Olympics News and Info » Liu Xiang http://olympics.myhackednews.com Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:22:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Synchronized ‘Homies’ and Other Fun Memories From an Olympic Insomniac http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/25/synchronized-homies-and-other-fun-memories-from-an-olympic-insomniac/ http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/25/synchronized-homies-and-other-fun-memories-from-an-olympic-insomniac/#comments Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:03:24 +0000 RSS http://olympics.fanhouse.com/2008/08/25/synchronized-homies-and-other-fun-memories-from-an-olympic-ins/ Filed under: , , ,



For most people, the dust is already settling on all the extravagant Olympic action, but this sports graveyard desk editor is still riding high from sixteen sleepless days of swimming, more swimming, and the occasional taekwondo kick to the face. You want a unique perspective on the Beijing Games? This is the place to be. Just don't expect there to be any fresh coffee.

Michael Phelps is signing an endorsement deal for IHOP somewhere in exchange for free 5,000-calorie breakfasts for life.

Usain Bolt is concocting new ways to hot dog and high-step so he'll have some records left to break in 2012.

And I'm somehow still awake watching NBC replay the closing ceremony and Turkish oil wrestling highlights (now there's the next event!)

Spending the majority of the past sixteen days engulfed in Olympic coverage wasn't always a treat, but the memories I'll take with me will last a lifetime ... or at least four more years.

The visual treasures embedded in my mind aren't what you'd expect them to be. Phelps' record-breaking eight gold medals? Definitely wasn't a cakewalk, but we saw it coming. Bolt's ridonkulous sprints to history? Dude, his last name is Bolt.

Spanish synchronized swimmers dressed in 'gangsta' outfits, on the other hand? Now there's something I'm never going to forget, or hopefully see again for the rest of my life.

So let's toss the "memorable performances" and "winners and losers" aside for now. Here are my selections for the "Sweet 16" -- the lasting images that are off the beaten path ...

China's Liu Xiang retires, entire red-wigged nation cries ... For the first time in a while, we witnessed how much one athlete can mean to an entire nation. While American media coverage was saturated with the Phelps Fest and the splice of America's Sweethearts, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, I found it much more fascinating to scan through the countless images of China's citizens bawling their eyes out because Xiang Liu couldn't run the men's 110-meter hurdles at the "Bird's Nest." This man represented the hope of an entire nation, but only in track and field. It's not like he was their only shot at a gold medal in Beijing (heck, they won 51 of them).

It got me thinking -- how many people in America would shed tears if Phelps pulled up lame in one of his heats, and coudn't race towards any of his eight golds? Entirely different scenarios, yes, because the US is known for dominant swimmers while Liu was China's chance to make an impact in largely unchartered territory. But I'm not sure we have one athlete that single-handedly carries the pride of our nation on his or her shoulders.

Don't ever cross a Cuban taekwondo athlete, unless you want to lose teeth ... Look, we all know taekwondo judging was on the crooked side, but that doesn't justify going brainsick and belting a judge. Cuba's Angel Matos definitely won the nomination for "Olympian Most Likely to Wind Up in a Nuthouse" when he delivered a kick reminiscent of 'Bloodsport' to the face of match referee Chakir Chelbat. Still, how many people can say they're the subject of 100 slide-by-slide YouTubes? One. That's our good friend, Jose Offerman. Oh, and Castro will defend you, for whatever that's worth.


Jamaicans know how to have a good time ... For all the terrific performances by Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser, the sad fact is that many Americans watching at home are going to come away with one thing ... they sure know how to rub it in. Bolt was even criticized by IOC prez Jacques Rogge for reveling too early in his 100-meter finish. But what about Fraser? She seemingly paraded down the track about five times as long as it took to win her 100-meter gold, even rolling around with the flag at one point. For me, the showboating won't tarnish her performance, but I did find myself saying "all right, enough already" -- and I would have still said it even if it was an American rejoicing.

George Bush knows how to have an AWESOME time ... If there was anyone on this planet who could show the Jamaicans a thing or two about the right way to party, it's definitely G.W. If you missed his hysterical jaunt to Beijing, don't fret. You can relive the power of the Bush in this gallery here. Just beware the 'chalk' pranks and volleyball butt slaps.

Paraguay's Leryn Franco didn't win a medal, but won our hearts ... In all the 'Attractive Olympian' posts we ran in FanHouse, there's wasn't one mention of this mysterious javelin beauty -- a massive oversight, to say the least. Thanks to Fourth-Place Medal for cracking the mystery and discovering her identity. To amend for not featuring her earlier, here's a gallery to make your heart sing for Paraguay. Viva la Franco!

