Slog
News & ArtsSaturday, August 4, 2012
Sports This is the America I Love
Posted by Charles Mudede on Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 9:59 AM
This is the only America that makes any sense...
Gabby wins all-around! 1st African American woman to win it gets a big hug from her China-born coach, Liang Chow.This is why I'm here and not in, say, Europe or Japan.
1
I know what youre saying Charles. I found myself having a weird sense of pride seeing how multi-cultural the US team was compared to the other teams. Maybe weird is the wrong word. I guess i just didn't expect to focus on that part of it.
2
When it finally dawns on you that Liang Chow's voting record has been consistently republican, as is the majority of voting records of those immigrants from authoritarian countries in America, you may slightly revise your opinion?
3
This is why I'm here as well. OK, part of the reason too, is I was born here. And, it's such a pain in the ass to even move across the country, let alone to a different one. And then you have all that paperwork and immigration to go through. So, maybe it is better that people come here instead. I mean, it is easier for me. Am I being selfish?
4
Gabby is the greatest. Not just for winning but for the manic intensity with which she did so. She looked like she was trying to bash through her routines in half the time. Gymnastics has come a long way since my hero, the goddess Olga Korbut, created it in 1972. I never felt anything during all the various Rettons and Strugs and so on.
However, you know that being America, the only country in the world that would give her the chance to be the best, we also humiliated her in our special way: She was neither pictured nor mentioned in most of the major newspaper articles after her team gold, and after Bob Costas finished his story on her individual gold, NBC cut away to a commercial of a monkey doing gymnastics.
However, you know that being America, the only country in the world that would give her the chance to be the best, we also humiliated her in our special way: She was neither pictured nor mentioned in most of the major newspaper articles after her team gold, and after Bob Costas finished his story on her individual gold, NBC cut away to a commercial of a monkey doing gymnastics.
5
And speaking of the Amerika which Charles loves:
Wikileaks/Assange Update
Recently, since Wikileaks' Julian Assange escaped to the Ecuadorian embassy in the UK, the ambassador from Ecuador approached the Swedish government to offer access to Assange for questioning by them and was soundly rejected!
Ecuador's president also contacted the Swedish government with a similar offer and was also rebuffed!
A quick review: Assange remained in Sweden for 30 days after the initial charges, which had been dropped, awaiting any further questioning which never came, then inquired of the Swedish government (Swedish Prosecution Authority) if it was permissable for him to leave for the UK, and they responded in the affirmative.
While in the UK, the Swedish government suddenly and inexplicably reversed their position and sought his physical extradition back to Sweden. both his attorney, and the British government, extended the offer of his questioning in the UK, but all were rebuffed by the Swedish government?
One of the attorneys of the law firm who originally offered to represent his accuser (Anna Ardin), she who later recanted any accusations, yet still that law firm is inexplicably -- and against all legal precedent -- pursuing Assange, even with false lies and propaganda during his American trip.
The attorney, Thomas Bodstrom, spread lies about Assange "having fled Sweden" to avoid legal prosecution. Bodstrom was the former Swedish Justice Minister who OK'ed the CIA's extreme rendition of several innocent Arab-Swedes, who later received a financial judgment from the Swedish government for their illegal kidnapping!
Sweden, like the USA and UK, has a considerable number of corrupt and dishonest politicians.
Since the release of the Wikileaked State Department cables, at least 13 American ambassadors have been replaced, having been declared as persona non grata in their host countries for having acted on behalf of various multinationals against the host countries. (Alhtough sometimes they acted on behalf of the CIA, which was acting on behalf of various corporate multinationals; sometimes American-based, sometimes not!)
Globally, the effect of those diplomatic cables has been substantial --- openly revealing the extent of multinational use and ownership of the American government to enact their objectives, only Americans remaining abysmally ignorant of this!
Meanwhile, Overlord Obama signed into "law" the National Defense Authorization Act, granting the US government the right to arrest and indefinitely detain any citizen or non-citizen without recourse to due process.
More...
Wikileaks/Assange Update
Recently, since Wikileaks' Julian Assange escaped to the Ecuadorian embassy in the UK, the ambassador from Ecuador approached the Swedish government to offer access to Assange for questioning by them and was soundly rejected!
