The Swamp

I'm the opposite or a sadist. The longer the running events the better. Marathon and 50km walk is must-see tv.

That said, the 1500 is the best race. Long enough for position changes but not long enough to be boring.

I like all the goofy sports, I watch everything. And Canada getting a medal at the summer games is a real achievement, unlike the goofy sports once they get at the Winter Games.

The thing is, if covered properly, Track & Field can be really compelling. The problem with a lot of the coverage these days is that they're not done for actual sports fans anymore. It's like American Ninja Warrior, where they're featuring a personal story.

Back in the day, they'd cover the range of events and spent 15-20 on high jump, then swing it over to the finish of the 1500, then move on to pole vault etc etc.

I'm not going to take issue with anyone's sports tastes, but I do think you're discounting the 400 and 800 races. That doesn't take a huge time/attention commitment.

Also, the relays are fucking fantastic as a spectator deal.

You need to dig for more interesting summer sports. The problem with summer games is lots are hard to really enjoy. I can't tell you why diver A beat diver B. Same with gymnastics. But the patriotism is huge and we are good at those. Head to head sports are more compelling. BMX, Track Cycling, rugby 7s. But some of the summer games head to head are just too hard to enjoy...fencing is a bunch of people yelling and claiming to get the touch even if you can't see it. Where wrestling, judo, climbing are a bit easier to see who wins. If you take time to watch they are super compelling (sort of like learning Curling). But whitewater against the clock just does not move the needle. Mountain biking is just not made for TV where road cycling has good drama (and this year is a great course). also surfing and breakdancing are skillful but again who knows who really wins.

Side note: Lacrosse (well a strange 6s version) was approved as a full IOC member. Does not mean it will get to the games soon but is on the path and eligible.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 3:16 pm The thing is, if covered properly, Track & Field can be really compelling. The problem with a lot of the coverage these days is that they're not done for actual sports fans anymore. It's like American Ninja Warrior, where they're featuring a personal story.

Back in the day, they'd cover the range of events and spent 15-20 on high jump, then swing it over to the finish of the 1500, then move on to pole vault etc etc.

I'm not going to take issue with anyone's sports tastes, but I do think you're discounting the 400 and 800 races. That doesn't take a huge time/attention commitment.

Also, the relays are fucking fantastic as a spectator deal.

Thinking back to my childhood, I guess I did get excited for those events. I felt a huge fandom towards Team USA and genuinely cared if they won events. I used to read SI and Sporting News, so I knew about most of the athletes who were expected to contend. Guys like Carl Lewis and Edwin Moses were household names. I don't think the cultural zeitgeist is going to care much about whoever wins events like the 100m hurdles and 400 m. Maybe it's just me, but when we had 3 channels, the world watched. I don't think many kids today watch live TV. It's all social media or Youtube with them, and streaming to a lesser degree. My daughter didn't watch much of the Euros, but she knew what was going on by following a bunch of the players on TikTok and Instagram.

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 3:20 pm You need to dig for more interesting summer sports. The problem with summer games is lots are hard to really enjoy. I can't tell you why diver A beat diver B. Same with gymnastics. But the patriotism is huge and we are good at those. Head to head sports are more compelling. BMX, Track Cycling, rugby 7s. But some of the summer games head to head are just too hard to enjoy...fencing is a bunch of people yelling and claiming to get the touch even if you can't see it. Where wrestling, judo, climbing are a bit easier to see who wins. If you take time to watch they are super compelling (sort of like learning Curling). But whitewater against the clock just does not move the needle. Mountain biking is just not made for TV where road cycling has good drama (and this year is a great course). also surfing and breakdancing are skillful but again who knows who really wins.

Side note: Lacrosse (well a strange 6s version) was approved as a full IOC member. Does not mean it will get to the games soon but is on the path and eligible.

Unlike you, I become an immediate master of all the scoring intricacies whenever I change the channel to a new event. Luckily, I don't have to retain this knowledge and can instead muster it out of thin air on a whim.

You just knew more back in the day or it was a bigger deal? Like who is the boxing heavyweight champion of world and who is the fastest man, won the 100m at the 2019 worlds?

Anyone?

Scoring in diving is easy, it's just whether the judge got wet or not.

No male judges?

Looking at the list of events, I do enjoy watching volleyball (beach and indoor) and small doses of handball. Rhythmic gymnastics was cool and the girls were much more attractive when I was of the age of watching women's sports for non-sporting reasons.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 3:28 pm You just knew more back in the day or it was a bigger deal? Like who is the boxing heavyweight champion of world and who is the fastest man, won the 100m at the 2019 worlds?

Anyone?

