respublica

Closing the Olympic category

One last impression of the 2008 Olympics.

The closing ceremony mirrored the opening ceremony in its "whoa" factor.  Remarkable technological feats with lighting etc, but even more riveting was how so many participants were able to work together to provide breathtaking moments.  Last night's Tower of flame was outstanding.

Then came the "skit" by the 2012 Olympic city, London.  They dragged out a big red doubledecker bus (at least I think that is what it was) and costumed London Bobbies walked around. 

The two cities were like comparing a grade school play with the New York Metropolitan Opera. 

London has some big shoes to fill and lots of work to do.

Metro east Olympic medal

Dawn Harper of East St. Louis won the gold today in the 100 meter hurdles.  Hopefully local viewers will be able to watch the race tonight.  She joins Missouri native Christian Cantwell as local medal winners.

Marathon night

Did anyone else think it was odd that NBC chose to show the entire women's marathon last night?  They barely show the start and finish of the 1500, but have us sitting through 2 hours and 30 minutes of the marathon?  Was it supposed to be both a race and a Beijing travelogue?

That's not to say we didn't enjoy the view along the 26 miles, but couldn't the network have shown a some of the sports we don't get to see too often while breaking back in now and then during the marathon?

Setting an evironmental example

NBC which is among the many media sermonizing to viewers on the environmental crisis, but as often happens, it turns out to be so much "do as I say, not as I do."

The NBC Olympic set in Beijing is air conditioned even though the set is outside.

Olympic notes

After a week of watching the Olympics a couple of things I found interesting:

Makeup can make a young person look older, but no amount of makeup will turn the Chinese women gymnasts into 16 year olds.  Most of those girls are hardly more than babies.

The gold medal favorites in the mens beach volley-ball, Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, barely beat a Swiss team yesterday.  NBC has broadcast most of American games and will we ever see a pair of competitors with so little animation?  They play with no spark at all. 

How on earth did Michael Phelps touch the pool wall ahead of Serbia's Milorad Cavic?  The replays made it seem as though Cavic had someone holding his legs in order to keep him from touching ahead of Phelps.

Missouri's Christian Cantwell made the front page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch today after winning a sliver in the shot put. 

Has anyone else noticed how much more slender the track sprinters are this Olympics?  Hardly anyone lines up looking like the Incredible Hulk as was the case the past couple of Olympics? 

Silver medal for Mizzou

Olympic shot putter, Christian Cantwell who was part of the University of Missouri track and field program won the silver medal today in Beijing.

Congratulations to Christian.

photo via MUTigers.com

Beijing street food

Olympic visitors from the west may be taken aback by the myriad kinds of street food for sale.  Not your typical fast food, that's for sure. 

London's Mail Online has the explanation complete with photos.  There has been lots of internet talk about the live scorpion kabobs, or scorpions on a stick.  This meal seems so commonplace over there it must be China's version of the hot dog.  I'm not here to make fun of another culture's food, just don't make me eat it.

Photo via Ann Althouse.

A great Olympics? Or the greatest Olympics?

There's something different about this Olympics and not just the location half way around the world in China.  Everything is so engrossing, the colors on the screen are sharp and beautifully hued, the big smile that lights up the screen from swimmer Michael Phelps, the juxtaposition of culture that is China, even the commercials seems riveting. 

There were two commercials yesterday that were so well done I half wondered if this wasn't Super Bowl weekend.  One was a man competing in the discus as though he were in ancient Greece.  It was amusing, but also beautifully costumed and photographed.  Then there was one for Ritz crackers with all the little cracker discs made to float in the air.  Again, neat.

Does all this renewed interest in the Olympics (high high ratings) have anything to do with how they're being shown or does it have something to do with how very weary Americans are of the presidential campaign?

I'd guess both.  But it sure is nice not to have to listen to politics all the time.

Olympic 1500-the past meets the present

Back when our daughter was in high school and college she ran track and cross country.  During various meets throughout the year (s), she often found herself in the same race as a runner from Bloomington, Illinois, especially during IHSA state meets.  Now that runner, Christin Wurth-Thomas, will be running for the USA in the 1500 meters.

Christin and Katie became friendly competitors in high school then and found themselves lining up against each other when Christin was at Arkansas and Katie at Missouri. 

Our family wishes Christin all the best during her Olympic experience and for the first time in all our years of watching the Olympics, will have someone we know to watch for as the athletes enter into the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies tonight.

I have photos from those high school races but have been told not to dare post them.  I'm just wanting to so bad, though.

"Can I ask you to say something?"

Stephen Colbert had an Olympic segment last night with Newsweek Olympic editor, Devin Gordon as his guest.  Ahead of Gordon's appearance, Colbert did a superfan bit on his excitement over the upcoming competition which was all in good fun.

Anyway, near the end of his talk with Gordon, Colbert said, "Before we go can I ask you to say something?  USA Number One!"

Gordon paused a second or two, looked sort of stricken, and then said, "I have to say that?"  Pause.  "I'm supposed to be unabashedly objective." 

Stephen said, "Audience"!  The audience screamed out USA!  Then Gordon in a quiet monotone spoke the words as fast as he could, "USA number One"...

Since when is an American, reporter or not, supposed to be objective about our country's Olympic competitors?  Is there no time at all where American media can find it in themselves to not be embarrassed to cheer for this country and want it to do well?

The video is here, you can click the time running bar to near the end without having to watch the whole thing.  It starts at about 7:26.