Ecuador's president also contacted the Swedish government with a similar offer and was also rebuffed!
A quick review: Assange remained in Sweden for 30 days after the initial charges, which had been dropped, awaiting any further questioning which never came, then inquired of the Swedish government (Swedish Prosecution Authority) if it was permissable for him to leave for the UK, and they responded in the affirmative.
While in the UK, the Swedish government suddenly and inexplicably reversed their position and sought his physical extradition back to Sweden. both his attorney, and the British government, extended the offer of his questioning in the UK, but all were rebuffed by the Swedish government?
One of the attorneys of the law firm who originally offered to represent his accuser (Anna Ardin), she who later recanted any accusations, yet still that law firm is inexplicably -- and against all legal precedent -- pursuing Assange, even with false lies and propaganda during his American trip.
The attorney, Thomas Bodstrom, spread lies about Assange "having fled Sweden" to avoid legal prosecution. Bodstrom was the former Swedish Justice Minister who OK'ed the CIA's extreme rendition of several innocent Arab-Swedes, who later received a financial judgment from the Swedish government for their illegal kidnapping!
Sweden, like the USA and UK, has a considerable number of corrupt and dishonest politicians.
Since the release of the Wikileaked State Department cables, at least 13 American ambassadors have been replaced, having been declared as persona non grata in their host countries for having acted on behalf of various multinationals against the host countries. (Alhtough sometimes they acted on behalf of the CIA, which was acting on behalf of various corporate multinationals; sometimes American-based, sometimes not!)
Globally, the effect of those diplomatic cables has been substantial --- openly revealing the extent of multinational use and ownership of the American government to enact their objectives, only Americans remaining abysmally ignorant of this!
Meanwhile, Overlord Obama signed into "law" the National Defense Authorization Act, granting the US government the right to arrest and indefinitely detain any citizen or non-citizen without recourse to due process.
6
#5 -
I read articles on your topic. Maybe you could post one? It is a very important topic but I wonder if the whole long thing is really best placed as a comment on this post about Gabby Douglas and whatever people might or might not love about America. Maybe a paragraph that IS related and then a link to your own post? Just a thought.
I read articles on your topic. Maybe you could post one? It is a very important topic but I wonder if the whole long thing is really best placed as a comment on this post about Gabby Douglas and whatever people might or might not love about America. Maybe a paragraph that IS related and then a link to your own post? Just a thought.
7
Good Morning Charles,
Like you, I choose to be here and remain an American but for slightly different reasons. Sure, I have no problem with ethnic/racial diversity but America has always been that way. Recall, that the country was a draw to diverse European groups even in the early days of the Republic. Read accounts by St. Jean de Crevecoeur and Toqueville.
For me, it's a combination of things, the Separation of Powers of our Federal government and our extraordinary landscape for both beauty and cultivation come to mind. We are very lucky for latter. This country has never had a famine in its 236 year history. I do like its diversity ethnically, racially, religiously and more and more linguistically. Finally, I like America's version of capitalism warts and all.
We had a good country even before Gabby & Liang Chow. Nonetheless, good on Gabby and her coach. Her performance was outstanding.
Like you, I choose to be here and remain an American but for slightly different reasons. Sure, I have no problem with ethnic/racial diversity but America has always been that way. Recall, that the country was a draw to diverse European groups even in the early days of the Republic. Read accounts by St. Jean de Crevecoeur and Toqueville.
For me, it's a combination of things, the Separation of Powers of our Federal government and our extraordinary landscape for both beauty and cultivation come to mind. We are very lucky for latter. This country has never had a famine in its 236 year history. I do like its diversity ethnically, racially, religiously and more and more linguistically. Finally, I like America's version of capitalism warts and all.
We had a good country even before Gabby & Liang Chow. Nonetheless, good on Gabby and her coach. Her performance was outstanding.
8
It's a nice contrast to the Lithuanian fans who made Nazi salutes and monkey noises during a men's basketball game with Nigeria last week.
9
I don't see that much of a difference compared to german Marcel Ngyuen (german mother, vietnamese father, no clue what religion) getting a hug from german coach Valeryi Belenki (born in Azerbaijan/Sovjet Union, jewish) after winning the first german all-around medal in gymnastics since 1936.