I think it's a combination. When I was a kid, sports was the center of my world. I watched a ton of sports on TV, read about sports, watched SportsCenter every day. Its partially me growing out of it, partially not having the time what with a job, kids, and everything else, and partially access to far too many other things. 30 years ago, more people were aware of the same things. Now, the internet isolates our knowledge into the bubbles we follow. Back then, my parents couldn't give a crap about sports, but they knew who won championships in every sport at the time. I'm sure they didn't retain that, but day of, they heard. Now, I'm sure they don't have a clue about any sport other than the Jets, because my son keeps them updated whether they want to know or not.

In the past, if there was a boxing heavyweight title match, it was news. I only watched boxing when Mike Tyson was champ, but I always knew when there was a title fight, and I knew who won. Now, I have no clue, and haven't for at least 20 years. I just looked up the history of heavyweight champs, and it seems like there might be 4 current champs, and I recognize 2 names. As for the 100m, if it's not Usain Bolt, and I think he retired, I can't name another sprinter.

I think a really good sign of the times/era is the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. I had a subscription and I put every single cover on my bedroom walls. Most guys I knew had a subscription or access to that.

It's along the same vein as only having 3 channels back in that era. Even when ESPN came around and developed, that was still only one of very few choices on cable.

Just backing what Syb said. I'm still a big fan of both Olympics, but it's just MUCH more difficult to follow it (and like I said before, I don't really like the way they cover it now... I actually want to see the events.)

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 4:01 pm I think a really good sign of the times/era is the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. I had a subscription and I put every single cover on my bedroom walls. Most guys I knew had a subscription or access to that.

It's along the same vein as only having 3 channels back in that era. Even when ESPN came around and developed, that was still only one of very few choices on cable.

Just backing what Syb said. I'm still a big fan of both Olympics, but it's just MUCH more difficult to follow it (and like I said before, I don't really like the way they cover it now... I actually want to see the events.)

Get a Canadian VPN. CBC will show everything live with little backstory. Just the events. And you get the CBC Olympic Jingle as a bonus.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 4:01 pm I think a really good sign of the times/era is the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. I had a subscription and I put every single cover on my bedroom walls. Most guys I knew had a subscription or access to that.

It's along the same vein as only having 3 channels back in that era. Even when ESPN came around and developed, that was still only one of very few choices on cable.

Just backing what Syb said. I'm still a big fan of both Olympics, but it's just MUCH more difficult to follow it (and like I said before, I don't really like the way they cover it now... I actually want to see the events.)

I feel like the Olympics were always broadcast in the US for non-sports watching viewers. It seems like it was always about the drama, the backstories and all that side shit. In later years, some bigger team sports were covered more for fans on side channels, while the network focused on the drama, pageantry and clips of Americans winning events.

I was a big fan when I was a kid. Not now. The network coverage seems geared for grandmothers.

Tokyo Olympiad (1965) in full TohoScope is available on HBOMax is that anything anyone is interested in.

brian wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 10:42 pm Tokyo Olympiad (1965) in full TohoScope is available on HBOMax is that anything anyone is interested in.

That would be cool to see.

Holy crap. Didn't watch, but holy crap.

rass wrote: ↑Wed Jul 21, 2021 6:22 am Holy crap. Didn't watch, but holy crap.

"Slutsignal?"

I know we're not a big WNT following group, but my coaching buddy's daughter currently interns for the Spirit and likes to talk about the team, so I kind of follow along with her.

We've been talking a lot about the fact that the tactics of the current team (VERY direct, not a lot of technical play) is going to bite them in the ass against higher level competition.

Still... Woof.

I woke up to some of the soccer twitters folks I cover questioning the substitution choices made when the US was down.

I wouldn't mind seeing the USWNT get bodied this time around. It may help show that the American way doesn't really work. Having the women succeed while the men's team failed was a bit of a crutch to those that support the current structure.

If anyone wants to know who to watch for wrestling I'm here for it. American freestyle women are outstanding. Some of the freestyle men should also do well. Just don't research their politics. They aren't swamp-aligned.

They are getting passed up by the Europeans, because now that truly massive clubs -- and the commensurate resources and a century or more of structure/training approach -- are starting to truly get involved.

This roster is too old, which just follows along with the pattern that has been established from the very beginning. They are still stuck in a model where this is seen as a tenured position. There are 5 or 6 younger, better players not on this roster whose spots are taken up by the Carli Lloyd's of the world. And while we love Megan Rapinoe, she's essentially a PK specialist at this point. ETA - And Alex Morgan's approach doesn't work anymore.

My biggest beef, by far, is that they simply have no creativity in their game. They simply don't beat people off the dribble anymore (other than Rose and Muese) and their swing it around the back and smack a long ball is just incredibly easy to shutdown for a decently organized team.

They will continue to beat mediocre teams due to sheer athleticism and the ability to finish. They aren't going to beat England, Germany, France, Japan, Norway and obviously Sweden just rolling the ball out on the field.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 7:49 pmI feel like the Olympics were always broadcast in the US for non-sports watching viewers. It seems like it was always about the drama, the backstories and all that side shit.

