2008 Olympics thread - use SPOILER tags!

#32
i've caught the ceremonies now in macedonian (?), german, korean, and nbc's version, and i don't understand how anyone can enjoy it with all of the commercials in there. the nbc executives literally must have sat down and said "so which countries can we shaft to show some commercials?" ugh.

and to add insult to injury, some of the comments made during the ceremonies were so ridiculously inappropriate and uncalled for. "these guys know how to party and they're back for more. not so sure if they're interested in medals, though." "this country never medaled, never will."

WTF???
 

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#37
Dangit! I'm up early to watch the USA vs China game and none of the Olympic coverage channels are carrying it. I did find it at nbcolympics.com at least.
 
#40
Thanks, Pacboy. I'm guessing that they will carry it on a tape delay, as they are carrying all the good stuff telecast to the west coast. Grrrrrr!!
I have it on Dish Network...some dedicated olympics HD channel they added just a few days ago.
 

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#42
Koz announcing wasn't quite as random as his apparent expertise in badminton.

The better sports announcers know a bit about many sports and they surely know how to research. Koz also announces volleyball (college, I think) and arena football (If I remember correctly). The fact that our Koz was selected by NBC to help with the olympics is a real feather in his cap.

Congrats to Jim Kozimor!!
 
#43
Dangit! I'm up early to watch the USA vs China game and none of the Olympic coverage channels are carrying it. I did find it at nbcolympics.com at least.
The USA vs China game was on early this morning on ch 365 (I think) but only if you have dish. I watched it this morning not realizing it would be broadcast several hours later on ch 3.
 

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#44
The USA vs China game was on early this morning on ch 365 (I think) but only if you have dish. I watched it this morning not realizing it would be broadcast several hours later on ch 3.

Yeah, Rock, it appears that NBC thought it was an important game so they did show it to us on the west coast too. But, I hate their decision to tape delay everything. I watched some of it on ch 3, but it was not the same since I knew the outcome. It is difficult to not see results of things until after they have shown us on tape delay. :(
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
#45
The USA vs China game was on early this morning on ch 365 (I think) but only if you have dish. I watched it this morning not realizing it would be broadcast several hours later on ch 3.
:confused:

This seems improbable, as the game came on live at 2200 Beijing time, which is 1000 east coast time.
 
#47
The better sports announcers know a bit about many sports and they surely know how to research. Koz also announces volleyball (college, I think) and arena football (If I remember correctly). The fact that our Koz was selected by NBC to help with the olympics is a real feather in his cap.

Congrats to Jim Kozimor!!
Oh I know. Although he did seem to have good command of the terminology. Either he's broadcast it before or that's just what the professionals do.
:confused:

This seems improbable, as the game came on live at 2200 Beijing time, which is 1000 east coast time.
7am is most definitely early morning. :p
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#48
[semi-serious rant]Geez, people. We're seeing a tremendous amount of competitions. I'm just very thankful for the huge amount of coverage they're giving us. (I agree with the props to Jim Kozimor for doing the coverage of the USA-Australia badminton. I hadn't even heard he was going!) They cannot possibly show everything live, especially from China. With all the broadcasting they're trying to give us, I have no problem at all with a couple of hours delay. AT LEAST WE'RE SEEING THE GAME! [/semi-serous rant]

I continue to be incredibly impressed with TEAM USA so far. It's clear they've been working very hard on emphasizing the "team" aspect of their game - and it shows.

:)
 
Last edited:
#49
I didn't hear Koz mention it, but a lot of the announcers are watching on T.V. and announcing from the U.S. He might be in New York.
 

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#50
I didn't hear Koz mention it, but a lot of the announcers are watching on T.V. and announcing from the U.S. He might be in New York.

Yes, I heard the Jim was going to New York to broadcast from the NBC studios. MBF can confirm that. China limited the # of broadcasters that NBC could send to Bejiing.
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#51
[rant]Geez, people. We're seeing a tremendous amount of competitions. I'm just very thankful for the huge amount of coverage they're giving us. (I agree with the props to Jim Kozimor for doing the coverage of the USA-Australia badminton. I hadn't even heard he was going!) They cannot possibly show everything live, especially from China. With all the broadcasting they're trying to give us, I have no problem at all with a couple of hours delay. AT LEAST WE'RE SEEING THE GAME! [/rant]
What is frustrating is that I went to see what time certain events were on and NBC had the results posted on their main page. I agree you can't watch everything live, but for those just wanting to find out what time something is, or watch a replay online, they should have a spoiler free site. I was up late, tried to watch the US soccer match, but fell asleep plus my wife wanted to watch something else and she wins out since she is carrying my child. So I go to NBC's schedule web page wondering when there is a replay and the headlines are the scores of the hoops game and the Soccer game. Had I somehow managed to miss that, the link to watch the USA basketball game online reveals the winner and final score.