Only one example - because there are more.
If you want to see it, you can see a lot of diversity outside of the US.
Only one example - because there are more.
If you want to see it, you can see a lot of diversity outside of the US.
10
"Chow's voting record has been consistently republican"
Stupid immigrant. Doesn't he know you supposed to move to the USA to squeeze out puppies with miscellaneous fathers and insist the natives give you welfare?
Stupid immigrant. Doesn't he know you supposed to move to the USA to squeeze out puppies with miscellaneous fathers and insist the natives give you welfare?
11
I dunno. Gabby Douglas seemed to be roundly ignored by the media prior to winning her deserved gold medal.
Whereas Jessica Ennis, the mixed-race daughter of a Jamaican immigrant, was the poster girl of the British Olympic team. And she's coached by the working class son of Italian immigrants.
Not all of Europe is Lithuania.
Whereas Jessica Ennis, the mixed-race daughter of a Jamaican immigrant, was the poster girl of the British Olympic team. And she's coached by the working class son of Italian immigrants.
Not all of Europe is Lithuania.
12
I'm here only because I can't move to Norway. There are blue-eyed Norwegians and brown-eyed Norwegians - that's enough diversity to satisfy me.
13
1. our constitution actually is pretty darn good. A+!!!!
2. our land, pretty darn amazing. A++!!!!
3. our history. A-. Ahem. Well, we did do the slavery thing but then we didn't, also jim crow, then stopped, and it's getting better, and we do diversity a lot better than many.
4. our economy still kicks ass. A. one of top in the world, we're only slightly behind canda in wealth per capita!
5. size matters. A.
6. the words "america" and "united states" sound pretty good. I mean, better than "Azerbaijan" or "Uzbekistan." The America tag we've taken over is nice with vowels at both ends and don't discount the value of that "me-rica" subliminal message! A.
7. as for equality as soon as we got gay marriage, our biggest inequality will just be the six million people we rule over without equal rights being DC residents Puerto Ricans and some others. Hey, only 6 minllion out of what, 330 million are second class citizens, not too bad! A-.
8. unlike most hugeass superpowers, much of the time we do stuff abroad we're not the bad guys; sometimes we are the good guys and did save the world in ww2. and, we hardly torture at all. again, this is about a c+ or B record overall in "did we abuse our power?" -- certainly better than the soviets who get an F, or the brits who get a C or C-. Japan and Germany don't seem to ahve an ax to grind against us, so that tells you a lot, actually, it's like having your ex's like you.
9. our flag kicks ass, it's all happy and message laden and stuff. bit of a swagger too. it's not nondescript! really more thought went into it than say the union jack or the tricolor of france. A.
10. Music. Damn man, we rock, we jazz, we blues, we kick fucking ass, only Britain comes close. A.
2. our land, pretty darn amazing. A++!!!!
3. our history. A-. Ahem. Well, we did do the slavery thing but then we didn't, also jim crow, then stopped, and it's getting better, and we do diversity a lot better than many.
4. our economy still kicks ass. A. one of top in the world, we're only slightly behind canda in wealth per capita!
5. size matters. A.
6. the words "america" and "united states" sound pretty good. I mean, better than "Azerbaijan" or "Uzbekistan." The America tag we've taken over is nice with vowels at both ends and don't discount the value of that "me-rica" subliminal message! A.
7. as for equality as soon as we got gay marriage, our biggest inequality will just be the six million people we rule over without equal rights being DC residents Puerto Ricans and some others. Hey, only 6 minllion out of what, 330 million are second class citizens, not too bad! A-.
8. unlike most hugeass superpowers, much of the time we do stuff abroad we're not the bad guys; sometimes we are the good guys and did save the world in ww2. and, we hardly torture at all. again, this is about a c+ or B record overall in "did we abuse our power?" -- certainly better than the soviets who get an F, or the brits who get a C or C-. Japan and Germany don't seem to ahve an ax to grind against us, so that tells you a lot, actually, it's like having your ex's like you.
9. our flag kicks ass, it's all happy and message laden and stuff. bit of a swagger too. it's not nondescript! really more thought went into it than say the union jack or the tricolor of france. A.
