FanHouse Olympic Chat

11:53

Welcome to the FanHouse Olympics live chat.

Thursday August 21, 2008 11:53

11:53

You can start posting questions and comments now, and we'll be underway in a few moments.

Thursday August 21, 2008 11:53

11:59

[Comment From DaleDale: ]

General question...when are the Olympics over?

Thursday August 21, 2008 11:59 Dale

11:59

The closing ceremony will take place on Sunday.

Thursday August 21, 2008 11:59

12:00

The closing ceremony won't be quite as spectacular as the opening ceremony was, but I always enjoy seeing which athletes are chosen by their teammates to carry the flag.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:00

12:00

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

who won the womens volleyball last night

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:00 Guest

12:01

Team USA won a big indoor volleyball match and the gold medal match in beach volleyball.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:01

12:01

[Comment From iowaladyiowalady: ]

How many medals, overall, did the US win in the last Summer Olympics? Gold Medals?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:01 iowalady

12:02

36 gold, 39 silver, 27 bronze in Athens in 2004, for a total of 102.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:02

12:02

[Comment From christychristy: ]

i love michael phelps

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:02 christy

12:02

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

what happened to the decathlon, why did they pull it out of the olympics...it featured the greatest athletes since the events they competed in were so varied it was difficult to train for...too much of one kind of training got in the way of another event...so the balance was crucial and the ultimate test

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:02 giff

12:02

The decathlon is still an Olympic sport, you'll see it this weekend.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:02

12:03

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

i like the show

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:03 Guest

12:03

Glad to hear it.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:03

12:03

[Comment From iowaladyiowalady: ]

Women's softball has been pulled, though. Why?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:03 iowalady

12:04

The International Olympic Committee decided to get rid of softball for several reasons, the main one being that not enough countries could field competitive teams. The U.S. routinely dominated -- until today's gold medal match.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:04

12:04

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

I think anyone who wins that is the greatest athlete, and especially if they win it two olympics back to back like that british guy or Bob Mathias many years ago...

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:04 giff

12:04

I agree, in general the Olympic decathlon winner is the best all-around athlete in the world.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:04

12:04

[Comment From AlexprintAlexprint: ]

What has happened to our track team?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:04 Alexprint

12:05

It's been very disappointing if you're a fan of Team USA. The Jamaican sprinters are quite clearly dominating the Americans.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:05

12:05

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

ahhh....so there are plenty of teams to be fielded in the lame o winter sport of curling but not enough for softball..

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:05 giff

12:06

[Comment From stevesteve: ]

It's not like that is a surprise. Jamaicans have been great at the sprints for 40 years.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:06 steve

12:06

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

good for Jamaican....I think they're winning the Medals per capita race...it was Australia for a while

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:06 giff

12:07

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

yes track and field has been disappointing for USA

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:07 Guest

12:07

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

has the equestrian jumping been televised yet today?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:07 Guest

12:07

Not that I've seen. It's a little hard to follow which sports NBC is showing.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:07

12:07

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Team USA still has 20 metals in T&F compared to Jamaica's 9... GO USA!!

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:07 Guest

12:07

[Comment From Nastia'sBetterNastia'sBetter: ]

Ahh nothing says Spirit of the Olympics like the entire world giving up on softball because they're not good enough.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:07 Nastia'sBetter

12:07

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

I think Medals per capita is a more impressive stat that who won the most medal or most gold

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:07 giff

12:08

That is interesting. Anyone have a good link for medals per capita for each country?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:08

12:08

[Comment From DannyDanny: ]

Softball Is one of the Sports that should always remain a olympic sport. It takes Team work of 15 players and lots of devotion and hard training.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:08 Danny

12:08

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

well I still think USA will win the medal race

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:08 Guest

12:08

USA will likely win the total medal race. China will win the most golds.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:08

12:08

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

it says that even tho a country has smaller population they can field quality athletes...

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:08 giff

12:09

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

What are they going to do about all those Chinese gymnasts who were only 14 and illegal to compete????

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:09 Guest

12:09

I don't think they're going to do anything. The International Olympic Committee has taken a "look the other way" approach to China.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:09

12:09

[Comment From stevesteve: ]

they won't do anything.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:09 steve

12:09

[Comment From jakejake: ]

US still has the best athletes in the world

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:09 jake

12:09

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

jamaica - smaller than city og Chicago and several medals

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:09 Guest

12:09

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

true China will. but look at our athletes..i will give it to China but they dont have a Michael Phelps..