This was (at least for what we are capable of remembering from our lifetimes) and still is correct.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 4:11 pm Get a Canadian VPN. CBC will show everything live with little backstory. Just the events. And you get the CBC Olympic Jingle as a bonus.

I was wondering if this was still the case. Watched most Olympics on CBC 6 from Montreal. Even better than NBC back in the day when they had 95% less backstory on how the fencer's dog was an influence....and they show others besides just Canadians.

Rush2112 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 21, 2021 11:17 am

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 4:11 pm Get a Canadian VPN. CBC will show everything live with little backstory. Just the events. And you get the CBC Olympic Jingle as a bonus.

I was wondering if this was still the case. Watched most Olympics on CBC 6 from Montreal. Even better than NBC back in the day when they had 95% less backstory on how the fencer's dog was an influence....and they show others besides just Canadians.

It has not changed. And they have to show others, there aren't that many Canadians. But if a Canadian happens to be in contention for something they'll switch over. And it's all live, no primetime edited shows. Since 2010 Vancouver, it's been perhaps a bit more Canadian centric, especially the winter games coverage, but not much more.

Rush2112 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 21, 2021 11:17 am Even better than NBC back in the day when they had 95% less backstory on how the fencer's dog was an influence....

Rush2112 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 21, 2021 11:17 am

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 4:11 pm Get a Canadian VPN. CBC will show everything live with little backstory. Just the events. And you get the CBC Olympic Jingle as a bonus.

I was wondering if this was still the case. Watched most Olympics on CBC 6 from Montreal. Even better than NBC back in the day when they had 95% less backstory on how the fencer's dog was an influence....and they show others besides just Canadians.

Watching the London games in Australia was an eye-opener. Much more of a 'global' approach, and instead of just focusing on atheletes that medaled, they would show the 'local kid of Wollongong who finished 6th in the hurdles! Awesome!' kind of thing.

And a lot of coverage of different sports....so much field hockey!

Why the fuck not?

Just watched some rowin. Not terribly exciting but chill.

Adopting a no fans policy but not a vaccination policy gets it wrong on both counts. It sends an awful message.

Had to mute the opening ceremonies. CBC is a great Olympic broadcaster but they never to great at the ceremonies. Just one cringe comment after another. I don't want real issues and controversies to be papered over but mentioning things in 1-line quips, while also trying to be entertaining and funny, and awkwardly transitioning all over the place is a tough watch.

commentator 1 - "Interesting that Yemen choosing to only have a male flag barer, there's a woman there behind him"
commentator 2 - "Worst humanitarian crisis in the world happening there right now"
*3 seconds of silence*
host - now check out these Italian shirts.

Commentator 1 - "Uganda was the story of the games earlier when their athlete tried to escape the village and defect into Japan."
Commentator 2 - "Not sure how far he thought he would get, Japan is a pretty homogeneous looking people"

I’m a little skeptical that the USA and France are the last two countries alphabetically in any language. Did they get demoted?

"Future Olympic host countries move to the end of the order to add prominence to their march. Just before Japan will be France, hosts of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The United States will go before France, as Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics."

travzilla wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 7:55 am Had to mute the opening ceremonies. CBC is a great Olympic broadcaster but they never to great at the ceremonies. Just one cringe comment after another. I don't want real issues and controversies to be papered over but mentioning things in 1-line quips, while also trying to be entertaining and funny, and awkwardly transitioning all over the place is a tough watch.

commentator 1 - "Interesting that Yemen choosing to only have a male flag barer, there's a woman there behind him"
commentator 2 - "Worst humanitarian crisis in the world happening there right now"
*3 seconds of silence*
host - now check out these Italian shirts.

Commentator 1 - "Uganda was the story of the games earlier when their athlete tried to escape the village and defect into Japan."
Commentator 2 - "Not sure how far he thought he would get, Japan is a pretty homogeneous looking people"

I PVR'd it, so will watch later. Was it mostly Scott Russell. That guy is just awful, been awful for decades. He really tries too hard. Miss Brian Williams doing theOlympics back in the day.

That said, here is the new CBC Intro. The amount of detail that goes into these 40 second intros is amazing every time.

Kinda stunned Osaka lit the torch. Happy she was chosen, and the spotlight doing so shines on mental health, but I'm surprised to see Japan opt for someone who has one non-Japanese parent, and who has lived in the U.S. for so long.

I bet Megyn Kelly has an opinion!

Japan is becoming more inclusive. More than other Asian countries such as Korea and China for example. They had Hachimura carry the flag.

And most importantly, Miss Japan is mixed.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:58 am Japan is becoming more inclusive. More than other Asian countries such as Korea and China for example. They had Hachimura carry the flag.

And most importantly, Miss Japan is mixed.

Awww, look how far they've come in that misogynistic and antiquated competition.

I thought they did a pretty good job with the ceremony, under the circumstances. The pictogram show was really well done. And most importantly, they got Matsui involved.