10. Music. Damn man, we rock, we jazz, we blues, we kick fucking ass, only Britain comes close. A.
14
@ 2 UMM actually Chinese and Asians on the whole are pretty heavily Democratic
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/06/1…
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/06/1…
15
Every time the Olympics roll around I notice one unique feature of the US athletes. Their names sound like a roll call of a United Nations meeting. Names from all over the planet and faces of every color to go along with them. No other country has that. At least not to the degree we do. It's something to be proud of.
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@4 -- "She was neither pictured nor mentioned in most of the major newspaper articles after her team gold"
Really, Fnarf? Google says nothing could be further from the truth.
Really, Fnarf? Google says nothing could be further from the truth.
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@ 4, leave it to you to make sure your hero is someone nobody has heard of. Can't be so common as to like someone who's actually popular and had an impact, can you?
19
Also, Fox News attacked Gabby for not being patriotic enough, wearing pink instead of red, white, and blue. Fox News is abolute filth, in case you were confused on the subject.
http://youtu.be/85w6362CrG0
http://youtu.be/85w6362CrG0
20
@18, I'm flabbergasted. You've never heard of Olga Korbut? Is your head stuffed with cotton wool? She was only the most famous Olympic athlete of her generation. "Had an impact"? HAD AN IMPACT??? What a jackass. Olga Korbut INVENTED modern women's gymnastics; all who went before her were older women doing boring rhythmic routines that no one watched. Now, because of Korbut, it's the most glamorous Olympic event. No gymnast in history has the impact of Olga Korbut -- not Nadia Comaneci, not Mary Lou Retton, not even close.
I still remember the heart-stopping genius of her uneven bars routine, featuring the now-banned backflip off the top bar. that performance didn't just change gymnastics forever, it changed the way people watched the Olympics. The number of girls who took up gymnastics specifically because of that performance numbers in the many millions. She was a world superstar. Her appearances in the US and were akin to those of The Beatles.
Seriously, dude. If you don't know who Olga Korbut was, SHUT UP. Just shut up. You're a fucking idiot, and I'm tired of you.
Christ on a crutch. OLGA KORBUT.
@17, yes, after she won individual gold, she was hard to ignore. But earlier, when the US team won largely on the strength of Gabby's scores, major media outlets ignored her completely to cover the frankly boring saga of the not-as-good-as-advertised Jordyn Wieber.
http://shesomajor.com/the-washington-pos…
I still remember the heart-stopping genius of her uneven bars routine, featuring the now-banned backflip off the top bar. that performance didn't just change gymnastics forever, it changed the way people watched the Olympics. The number of girls who took up gymnastics specifically because of that performance numbers in the many millions. She was a world superstar. Her appearances in the US and were akin to those of The Beatles.
Seriously, dude. If you don't know who Olga Korbut was, SHUT UP. Just shut up. You're a fucking idiot, and I'm tired of you.
Christ on a crutch. OLGA KORBUT.
@17, yes, after she won individual gold, she was hard to ignore. But earlier, when the US team won largely on the strength of Gabby's scores, major media outlets ignored her completely to cover the frankly boring saga of the not-as-good-as-advertised Jordyn Wieber.
http://shesomajor.com/the-washington-pos…
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@ 18
She's a big deal in gymnastics. Her eponymous named move,Korbut Flip, is no longer legal for safety reasons. Her athleticism and fearlessness transformed the sport.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrDtXx87C…
She's a big deal in gymnastics. Her eponymous named move,Korbut Flip, is no longer legal for safety reasons. Her athleticism and fearlessness transformed the sport.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrDtXx87C…
22
Not a huge gymnastics fan, but even I've heard of Olga Korbut. A huge name in the 70's, along with Nadia Comaneci.
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@20Fnarf,
I recall Olga Korbut. And, you have point of how she changed a sport. Phelps is apparently doing that for swimming:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/sports…
Another example of your point is the sport of basketball. To be sure, Jordan "changed" the sport in the sense that it and he became a worldwide phenomenon after the 88' Games and his subsequent 6 NBA titles with Chicago. But, the player who arguably changed the sport itself was George Miken of DePaul University/Minneapolis Lakers who played before my time. He was the first "big man" in the game. Shaquille O'Neal who paid for his funeral as a tribute (Miken died a few years ago) remarked if it wasn't for Miken there wouldn't be O'Neal. I'm in agreement with you. A particular player heralded or unheralded can change a particular sport forever.
