The Gold, Silver and Bronze pro-Olympics Thread

[johnb]

Oh dear Usain Bolt has got you (us) all chattering about athletics, perfoamnce and him, just as Mohammed Ali did about boxing in the 1960s/70s. He's a very intelligent, savvy and a naturally gifted athlete who has worked hard enough to be the best at what he does. Good for him!

We both had the same thought at the same time!

[Resurrection Man]

Sure, there has been an enormous amount of hype concerning Bolt. Sure, he grandstands to the public (anyone remember Mohammed Ali?).

But he has proved himself to be a great athlete and all this carping is extremely unpleasant and distasteful.

What makes him a greater athlete over the others?

[MrGongGong]

Them Jamaicans inspired me to catch that bus this morning....mind you I had to go for a lie down afterwards!

Some other Jamaicans inspired me to do something else
but I can't seem to remember what it was
hey man look at that lightbulb

anyone seen my rizlas ? (and I'm NOT a Clarinettist !!!)

[french frank]

I am struggling to understand all the hysteria around Bolt.

'Hysteria' is a loaded word - the statement, when analysed, meaning: 'I, a sane and balanced person, find it hard to understand the madness around me.'

For whatever reason, the (men's) sprint events (i.e. the 100m and 200m) have always been the 'glamour' events, presumably because they do indicate 'the fastest in the world' (Wilma Rudolph, who won both women's events in 1960, was similarly dubbed 'the fastest woman in the world' after winning the 100m in 11 secs). So to have one man win both events attracts attention. And to be the first man in history to have been able to preserve his superiority in the event over the period of two Olympic Games also seem like an achievement in its own right.

That said, the 'hysteria' on this board made me watch a clip of the 200m - the only event I have watched: the rest has passed me by. It just seemed like men running very fast but that's only, I assume, because, I am not much of an enthusiast

[MrGongGong]

It just seemed like men running very fast but that's only, I assume, because, I am not much of an enthusiast

That's two of us then

but I guess we are missing the deeper meaning in running very fast ........................

one comment to me about the whole thing was

"It's not exactly Wagner, is it !"

[Lateralthinking1]

have always been the 'glamour' events

But presumably have risen in popularity in line with that of the soundbite.

Congratulations to Usain Bolt who is clearly a remarkable athlete. However, since the 1980s, I can't help but look at the line-up and ask which ones appear to be on questionable enhancements. That saddens me but what else can we do?

[MrGongGong]

That saddens me but what else can we do?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz-UgQdHYIc

[JohnSkelton]

one comment to me about the whole thing was

"It's not exactly Wagner, is it !"

I guess the obvious answer to that would be: "What exactly is Wagner, then?"

You can reduce anything to an absurdity - and the fascination with people running faster or showing more endurance is an ancient one. I get it, though I find it monotonous (unlike certain games rather than sports perhaps) but I refuse the Olympics so not in this context. What with me being a miserable.

[MrGongGong]

As a long time La Monte Young enthusiast I'm very familiar with monotony and the beauty that can come from it
but I find the monotony of the shouty shouty Olympics very different indeed .............

I'm not sure what Wagner "is" either ........

i'm also totally Miserable as well, even though i'm writing an opera in the garden in the shade of a vine which looks like it's going to be producing some great desert grapes , far better to be inside watching TV i'm sure

[french frank]

But presumably have risen in popularity in line with that of the soundbite.

That probably applies to all sorts of obscure sports, too - like the keirin (I looked that up not long ago but have now forgotten what it is ). And no doubt women's boxing.

[Flosshilde]

"It's not exactly Wagner, is it !"

I'm sure an enterprising director could come up with a Ring set during the Olympics. Rheingold, scene 1 - synchronised swimming; Alberich steals the gold medal from Flosshilde (of course ) on the podium. Gotterdammerung, last scene - Brunhilde loses the dressage.


Right, I've done the first & last scenes - any suggestions for the intervening ones?

[MrGongGong]

At a composition workshop I led a couple of months ago
some students were writing the music for the olympic Extreme Ironing medal ceremony
and also
"The Floor is Lava " (which , apparently , is the game you play when the teacher is out of the room , jumping from desk to desk without being consumed by the flames)........

both of which would make excellent olympic sports IMV

[Lateralthinking1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz-UgQdHYIc

Nice MrGG. I feel though that he might be happier sitting peacefully in a meadow of wildflowers.

[amateur51]

But presumably have risen in popularity in line with that of the soundbite.

Congratulations to Usain Bolt who is clearly a remarkable athlete. However, since the 1980s, I can't help but look at the line-up and ask which ones appear to be on questionable enhancements. That saddens me but what else can we do?

Questionable enhancements?!

Is this a reference to the phenomenon that is lycra?!

[Lateralthinking1]

Questionable enhancements?!

Is this a reference to the phenomenon that is lycra?!

Well, if they are on lycra as well as in lycra, that could explain a hell of a lot.