Paraguayan Princess

    BEIJING - AUGUST 19: Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the Women's Javelin Qualifying Round held at the National Stadium on Day 11 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 19, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Leryn Franco

    Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay is pictured during the women's javelin throw qualification round at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay is pictured during the women's javelin throw qualification round at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes during the women's javelin throw qualification round at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay is pictured during the women's javelin throw qualification round at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay is pictured during the women's javelin throw qualification round at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the women's javelin throw qualifying round of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (CHINA)

    Reuters

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the women's javelin throw qualifying round of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (CHINA)

    Reuters

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the women's javelin throw qualifying round of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (CHINA)

    Reuters

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the women's javelin throw qualifying round of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (CHINA)

    Reuters

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Spain's synchronized 'homies' ... There are probably synchronized swimmers out there that think their sport is unfairly lambasted -- that they're just one long running joke started by Martin Short in a classic 'SNL' skit. But how do you expect to be respected when you get banned from wearing suits with lights on them, and then follow it up with a 'gangsta' encore. Tone down the makeup five shades, invest in a can of hair spray instead of hair gel, and most importantly, stop looking so freaky ... then maybe people will respect the skills behind the show. Then again, maybe it won't truly be 'synchronized swimming' if that happened. Kind of like Dennis Rodman without dyed hair, tattoos and piercings.

Ara Abrahamian doesn't need your stinking medal ... More judging controversy, and more hilarity ensues. Abrahamian left the podium immediately after receiving the bronze medal, then placed it down as if he was saying, "Pick this piece of crap up." Then it turns out that Abrahamian actually had a right to be angry, according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport --- his penalty wasn't assessed until after the round. One thing is for sure: they're definitely recycling that medal and giving it to the trap shooters.

Meet Rohullah Nikpai, the hero of Afghanistan ... Eight medals will be worth countless endorsements for Phelps, but the Afghan taekwondo bronze winner is the proud recipient of ... get this ... a new house, a Toyota sedan, and $20,000 from the owner of the country's main cellphone network. That's what you get for being the first Afghan ever to win an Olympic medal. Let's face it... legendary US swimmer Matt Biondi could walk the streets without anyone recognizing him now. But Nikpai will be swamped with love and adulation for a single bronze. And we're here quibbling about China beating us in gold count?

Germany's Thomasz Wylenzek faints in his canoe
... and in a completely unrelated incident ...
Japan's Kobayashi Hiromi faints in the pool ... Wylenzek and his teammate Christian Gille really knew what it took to get me turned on to canoes. Fainting! In the process of winning the silver medal in the double 1,000-meter final, they crashed into a buoy and Wylenzek took a dip. He turned out to be OK, but days later, a synchronized swimmer followed suit. Hiromi hyperventilated as Japan's synchronized routine ended, and the other team members climbed out of the pool more concerned about their scores. The press officer's response? "She is a very nervous athlete," he said. "She is good. Don't worry." Thanks guy. As if the sight of the wacky routine wasn't off-putting enough.

You want human rights? How about the right to wear adult diapers while buried under boxes? ... I'm a big fan of filmmaker Zhang Yimou's work. 'House of Flying Daggers' was great stuff. Performers being forced to wear adult diapers for his crafted opening ceremony is a far cry from flying daggers. Especially when it involved nearly 900 performers under 40-pound boxes for at least six hours. But hey, the Chinese invention of movable type, that involved "suffering and sacrifice" too, right?

Something called 'Dressage' will be back, but Jennie Finch will not ... So, let me get this straight. A 'sport' that involves people wearing silly top hats and suits while training horses will stick in the Olympics. But flamethrower Jennie Finch and USA softball will never be back? I wonder how NBC did on ratings and Web site searches for dressage results compared to Finch. Let's get rid of dressage and bring back softball. At least there's no mess over judges for the women.

Chinese cheerleaders have a future in sporting events ... For the most part, there was way, way too much volleyball. Yet not enough of the cheerleaders who deserved a gold medal of their own (bringing the mighty total to 52!). The rainy final was interesting to say the least, and it wasn't because Misty-May Treanor and Kerri Walsh exchanged high fives every two seconds.

