. It also took a good two and a half hours to play, in order to get through all ten events. My father often chose to play as Bill Toomey, who won the Olympic decathlon in 1968 in Mexico City.
Being a young punk, I countered this paly to compete as Vasily Kuznetsov, because , after all, communism is a great theory, right? Kuznetsov won bronze twice, in '56 in Melbourne, and in '60 in Rome. (Remind me to tell you about Abebe Bekila in the Rome Games one day.)
I currently live with someone silly enough to humor me and play the game. I wonder who she will choose as a player? I get the feeling Megan might like Rafer Johnson, and Bee might side with a classic, Jim Thorpe. I found the game on eBay recently, but the set doesn't have the dice. As a sort of precursor to Gygax' Dungeons and Dragons, you cant play this game without the dice. I'll find it, one day.
The decathlon in Rio will be contested beginning tomorrow, American Ashton Eaton has a very good chance to be at the top of the podium. Some like Damien Warner from Canada, but I do not believe he can compete at the top level in all events. That's why we watch!
Note: readers of this blog are encouraged to give a listen to NPR's All Things Considered today, or to link later from their site, www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered for a discussion on intersex athletes. The timing seems appropriate, given that the decathlon begins tomorrow, and we are reminded of Caitlyn Jenner's win in Montreal in 1976.
If memory serves, the game came to me as a gift from my godfather, Joe Fox, one of two decent NYC High School track coaches I know. The detail in the game was pretty amazing. It also took a good two and a half hours to play, in order to get through all ten events. My father often chose to play as Bill Toomey, who won the Olympic decathlon in 1968 in Mexico City.
Being a young punk, I countered this paly to compete as Vasily Kuznetsov, because , after all, communism is a great theory, right? Kuznetsov won bronze twice, in '56 in Melbourne, and in '60 in Rome. (Remind me to tell you about Abebe Bekila in the Rome Games one day.)
I currently live with someone silly enough to humor me and play the game. I wonder who she will choose as a player? I get the feeling Megan might like Rafer Johnson, and Bee might side with a classic, Jim Thorpe. I found the game on eBay recently, but the set doesn't have the dice. As a sort of precursor to Gygax' Dungeons and Dragons, you cant play this game without the dice. I'll find it, one day.
The decathlon in Rio will be contested beginning tomorrow, American Ashton Eaton has a very good chance to be at the top of the podium. Some like Damien Warner from Canada, but I do not believe he can compete at the top level in all events. That's why we watch!
Note: readers of this blog are encouraged to give a listen to NPR's All Things Considered today, or to link later from their site, www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered for a discussion on intersex athletes. The timing seems appropriate, given that the decathlon begins tomorrow, and we are reminded of Caitlyn Jenner's win in Montreal in 1976.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Judoka
Ever heard of the Fearless Foundation?
Kayla Harrison won Gold in her class in Judo, in the London Games, in 2012.
She returned to the Olympics in Rio, hoping to defend her title, as all Olympic champions would. Harrison competes in the 78kg class, equal to just under 172 pounds. For women, this is about as heavy as the competition gets.
Based on seeding, Harrison had a first round bye, and fought Zhehui Zhang of China, and won on an ippon. An ippon by definition is a "perfectly executed technique", and results in a match score of 100- 0. Following that elimination Round of 16 match, she took on Abigel Joo, of Hungary, and won, 100-0, on an ippon. On to the semi-finals.
Facing Anamari Velensek of Slovenia, Harrison won the match.....100-0, on an ippon.
Sensing a trend?
I think the reason I have an affinity for this fighter is because her best move is an arm bar. I've nearly perfected my bar arm, but that's different.
In yesterday's Gold medal match, Harrison fought Audrey Tcheumeo of France, the second-ranked judoka in the world in her class. Harrison won the match with six seconds remaining - on an ippon.
But it all might not have happened.
After the London Games, Harrison created the Fearless Foundation, a nonprofit that works to aid victims of sexual abuse through education and sports. Following an attack as a teen by a former coach, Harrison was close to giving up sports - and found judo to be a place where she belonged, and could excel.
Congratulations to Kayla Harrison, two-time Olympic champion. Thank you to Kayla Harrison, helper and hero.