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:09 Guest

12:09

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

like the old saying it only takes one person to make a impact

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:09 Guest

12:09

[Comment From stevesteve: ]

gotta be nice to your hosts.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:09 steve

12:09

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

yea..i wonder bout that underage competing.lol

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:09 Guest

12:10

[Comment From jadad95jadad95: ]

check out the medal count for russia and then add the former soviet republics, they would have a huge lead. the ussr was truly a sports juggernaut!

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:10 jadad95

12:10

We will never see another sports juggernaut like the Soviet machine, and we will never see another per capita juggernaut like the East German machine. And, given the way those Communist countries became dominant, I'm glad we'll never see it again.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:10

12:11

[Comment From DannyDanny: ]

I think any country that is cheating should be suspended from the next scheduled event.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:11 Danny

12:12

[Comment From jadad95jadad95: ]

amen to that

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:12 jadad95

12:12

[Comment From larrythe4cuzrlarrythe4cuzr: ]

I think the US is a bust this year in Track And Field. What the heck happend

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:12 larrythe4cuzr

12:13

"Bust" might be a little too strong, but it's certainly disappointing.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:13

12:13

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

THAT'S THE BIGGEST LOAD I'VE EVER HEARD!! I feel bad for all those gymnasts who didn't qualify because the under age girls beat them out! They should at least dock all those illegal metals from China, host or not, they were caught CHEATING at the Olympics!!!!!!!!!

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:13 Guest

12:13

[Comment From surfsurf: ]

You will see China take over the spot as the leader in the Olympics. taking kids from their parents to train them.. That's what all the ex-communist countries did.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:13 surf

12:13

[Comment From SteveSteve: ]

A bust - wait till the 400 Meters - the 200meters women and the relays - US will dominate

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:13 Steve

12:13

[Comment From mikemike: ]

then most countries would be suspended lol

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:13 mike

12:14

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

this is the only reference I've found so far on MPC and it's from 8/13. If anyone knows where to get an updated count I'd appreciate it... 1. Armenia (2) - 1,484,293 2. Australia (10) - 2,060,086 3. Slovakia (2) - 2,622,375 4. Azerbaijan (3) - 2,725,905 5. Finland (2) - 2,727,704 6. North Korea (7) - 3,354,156 7. South Korea (12) - 4,102,737 8. Austria (2) - 4,102,767 9. The Netherlands (4) - 4,161,328 10. Croatia (1) - 4,491,543 (Some select at the bottom-: 30. United States (22) - 14,467,840 40. China (20) - 66,502,230 46. India (1) - 1,147,995,898

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:14 giff

12:14

India will certainly be at the bottom of the per capita standings, but congratulations to their medalist.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:14

12:14

[Comment From DannyDanny: ]

Jamaica is dominating sprinting does that mean it will be the next sport cut out because the athletes igured out a way to improve personal goals?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:14 Danny

12:15

[Comment From larrythe4cuzrlarrythe4cuzr: ]

I sure hope so I though for sure we would have made some serious "gold" ground once we hit the track.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:15 larrythe4cuzr

12:15

[Comment From FrankFrank: ]

it's Michael Phelps swimming again in Beijing

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:15 Frank

12:15

no, swimming is over.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:15

12:15

[Comment From former athleteformer athlete: ]

cheating is a way of life if not by age then by judging

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:15 former athlete

12:15

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Hello!?! The US still has 20 metals in Track and Field. I'm also dissapointed, but give our metaling men and women some credit!!

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:15 Guest

12:16

Sure, they get credit, they just haven't done as well as expected.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:16

12:16

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

I don't know if its regular practice amone sprinters but this whole thing of not running full out once they see they've won and saving the opportunity to get another WR at some other date is a bunch of crap...

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:16 giff

12:17

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

that should only happen in qualifying rounds, in a final race, that is unexcusable

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:17 Guest

12:17

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

I understand the "saving oneself' in the prelims but in the final???? what's up with that pulling up at the end stuff Bolt does

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:17 giff

12:18

[Comment From larrythe4cuzrlarrythe4cuzr: ]

Perhaps I may be a little sour grapes but how is it that China nearly doubles the amount of gold metals. But perhaps the government has invested in their team all the way around.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:18 larrythe4cuzr

12:18

Absolutely, the government has made huge investments in China's sports programs.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:18

12:18

[Comment From BarbBarb: ]

Its common for the host countryn to have an advantage. They talked about it during Women's Gymnastics. We had it when the Olympics were in Atlanta--China has it now.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:18 Barb

12:19

[Comment From BobBob: ]

it's just too bad they can't have a 2 out of 3 tournament for the Gold in softball like they do in volleyball. I don't think another team could beat ours twice

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:19 Bob

12:20

[Comment From BarbBarb: ]

Softball takes a lot longer to play than volleyball. that wouldn't really work...

