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Post by MissScarlet on Jul 28, 2021 0:50:37 GMT
I've yet to watch a single event, and probably won't watch any. Normally the Summer Olympics are my favorite, and I can't tear myself away from the TV. but this year I just have no interest at all.
I know the whole COVID thing & the fact that they aren't required to be vaccinated really bothers me a lot. They're asking for a super spreader event.
Maybe that's why I have no interest. I'm angry at the Olympics & everyone in charge. I find them grossly irresponsible.
I feel like watching the events would be condoning this.
I feel sorry for the contestants. They train for years & years, some their whole lives for this chance.
But it's no different from any other event anywhere else. People count on big events & shows for their livelihoods, and they got the rug pulled out from under them with the Pandemic.
For example: in Las Vegas, the Cirque du Soleil shows still aren't going yet. Those performers train their whole lives for that & now nothing.
I think the Olympics should have been cancelled.
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Post by Critical on Jul 28, 2021 2:25:50 GMT
My favorite opening ceremonies were definitely the London and Rio games. I liked London too. I'd put Sochi and Beijing up there too. LA just for sentimentality.
They did some fun stuff at LA with crowd participation in both the opening and the closing. In the opening, they had cards under all the seats, that when held up, made the flags of different countries. For the closing, we all got flashlights with a slot across the light where you slid this piece of colored plastic. It made different effects across the whole stadium depending on which color was in front of the light. We all still had those flashlights for years! I'll bet my parents still have one. Mine seems to have disappeared over umpteen moves. Alas.
I stayed up far too late to watch the 10M platform pairs diving. SO fun to see the American and Mexican pairs get silver and bronze. China is almost always a lock for gold in diving and those girls were amazing. That's why seeing Tom Daley and Matty Lee win gold in 10M platform was SO great. TD has worked SO hard for it for so many years! That's definitely validation of his decision not to retire after Rio.
I think we're seeing again how the pressure placed on "GOAT" athletes/dominant favorites for gold can really be detrimental to their mental health. The mental aspect of athletics has always been important, but this is conversation we've been needing to have. It seems that people are even less understanding and empathetic when it's a woman of color. You just know the crappy online judgments are coming from people sitting at home on their sofas who couldn't hit a tennis ball over a net or even hoist themselves onto a balance beam...or shoot a free throw or swim 100 meters.
I'd love to see the press dialing back the rude questions and media outlets knocking off the cameras in faces of athletes who don't have such a great day. It's cruel. Someone who fell of the balance beam or who lost a race they were expected to win really doesn't need to be asked how they feel (as if we can't all imagine) and they certainly don't need a camera shoved in their face while they're crying.
The footage from Seward, Alaska while Lydia Jacoby was racing was SO fun. Those kids at her high school were just so excited. I've always loved seeing footage of those viewing parties. Now we see them with family too, since Covid prevents most of them from being there in person. Tom Daley's mom and his husband Dustin were a joy to see. My favorite part of The Voice is seeing the family's reactions. Same with the Olympics.
I continue to be frustrated that the Russian athletes are still able to compete. The OIC banned Russia - and the doping that went on was FLAGRANT and systemic - but all of these athletes are still allowed to compete. So much for consequences  |
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Post by panikmoon on Jul 28, 2021 2:37:35 GMT
Hopefully next time the Olympics will get better announcers. I couldn't focus on any of the gymnastics (my favorite thing to watch, besides the swimming) because they wouldn't stop complaining about Simone Biles leaving and judging her every move.
