updates from armchair olympics

In retrospect, I'm always kind of amused how Family and I become Armchair Gymnastic Judges, very much as we become Armchair Figure Skating Judges. You know, where you really *do* think you can honest-to-God tell the difference between a triple loop and a triple flip. And yell at teh screen to punctuate this knowledge.

This is the first time, though, that Child's seen Mommy yelling at innocuous-looking people doing odd things on large apparatus, as the last Olympics, he was three and pretty much in blob-toddler stage of ooh, colors!

Child: Jenny, what are they doing?

(Yes. He does still call me Jenn and Jenny.)

ME: SHE STEPPED! THAT WAS A STEP! LOSE A TENTH, DAMMIT! LOSE A TENTH!

Because of course, from my comfy spot in front of the TV, I so know what I'm talking about.

Child: ...Mom?

(I hear this most often when he's worried. Yes, I scare my child during Olympics.)

Me: WHAT. THE. HELL? She DIDN'T STICK HER LANDING! SHE HOPPED!

I don't need to explain how it degenerated from there.

Or I could.

ME: SHE SO DID NOT LOSE HER BALANCE! SHUT UP COMMENTATORS! SHUT UP!

....

ME: Oh God, stop talking about how high they *could* score. Every time you do that, someone stumbles. SHUT UP YOU MADE HER STUMBLE AGAIN!

It's true though. Seriously. They'll be all like "ooh, she can get 9.7s usually--whoops, lookie, mistake, but still--ooh, balance check (blah blah blah)." Except the Romanians. They seem to be immune to The Commentator's Curse.

I'm digging Mo, with the tattoo on her ankle and how just utterly ecstatic she looks to be here. Plus, you know, delivering pizzas and living in unfurnished apartments to afford Olympic training? That girl *rocks*.

Also, Phelps is still, *extremely* hot. But yes, I see the ear thing. Also, perhaps one might say his chats with interviewers do not show his most intelligent side.

OOH! LAST ROTATION ON GYMNASTICS! MUST BREATHE!

*breathes*

Comments

[wrenlet.livejournal.com]

I'm that way with figure skating at the Winter Games, only I'm much nicer than Dick Button. (Has he retired yet? He needs to. Seriously, before he just Explodes With The Bitter.)

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Hee! Oh God, during ice skating, I'm wound up like a top. Every time Michelle Kwan took the ice, I'd stop breathing. I remember that.

I love the Olympics. *happy*

[halfempty129.livejournal.com]

ME: Oh God, stop talking about how high they *could* score. Every time you do that, someone stumbles. SHUT UP YOU MADE HER STUMBLE AGAIN!

Do you know how many times I've said the exact same thing today? I might of used more colorful language, but then again I don't have a little boy next to me.

Commentators suck. The end.

Oh - Courtney! Not good. Meep.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Oh - Courtney! Not good. Meep.

*whimpering*

Do you know how many times I've said the exact same thing today? I might of used more colorful language, but then again I don't have a little boy next to me.

Every damn time they talk about how spectacular something will be, almost without fail, that's when someone falls, stumbles, errors out, etc. It's like, some really freaky karma.

*crosses fingers* It is so wrong to be thinking, let a Romanian go out of bounds. Just once. That's all we need.

[halfempty129.livejournal.com]

It is so wrong to be thinking, let a Romanian go out of bounds. Just once. That's all we need.

Not in my book! A little error here, a major (out of bounds) step here...

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*sniffles hard*

Darn it.

[halfempty129.livejournal.com]

*sniffles along with you*

Indeed. Now all the 'what ifs' come and drive me them nuts.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Grrr I hate the what-ifs. I *hate* them.

*whimpers*

[svmadelyn.livejournal.com]

It is so wrong to be thinking, let a Romanian go out of bounds. Just once. That's all we need.

I think--I think at this point we'd need them to go out like, six times, but--*dies*, yeah, I was just thinking the same thing.

*watches through fingers*

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*whimpering*

[svmadelyn.livejournal.com]

Damn commentators. They did this! With their talking! *jibbers* *blames blindly*

*resumes trying to find sexy!nakedchest!Thorpe pic to console self*

[innle.livejournal.com]

I'm exactly the same, and so is my dad. We're Five Minute Experts, but it's not only the gymnastics, it's the swimming (my whole family are/were swimmers), the equestrian, the athletics, the soccer, the hockey, the waterpolo, the shooting...sports in which we have very little experience.