Handball is an Olympic sport? Bring it on. ... Right. So we got the endless hours of beach volleyball, swimming, and even diving from NBC's masterminds. But where was handball on prime-time display? That and BMX were two of the underrated events that deserved more coverage. They involve blood, crashes, and as the legendary 'Razor Ramon' would say, "oozing machismo" ...


Tajikistan's Dzhakhon Kurbanov bites his opponent, citizens of Kazakhstan collectively scoff at him ... I definitely think this was Mike Tyson's vicarious revenge for not getting to represent US boxing in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Maybe he coached Kurbanov on the side? The harder part of watching the bizarre infraction and subsequent disqualification was seeing them try to announce that Kazakhstan's Yerkebulan Shynaliyev won the bout.

Kim Jong Su, a sport shooter, gets booted for doping. And even horses banned too! ... We learned that the Olympics are not safe from drugs, even in the most mind-boggling scenarios. Using propanolol to pick up medals in shooting? The only thing more pathetic than that is being a team jumping horse that was suspended for a banned pain reliever. And not just any pain reliever. We're talking about Capsaicin, a derivative of chili peppers. And not just one horse -- four horses.

And that's my Sweet 16 of Beijing. I'm going to slip into a sleep coma now and dream of being struck by a javelin from Franco. Feel free to share some Olympic memories of your own with me at ThomasHerrera07 [at] aol.com.

Odd Memories From Beijing

    In a shocking attack, Cuba's taekwondo athlete Angel Valodia Matos kicked match referee Chakir Chelbat in the face, resulting in a ticket out of the Games and a lifetime ban by the World Taekwondo Foundation from all future competition. Click through for more of the strange and offbeat memories from the Beijing Olympics.

    Matt Dunham, AP

    Synchronized swimming isn't going to be taken seriously as a sport anytime soon. The Spanish synchronized swimming team was forbidden from wearing suits with lights on them, but found another way to get flashy with 'gangsta' artwork on their new suits.

    Greg Wood, AFP / Getty Images

    Jamaican sprinters blazed up the track and drew some ire for their celebrations along the way. Shelly-Ann Fraser, pictured, rolled around with the flag, and Usain Bolt was criticized by IOC president Jacques Rogge for showing a lack of "respect" to other competitors.

    Alexander Hassenstein, Bongarts / Getty Images

    George Bush had a short stay in Beijing, but was responsible for a slew of wacky moments. From mingling with the women's beach volleyball team to getting pranked by the women's softball team, Bush was in enough snapshots to fill a 'Best Of' photo album.

    Kai Pfaffenbach, Reuters

    When China's Liu Xiang retired from the first round of the men's 110-meter hurdles, an entire nation's dreams were crushed, and spectators shed tears in mourning of their track and field hope.

    Getty Images (2)

    Is Paraguay's Leryn Franco the most attractive Olympian in the world? She didn't win a medal in Beijing, but was in the spotlight long enough for many to take notice of her stunning beauty.

    Thomas Kienzle, AP

    Unhappy with the judges for assessing his penalty too late, Sweden's Ara Abrahamian left the podium immediately after receiving the bronze medal he won in men's Greco-Roman wrestling and left it in the center of the mat.

    Vanda Biffani, AP

    Afghanistan's Rohullah Nikpai only won a bronze medal in the men's taekwondo competition, but it was enough to make him a big celebrity in his home country. His reward for being the first Afghan to win an Olympic medal? A new house, a Toyota sedan, and $20,000 from the owner of Afghanistan's main cellphone network.

    Matt Dunham, AP

    Winning a silver medal in the canoe double 1,000-meter men's final was far from easy for Germany's Thomasz Wylenzek and his teammate Christian Gille. After crashing into a buoy, Wylenzek fainted and had to be placed in the rescue boat.

    Kirsty Wigglesworth, AP

    Wylenzek wasn't the only one who fainted during competition though. Japan's Kobayashi Hiromi had to be carried out of the pool after she hyperventilated during the synchronized swimming team free routine final.

    Martin Bureau, AFP / Getty Images

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For most people, the dust is already settling on all the extravagant Olympic action, but this sports graveyard desk editor is still riding high from sixteen sleepless days of swimming, more swimming, and the occasional taekwondo kick to the face. You want a unique perspective on the Beijing Games? This is the place to be. Just don't expect there to be any fresh coffee.

Michael Phelps is signing an endorsement deal for IHOP somewhere in exchange for free 5,000-calorie breakfasts for life.

Usain Bolt is concocting new ways to hot dog and high-step so he'll have some records left to break in 2012.

