Kind of a shame that the best atheletes of the host country have this kind of problem.

MaryCas, coming from a small country not used to sporting success myself, I feel really sorry for ordinary Greek sports fans. We in Irleand had to go through the debacle of swimmer Michelle Smith in 1996.

But looking at the bigger picture the battle against drugs in sport is bigger than any individual and country. I don't think we'll ever get rid of all the cheats but we must try to get rid of as many as possible no matter what country they come from. Track and Field sports have a huge credibility problem so I'm glad we have got rid of the prospect of these two running.

Why surprised? Don't you think that all the people here want to SEE OUR people win? Almost every part of this country has someone in the Olympics or a connection to it in some shape or form. After all we do pay the bills to broadcast the coverage.
People over here watching, that can buy the products from the companies who buy the spots who pay the TV network to but the dam thing on in the first place. So you can thank US! Even if you hate the US, you still love our TV

I don't have a problem with the media focusing on "home town" success. Let's face it, every country does that. You need to be over here when the Brits win a bronze in the small bore rifle shooting to experience overkill! But it wouldn't hurt to realise that there is a whole other Olympics going on outside of the pool, basketball arena and drug-fuelled sprinting. Case in point, my brother (who lives in the US and is a BIG sports fan) when discussing the possibililty of Michael Phelps winning 7 or 8 golds admitted he'd never heard of Ian Thorpe. As for the influence of money, sure it's unavoidable now, but there were Olympics before TV and there'll probably be Olympics after it all implodes and people start switching off (as they're already doing in track and field).

Finally (you'll be glad to hear) FS, I don't hate America. My bro lives there as do my American nephews and neices and I am very close to my first cousins who were all born there and are 100% American. Now, we don't all have the same view of the world as you would expect and we often disagree about things, but we still love each other aaaah! So in praise of the USA, I thought Paul Hamm was brilliant last night and deserved gold...mind you the guy in the shot putt was an a**hole.

If you're talking about the guy who argued his last foul, maybe you missed the interview. He redeemed himself. He said he screwed up. The facility and the Olympics were wonderful. He applauded the guy who won. He did over-react when he did his last foul. Can't blame him for being upset. He fouled 4 times.

BTW, any relatives in Pearl River, NY?

If you're talking about the guy who argued his last foul, maybe you missed the interview. He redeemed himself. He said he screwed up. The facility and the Olympics were wonderful. He applauded the guy who won. He did over-react when he did his last foul. Can't blame him for being upset. He fouled 4 times.

BTW, any relatives in Pearl River, NY? [/b][/quote]Marycas,
It didn't show any interview on the BBC. I'm glad he redeemed himself. Good idea of the organisers to take that event to Olympia. Slightly spoiled by the fact that the winner of the women's shot served a drug ban in 1999. But I suppose she's done her time

I've some relatives in Buffalo NY, but most of my close family live in Maryland. Silver Spring, Rockville, Olney. My father's brother left Ireland in 1955 and moved to NYC but then re-located to Silver Spring Md around 1957/58 (things were too hot after the killing of the heads of the five families) . His five kids were born there.

SM, I guess U.K. TV didn't show the interview of Adam Nelson. It was kind of a USA story. He did look like an A-hole when he was arguing his foot-foul.

BTW does Ireland have a medal opportunity (I guess I should check the medal count)? I need some other folks to cheer for. I like when the little guy comes up big.

Olney, MD ! I have two in-laws there; well actually one is in Brookeville, the next town over. The reason I mention Pearl River is because its known as a stopping place for Irish immigrants. Lots of pubs; Sheeran's, J.F. Keane's, the Old Saloon, etc. and a great St. Pat's parade. Now on with the games!!

Sadly...no. Our best hope was probably in the women's walk (seriously) but she was injured just before the games. Sonia O'Sullivan is in the final of the 5k on Monday night but it seems her best days are behind her. Our lightweight rowers finished 6th in their final. Small country...poorly funded.

Great piece on the women in the Olympics. I loved seeing the Muslim women competing. F those Muslim men with their ancient religious beliefs about women. BUT, those "uniforms" on the women beach volleyball teams (is that really a sport?). A little modesty please! In the ancient games the men were naked, but they also had prostitute vendors.

The uniforms are the best part, MC!

I know, but my wife made me write that.

I'm waiting for the Kenyans, Moroccans, and Ethiopians to carry me to victory!

First half of the U.S. Taekwondo team comes through with a silver! We only sent two competitors.

Since when has windsurfing been an Olympic sport? How can that be a sport but golf is not?

DM, isn't that incredible!! I'd like to know the criteria for a sport being entered in the O's.

BTW, did I hear right, the US did not have a baseball team?? WTF? Wasn't baseball invented in the USA?

My sympathies go out to the hurdlers who fell. Ouch.

Did anybody see the mens basketball today?I didn't see all of it but what I did see it sucked. IMO USA didn't have their hearts in it. Or am I wrong?

My congrats to all the players in the Athens challenge who really went out on a limb and picked the USA, Russia and China but I did pick China. :rolleyes: Mexico and Morroco ...go, go, go.

Looks like these are final standings:

That is Don Marco with 850, right?

Anyway, playing conservative won me gold in this group, but only 77.7%ile overall. The overall winner had 1787.8 points with big bonus multipliers for his picks. Guess I'll try to remember that strategy for the next one

If I had some time to research back, I wonder how the countries compared to last Olympics. I wonder if the "factor" was applied fairly. Don't take that as sour grapes, just a mathematical pondering.

Just to give you guys an update, remember my childhood buddy that I told you guys to cheer for - Steven Lopez, USA representative in Taekwondo...

He won gold!

Way to go!

Wow! That's cool. I watched none of the Olympics, and I had totally forgotten about this game. Give your bud congrats from your fantasy friends.

Yeah, Stephen!! I looked at the list today in the paper.. Ireland won 1 medal - gold, but I don't know for what.

Show Jumping. Charles Kappel? of USA got the bronze.