They go through great lengths contractually with their affiliate stations to make sure they don't spoil results on local broadcasts, the least they could do is set up an online area for those of us that can't figure out what time an event runs when all we're given is an 11-11 time window.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#52
They go through great lengths contractually with their affiliate stations to make sure they don't spoil results on local broadcasts, the least they could do is set up an online area for those of us that can't figure out what time an event runs when all we're given is an 11-11 time window.
Now this I totally agree with. I made sure I didn't watch any TV this morning before the basketball game just to keep from seeing the score by accident.

Unfortunately, NBC - and most other media, for that matter - is still trying to figure out the best way to utilize the Internet to complement their broadcasts.

My semi-serious rant was totally personal in nature. I came to the thread expecting to see some good conversation about what's happened in the games so far, especially since it appeared fairly active, and was honestly a little disappointed to see most of the comments about the coverage. But I guess that's just me.

I'm absolutely loving the Olympics so far. The opening ceremonies set a tone of joy in the celebration that seems to be continuing throughout every event. Even things like air rifle shooting have been fun because the crowds are so very appreciative.

No, the coverage isn't perfect and some things that might be important to us might not receive as much live coverage as we would like, but they're still there somewhere. We just have to find them. That is such an improvement from back in the days of yore, when NOTHING was shown live.

:p
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#53
Generally I just watch whatever they show, I don't really care what I'm watching if its swimming or volleyball or water poli, whatever if its got the US I can be interested in my bi-annual two weeks of hyper nationalism, so I'm cool with the basic level of coverage. And I realize that maybe big ticket for me (hoops, soccer) is not big ticket for everyone (gymnastics?).

I will say though that I have mostly watched boxing so far, and their coverage for the second time in a row of boxing has been fantastic. Unfortunately Olympic boxing sucks and I only seem to remember this after it gets started :) Honestly, it does... last night I watched a guy knock a guy down 3 times and lose.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#54
I'm watching beach volleyball being played in a torrential rainstorm - and for some evil reason I'm enjoying it more than I ever usually enjoy the sport.

:p
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
#56
I will say though that I have mostly watched boxing so far, and their coverage for the second time in a row of boxing has been fantastic. Unfortunately Olympic boxing sucks and I only seem to remember this after it gets started :) Honestly, it does... last night I watched a guy knock a guy down 3 times and lose.
Wait, what?

Olympic/amateur boxing is great! It's the only thing keeping the sport going, in my opinion; I think that professional boxing has become a parody of itself, especially in the heavyweight division.

The judging may be questionable at times (no one will ever forget, for example, when Roy Jones, Jr. got jobbed), but the boxing itself has been very good, in my opinion.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#57
I guess I just don't consider 0700 to be early in the morning anymore... :p
Ahem (VF21 clears throat)...

If you want to be technical, in VF21land, 0700 isn't early in the morning. It's still the middle of the night!!!




















...Thank you. I'll be here all week. Tell your friends! ...

 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#58
Wait, what?

Olympic/amateur boxing is great! It's the only thing keeping the sport going, in my opinion; I think that professional boxing has become a parody of itself, especially in the heavyweight division.

The judging may be questionable at times (no one will ever forget, for example, when Roy Jones, Jr. got jobbed), but the boxing itself has been very good, in my opinion.
Sorry, the boxing itself is quite good, its the computerized scoring system that is a mess. When the guy landing clear shots isn't winning, it makes it into a joke. And then simple things like knock downs counting the same as a landed punch (assuming they actually score, which hasn't always been the case!) are also very frustrating.

You're totally right about heavyweight boxing and some of the big PPV fights, but I'd disagree about pro boxing in general, especially Latin American fighters at or below 140. That's great stuff.
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#59
I'm watching beach volleyball being played in a torrential rainstorm - and for some evil reason I'm enjoying it more than I ever usually enjoy the sport.

:p
I thought I remembered something about the Chinese having a "cure" for rain way back when they were making the bid to get these games.
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
#60
You're totally right about heavyweight boxing and some of the big PPV fights, but I'd disagree about pro boxing in general, especially Latin American fighters at or below 140. That's great stuff.
I'll agree that at the lower weights, you can still find good technical professional boxing... but I tend to be personally biased against the little guys.