And I'm somehow still awake watching NBC replay the closing ceremony and Turkish oil wrestling highlights (now there's the next event!)

Spending the majority of the past sixteen days engulfed in Olympic coverage wasn't always a treat, but the memories I'll take with me will last a lifetime ... or at least four more years.

The visual treasures embedded in my mind aren't what you'd expect them to be. Phelps' record-breaking eight gold medals? Definitely wasn't a cakewalk, but we saw it coming. Bolt's ridonkulous sprints to history? Dude, his last name is Bolt.

Spanish synchronized swimmers dressed in 'gangsta' outfits, on the other hand? Now there's something I'm never going to forget, or hopefully see again for the rest of my life.

So let's toss the "memorable performances" and "winners and losers" aside for now. Here are my selections for the "Sweet 16" -- the lasting images that are off the beaten path ...

China's Liu Xiang retires, entire red-wigged nation cries ... For the first time in a while, we witnessed how much one athlete can mean to an entire nation. While American media coverage was saturated with the Phelps Fest and the splice of America's Sweethearts, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, I found it much more fascinating to scan through the countless images of China's citizens bawling their eyes out because Xiang Liu couldn't run the men's 110-meter hurdles at the "Bird's Nest." This man represented the hope of an entire nation, but only in track and field. It's not like he was their only shot at a gold medal in Beijing (heck, they won 51 of them).

It got me thinking -- how many people in America would shed tears if Phelps pulled up lame in one of his heats, and coudn't race towards any of his eight golds? Entirely different scenarios, yes, because the US is known for dominant swimmers while Liu was China's chance to make an impact in largely unchartered territory. But I'm not sure we have one athlete that single-handedly carries the pride of our nation on his or her shoulders.

Don't ever cross a Cuban taekwondo athlete, unless you want to lose teeth ... Look, we all know taekwondo judging was on the crooked side, but that doesn't justify going brainsick and belting a judge. Cuba's Angel Matos definitely won the nomination for "Olympian Most Likely to Wind Up in a Nuthouse" when he delivered a kick reminiscent of 'Bloodsport' to the face of match referee Chakir Chelbat. Still, how many people can say they're the subject of 100 slide-by-slide YouTubes? One. That's our good friend, Jose Offerman. Oh, and Castro will defend you, for whatever that's worth.


Jamaicans know how to have a good time ... For all the terrific performances by Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser, the sad fact is that many Americans watching at home are going to come away with one thing ... they sure know how to rub it in. Bolt was even criticized by IOC prez Jacques Rogge for reveling too early in his 100-meter finish. But what about Fraser? She seemingly paraded down the track about five times as long as it took to win her 100-meter gold, even rolling around with the flag at one point. For me, the showboating won't tarnish her performance, but I did find myself saying "all right, enough already" -- and I would have still said it even if it was an American rejoicing.

George Bush knows how to have an AWESOME time ... If there was anyone on this planet who could show the Jamaicans a thing or two about the right way to party, it's definitely G.W. If you missed his hysterical jaunt to Beijing, don't fret. You can relive the power of the Bush in this gallery here. Just beware the 'chalk' pranks and volleyball butt slaps.

Paraguay's Leryn Franco didn't win a medal, but won our hearts ... In all the 'Attractive Olympian' posts we ran in FanHouse, there's wasn't one mention of this mysterious javelin beauty -- a massive oversight, to say the least. Thanks to Fourth-Place Medal for cracking the mystery and discovering her identity. To amend for not featuring her earlier, here's a gallery to make your heart sing for Paraguay. Viva la Franco!

Paraguayan Princess

    BEIJING - AUGUST 19: Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the Women's Javelin Qualifying Round held at the National Stadium on Day 11 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 19, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Leryn Franco

    Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay is pictured during the women's javelin throw qualification round at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay is pictured during the women's javelin throw qualification round at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes during the women's javelin throw qualification round at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay is pictured during the women's javelin throw qualification round at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay is pictured during the women's javelin throw qualification round at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the women's javelin throw qualifying round of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (CHINA)

    Reuters

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the women's javelin throw qualifying round of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (CHINA)

    Reuters

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the women's javelin throw qualifying round of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (CHINA)

    Reuters

    Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the women's javelin throw qualifying round of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (CHINA)

    Reuters

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Spain's synchronized 'homies' ... There are probably synchronized swimmers out there that think their sport is unfairly lambasted -- that they're just one long running joke started by Martin Short in a classic 'SNL' skit. But how do you expect to be respected when you get banned from wearing suits with lights on them, and then follow it up with a 'gangsta' encore. Tone down the makeup five shades, invest in a can of hair spray instead of hair gel, and most importantly, stop looking so freaky ... then maybe people will respect the skills behind the show. Then again, maybe it won't truly be 'synchronized swimming' if that happened. Kind of like Dennis Rodman without dyed hair, tattoos and piercings.