Kayla Harrison won Gold in her class in Judo, in the London Games, in 2012.
She returned to the Olympics in Rio, hoping to defend her title, as all Olympic champions would. Harrison competes in the 78kg class, equal to just under 172 pounds. For women, this is about as heavy as the competition gets.
Based on seeding, Harrison had a first round bye, and fought Zhehui Zhang of China, and won on an ippon. An ippon by definition is a "perfectly executed technique", and results in a match score of 100- 0. Following that elimination Round of 16 match, she took on Abigel Joo, of Hungary, and won, 100-0, on an ippon. On to the semi-finals.
Facing Anamari Velensek of Slovenia, Harrison won the match.....100-0, on an ippon.
Sensing a trend?
I think the reason I have an affinity for this fighter is because her best move is an arm bar. I've nearly perfected my bar arm, but that's different.
In yesterday's Gold medal match, Harrison fought Audrey Tcheumeo of France, the second-ranked judoka in the world in her class. Harrison won the match with six seconds remaining - on an ippon.
But it all might not have happened.
After the London Games, Harrison created the Fearless Foundation, a nonprofit that works to aid victims of sexual abuse through education and sports. Following an attack as a teen by a former coach, Harrison was close to giving up sports - and found judo to be a place where she belonged, and could excel.
Congratulations to Kayla Harrison, two-time Olympic champion. Thank you to Kayla Harrison, helper and hero.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Busy, Busy
How would you like to be the transportation coordinator for this:
Golf - 6:30AM - 6:30PM
Badminton - 7:00AM - 11:20AM
Rowing - 7:30AM - 1:15PM
Archery - 8:00AM - 9:44AM
Shooting - 8:00AM - 12:00PM
Fencing - 8:00AM - 1:15PM
Water Polo - 8:00AM - 1:20PM
Handball - 8:30AM - 12:00PM
Volleyball - 8:30AM - 12:05PM
Table Tennis - 9:00AM - 11:00AM
Beach Volleyball 9:00AM - 12:20PM
Equestrian - 9:00AM - 9:00AM
Hockey - 9:00AM - 2:15PM
Judo - 9:00AM - 11:34AM
Boxing - 10:00AM - 12:56PM
Tennis - 10:00AM - 10:30PM
Rugby Sevens - 11:30AM - 7:30PM
Swimming - 12:02PM - 2:07PM
Sailing - 12:05PM - 3:35PM
Artistic Gymnastics - 3:00PM - 4:55PM
Cycling - 3:00PM - 5:29PM
I like how Equestrian is allotted one minute, or less....that's interesting.
I have listed only the earliest session of any discipline from the official schedule for today. Beach volleyball, handball and volleyball have three sessions each. Today is a very busy day in Rio. They all are, so that 10,500 athletes can compete.
In golf, a discipline in the Games for the first time in more than 100 years, 60 men begin play at the crack of dawn on a course our intrepid Orlando blogger points out has capybaras running around on it. That'll make approach shots challenging.
Game On!
Golf - 6:30AM - 6:30PM
Badminton - 7:00AM - 11:20AM
Rowing - 7:30AM - 1:15PM
Archery - 8:00AM - 9:44AM
Shooting - 8:00AM - 12:00PM
Fencing - 8:00AM - 1:15PM
Water Polo - 8:00AM - 1:20PM
Handball - 8:30AM - 12:00PM
Volleyball - 8:30AM - 12:05PM
Table Tennis - 9:00AM - 11:00AM
Beach Volleyball 9:00AM - 12:20PM
Equestrian - 9:00AM - 9:00AM
Hockey - 9:00AM - 2:15PM
Judo - 9:00AM - 11:34AM
Boxing - 10:00AM - 12:56PM
Tennis - 10:00AM - 10:30PM
Rugby Sevens - 11:30AM - 7:30PM
Swimming - 12:02PM - 2:07PM
Sailing - 12:05PM - 3:35PM
Artistic Gymnastics - 3:00PM - 4:55PM
Cycling - 3:00PM - 5:29PM
I like how Equestrian is allotted one minute, or less....that's interesting.