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:20 Barb

12:20

[Comment From TIMrigginsTIMriggins: ]

i dont understand how bolt can draw comparisons to phelps..what phelps did is single-handedly the greatest domination ive evr witnessed period

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:20 TIMriggins

12:21

Bolt is dominating in his own way, but sprinters have fewer opportunities than swimmers.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:21

12:21

[Comment From FrankFrank: ]

Does USA has a chance to pass china in the gold medals?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:21 Frank

12:21

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:21

12:21

[Comment From TIMrigginsTIMriggins: ]

no chance whatsoever

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:21 TIMriggins

12:21

[Comment From larrythe4cuzrlarrythe4cuzr: ]

When did BMX become an olympic sport? Thought that was more of an "X Games" event. Does anybody know what other events will be eliminated for the next games and what will be added?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:21 larrythe4cuzr

12:21

It is a little strange to see BMX in the Olympics, but a lot of people think it's fun.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:21

12:22

[Comment From grimreaprtgrimreaprt: ]

we need ju jitsu in the olypics

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:22 grimreaprt

12:22

I would love to see that. Ultimately I'd love to see MMA in the Olympics, but jiu jitsu or some other type of submission grappling would be a huge step in the right direction.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:22

12:22

[Comment From larrythe4cuzrlarrythe4cuzr: ]

Is it more important to lead on overall medals or to lead in gold medals?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:22 larrythe4cuzr

12:23

In my opinion, the gold medal tally is the most important.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:23

12:23

[Comment From Nee NeeNee Nee: ]

We need american football in the Olympics

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:23 Nee Nee

12:23

[Comment From VanceVance: ]

Why is BMX wierd they have Cycling don't they? It's more like off-raod cycling than X games anyway.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:23 Vance

12:23

[Comment From SayWhatSayWhat: ]

Softball and baseball are out ... Women's boxing is up for vote. There is a push to get cricket in. Karate and squash got shot down.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:23 SayWhat

12:23

I would like to see women's boxing added.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:23

12:23

Cricket doesn't do anything for me but is very popular in much of the world.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:23

12:24

[Comment From grimreaprtgrimreaprt: ]

too many bs sports in the olympics at the moment

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:24 grimreaprt

12:24

Sure, but what's BS from our perspective is a great sport from someone else's perspective.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:24

12:24

[Comment From NatalieNatalie: ]

How is it that softball will not be a part of Olympics for 2012? That doesn't make any sense to me. So what if USA dominates every year. They just happen to be prepared for the competition. If that is the case, then take away some other sport. It sounds like someone is a sore loser.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:24 Natalie

12:24

[Comment From SteveSteve: ]

Gold metals - ask yourself, would you rather have one gold metal or 2 silver?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:24 Steve

12:24

I'd rather have one gold

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:24

12:24

[Comment From VanceVance: ]

Can't have MMA because there's not enough time to recover between matches, and could you imagine how convoluted the scoring system would be. Look how they messed up Boxing for heaven's sake.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:24 Vance

12:24

[Comment From DaveDave: ]

What is the reasoning for Softball and Baseball to be eliminated from the Olympics?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:24 Dave

12:25

Not enough interest in the rest of the world is the biggest reason. Also, 2012 host London really doesn't have a good facility. It might be back in 2016, especially if Chicago or Tokyo gets the Olympics.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:25

12:29

[Comment From TIMrigginsTIMriggins: ]

would handball ever stand a chance at making it in the USA? i mean if nascar can make it, im confident anything can....

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:29 TIMriggins

12:30

Yeah, I don't see handball ever being popular in the US, even though I think it's a fun sport to watch.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:30

12:30

[Comment From nlbennettenlbennette: ]

handball is terrible

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:30 nlbennette

12:30

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

the tally for medals per GDP is even more depressing for the U.S. for all of our money we rank only 69th in proportion to other countries

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:30 giff

12:30

[Comment From EMZEMZ: ]

On the subject of gold medals: it seems rather sad that some athletes think that winning a silver or a bronze is a disappointment. Personally, I would like to have an Iron (4th place) medal added.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:30 EMZ

12:30

[Comment From joe pattersonjoe patterson: ]

i thank they need give the gold medal to Nastia Liukin for the Asymmetric Bars she was much much better then Kexin He from China. the us was ROD again. Chicago all to host the 2012