And don't even mention the rugby union, it's ugly.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*giggles* The rugby union?

[niqaeli]

I kibitz the gymnastics, and I dearly wish the commentators would just Shut. The Hell. UP! Not so much because of the curse but more cos they never say anything USEFUL or INTERESTING. Or USEFUL. Like, say, consistently saying what the maximum value of a given routine IS. Because a 9.75 out of 9.8 routine is really impressive. A 9.75 out of a 10 routine is less so.

But mostly the kibitzing I do is because I *was* a gymnast. And that was a lot of why I couldn't find it in me to wish the Romainians ill. I just... no. They have such a heritage to live up to, they have such pride, and they are so *dedicated* and *skilled*. So are the American gymnasts, mind, and I feel horrible for them, but I couldn't want the Romainians to fuck up. Because they're gymnasts, and I *know* in my *bones*, at least a *little* bit, how much heart and soul and blood and sweat they've put into this.

[mei-x.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the ear thing is a bit of a distraction for me.

[keewick.livejournal.com]

ME: Oh God, stop talking about how high they *could* score. Every time you do that, someone stumbles. SHUT UP YOU MADE HER STUMBLE AGAIN!

I swear Elfie and Dagget started doing that on purpose nearing the end; fortunately, those Romanians managed to buck the curse and hang on.

Generally speaking, I was disappointed in this year's team final for women's gymnastics. But a lot of my disappointment admittedly stemmed from Courtney McCool's removal from competition after her wobbles in the qualifying round. (She was my favorite going into the Olympics).

And, of course, one has to wonder if Kupetz's suddenly hurt foot (which magically healed in time for the next foot-jarring rotation of floor) had to do with her performance on beam in the practice area just prior to the event. Gymnastics coaching calls are so political and *beady eyes* that I'm perpetually suspicious of the goings-on behind the scenes. What can I say, my eyes were opened by that whole Gutsu scandal in '92. Underbelly, indeed.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

And, of course, one has to wonder if Kupetz's suddenly hurt foot (which magically healed in time for the next foot-jarring rotation of floor) had to do with her performance on beam in the practice area just prior to the event. Gymnastics coaching calls are so political and *beady eyes* that I'm perpetually suspicious of the goings-on behind the scenes. What can I say, my eyes were opened by that whole Gutsu scandal in '92. Underbelly, indeed.

*blinks slowly* What? What did I miss?

[keewick.livejournal.com]

In the '92 Barcelona Games, the favorite for the Soviet Team, Tatiana Gutsu, fell off the beam in the team final, thus causing her to miss out on being eligible point-wise to compete in the All Around competition. In turn, team-mate Roza Galieva (who *had* earned a place as an All Around competitor) was told by coach Alexandrov that she was out and Gutsu was in and that the story would run that she 'injured' herself by way of explanation.

At the time, the media spouted the story back to the audience as fact even though many suspected foul play. Four years later at the Atlanta Games, Roza came forward with her story and the coach (alongside Gutsu) admitted to the behind the scenes drama, but claimed it wasn't their decision to make, that their country demanded medals from its Olympians and they were to put the best chance - Gutsu in this case - out on the floor to secure that status. Ironically enough, Gutsu did indeed go on to get the AA gold that year and at least one or two individual event medals as well.

[xoverau.livejournal.com]

*snickers* I have a link to a pageful of Phelps RPS, if you're interested...*grins*

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*sticks out tongue* I know someone who is *writing it*.

But you know, a link would be nice. *hopeful* Please?

[xoverau.livejournal.com]

Heh, maybe it's the same person. I hope so, because you'd have to friend her to get to the RPS. It's slippery_fish.

[tasteofsunshine.livejournal.com]

*giggles* Poor Child. Man, was I yelling at the screen last night when Giaan Rooney made us come second in the semi's of the women's 4 x 200m free, when Elka Graham had given us a lead of TWO FREAKIN' BODYLENGTHS!!!!!!

Gymnastics is fabulous.

Eww. Michael Phelps? Just eww.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

He's so--I mean, he's *adorable*. Like a big, very strong puppy. I want to cuddle him. And watch him get wet a lot.

*grins*

To channel Summer:

[tasteofsunshine.livejournal.com]

*shudders* Like, eww!