Federer looked tired, but Andy absolutely gave him everything and it was great to see him overcome one of Tennis's best.Originally Posted by Droo
Oh, Andy Murray. How sweet does it feel to beat Roger Federer in the final at Wimbledon? Poetic isn't the word!
And now he's about to compete in the mixed doubles final, too. That's a hardy Scot for you!
It's nice to see the hosting country do well.
More specifically, it wasn't the penalty call, but the bizarre indirect free kick call against the Canadian goalie for holding the ball too long before putting it into play. I'm only a casual fan myself, but I had never heard of such a thing, and it seemed that neither had the commentators. At the time, nothing about the goalie's ball-handling seemed excessive to me, especially considering the kind of pathological clock-milking you see in every soccer match ever.
If the US team had really earned a free kick from inside the penalty area, I wouldn't have minded the handball call so much. But the whole situation seemed to be manufactured by the ref. It's the sort of call I'd expect a team like Brazil to get, which made me feel incredibly skeevy. It's a shame, especially when both teams put on such a heroic effort.
It's not the US team's fault, and Alex Morgan's winning goal in the 123rd minute was epic. But I would have liked to see if they could have tied the game on their own in the waning minutes of regulation. I'm obviously still rooting for the US women to get the gold, but I genuinely feel bad for the Canadian players and their fans. If they play as well against France as they did against the US, the bronze match should be a massacre.
Last edited by Dragon; Aug 6th, 2012 at 09:02:00 PM.
Yeah the indirect kick is what I was talking about. In terms of the penalty kick, everything I heard/read after seemed to agree that it was a "ball to hand" vs. "hand to ball", and that usually if the ball is wailed at you (like it is on a free kick) and hits your hand/arm because you can't get out of the way it's not usually called, versus sticking your hand out and hitting the ball, but obviously it wouldn't have come to that if it hadn't been for the initial "delay of game" call.More specifically, it wasn't the penalty call, but the bizarre indirect free kick call against the Canadian goalie for holding the ball too long before putting it into play. I'm only a casual fan myself, but I had never heard of such a thing, and it seemed that neither had the commentators. At the time, nothing about the goalie's ball-handling seemed excessive to me, especially considering the kind of pathological clock-milking you see in every soccer match ever.
If the US team had really earned a free kick from inside the penalty area, I wouldn't have minded the handball call so much. But the whole situation seemed to be manufactured by the ref. It's the sort of call I'd expect a team like Brazil to get, which made me feel incredibly skeevy. It's a shame, especially when both teams put on such a heroic effort.
It's not the US team's fault, and Alex Morgan's winning goal in the 123rd minute was epic. But I would have liked to see if they could have tied the game on their own in the waning minutes of regulation. I'm obviously still rooting for the US women to get the gold, but I genuinely feel bad for the Canadian players and their fans. If they play as well against France as they did against the US, the bronze match should be a massacre.
I think the biggest issue was that the officiating was inconsistent the entire game. There were calls that should have been made against both sides that weren't and calls that were made that made no sense.
Mind you strange/controversial/random officiating seems like par for the course in soccer.
Never gets old when the commentators in the velodrome say "Here comes D'Hoore of Belgium!"
Edit: Laura Trott, I think I love you! Twenty years old, and two gold medals from her first olympic games, and she's cute as a button! Well in, Trotty!
Edit: Sixth gold for Chris Hoy! What a legend! There's nothing like the excitement of the velodrome. Love it!
It's a shame that Victoria Pendleton couldn't go out quite on top, but a gold and a silver from her final olympic games is an excellent way to go out. She was understandably emotional in the end, but incredibly gracious, what a classy lady.
Last edited by Droo; Aug 7th, 2012 at 11:16:28 AM.
Amazing.. amazing amazing amazing. Honestly, I'm still reeling from the Ennis/Rutherford/Farah triple triumph.
Team GB, you are doing us all so proud
Someone please explain the race in the velodrome where they go super slow until the last instant. It makes no sense.
oh what a tangled web I weave
They're trying to position themselves. The trailing rider has the advantage because they can slip stream off the front rider to fly past them at the end. So, in the race you mention the rider in front (Rider A for this discussion) is trying to either force the trailing rider (Rider B) to the front position --- so then Rider A would be able to draft off of Rider B.Someone please explain the race in the velodrome where they go super slow until the last instant. It makes no sense.
OR Rider A is trying to create a gap of some sort, where Rider B cannot get into a slip stream position.
Last edited by CMJ; Aug 8th, 2012 at 05:10:36 PM.
I have to admit, there's a bunch of cuties on the Great Britain field hockey squad. And I learned that there's men's field hockey. My brothers and I laughed for a while after that.
A gold... in Taekwondo... for Team GB!? Get in, Jade Jones!
I love the diversity of the sports that we're medalling in!
Last day today! Closing ceremony starts at 9pm GMT and is supposed to be a celebration of Brit music
Watching the footage of Tom Daley from yesterday got me all emosh, and to see his reaction, overjoyed, beaming from ear to ear and jumping into the pool with his coaches and friends - and that was just for a bronze medal! What will this lad do when, not if, he gets a gold is anyone's guess, but that's a wonderful way to end the games, none of this sour-faced feet-dragging over not getting the gold. This is the olympic spirit, and having followed him since Beijing when he was just fourteen years old, even in the replay today I felt I was sharing in the pride of the nation.
Edit: And I love this picture.
Last edited by Droo; Aug 12th, 2012 at 05:50:55 AM.
^ Possibly my favorite shot of the Games
Closing Ceremony about to begin and already I feel all
You're welcome, world
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Team GB
As always, I am sad to see the Olympics end, but kinda happy I can get my life back. I probably watched over 8 hours A DAY of coverage.
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