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:30 joe patterson

12:31

In general I thought the gymnastics judging favored the Chinese, but Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson acquitted themselves very nicely.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:31

12:31

[Comment From tommytommy: ]

it is obvious that china encourages cheating in order to win the gold

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:31 tommy

12:31

I do believe the Chinese have cheated by using underage gymnasts. I'm not convinced that the Chinese cheating goes beyond that, though.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:31

12:31

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

cheating seems to be okay in many sports and many countries....the U.S. has had it's share of cheaters...i.e. Marion Jones

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:31 giff

12:32

Every country has had cheaters.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:32

12:32

[Comment From tommytommy: ]

chinese cheating extends to the scoring

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:32 tommy

12:32

[Comment From tommytommy: ]

how can you fall on the balance beam and still get close to a 16 score

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:32 tommy

12:33

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

seems to be happening a lot

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:33 Guest

12:33

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

and look at the New England Patriots in the U.S. cheating is simply a by product of the 'win at all costs' /'winning is the only thing' mentality

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:33 giff

12:33

[Comment From vancevance: ]

I think the Judges being from countries that aren't associated with the gymnasts in the finals, is a big problem. Less experienced judges are more likely to be swayed by crowd reaction than say a judge from Romania, Russia, or hek even China. To have judges from countries like South Africa and Australia judging the final is kind of dumb.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:33 vance

12:34

That is an interesting point. Many of the judges come from countries where the best gymnasts are nowhere near as good as the best American or Chinese gymnasts, and therefore those judges don't have much experience experience judging at the elite level.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:34

12:34

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

its sad to think they would rather cheat to win than to lose in the end

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:34 Guest

12:34

[Comment From dandan: ]

horrible judging in the mens and womens gymnastics!

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:34 dan

12:35

[Comment From larrythe4cuzrlarrythe4cuzr: ]

Hey the U.S. should not get too high on our horse because we have had our share of cheats, Ms Jones.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:35 larrythe4cuzr

12:35

[Comment From tommytommy: ]

I hope all of China's gymnists get their medals stripped for being underage. Did you see the real little girls. I had girlfriends at 16. By the looks of those girls they were not at the boyfriend stage. Wayyy tooo young

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:35 tommy

12:36

[Comment From larrythe4cuzrlarrythe4cuzr: ]

And as far as questioning the objectivity of judges, we have profited from "home cooking" as well.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:36 larrythe4cuzr

12:36

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

when the world rewards only the winners...then cheating is inevitable....it's different watching the X games...people applaud the attempt even if it fails, equally as much as the winners....and there's more camaraderie among competitors as well...

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:36 giff

12:36

[Comment From dandan: ]

those chinese girls looked like they were 12-13!

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:36 dan

12:36

[Comment From bethbeth: ]

they will never prove their real ages.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:36 beth

12:36

I agree, the truth will never come out about that.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:36

12:37

Some cheaters get away with it, and I think the Chinese female gymnasts are among those who do.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:37

12:37

[Comment From jimbojimbo: ]

agreed

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:37 jimbo

12:37

[Comment From Fred PercyFred Percy: ]

Is there streaming coverage of the men's basketball available?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:37 Fred Percy

12:37

I don't know, anyone have an answer?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:37

12:37

[Comment From mikemike: ]

set me straight on this, is the age limit 16 just for gymnastics or is it for all events

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:37 mike

12:37

Just gymnastics, different sports have different rules.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:37

12:37

[Comment From tommytommy: ]

If China wants to appear to the world as a liar and a cheat then China can get the attention that they deserve

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:37 tommy

12:37

[Comment From tommytommy: ]

you can be 15 as long as you turn 16 by december 31 of this year

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:37 tommy

12:38

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

well, they may look way too young but we don't have the same standard here....after all, we feed our kids lots of steroided beef and I've seen 15 year old girls here that NEVER looked like 15 year olds when I was in high school, the ones now look like 23 year olds from my time

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:38 giff

12:39

[Comment From bethbeth: ]

look at sosa, bonds, cheating is everywhere, not just the chinese and not just the olympics. when these athletes are compensated like they are, there will always be cheating. it gets them more $.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:39 beth

12:39

[Comment From larrythe4cuzrlarrythe4cuzr: ]

Are there any events that the U.S. is NOT being represented?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:39 larrythe4cuzr

12:39

Yes, plenty of sports that the U.S. doesn't send any athletes to compete in.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:39