I have listed only the earliest session of any discipline from the official schedule for today. Beach volleyball, handball and volleyball have three sessions each. Today is a very busy day in Rio. They all are, so that 10,500 athletes can compete.
In golf, a discipline in the Games for the first time in more than 100 years, 60 men begin play at the crack of dawn on a course our intrepid Orlando blogger points out has capybaras running around on it. That'll make approach shots challenging.
Game On!
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Flip, Splash
That the U.S. Women's gymnastics team would do well in Rio was pretty much foregone. But, after the first day of team competition, when the lead was just under 10 whole points, people began comparing the distance between the U.S. team and the rest of the competing nations to other contests. The lead was said to be "30 points at halftime of a basketball game." "Like a five touchdown lead." Etc, etc. And so, I got nervous.
Haven't we seen people fall from the balance beam? Haven't we seen disaster strike on the uneven bars?
Well, there was little need for all that concern, the "Final Five" as they're getting to be known, completed their appointed rounds and won Gold, for some God, and country.
As we move toward the individual competition, I'd like to tip my cap to the two lesser-known women on the team, Lauren Hernandez and Madison Kocian. To me, those two are the glue, the guts, the people you need on your team to truly make it a team.
Simone Biles is the new star, and rightfully so, she's going to be the best in the world, if she isn't, already. Aly Raisman is a steady veteran. Her Amanar vault was pretty much perfect. Gaby Douglas, is, well, Gaby Douglas and if you haven't been under a rock, you know that name.
Hernandez made the team based on the strength of her performance in the last two events at Trials, and deserves to be in Rio, no doubt. She matched her best score of the year on bars yesterday, when it really mattered.
Kocian is the story.
The 19 year old from Dallas may be the surprise of the individual all-around competition. Her bars score during the team event was the highest on the team, and while she may not be at that level on floor, the vibe here is that she might just show the world a thing or two on vault and beam. And this is after breaking her foot in February. She is the only member of the team who maintains NCAA eligibility, and intends to matriculate at UCLA in the fall.
I love me some Olympics.
___________________________________________________________
Last night one of the guys in my "Great Satan" Olympics pool (I'll tell you later) sent a one word note. "Katinka!"
He refers, of course, to Hungary's finest, Katinka Hosszu. The 27 year old has swum to Gold three times already, this Olympiad, dropped an event yesterday, and still has entries in three more events.
200m IM, Gold. Olympic record. 100m backstroke, Gold. 400m IM, Gold, Olympic record, World record.
Michael who?
Haven't we seen people fall from the balance beam? Haven't we seen disaster strike on the uneven bars?
Well, there was little need for all that concern, the "Final Five" as they're getting to be known, completed their appointed rounds and won Gold, for some God, and country.
As we move toward the individual competition, I'd like to tip my cap to the two lesser-known women on the team, Lauren Hernandez and Madison Kocian. To me, those two are the glue, the guts, the people you need on your team to truly make it a team.
Simone Biles is the new star, and rightfully so, she's going to be the best in the world, if she isn't, already. Aly Raisman is a steady veteran. Her Amanar vault was pretty much perfect. Gaby Douglas, is, well, Gaby Douglas and if you haven't been under a rock, you know that name.
Hernandez made the team based on the strength of her performance in the last two events at Trials, and deserves to be in Rio, no doubt. She matched her best score of the year on bars yesterday, when it really mattered.
Kocian is the story.
The 19 year old from Dallas may be the surprise of the individual all-around competition. Her bars score during the team event was the highest on the team, and while she may not be at that level on floor, the vibe here is that she might just show the world a thing or two on vault and beam. And this is after breaking her foot in February. She is the only member of the team who maintains NCAA eligibility, and intends to matriculate at UCLA in the fall.
I love me some Olympics.
___________________________________________________________
Last night one of the guys in my "Great Satan" Olympics pool (I'll tell you later) sent a one word note. "Katinka!"
He refers, of course, to Hungary's finest, Katinka Hosszu. The 27 year old has swum to Gold three times already, this Olympiad, dropped an event yesterday, and still has entries in three more events.
200m IM, Gold. Olympic record. 100m backstroke, Gold. 400m IM, Gold, Olympic record, World record.
Michael who?
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