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Post by Critical on Jul 28, 2021 6:16:43 GMT
Hopefully next time the Olympics will get better announcers. I couldn't focus on any of the gymnastics (my favorite thing to watch, besides the swimming) because they wouldn't stop complaining about Simone Biles leaving and judging her every move. I couldn't even watch. I woke up this morning and saw the news and just couldn't bear to watch. It just breaks my heart (AND makes me so angry) knowing how people are going to talk about her. That girl is a rock star, so if she needed to pull out, it was something she'd clearly thought about and needed to do for her own health and safety. Gymnastics is SO dangerous. If a gymnast is not in the right headspace, just one fall could paralyze or even kill....or break a limb or lacerate organs, etc. That docu-series on Peacock ( Golden) about the run-up to the women's event detailed horrifying injuries gymnasts have endured. One gymnast said that they're pretty much always in pain. Always. And jackasses like Piers Morgan have the nerve to criticize 
I read an article earlier complaining about how no one can figure out how to watch the Olympics of how to tell if it's live or recorded. First of all, it's on every NBC network channel. Just scan around - heck, Google it! - and you can figure it out. Oh, and maybe the word "LIVE" on the screen of certain events will give you a clue 
I always watch diving with a bit of wistfulness. When I was a kid, I really wanted to take diving lessons, but my mom wasn't confident about the safety measures at the pool where I was taking swim lessons. As an adult, I asked why she hadn't just taken me to another swim club and she said she hadn't known I was that interested. I really was  |
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Post by libgirl2 on Jul 28, 2021 12:21:46 GMT
Simone Biles has withdrawn from the all around as well.
When I was younger I loved watching the Olympics, maybe it was because there were very few TV stations to being with and now we have so many. I have enjoyed past games, this one, I'm not feeling. I'm tired of hearing how someone "lost" when they only won silver or the medal counts and how many gold each country has. It just doesn't seem that epic to me anymore.
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Post by springmaiden27 on Jul 28, 2021 13:39:34 GMT
The critical tone of the coverage is ruining the experience this year. With so many terrible things going on in the world, the Olympics should be a bright spot. It certainly seems the athletes see it that way. They’ve been so joyful in their participation. The athletes are happy with a medal of any color, or to have done their best on the world stage. Meanwhile the commentators say that anything less than gold is a failure. The fact that so many of the athletes are making statements on social media to defend their performances, is really sad. .
I’ve switched to watching the live feeds with only the sport and little to no commentary.
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Post by libgirl2 on Jul 28, 2021 15:39:49 GMT
The critical tone of the coverage is ruining the experience this year. With so many terrible things going on in the world, the Olympics should be a bright spot. It certainly seems the athletes see it that way. They’ve been so joyful in their participation. The athletes are happy with a medal of any color, or to have done their best on the world stage. Meanwhile the commentators say that anything less than gold is a failure. The fact that so many of the athletes are making statements on social media to defend their performances, is really sad. . I’ve switched to watching the live feeds with only the sport and little to no commentary. Exactly! This should be a happy event, instead it is all negative. Like the women's gymnastics team taking silver, you would have thought they didn't medal at all! I keep thinking to several Olympics in the past were someone is so HAPPY about winning a silver or bronze. I still remember Paul Wylie in skating and how excited he was to get silver. I miss seeing that. |
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ccl
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Post by ccl on Jul 28, 2021 16:56:57 GMT
I feel bad for the US gymnasts who basically are shunted to the side unless it is to ask about Biles. I mean, who cares they won the silver? Whatever, whatever…so about Simone. 🙄 It’s a team not an individual sport.
But I’m enjoying the Olympics. I watch the CBC coverage so I don’t know if the American coverage is more harsh towards the athletes. We’ve been celebrating all the Canadian medals, regardless of colour. And I love the Olympic moments like the Tunisian swimmer winning a surprise gold or the Bermudan triathlete gutting it out to get their country’s first ever gold medal. Great stuff.
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Post by Bearcata on Jul 30, 2021 18:50:11 GMT
I feel bad for the US gymnasts who basically are shunted to the side unless it is to ask about Biles. I mean, who cares they won the silver? Whatever, whatever…so about Simone. 🙄 It’s a team not an individual sport. But I’m enjoying the Olympics. I watch the CBC coverage so I don’t know if the American coverage is more harsh towards the athletes. We’ve been celebrating all the Canadian medals, regardless of colour. And I love the Olympic moments like the Tunisian swimmer winning a surprise gold or the Bermudan triathlete gutting it out to get their country’s first ever gold medal. Great stuff. When I lived closer to the border we would watch CBC as the Canadian network would stay on an event and would comment about all the athletes while the American broadcast networks only focus on the Americans to the point you wouldn't know there were athletes from other countries participating. I too am kinda blah about the entire thing. |
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Post by beerbelly on Jul 30, 2021 23:21:07 GMT
I've been glued to the Olympic Channel - which shows highlights and outcomes of each event and is event-centric and not just focused on the US team. I'm not even sure if it's American programming but I love seeing sports that I have never seen before - handball? Pistol? And I think it was Judo? It's fascinating. Plus, I get to see representation from countries that I don't get to see - Cuba! Azerbaijan! Uganda!