12:39

[Comment From tommytommy: ]

in this country if we had a 16 year old child that weighed 67 pounds, someone would be up on child abuse charges

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:39 tommy

12:39

[Comment From giffgiff: ]

the only thing I remember about the young chinese girls was that the original story about their age came from articles in Chinese newspapers about how proud they were a local girl who was so young could succeed at the worlds...then it escalated from there and the state took over the press on it dismissing previous local chinese paper accounts

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:39 giff

12:40

[Comment From larrythe4cuzrlarrythe4cuzr: ]

With the resurgence of the Jamaican Track and field think the will have a better showing in the winter for the bobsled.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:40 larrythe4cuzr

12:41

[Comment From vancevance: ]

yeah but there's this thing called the Olympic Spirit, you're not suppoed to cheat. Everyone knows there's cheating all around the world in Pro league, but the Olympics man, it defeats the whole purpose.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:41 vance

12:41

[Comment From WingWing: ]

You think one's younger, one can be more easier to get medal? so Phelps will be more powerful 2 years ago?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:41 Wing

12:41

In gymnastics, younger athletes tend to be more flexible and therefore better equipped to succeed

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:41

12:42

[Comment From bethbeth: ]

cheating is cheating. it's wrong no matter what the level is.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:42 beth

12:44

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

What's the reasoning behind the 16 rule? I say remove the rule and let the best compete

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:44 Guest

12:45

The reasoning is that there are concerns that the athletes can harm themselves by competing at the highest levels as young girls.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:45

12:45

[Comment From dandan: ]

The Chinese government could easily forge those girls passports to make them older...

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:45 dan

12:45

[Comment From tommytommy: ]

China has proven to the world that communism is a system that takes advantage of its people in order strengthen the face of the country

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:45 tommy

12:45

[Comment From WingWing: ]

But in mental, would a little girl be more stronger than when she become more mature?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:45 Wing

12:45

[Comment From vancevance: ]

I think also when you're that young there's a fearlessness that you have. We get very self conscious as we get older just look how Alicia fell apart after the beam.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:45 vance

12:45

[Comment From bethbeth: ]

i think the IOC needs to regulate or monitor how some of these countries treat their athletes like soldiers. some of these girl chinese gymnasts were taken from families at the age of 3 and forced to compete. it's sad.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:45 beth

12:47

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

I don't know agree with the injury reasoning as being the reason younger athletes are not allowed to compete. I believe the younger you are, the quicker you heal.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:47 Guest

12:48

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Yes... Alicia was definitely the weak link. She didn't belong.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:48 Guest

12:48

It's not that she didn't belong -- she earned her spot -- it's just that she didn't perform to the best of her abilities.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:48

12:49

[Comment From ArtArt: ]

I wish the pro US NBCcommentators would be a little more objective. I'm not sure they were watching the same soccer game I was. Although the US pulled out the gold medal, they were badly outplayed by the Brazillians who maintained possession nearly 70% of the time; had more shots on goal, corner kicks, but just couldn't put it in the goal. Congratulations USA as scoreboard still counts.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:49 Art

12:49

I agree. NBC is too pro-USA

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:49

12:49

[Comment From vancevance: ]

I think they are more concerned with the maturing process of a young body. In gymnastics especially studies have shown that the wear and tear on the body can change how a person develops. It's the same with baseball I see kids tear their arms up when they're young and never recover.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:49 vance

12:49

[Comment From WingWing: ]

so what's the performance in US that younger girls and then elders, they most get more points than elders?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:49 Wing

12:50

[Comment From EagleEagle: ]

Are they playing the Women's Beach Volleyball finals on the Playboy channel later?

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:50 Eagle

12:51

Certainly, there's no doubt that part of the reason NBC shows beach volleyball in prime time is the bikinis. But they're also great atheltes, and any time a pair of Americans like May-Treanor and Walsh are dominating their sport, they'll get attention from American television.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:51

12:51

[Comment From vancevance: ]

The Brazilians play that kind of control the ball possesion type game. So yeah they domintated posession, but the U.S. used counter attacks well, to balance out the game.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:51 vance

12:51

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Never in my life have I seen such unfair judjemental decisions, the 400 womans meter, she should have got the second silver, brian horton should have got the Gold even with slight backstep, they sure posted the replay and not the China's who I remember made a major mistake.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:51 Guest

12:52

OK, folks. That's it for me. Thanks a lot for joining me and come back for more FanHouse live chats soon.

Thursday August 21, 2008 12:52

12:52