I recall Olga Korbut. And, you have point of how she changed a sport. Phelps is apparently doing that for swimming:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/sports…
Another example of your point is the sport of basketball. To be sure, Jordan "changed" the sport in the sense that it and he became a worldwide phenomenon after the 88' Games and his subsequent 6 NBA titles with Chicago. But, the player who arguably changed the sport itself was George Miken of DePaul University/Minneapolis Lakers who played before my time. He was the first "big man" in the game. Shaquille O'Neal who paid for his funeral as a tribute (Miken died a few years ago) remarked if it wasn't for Miken there wouldn't be O'Neal. I'm in agreement with you. A particular player heralded or unheralded can change a particular sport forever.
25
Fnarf?
True, WaPo's free fishwrapper [Express Night Out] included a severely truncated cut of AP copy on the team win.
True, in this particular usage Gabby's name did not appear, and true, she was facing backward in the inside photo with the article ... but she alone was pictured on the front cover, top right.
And her name did appear (along with a wide variety of photos) where the same block of AP copy was used in nearly a thousand other publications ... many with stronger claims to the title "major media outlet".
True, WaPo's free fishwrapper [Express Night Out] included a severely truncated cut of AP copy on the team win.
True, in this particular usage Gabby's name did not appear, and true, she was facing backward in the inside photo with the article ... but she alone was pictured on the front cover, top right.
And her name did appear (along with a wide variety of photos) where the same block of AP copy was used in nearly a thousand other publications ... many with stronger claims to the title "major media outlet".
26
you are so fucking stupid, @24. Cullen Jones is on the US swim team. go google him once you've stop fapping to the beach volleyball matches. sheesh.
27
Mr Mudede you are also glad, like Ms Gabby and Mr Chinese Coach that you are not in Africa nor China.
28
Alright, I stand corrected. But I'll plead for leniency based on my relatively young age (I was 2 in 1972). If anyone ever spoke of her after Nadia Comenici during Olympic coverage, it wasn't very prominently.
Still, Fnarf must admit that he goes for the obscure and unheard-of so often that the chances she was unknown to any but him and a few super-diehard fans was 99%. It happens just about any time the topic is some other person of accomplishment.
Still, Fnarf must admit that he goes for the obscure and unheard-of so often that the chances she was unknown to any but him and a few super-diehard fans was 99%. It happens just about any time the topic is some other person of accomplishment.
29
@23,
Correction. I meant to say the 92' Games. Pro players weren't allowed on the Olympic team before that. The Soviet Union won the gold medal for Men's basketball in 88'.
Correction. I meant to say the 92' Games. Pro players weren't allowed on the Olympic team before that. The Soviet Union won the gold medal for Men's basketball in 88'.
31
@28 - Except not really. Just because you don't know shit (or care to learn) doesn't mean the rest of us don't.
Have you considered that perhaps your irrational dislike of Fnarf is asinine? And that you're often a giant douche? Just sayin'.
Have you considered that perhaps your irrational dislike of Fnarf is asinine? And that you're often a giant douche? Just sayin'.
32
@ 31, LOL. How about not knowing six years of back and forth between longtime sloggers, noob?
He's straight, so don't get yer hopes up, cheese.
He's straight, so don't get yer hopes up, cheese.
34
"...after Bob Costas finished his story on her individual gold, NBC cut away to a commercial of a monkey doing gymnastics."
@4
Um, YOU are the one who projected your racism there. The fact that you immediately made that connection says a lot about YOU, you fat white ignorant pig. She's your hero now though so it absolves you, right? Now that you've proclaimed it, does it satisfy your white guilt & temper your naturally racist inclinations?
@4
Um, YOU are the one who projected your racism there. The fact that you immediately made that connection says a lot about YOU, you fat white ignorant pig. She's your hero now though so it absolves you, right? Now that you've proclaimed it, does it satisfy your white guilt & temper your naturally racist inclinations?