Plus, no commentary that is overly dramatic or disappointed when one athlete gets a bronze or silver.
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Post by Critical on Jul 31, 2021 1:20:34 GMT
I've been glued to the Olympic Channel - which shows highlights and outcomes of each event and is event-centric and not just focused on the US team. I'm not even sure if it's American programming but I love seeing sports that I have never seen before - handball? Pistol? And I think it was Judo? It's fascinating. Plus, I get to see representation from countries that I don't get to see - Cuba! Azerbaijan! Uganda! Plus, no commentary that is overly dramatic or disappointed when one athlete gets a bronze or silver. That's what I've been watching too. I like that you get lots of information quickly and you actually see interviews with people who *gasp* aren't American! If not for that channel, I doubt I'd see any field hockey or handball or any number of other sports that just aren't as popular in the US. I can't watch baseball and basketball any time I want. I'd rather see sports I never get to see! I am watching a fair amount of tennis because I love it so much, but otherwise, I'm watching the sports you really don't see unless it's the Olympics.
I agree about the commentary too - it's more reportage than drama.
They haven't really shown so many medal ceremonies, so I hadn't seen a full one yet. Then I saw an article about how they don't have an official putting the medals around the necks of the athletes, so they're doing it themselves OR putting their teammates' medals around their necks. It's really sweet and, I think, more meaningful than having some official doing it. There was a team of women who won a medal and the pictures showed them going down the line and putting a medal around the neck of the person next to them.
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Post by Critical on Jul 31, 2021 2:17:53 GMT
Michael Andrew, the American swimmer who refused to get vaccinated, has been wandering around without a mask on in the mixed interview zone and now he might be in a spot of trouble. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
He previously said he wouldn't get vaccinated because he was concerned the side effects would affect his training. Now he says he won't get it after the Olympics either, so it's time for him to admit that his first reason was b.s. He's claiming that he can't breathe in the mask and that the journalists probably can't hear him with the mask on. ALL of the other swimmers are wearing their masks.
Obviously, the IOC would have had difficulty requiring everyone to be vaccinated because of vaccine shortages in so many countries, but the US Olympic Committee could have required American athletes and anyone else going to Tokyo with them to be vaccinated.
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Post by beerbelly on Jul 31, 2021 13:43:28 GMT
I watched the Olympics in prime time last night and it was so frustrating. I think it was 55 minutes of commercials and fluff pieces and five minutes of actual competition.
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Post by Critical on Aug 1, 2021 1:09:21 GMT
Well, Novak Djokovic has shown everyone once again who he really is. I've seen all of these stories over the last week about how nice he is and how great he has treated other athletes, but then, because he didn't win, he threw a temper tantrum and broke his racket. Then he pulled out the mixed doubles bronze medal match, meaning that his partner loses her chance at an Olympic medal too. He claims he's tired, but if he'd won the singles title (or even the bronze), I highly doubt he would have pulled out of mixed doubles. SO much for the Olympic spirit
I was over ND's big bag of bs last year when he decided to hold a tennis tournament in the middle of a pandemic, against ALL expert advice....and then (surprise!) people got Covid, including his wife, himself, and three other players
I'm pulling for Zverev to win the gold in the men's final tomorrow.
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Post by libgirl2 on Aug 1, 2021 12:55:25 GMT
Well, Novak Djokovic has shown everyone once again who he really is. I've seen all of these stories over the last week about how nice he is and how great he has treated other athletes, but then, because he didn't win, he threw a temper tantrum and broke his racket. Then he pulled out the mixed doubles bronze medal match, meaning that his partner loses her chance at an Olympic medal too. He claims he's tired, but if he'd won the singles title (or even the bronze), I highly doubt he would have pulled out of mixed doubles. SO much for the Olympic spirit
I was over ND's big bag of bs last year when he decided to hold a tennis tournament in the middle of a pandemic, against ALL expert advice....and then (surprise!) people got Covid, including his wife, himself, and three other players
I'm pulling for Zverev to win the gold in the men's final tomorrow.
