The Olympics

**Janszoon** · 08-09-2012, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger ?

Wiggins 1 Morgan 0

Mrd00d · 08-12-2012, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrd00d

I was reading in the /r/doctorwho subreddit yesterday and those Who fans were pissed. Apparently, there was a whole Doctor Who skit/thing supposed to happen, where they were gonna play the Who theme song and have dancers dance to it or some such. And apparently, Mr. Bean was involved and his sketch ran late so they cut the Who routine. They were bummed out that Mr. Bean has been relatively culturally irrelevant for almost 10 some years and Doctor Who is a 50 year old, still strong program that is known worldwide at this point, etc.

But, their consolation prize was during the Queen song "Bohemian Rhapsody", they played the Tardis arriving sound. Most everyone but the die-hard fans missed it. Apparently.

They're still on about it:

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3qfr9m/

**Janszoon** · 08-12-2012, 09:18 PM

The Olympics have just introduced me to the horror that is Jessie J. :puke:

bob. · 08-12-2012, 10:20 PM

Can we get a puking smiley?

I promise to use it often

Thom Yorke · 08-12-2012, 10:28 PM

Entertaining Olympics overall as always. Pretty disappointed in Canada's showing, but 1 gold isn't all that much worse than 3, I guess. You'd think they'd pick the girl that got the lone gold to be flag-bearer, but Sinclair wasn't exactly a bad choice either after what she did for the women's soccer team, and particularly that game against the referees.

The closing ceremonies were pretty brutal though (outside of Jessie J's half of the show), although seeing Idle was really nice.

**Janszoon** · 08-12-2012, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob.

Can we get a puking smiley?

I promise to use it often

I can't count the number of times I've wished for one here, seriously.

Geekoid · 08-12-2012, 11:32 PM

Yeah, I agree about Jessie J, unfortunately. We were keeping tally of how many times she squealed and screeched throughout the closing ceremonies, which I was actually a little disappointed with overall. Compared to the Vancouver Olympics' closing ceremonies, which I'd actually sit through again, I thought it was pretty boring. But the actual Olympics have been a blast to watch. Seemed to go by very quickly this year.

Mojo · 08-13-2012, 04:04 AM

I fell in love with the Olympics. I always love the Olympics but to see all of this happening in my home country and, shock horror, to see us actually do it well and for it all to run relatively smoothly (as in there were minor cock-ups, but there always wil be) was just incredible. This was, without a doubt, the greatest sporting event of my life. I'm a Sunderland fan for fucks sake, is it any surprise?

I thought the opening ceremony was stunning. The athletes parade dragged and dragged and dragged as it always does but thats unavoidable. Danny Boyle deserves a medal of his own for what he did with it and it made me feel more proud than I ever have before to be British. I don't know how well certain parts were received outside of the UK but for me, it was absolutely beautiful.

I've been addicted to it for two weeks, and I was even on holiday for one of those weeks. It didnt make any difference, I still kept right up to date, even when I couldnt sit infront of it all day after work. 'Super Saturday' was a day that will be remembered here for a long, long time. Six golds in the space of a few hours and three of them in athletics. Everyone deserves praise here for that but the highlights were of course a dominating performance from Jessica Ennis that shows she could well be our future, and of course Mo Farah. Who doesn't like Mo Farah?

I'm gonna pre-order my BBC DVD today. Yes, I'm serious. This will make it even harder for me to forget some of the wonderful moments. Sir Chris of Hoy getting two more gold medals in what will probably be his last Olympics, Victoria Pendleton retiring an Olympic champion (and hopefully this is how she can come to remember these games), Brad Wiggins winning gold just weeks after winning the tour and ensuring he goes on to be our sports personality of the year (i have no doubt), Gemma Gibbons securing her medal in the judo and looking upward to mouth "I love you, mum" (some people get really cynical with this kind of stuff but Gemmas mum is deceased and, like many parents, made ends meet to support her childrens interests, in this case her daughters Judo), Andy Murray disposing of Federer in straight sets (I was so into this and was cheering every break...and I was in a little cafe in Wales with my family, surrounded by old people), Kath Grainger finally getting her gold medal at the last attempt after silvers in the previous three games.

