The Olympics are here!
Not a lot that I can say about the opening ceremonies that hasn’t already been said. Â Very impressive. Â For me the archer lighting the Olympic Flame from across the stadium is still the number one opening ceremony moment.
I got up early on Saturday morning to see the men’s cycling road race.  The race came down to the last second and a Spaniard pipped in on the final sprint and won by a head. Very exciting. I could actually hear neighbors cheering along with me as Samuel Sánchez crossed the finish line.  I think you miss those sorts of manifestations of community when you live in a more rural society (like the United States).  When was the last time you heard your neighbor cheering on your country in the Olympics?
At the moment, I’m watching the US Men’s Basketball team again. Â Two questions:
1. When, between 1992 and the present, did NBA stars lose the ability to do two basic things: make a jumpshot and use a bounce pass instead of a lob?
2. What are those half sleeve things some of them wear on their arms? Â I can’t help but think they look like something a teeny bopper girl’s group would wear. Â Can you imagine Magic and Larry wearing those? Â Or even MJ?Â
I am guessing that Joel will be best positioned to answer both these questions…
One sport that really needs some digital help is fencing.  If they could put some sort of digital effect on point of the foil, the spectator would be able to follow what is going on.  As it is the foils are black or near black and fencing arenas are generally not very well lit.  I’m thinking something like what network TV used to do with the puck in hockey.  Then fencing would look more like Jedi knights fighting with light-sabres.
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August 10th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
i think the decline of american basketball began with the introduction of the nba jams video game series… 5 man basketball is just so passe…
and about armgear, if am properly informed, they are for tattoo protection. allen iverson really has made them his statement. you know all about sport and image, jonah. its the same as the american sports fan looking at a european soccer star and thinking he looks like a backstreet boy. an interesting study, for sure.
i vote for the return of the larry and magic basketball shorts, however. clean look.
August 10th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
i think joel has it right with nba jam, “HES HEATING UP!!!!” iverson actually had to cover up some offensive naked tattoos not so much protection and some would claim to keep there shooting arm warm to prevent cramping etc.
larry a stache
magic double knee brace
and jordan he is just as guilty as AI. the knee brace with the top folded over to create the black with red stripe.
as far as crappy basketball soooo much to blame. coaching, players, etc.
final comment, i wish i lived in a city that when there was a time out in a major sporting event the cities water pressure would drop from so many people using the bathroom. or to walk down town and tuck into any building and catch the event.
August 11th, 2008 at 12:34 am
I don’t mind sports figures having fashion statements, don’t get me wrong. But those sleeve things just look girlie. I wouldn’t wear one of those things in public (or at home, for that matter) even if you paid me! What sort of a statement do these things make? “I look like a girl?” Sheesh.
American sports fans would be right. European soccer players do look like Backstreet Boys. But that is still better than looking like you’re a member of the Spice Girls!
If they are for tatoo protecting, then what was that Chinese kid doing with one on? Maybe he missed the memo about what they were for. I know he didn’t have any tatoos. Lightening would probably jump out of Chairman Mao’s eyes and strike him down if he even thought about getting some!
Hey, if all they do is dunk their shooting percentage should be wicked, right? Wrong! That would be true if you could make a jumpshot. Team USA were 54% from the field. Pitiful! When they come up against a team (Spain or Argentina) that aren’t wowed by the NBA and can play some tough inside defense, they are going to struggle.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
any comment on the “spanish olympic photo controversy” that has the mens basketball team making slanty eyes?
August 13th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Well, in context, I don’t think there is anything there to get upset about. The advertisement was celebrating the fact that they had signed a new endorsement deal with a Chinese sportswear firm.
And although I would recognise that the whole “slanty eyes” thing is offensive in the US of A, it isn’t really the same here. And, of course, the photo in question ran in Spain.
It’s a question of context, IMO.
That said, I’m not sure it was an incredibly intelligent thing for FEB to do as we do live in a global village and these things do tend to get around and be misunderstood.