Aug 05 2012
The Full Spectrum Of The 2012 Olympic Experience
The U.S. women’s swim team punctuated a commanding performance at the London Olympics with one more gold medal and another world record, winning the 400-meter medley relay Saturday night and giving teenager Missy Franklin her fourth gold in the Summer Games.
Reclaiming the lead with his trademark butterfly stroke, Phelps won the 18th gold of an unparalleled career when he helped the U.S. win the 4×100-meter medley relay Saturday night.
Phelps retires with twice as many golds as any other Olympian, and his total of 22 medals is easily the best mark, too.
“It’s been a great career,” he said. “It’s been a great journey. I can’t be any more happy than I am.”
By taking the track for Heat 1 in Round 1 of the men’s 400 meters, Pistorius became the first double-amputee to compete in the Olympics. By finishing second in a season-best 45.44 seconds, the South African qualified for the semifinals Sunday. Pistorius conveyed his satisfaction with a broad smile.
The 2012 games have been uplifting. Sadly – thanks to an irritating NBC News with blathering, inane and gossipy coverage – there has been the other end of the experience.
NBC has become the centre of a race storm after airing an ad featuring a monkey performing gymnastics, right after showing the performance of Gabby Douglas, the first African-American to win Olympic gold.
…
The unintentional, but poorly-timed ad was for Animal Practice, an upcoming NBC sitcom.
The ad was for self promotion – and it worked. NBC is one of those nose-in-the-air liberal bastions that thinks they are supreme over all. But they are just another bunch of annoying people who like to denigrate others but scream innocence when they screw up. Live by the stereotype, die by it.
Someone please show NBC the door and let’s get another network to present the Olympics.
As for Gabby – she was amazing! Our twin girls are now very inspired.
Someone commented with regard to those who are outraged by the NBC commercial; “if you look at a monkey and see a black human, doesn’t that make you racist?”
Actually, the juxtaposition was undoubtedly unintentional, but came across as stunningly stupid. Could not have happened to a nicer crowd. Wonder if it was shown on MNBC as well.
I seem to remember Howard Cosell being fired from Monday Night Football for saying (in true awe) “Look at that little monkey go.” Since he was refering to a black player (Calvin Garrett???) it was taken as racist. But I also recall he used that term to refer to small, highly athletic white players as well.
Everyone is so sensitive these days its stupid… but… since NBC is a champion of political correctness let them pay the same price they would demand of anyone else.
I’m sick of Costa.
Love the kids….they have worked so hard, and are great sports.
Gabby was terrific!
Live blogging Curiosity’s decent toward Mars. Slowed to Mach 2 and supersonic parachutes deployed.
Heat shield has separated.
Powered flight is good. Down to 500M altitude.
Skycrane has deployed.
Touchdown on Mars is good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats to the entire NASA/JPL team.
Following Putin’s visit to the Olympics to watch the Judo, a sport in which I gather he excels, the UK has announced that the Litvinenko case will be handed over to a High Court judge to conduct the inquest:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19196519
The British authorities still seem to think it is murder, but maybe the inquest will return a verdict of “misadventure” – which would no doubt help smooth relations with the Kremlin.
A pre-inquest review of the case will be held on 20 September. I suggest the AJStrata archive would be a good starting point.