I have never been a fan of his. He lacks something that Fed and Rafa have, some innate humbleness. He has also benefited from the decline of the Rafa and Fed as well as Murray. I don't think he has a good consistent adversary. The young guys are starting to chip away but it isn't consistent. I just saw the gold medal results! |
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Post by Critical on Aug 1, 2021 21:19:09 GMT
Well, Novak Djokovic has shown everyone once again who he really is. I've seen all of these stories over the last week about how nice he is and how great he has treated other athletes, but then, because he didn't win, he threw a temper tantrum and broke his racket. Then he pulled out the mixed doubles bronze medal match, meaning that his partner loses her chance at an Olympic medal too. He claims he's tired, but if he'd won the singles title (or even the bronze), I highly doubt he would have pulled out of mixed doubles. SO much for the Olympic spirit
I was over ND's big bag of bs last year when he decided to hold a tennis tournament in the middle of a pandemic, against ALL expert advice....and then (surprise!) people got Covid, including his wife, himself, and three other players
I'm pulling for Zverev to win the gold in the men's final tomorrow.
I have never been a fan of his. He lacks something that Fed and Rafa have, some innate humbleness. He has also benefited from the decline of the Rafa and Fed as well as Murray. I don't think he has a good consistent adversary. The young guys are starting to chip away but it isn't consistent. I just saw the gold medal results! Agreed. He never could have competed against them in their prime either. He's definitely benefited from timing. He does a hilarious impression of McEnroe serving, but after that, I don't find much about him appealing. These temper tantrums are never attractive, but at the Olympics, they're even more obnoxious and entitled. The only person I feel for in this whole scenario is Nina Stojanovic, who lost out on a chance to win the bronze because Nole pulled out with a "shoulder injury." Sorry, I don't buy his excuse. If he did hurt his shoulder, it was during his display or poor sportsmanship in smashing his racket
Thrilled for Zverev! 
The mixed doubles was great too. The medal ceremony had a few really charming moments with the medalists putting their own medals on. First Karatsev "accidentally" grabs the gold medal and has to be told he can't have it (they got the silver) and then Pavlyuchenkova starts to put the second gold medal around her neck too before putting it on Rublev's neck.
The gymnastics apparatus finals haven't been a huge medal haul for the Americans, but I sort of like it when the wealth is spread around. Nice that MyKayla Skinner could win the silver in vault, after thinking her Olympics was over a week ago. Good thing she hadn't decided to fly home!
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Post by Amy Lee on Aug 3, 2021 0:08:29 GMT
I'm not a Brit, but can I just appreciate Tom Daley? He seems like such a nice dude.
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Post by Critical on Aug 3, 2021 0:46:18 GMT
I'm not a Brit, but can I just appreciate Tom Daley? He seems like such a nice dude. I love the shots of him sitting in the crowd at diving the other day while knitting a dog sweater! Oh, and that he knitted a pouch to keep his gold medal in. He's adorable.
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Post by Arielflies on Aug 3, 2021 3:41:39 GMT
Not bad diving form either. I found the platform synchronized final where he and his partner won.
Have you run into the Kevin Hart/Snoop Dog review and commentary on Peacock? Funny and cleaver.
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Post by Bearcata on Aug 3, 2021 4:24:50 GMT
I decided to watch the Women's Gymnastics Floor Exercise Final event. There were only 8 athletes, 8 routines that last between 70 to 90 seconds. So of course they do not show all the athletes, I mean they could have edited it down to 30 minutes. The first two ladies are totally ignored, they show Jade Carey, the lady from Italy, then of course the Japanese athlete is next and not shown. This lady ended up medaling and she represents the host country and you don't air her routine on Prime Time. That is so insulting. They show the lady from Brazil, and the lady from Great Britain just in case either could potentially win the gold. That entire airing is just demeaning and disrespectful to the other athletes that qualified for that event. But they annoucers have to spend 5 minutes talking about Simone Bile's participation in tomorrow's balance beam event.