There are too many to mention but not just Team GB, I took the time to be amazed by Usain Bolt and his double triple, David Rudisha leave the rest of the pack behind and break the 800m WR and of course the theatre surrounding Michael Phelps. After his 4th place finish and then his defeat to Chad le Cros, the media were predictably calling the end of him. Surely everyone knew that wasn't gonna be the case. He can still claim to have retired at the top. There was also the Korean badminton coach who, after the disqualification of all players involved in that debacle, was quoted as saying "China started it!" which I thought was a lovely quote. And speaking of highlights, theres also Chads dad.

The closing ceremony was always going to be hit and miss. I think thats exactly what it ended up being. Again, I dont know how it was received outside of the UK but there wasnt much of a lean on British culture at this one, just lots of music. That means the NBC commentators shouldnt have had too much trouble with this one, not like apparently failing to recognise who Tim Berners-Lee was and so instructing people to "Google him", which is rather ironic. I can only hope that story was distorted and exaggerated and isn't exactly true.

Well done London. All the athletes, the organisers, the police, the volunteers, the general public, the BBC for absolutely unreal coverage and for everyone involved. I will be beaming with pride and patriotism for quite some time.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 08-13-2012, 04:44 AM

Great post Mojo sums up pretty much how I felt about it.
I was cynical at first but the opening ceremony won me over and I was into the whole thing. After all the regimentalism and military precision of the Beijing Olympics this one seemed a lot more fun & offbeat and did a pretty good job of summing up British culture.

I thought the BBC was just a little too pro Team GB but I think they can be forgiven for that in the circumstances.

Personal non Team GB highlight, the Ugandan guy winning the marathon. If you're going to get your countries first medal in decades do it in style at the biggest party in the country.

Mojo · 08-13-2012, 04:57 AM

The BBC were very pro-GB, yeah. It depends how you look at it really. I would imagine that the coverage provided in each country is going to be somewhat biased. You cater for what people want, and most people want to see their athletes and the events they are entered into. However, you want to see the best from the rest of the world too and its at least arguable that the BBC could have focused a little more on this and also provided more neutral punditry and perspectives. This is arguable. They had Michael Johnson featured heavily in the studio as well as John McEnroe, both American. Now, I like McEnroe, but if you want expert commentary he's not your first choice is he? Michael Johnson did a great job and was probably the BBCs saving grace in at least appearing to offer a neutral perspective. Then again even he was often asked what he thought about Team GB.

I dont know. Maybe it was a little too biased but I still feel as though I saw a lot of great moments from the success of other natiions. One of my highlights (I told you there was too many to mention) was Ruta Meilutytes gold in the pool for Lithuania and likewise Katie Ledecky was unreal also.

08-12-2012, 09:18 PM	#83 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	The Olympics have just introduced me to the horror that is Jessie J. :puke: __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

08-12-2012, 10:20 PM	#84 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	Can we get a puking smiley? I promise to use it often __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.