Ara Abrahamian doesn't need your stinking medal ... More judging controversy, and more hilarity ensues. Abrahamian left the podium immediately after receiving the bronze medal, then placed it down as if he was saying, "Pick this piece of crap up." Then it turns out that Abrahamian actually had a right to be angry, according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport --- his penalty wasn't assessed until after the round. One thing is for sure: they're definitely recycling that medal and giving it to the trap shooters.

Meet Rohullah Nikpai, the hero of Afghanistan ... Eight medals will be worth countless endorsements for Phelps, but the Afghan taekwondo bronze winner is the proud recipient of ... get this ... a new house, a Toyota sedan, and $20,000 from the owner of the country's main cellphone network. That's what you get for being the first Afghan ever to win an Olympic medal. Let's face it... legendary US swimmer Matt Biondi could walk the streets without anyone recognizing him now. But Nikpai will be swamped with love and adulation for a single bronze. And we're here quibbling about China beating us in gold count?

Germany's Thomasz Wylenzek faints in his canoe
... and in a completely unrelated incident ...
Japan's Kobayashi Hiromi faints in the pool ... Wylenzek and his teammate Christian Gille really knew what it took to get me turned on to canoes. Fainting! In the process of winning the silver medal in the double 1,000-meter final, they crashed into a buoy and Wylenzek took a dip. He turned out to be OK, but days later, a synchronized swimmer followed suit. Hiromi hyperventilated as Japan's synchronized routine ended, and the other team members climbed out of the pool more concerned about their scores. The press officer's response? "She is a very nervous athlete," he said. "She is good. Don't worry." Thanks guy. As if the sight of the wacky routine wasn't off-putting enough.

You want human rights? How about the right to wear adult diapers while buried under boxes? ... I'm a big fan of filmmaker Zhang Yimou's work. 'House of Flying Daggers' was great stuff. Performers being forced to wear adult diapers for his crafted opening ceremony is a far cry from flying daggers. Especially when it involved nearly 900 performers under 40-pound boxes for at least six hours. But hey, the Chinese invention of movable type, that involved "suffering and sacrifice" too, right?

Something called 'Dressage' will be back, but Jennie Finch will not ... So, let me get this straight. A 'sport' that involves people wearing silly top hats and suits while training horses will stick in the Olympics. But flamethrower Jennie Finch and USA softball will never be back? I wonder how NBC did on ratings and Web site searches for dressage results compared to Finch. Let's get rid of dressage and bring back softball. At least there's no mess over judges for the women.

Chinese cheerleaders have a future in sporting events ... For the most part, there was way, way too much volleyball. Yet not enough of the cheerleaders who deserved a gold medal of their own (bringing the mighty total to 52!). The rainy final was interesting to say the least, and it wasn't because Misty-May Treanor and Kerri Walsh exchanged high fives every two seconds.

Handball is an Olympic sport? Bring it on. ... Right. So we got the endless hours of beach volleyball, swimming, and even diving from NBC's masterminds. But where was handball on prime-time display? That and BMX were two of the underrated events that deserved more coverage. They involve blood, crashes, and as the legendary 'Razor Ramon' would say, "oozing machismo" ...


Tajikistan's Dzhakhon Kurbanov bites his opponent, citizens of Kazakhstan collectively scoff at him ... I definitely think this was Mike Tyson's vicarious revenge for not getting to represent US boxing in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Maybe he coached Kurbanov on the side? The harder part of watching the bizarre infraction and subsequent disqualification was seeing them try to announce that Kazakhstan's Yerkebulan Shynaliyev won the bout.

Kim Jong Su, a sport shooter, gets booted for doping. And even horses banned too! ... We learned that the Olympics are not safe from drugs, even in the most mind-boggling scenarios. Using propanolol to pick up medals in shooting? The only thing more pathetic than that is being a team jumping horse that was suspended for a banned pain reliever. And not just any pain reliever. We're talking about Capsaicin, a derivative of chili peppers. And not just one horse -- four horses.