35
@26
Winner Silver Medal, Most Inappropriately Hysterical Response to Another Comment.
Gold Medal Winner, Fnarf (Awarded for Lifetime Achievement).
Winner Silver Medal, Most Inappropriately Hysterical Response to Another Comment.
Gold Medal Winner, Fnarf (Awarded for Lifetime Achievement).
36
@18
Leave it to some ill educated buffoon, who, when confronted with his obvious lack of knowledge, hunkers in, digs his heels and starts whining something about "oh well, why would anyone even care".
37
#34
I keep tuning to 5 to see all these people and sports you're talking about, but somehow my timing lands me on more male swimming. I want to watch Olympics, but NBC has turned it into Magic Mike.
Hey, look, the Olympics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEnRLObWD…
38
It's Obama's birthday today and he's 51. We are only separated in age by ten months. I remind myself of this because there has never been a time where I felt any common cultural heritage or history with the man. When he speaks, it might as well be an announcement at the supermarket, or a LINK operator telling me when the next stop is coming up. I cannot remember feeling moved or connected to a single speech, word or idea the man has put forth.
Normally a generation waits for its leaders to take charge, for its long simmering ideas to boil up to the top. But as a contemporary of the current leader, I feel no kinship or synchronicity at all. So, I'm still waiting.
Normally a generation waits for its leaders to take charge, for its long simmering ideas to boil up to the top. But as a contemporary of the current leader, I feel no kinship or synchronicity at all. So, I'm still waiting.
40
You'd get a lot more of this in Australia, where in a few short decades the nation has gone from one of the most racist monocultural societies in the world to the most multicultural, and for the most part celebrating it.
42
@32 - You're right, I'm a noob. Because these are all our real names and our strangerface profile is the our complete and totally history. There's no way I would know about elswinger's tragic death and the uncaring system that produced it, Erica's semi-breakdown during the 2008 primary season (and red red wine), how Jubliation T Cornball and Mr. Poe drove Chelsea Alvarez-Bell to leave her dramatically position as a guest poster, Freaky Friday, WiS' constant inanity (100 story towers with greenspace guyz!), or back when all comments were of the unregistered variety and you could link your name to another URL.
I'll repeat what I said to you earlier: Just because you don't know shit doesn't mean the rest of us don't. Jesus Christ you are fucking stupid.
I'll repeat what I said to you earlier: Just because you don't know shit doesn't mean the rest of us don't. Jesus Christ you are fucking stupid.
44
@14, ummmm, forgive me for not blindly always accepting the oil company people's spewed stuff from Pew, but my own analysis from opensecrets and immigrants from authoritarian countries says otherwise.
But you go on blithely accepting everything the neocon gaytards at NPR tell you dood, and ignore the fact that the majority of media companies filed an amicus curaie on behalf of FoxFiction's several court cases, where they were defending their "right" to fictionalize the "news."
Of course, there was no logical reason nor legal reason, other than the fact that those media companies were in full agreement with fictionalizing the news, to have ever filed such an amicus curaie.
But Pew must always be right, douchey --- and that's why you'll be reelecting Overlord Obama, 'cause Wall Street directs to vote for either their Obama choice, or their Romney choice...
But you go on blithely accepting everything the neocon gaytards at NPR tell you dood, and ignore the fact that the majority of media companies filed an amicus curaie on behalf of FoxFiction's several court cases, where they were defending their "right" to fictionalize the "news."
Of course, there was no logical reason nor legal reason, other than the fact that those media companies were in full agreement with fictionalizing the news, to have ever filed such an amicus curaie.
But Pew must always be right, douchey --- and that's why you'll be reelecting Overlord Obama, 'cause Wall Street directs to vote for either their Obama choice, or their Romney choice...
47
Gabby was ignored after the women's team gold because:
1) Everyone was focused on Jordyn not making the all-around.
2) Gabby qualified as the second American, behind Aly Raisman.
3) Gabby's past inconsistency led a lot of people - me included - to assume she would make a mistake in the all-around that would put her out of contention.