Update: Japan's Mai Murakami and Angelina Melnikova from the Russian team tied for bronze -- like I said neither of these ladies floor exercises were aired in Prime Time.
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Post by Critical on Aug 3, 2021 4:58:32 GMT
I decided to watch the Women's Gymnastics Floor Exercise Final event. There were only 8 athletes, 8 routines that last between 70 to 90 seconds. So of course they do not show all the athletes, I mean they could have edited it down to 30 minutes. The first two ladies are totally ignored, they show Jade Carey, the lady from Italy, then of course the Japanese athlete is next and not shown. This lady ended up medaling and she represents the host country and you don't air her routine on Prime Time. That is so insulting. They show the lady from Brazil, and the lady from Great Britain just in case either could potentially win the gold. That entire airing is just demeaning and disrespectful to the other athletes that qualified for that event. But they annoucers have to spend 5 minutes talking about Simone Bile's participation in tomorrow's balance beam event. Update: Japan's Mai Murakami and Angelina Melnikova from the Russian team tied for bronze -- like I said neither of these ladies floor exercises were aired in Prime Time. That's why I don't like watching on NBC during prime time. I watched the floor exercise live late last night/early this morning and they showed everyone. IIRC, it was streaming via Peacock - it's all included with my cable, so I sometimes don't pay attention to how the programming is getting to me.
It was a great event. The top 6 of 8 athletes were all within .366 of each other. There were no big mistakes - no one stepped out of bounds and there were only a few hops or steps back after tumbling passes. I think the real differences were in degree of difficulty, which is what put Jade over the top - her DOD was more than one point higher than several of the other gymnasts. She was spectacular. She landed on that mat like a dart. I was so pleased for her. I'm sure it's great to win a gold medal, period, but winning when your competitors all perform well too must feel even better.
Disappointing that NBC chose to not show the Japanese gymnast. Her routine was so entertaining.
It kind of torpedoes me the next day to stay up to watch the competition live, but I'll probably do it again tonight with balance beam. What I'll probably do is watch until I see if Simone and Suni. If they do well, I'll stay up to watch the rest of the competition. If they don't, I'll probably just go to bed.
Two of the 8 competitors in the floor exercise event were identical twins. I thought, "what are the odds of that?" and then a few minutes later, one of the commentators mentioned that there are THREE sets of twins (I think all identical) in the women's gymnastics event this year!
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Post by Bearcata on Aug 3, 2021 5:55:26 GMT
Happy that Morocco won the men's steeplechase.
I like it when the events are not USA centric. I think the countries that are not big hitters appreciate it more when one of their athletes wins vs the blood and gore attacks on certain US gymnastics females.
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Post by Bearcata on Aug 3, 2021 15:19:46 GMT
Liked the women's 5000m race with Hassan from the Netherlands winning. Not body shaming here, but she is so skinny compared to the other female long distance runners, that the power she shows during her kicker is amazing.