And that's my Sweet 16 of Beijing. I'm going to slip into a sleep coma now and dream of being struck by a javelin from Franco. Feel free to share some Olympic memories of your own with me at ThomasHerrera07 [at] aol.com.

Odd Memories From Beijing

    In a shocking attack, Cuba's taekwondo athlete Angel Valodia Matos kicked match referee Chakir Chelbat in the face, resulting in a ticket out of the Games and a lifetime ban by the World Taekwondo Foundation from all future competition. Click through for more of the strange and offbeat memories from the Beijing Olympics.

    Matt Dunham, AP

    Synchronized swimming isn't going to be taken seriously as a sport anytime soon. The Spanish synchronized swimming team was forbidden from wearing suits with lights on them, but found another way to get flashy with 'gangsta' artwork on their new suits.

    Greg Wood, AFP / Getty Images

    Jamaican sprinters blazed up the track and drew some ire for their celebrations along the way. Shelly-Ann Fraser, pictured, rolled around with the flag, and Usain Bolt was criticized by IOC president Jacques Rogge for showing a lack of "respect" to other competitors.

    Alexander Hassenstein, Bongarts / Getty Images

    George Bush had a short stay in Beijing, but was responsible for a slew of wacky moments. From mingling with the women's beach volleyball team to getting pranked by the women's softball team, Bush was in enough snapshots to fill a 'Best Of' photo album.

    Kai Pfaffenbach, Reuters

    When China's Liu Xiang retired from the first round of the men's 110-meter hurdles, an entire nation's dreams were crushed, and spectators shed tears in mourning of their track and field hope.

    Getty Images (2)

    Is Paraguay's Leryn Franco the most attractive Olympian in the world? She didn't win a medal in Beijing, but was in the spotlight long enough for many to take notice of her stunning beauty.

    Thomas Kienzle, AP

    Unhappy with the judges for assessing his penalty too late, Sweden's Ara Abrahamian left the podium immediately after receiving the bronze medal he won in men's Greco-Roman wrestling and left it in the center of the mat.

    Vanda Biffani, AP

    Afghanistan's Rohullah Nikpai only won a bronze medal in the men's taekwondo competition, but it was enough to make him a big celebrity in his home country. His reward for being the first Afghan to win an Olympic medal? A new house, a Toyota sedan, and $20,000 from the owner of Afghanistan's main cellphone network.

    Matt Dunham, AP

    Winning a silver medal in the canoe double 1,000-meter men's final was far from easy for Germany's Thomasz Wylenzek and his teammate Christian Gille. After crashing into a buoy, Wylenzek fainted and had to be placed in the rescue boat.

    Kirsty Wigglesworth, AP

    Wylenzek wasn't the only one who fainted during competition though. Japan's Kobayashi Hiromi had to be carried out of the pool after she hyperventilated during the synchronized swimming team free routine final.

    Martin Bureau, AFP / Getty Images

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]]> http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/25/synchronized-homies-and-other-fun-memories-from-an-olympic-insomniac/feed/ 0 Americans have a chance in 110 meter hurdles after Liu Xiang pulls out http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/19/americans-have-a-chance-in-110-meter-hurdles-after-liu-xiang-pulls-out/ http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/19/americans-have-a-chance-in-110-meter-hurdles-after-liu-xiang-pulls-out/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:01:24 +0000 RSS http://2008gamesbeijing.com/americans-have-a-chance-in-110-meter-hurdles-after-liu-xiang-pulls-out/ After Liu Xiang pulled out of his heat in the 110 meter hurdles, the field has opened up a little.

Dayron Robles from Cuba holds the world record for the event and will be the favorite to win gold. David Oliver also thinks he has a chance, “Prognosticators don’t know very much,’’ said Oliver, who has a 2008 best of 12.95. “You don’t know what might happen. It’s the 110 hurdles. Hopefully we can win gold and silver, me and (David) Payne. We have the ability.’’

Read more: American gets chance with Beijing hurdles field diluted

]]> http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/19/americans-have-a-chance-in-110-meter-hurdles-after-liu-xiang-pulls-out/feed/ 0 Liu Xiang’s poor advertisers http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/19/liu-xiang%e2%80%99s-poor-advertisers/ http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/19/liu-xiang%e2%80%99s-poor-advertisers/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:35:47 +0000 RSS http://2008gamesbeijing.com/liu-xiangs-poor-advertisers/ I suppose it is commercial reality but when a heavily sponsored athlete like Liu Xiang doesn’t perform well or is injured, it can be a blow to advertisers.