I am thrilled that I was wrong about that. In fact, Gabby's performance over all three days of team and all-around competition was extraordinary. Her .259 edge over Komova in the all-around barely hints at how good she was. Gabby performed on every event in both phases of the team competition, plus every event in the all around final, something only three other athletes in the field did. And except for floor in team qualifications, Gabby hit every single one of those routines, with no score lower than 15. None of the other three came close to that.
To anyone who relied on NBC's brainless, tape-delayed fluff coverage: check torrent sites for downloads of BBC's broadcast. It was about the performances, not all the ridiculous hype leading up to them.
1) Everyone was focused on Jordyn not making the all-around.
2) Gabby qualified as the second American, behind Aly Raisman.
3) Gabby's past inconsistency led a lot of people - me included - to assume she would make a mistake in the all-around that would put her out of contention.
I am thrilled that I was wrong about that. In fact, Gabby's performance over all three days of team and all-around competition was extraordinary. Her .259 edge over Komova in the all-around barely hints at how good she was. Gabby performed on every event in both phases of the team competition, plus every event in the all around final, something only three other athletes in the field did. And except for floor in team qualifications, Gabby hit every single one of those routines, with no score lower than 15. None of the other three came close to that.
To anyone who relied on NBC's brainless, tape-delayed fluff coverage: check torrent sites for downloads of BBC's broadcast. It was about the performances, not all the ridiculous hype leading up to them.
48
@ 42, ah. So when you make an ass of yourself, presto! New Stranger account? A nice, clean slate until your next fuckup? You'd think you'd learn to contribute more to Slog threads than "yeah, what so-and-so said."
No, thanks. I'll keep posting as me, scars, warts and all.
No, thanks. I'll keep posting as me, scars, warts and all.
49
Up until now, I have not given a toss about the Olympics. I mean. I still don't give a toss about the Olympics.. but man! Gabby Douglas! what an inspiration for African American girls.
I found myself in tears a couple of times watching her amazing routines, and in interviews. Wow! my new hero, and I don't even give a shit about sport.
I found myself in tears a couple of times watching her amazing routines, and in interviews. Wow! my new hero, and I don't even give a shit about sport.
50
Congratulations to Gabby all the way, but I'd still rather live in Japan than here. I've found that life is better there in just about every way. I can't say that I'm here by choice.
51
Charles,
There is multiculturalism in some European countries, i.e., France, England, and Holland come to mind. But I agree that the US is great because of its multiculturalism/diversity.
Very proud of Gabby for her accomplishments.
There is multiculturalism in some European countries, i.e., France, England, and Holland come to mind. But I agree that the US is great because of its multiculturalism/diversity.
Very proud of Gabby for her accomplishments.
52
I'm by choice in Germany. Not the melting pot of NYC where I was previously. But I'd rather be here, thank you very much. My life style here is vastly better than what I had in NYC. I can deal without the high levels of multiculturalism in exchange for health care and better gay rights. Each to his own.
53
A troll's comment (Seattle14):
@ 2 UMM actually Chinese and Asians on the whole are pretty heavily Democratic
My original comment:
...those immigrants from authoritarian countries ...
Was there any mention of Asians? Negative --- troll reframes original comment, thereby fictionalizing it.
Decades of study supports my original comment: immigrants from authoritarian countries tend to vote republiCON (i.e., Eastern Europeans from Russia, Africans from dictator-ruled countries, Filipinos from the Philippines when Marcos ruled there, and Chinese from China).
Trolls, and trolls and trolls, try to respond to a comment pertaining to said comment!
@ 2 UMM actually Chinese and Asians on the whole are pretty heavily Democratic
My original comment:
...those immigrants from authoritarian countries ...
Was there any mention of Asians? Negative --- troll reframes original comment, thereby fictionalizing it.
Decades of study supports my original comment: immigrants from authoritarian countries tend to vote republiCON (i.e., Eastern Europeans from Russia, Africans from dictator-ruled countries, Filipinos from the Philippines when Marcos ruled there, and Chinese from China).
Trolls, and trolls and trolls, try to respond to a comment pertaining to said comment!
54
@4However, you know that being America, the only country in the world that would give her the chance to be the best...
Sometimes I can't tell if you're being serious or not.
Sometimes I can't tell if you're being serious or not.
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