08-13-2012, 04:04 AM	#88 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	I fell in love with the Olympics. I always love the Olympics but to see all of this happening in my home country and, shock horror, to see us actually do it well and for it all to run relatively smoothly (as in there were minor cock-ups, but there always wil be) was just incredible. This was, without a doubt, the greatest sporting event of my life. I'm a Sunderland fan for fucks sake, is it any surprise? I thought the opening ceremony was stunning. The athletes parade dragged and dragged and dragged as it always does but thats unavoidable. Danny Boyle deserves a medal of his own for what he did with it and it made me feel more proud than I ever have before to be British. I don't know how well certain parts were received outside of the UK but for me, it was absolutely beautiful. I've been addicted to it for two weeks, and I was even on holiday for one of those weeks. It didnt make any difference, I still kept right up to date, even when I couldnt sit infront of it all day after work. 'Super Saturday' was a day that will be remembered here for a long, long time. Six golds in the space of a few hours and three of them in athletics. Everyone deserves praise here for that but the highlights were of course a dominating performance from Jessica Ennis that shows she could well be our future, and of course Mo Farah. Who doesn't like Mo Farah? I'm gonna pre-order my BBC DVD today. Yes, I'm serious. This will make it even harder for me to forget some of the wonderful moments. Sir Chris of Hoy getting two more gold medals in what will probably be his last Olympics, Victoria Pendleton retiring an Olympic champion (and hopefully this is how she can come to remember these games), Brad Wiggins winning gold just weeks after winning the tour and ensuring he goes on to be our sports personality of the year (i have no doubt), Gemma Gibbons securing her medal in the judo and looking upward to mouth "I love you, mum" (some people get really cynical with this kind of stuff but Gemmas mum is deceased and, like many parents, made ends meet to support her childrens interests, in this case her daughters Judo), Andy Murray disposing of Federer in straight sets (I was so into this and was cheering every break...and I was in a little cafe in Wales with my family, surrounded by old people), Kath Grainger finally getting her gold medal at the last attempt after silvers in the previous three games. There are too many to mention but not just Team GB, I took the time to be amazed by Usain Bolt and his double triple, David Rudisha leave the rest of the pack behind and break the 800m WR and of course the theatre surrounding Michael Phelps. After his 4th place finish and then his defeat to Chad le Cros, the media were predictably calling the end of him. Surely everyone knew that wasn't gonna be the case. He can still claim to have retired at the top. There was also the Korean badminton coach who, after the disqualification of all players involved in that debacle, was quoted as saying "China started it!" which I thought was a lovely quote. And speaking of highlights, theres also Chads dad. The closing ceremony was always going to be hit and miss. I think thats exactly what it ended up being. Again, I dont know how it was received outside of the UK but there wasnt much of a lean on British culture at this one, just lots of music. That means the NBC commentators shouldnt have had too much trouble with this one, not like apparently failing to recognise who Tim Berners-Lee was and so instructing people to "Google him", which is rather ironic. I can only hope that story was distorted and exaggerated and isn't exactly true. Well done London. All the athletes, the organisers, the police, the volunteers, the general public, the BBC for absolutely unreal coverage and for everyone involved. I will be beaming with pride and patriotism for quite some time. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

08-13-2012, 04:44 AM	#89 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Great post Mojo sums up pretty much how I felt about it. I was cynical at first but the opening ceremony won me over and I was into the whole thing. After all the regimentalism and military precision of the Beijing Olympics this one seemed a lot more fun & offbeat and did a pretty good job of summing up British culture. I thought the BBC was just a little too pro Team GB but I think they can be forgiven for that in the circumstances. Personal non Team GB highlight, the Ugandan guy winning the marathon. If you're going to get your countries first medal in decades do it in style at the biggest party in the country. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

08-13-2012, 04:57 AM	#90 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	The BBC were very pro-GB, yeah. It depends how you look at it really. I would imagine that the coverage provided in each country is going to be somewhat biased. You cater for what people want, and most people want to see their athletes and the events they are entered into. However, you want to see the best from the rest of the world too and its at least arguable that the BBC could have focused a little more on this and also provided more neutral punditry and perspectives. This is arguable. They had Michael Johnson featured heavily in the studio as well as John McEnroe, both American. Now, I like McEnroe, but if you want expert commentary he's not your first choice is he? Michael Johnson did a great job and was probably the BBCs saving grace in at least appearing to offer a neutral perspective. Then again even he was often asked what he thought about Team GB. I dont know. Maybe it was a little too biased but I still feel as though I saw a lot of great moments from the success of other natiions. One of my highlights (I told you there was too many to mention) was Ruta Meilutytes gold in the pool for Lithuania and likewise Katie Ledecky was unreal also. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

08-12-2012, 10:28 PM	#85 (permalink)
Thom Yorke Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,848	Entertaining Olympics overall as always. Pretty disappointed in Canada's showing, but 1 gold isn't all that much worse than 3, I guess. You'd think they'd pick the girl that got the lone gold to be flag-bearer, but Sinclair wasn't exactly a bad choice either after what she did for the women's soccer team, and particularly that game against the referees. The closing ceremonies were pretty brutal though (outside of Jessie J's half of the show), although seeing Idle was really nice.

08-12-2012, 11:32 PM	#87 (permalink)
Geekoid Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 171	Yeah, I agree about Jessie J, unfortunately. We were keeping tally of how many times she squealed and screeched throughout the closing ceremonies, which I was actually a little disappointed with overall. Compared to the Vancouver Olympics' closing ceremonies, which I'd actually sit through again, I thought it was pretty boring. But the actual Olympics have been a blast to watch. Seemed to go by very quickly this year.