“His marketing value has been seriously diminished,” said Chris Renner, president for China of sports marketing agency Helios Partners.

Liu Xiang is China’s second richest athlete behind basketball star Yao Ming. His main sponsors are Coca Cola and Nike. The companies were hoping to use Liu Xiang’s success at the Olympics to push their products further in China.

“If anybody takes a hit from it, it’s certainly Nike, simply because they’re all about performance, whereas the others are about brand image,” he said. “Nike’s all about, you don’t win silver, you lose gold. With that attitude, it’s much tougher for them, because he was certainly the cornerstone for their program.”

Read more: Liu Xiang pullout a blow to advertisers

]]> http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/19/liu-xiang%e2%80%99s-poor-advertisers/feed/ 0 Liu Xiang apologies for pulling out of the hurdles http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/19/liu-xiang-apologies-for-pulling-out-of-the-hurdles/ http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/19/liu-xiang-apologies-for-pulling-out-of-the-hurdles/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:57:38 +0000 RSS http://2008gamesbeijing.com/liu-xiang-apologies-for-pulling-out-of-the-hurdles/ Liu Xiang has apologized for pulling out of the men’s 110 meter hurdles yesterday.

“There’s so many people concerned about me and who support me. I feel very sorry. But there’s really nothing I could do,” a downcast, disconsolate Liu told China Central Television in an interview aired Tuesday.

I don’t know why he didn’t pull out earlier if already knew he was injured. I wonder if he was obliged to at least show up to the track, even though he knew he couldn’t run.

“I didn’t know why things turned out this way,” he said, in the Xinhua translation. “I wanted to hang on. But I couldn’t. It was unbearable. If I had finished the race, I would have risked my tendon. I could not describe my feeling at that moment.”

]]> http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/19/liu-xiang-apologies-for-pulling-out-of-the-hurdles/feed/ 0 Liu Xiang pulls out of 110 meter hurdles heat – coach breaks down in tears http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/17/liu-xiang-pulls-out-of-110-meter-hurdles-heat-coach-breaks-down-in-tears/ http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/17/liu-xiang-pulls-out-of-110-meter-hurdles-heat-coach-breaks-down-in-tears/#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:41:53 +0000 RSS http://2008gamesbeijing.com/liu-xiang-pulls-out-of-110-meter-hurdles-heat/ Everyone in China will be talking about Liu Xiang’s shock withdrawal from the 110 meter hurdles at the Beijing Olympics.

Liu pulled out of the starting blocks and ran just a few steps before pulling up, limping. He soon exited the arena to the back of the stadium.

Liu Xiang’s face is plastered all over China on billboards and he appears in several television commercials. Along with Yao Ming he is one of the most popular athletes in China.

Update: Liu Xiang’s coach at a press conference currently being held as I write this, has broken down in tears. Liu Xiang’s coach has said before, “if Liu Xiang doesn’t win gold at the Beijing Olympics his other successes will mean nothing.

]]> http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/17/liu-xiang-pulls-out-of-110-meter-hurdles-heat-coach-breaks-down-in-tears/feed/ 0 Day 10 preview of the Beijing Olympics http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/17/day-10-preview-of-the-beijing-olympics/ http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/17/day-10-preview-of-the-beijing-olympics/#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:52:58 +0000 RSS http://2008gamesbeijing.com/day-10-preview-of-the-beijing-olympics/ After yesterday’s busy day with 37 gold medals decided, the action becomes a little more sedate with just 18 medals to be decided.

At 21:10 Kenya’s Ezekiel Kemboi will defend his Olympic title in the men’s 3000 meter steeplechase.

Pamela Jelimo of Kenya is favorite to win the the gold medal in the women’s 800m. The final will be on at 21:35 Beijing time.

The long jump final is also on tonight with Irving Jahir Saladino Aranda a medal hope for Panama. He won the world championships in Osaka last year.

Liu Xiang will run in his first heats today for the 110 meter hurdles. The final will be held this Thursday.

In the gymnastics, Chen Yibing will be favorite for the gold medal in the men’s rings.

Marian Dragulescu from Romania was the highest qualifier in the men’s vault.

Great Britain is favorite to win gold in the team pursuit, cycling event.

In the two person dingy sailing event, Australia is winning the men’s and women’s competition.

The women’s triathlon will start at 10:00AM today. Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal and Emma Snowsill are favorites for the event.