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Post by Amy Lee on Aug 3, 2021 17:18:40 GMT
Not bad diving form either. I found the platform synchronized final where he and his partner won. Have you run into the Kevin Hart/Snoop Dog review and commentary on Peacock? Funny and cleaver. Snoop is hilarious. I died at his quotes. 😂😂 |
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ccl
FORT Regular
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Post by ccl on Aug 3, 2021 18:20:57 GMT
Ok, unpopular opinion time:
I have completely gone off Simone Biles. The media/public labelled her the goat. The fact that she leaned into it and had it embroidered on her leotards made me think she’s a bit egotistical. But that’s fine. I felt for her when she withdrew from competition. But then, through all the events, she has consistently been unmasked while the other audience members are masked. And in today’s event final she was maskless throughout. Every other athlete did their routine, got their scores, put their masks back on. She was the only one to keep hers off throughout, surrounded by masked athletes and coaches. There’s no way it was not done purposely. It smacks of self-centredness - rules done apply to the goat? - and bothered me to no end. /rant over
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Post by Bearcata on Aug 3, 2021 19:40:13 GMT
Ok, unpopular opinion time: I have completely gone off Simone Biles. The media/public labelled her the goat. The fact that she leaned into it and had it embroidered on her leotards made me think she’s a bit egotistical. But that’s fine. I felt for her when she withdrew from competition. But then, through all the events, she has consistently been unmasked while the other audience members are masked. And in today’s event final she was maskless throughout. Every other athlete did their routine, got their scores, put their masks back on. She was the only one to keep hers off throughout, surrounded by masked athletes and coaches. There’s no way it was not done purposely. It smacks of self-centredness - rules done apply to the goat? - and bothered me to no end. /rant over I have read several articles regarding Simone Biles and her decision to withdraw from the team. They are absolutely horrible. No matter what this young women does people are criticizing her, ripping her apart, over what? Is a gold medal really worth all this angry, hatred, and venom? The venom toward Simone Biles reminds me so much of the venom directed against Megan Markle. |
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ccl
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Post by ccl on Aug 3, 2021 20:12:31 GMT
Ok, unpopular opinion time: I have completely gone off Simone Biles. The media/public labelled her the goat. The fact that she leaned into it and had it embroidered on her leotards made me think she’s a bit egotistical. But that’s fine. I felt for her when she withdrew from competition. But then, through all the events, she has consistently been unmasked while the other audience members are masked. And in today’s event final she was maskless throughout. Every other athlete did their routine, got their scores, put their masks back on. She was the only one to keep hers off throughout, surrounded by masked athletes and coaches. There’s no way it was not done purposely. It smacks of self-centredness - rules done apply to the goat? - and bothered me to no end. /rant over I have read several articles regarding Simone Biles and her decision to withdraw from the team. They are absolutely horrible. No matter what this young women does people are criticizing her, ripping her apart, over what? Is a gold medal really worth all this angry, hatred, and venom? The venom toward Simone Biles reminds me so much of the venom directed against Megan Markle. You have quoted what I wrote but then commented on a different matter ie people being vile towards her for withdrawing from competition. As stated, I felt for her having to withdraw. I have absolutely no issues with her having done so. I don’t like being lumped in with those people as I don’t feel I have said anything vile or horrible towards her. Track has been quite exciting. Lots of personal bests which is always nice. |
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Post by Bearcata on Aug 3, 2021 20:57:48 GMT
I have read several articles regarding Simone Biles and her decision to withdraw from the team. They are absolutely horrible. No matter what this young women does people are criticizing her, ripping her apart, over what? Is a gold medal really worth all this angry, hatred, and venom? The venom toward Simone Biles reminds me so much of the venom directed against Megan Markle. You have quoted what I wrote but then commented on a different matter ie people being vile towards her for withdrawing from competition. As stated, I felt for her having to withdraw. I have absolutely no issues with her having done so. I don’t like being lumped in with those people as I don’t feel I have said anything vile or horrible towards her. Track has been quite exciting. Lots of personal bests which is always nice. I was not directing the comment about venomous comments toward your post ccl although I can see it being read that way as I was commenting about two different subjects. I do understand your statement as a standalone comment regarding her mask wearing. I also am enjoying the long distance track events. I do like it when the commentators are knowledgeable and are not biased toward any particular country. I really enjoyed the women's 5000m; Yeah, Netherlands, and the men's steeplechase. Yeah, Morocco. |
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ccl
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Post by ccl on Aug 3, 2021 21:02:04 GMT
Sifan Hassan was fantastic in the 5000m. And she fell earlier in the day in her heat for the 1500m, got back up and raced to the front, finishing first. And then came back to smoke the 5000m.
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Post by Bearcata on Aug 3, 2021 21:19:43 GMT
How the heck do you watch streaming live of the Olympics. I have regular Peacock and it's these stupid 1 min snippets.
I am on the NBC Olympic channels and just want to watch the different sections of the women's gymnastics and I can't. This all so stupid. I do not want to watch tonight's balance beam because I want to watch the event now with all the athletes.
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