The women’s trampoline final will be held at 20:25, China’s He Wenna, Sydney gold medalist Irina Karavaeva of Russia and Athens defending champion Anna Dogonadze of Germany all favorites for the event.

The last of the weightlifting events will be held today in the men’s 105kg plus division. Dmitriy Klokov of Russia is favorite to win the event.

]]> http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/17/day-10-preview-of-the-beijing-olympics/feed/ 0 Liu Xiang still battling injury http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/17/liu-xiang-still-battling-injury/ http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/17/liu-xiang-still-battling-injury/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:55:38 +0000 RSS http://2008gamesbeijing.com/liu-xiang-still-battling-injury/ Huge expectations are being placed on Liu Xiang in the lead up to the 110 meter hurdles final on Thursday. Media even met his parents at the train station in Beijing as they arrived from Shanghai.

He still however, has a nagging injury which could make a repeat of his Athens’ performance difficult.

“He still feels some pain in the heel after training,” Liu’s coach, Sun Haiping, was quoted as saying by Sports.cn, the official website of the State General Sports Administration.

He will run his first heat tomorrow.

“Something is wrong with his [heel] bone membrane, which makes him feel some pain or discomfort in training,” the unnamed doctor was quoted as saying.

“The pain and discomfort occur intermittently, which will affect his performance if they occur in a race.”

Dayron Robles is the current world record holder of the 110 meter hurdles is will be favorite for the race.

]]> http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/17/liu-xiang-still-battling-injury/feed/ 0 NBC’s top eight Beijing Olympic storylines http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/06/nbc%e2%80%99s-top-eight-beijing-olympic-storylines/ http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/06/nbc%e2%80%99s-top-eight-beijing-olympic-storylines/#comments Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:07:42 +0000 RSS http://2008gamesbeijing.com/nbcs-top-eight-beijing-olympic-storylines/ Here is a top eight list of storylines as selected by Alan Abrahamson at NBC.

No. 1: Michael Phelps chases history

No argument from me with this choice. People love seeing records broken and heroes made. If Michael Phelps can win eight Olympic golds he is certainly going to go down in history as one of the greatest Olympians. Phelps’ first final is a 400-meter individual medley at 10 a.m., Sunday morning Beijing time.

No. 2: Team USA

Not coming from the U.S. it would be nice to see another team get up and win the gold, watching them play though is pretty amazing.

No. 3: Liu Xiang

Liu Xiang has arguably the most pressure on him, than any other athlete. I heard that his coach once said, if he doesn’t win the 110 meter hurdles at the Beijing Olympics, all of his other achievements will mean nothing.

No. 4 100 meter final

This will definitely be one of the highlights of the Beijing Olympics - the race to see who is the fastest man in the world. It will be decided between Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay or even someone unknown could get up and win.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, Aug. 16, 10:30 p.m. local time (10:30 a.m. in New York).

No. 5: Shawn and Nastia

This will be a classic showdown between China and the United States.

No. 6 Dara Torres

Out to prove that age is no barrier, 41 year old Dara Torres will be competing in the 50 meter freestyle and 2 relays.

The 50 meter final is on at 10 a.m. Sunday Aug. 17.

No. 7: Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor

The pair are odds-on favorite for a gold medal in the beach volleyball. They have had an incredible winning streak leading up to the Olympics and anything less than a gold would be a huge disappointment for the pair.

No. 8: Open

Alan Abrahamson leaves this spot open for an Olympic magic moment, the story the cannot be predicted. The athlete who battles all odds to achieve success. Who do you think it will be?

]]> http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/06/nbc%e2%80%99s-top-eight-beijing-olympic-storylines/feed/ 0 Trouble with athelete’s names http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/02/trouble-with-athelete%e2%80%99s-names/ http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/02/trouble-with-athelete%e2%80%99s-names/#comments Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:09:13 +0000 RSS http://2008gamesbeijing.com/trouble-with-atheletes-names/ Trying to write and pronounce foreign athlete’s names is not an easy task. I thought China had a new athlete on its track team when I saw this headline: “Beijing Olympics: Home favourite Liu Ziang top of international talent to watch out for”. Here is a link to the Telegraph article. It should read “Liu Xiang.” They do get it right though in the photo caption and in the main body of the story.

Liu Xiang

]]> http://olympics.myhackednews.com/2008/08/02/trouble-with-athelete%e2%80%99s-names/feed/ 1