04/18/24
August 18, 2016
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
That is awesome. Was that the medal race?
posted by NoMich at 10:00 AM on August 18, 2016
That was the semi-final which, I imagine, is why they're a bit happier to goof about.
Bolt said that DeGrasse was supposed to slow down a bit at the end, as it's only a semi, but DeGrasse said he was just trying to stop Usain from being lazy.
Both fastest losers came out of this heat, which meant that Justin Gatlin failed to qualify for the final from third place in his heat.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:04 AM on August 18, 2016
I'm sure it's Google-able, but can someone explain to me why it seems like all of the bronze medals in freestyle wrestling are ties? In return I'll present you with Ronald Koeman's evaluation of one of Roberto Martinez's final signings at Everton:
Ronald Koeman on Oumar Niaase's Everton future. Word of warning, it's brutal. #EFC pic.twitter.com/wQ1OIUXn4n
— Battle Stars App (@BattleStarsFC) August 18, 2016
posted by yerfatma at 01:05 PM on August 18, 2016
I'm sure it's Google-able, but can someone explain to me why it seems like all of the bronze medals in freestyle wrestling are ties?
Combat sports don't do bronze medal matches. Both semifinal... I don't want to say "losers", but the two people who don't win in the semifinals each get a bronze.
posted by Etrigan at 02:04 PM on August 18, 2016
Aha, thanks!
posted by yerfatma at 04:01 PM on August 18, 2016
Okay, NOW we can say Usain Bolt is the greatest Olympic track and field star of all time...right?
posted by grum@work at 09:51 PM on August 18, 2016
Zero doubt about that.
If he had been from a different country he would have been crowned as such by the media after the 1998 Olympics.
He's the Michael Jordan of track. Not an athlete in history that comes close. Hope we can see a whole lot more of him before he retires.
posted by cixelsyd at 11:17 PM on August 18, 2016
grumble grumble Al Oerter grumble
posted by Etrigan at 03:55 AM on August 19, 2016
Although boxing not track, still wishing I could have seen Teofilo Stevenson try to get his fourth consecutive gold at the 84 Games. If not denied the chance by the Cuban boycott and he had won again, that would have been timelessly massive.
posted by beaverboard at 07:12 AM on August 19, 2016
grumble grumble Al Oerter grumble
grumble grumble single event grumble grumble
posted by grum@work at 09:23 AM on August 19, 2016
grumble grumble Jim Thorpe grumble grumble
posted by billsaysthis at 10:49 AM on August 19, 2016
Still not sold on Bolt being better than Carl Lewis, though I'm not sold on the idea of "better than" at the top-tier of greatness anyway. One more gold than Bolt and more variety of events.
posted by yerfatma at 12:36 PM on August 19, 2016
grumble grumble single event grumble grumble
If there were slightly-heavier discus and throw-from-your-off-foot discus and relay discus of all of those permutations, Al Oerter would have more medals than Phelps and Bolt combined.
posted by Etrigan at 12:58 PM on August 19, 2016
I am willing to accept that Bolt is the greatest Olympic track athlete ever, but not the unchallenged greatest athletics athlete.
posted by Etrigan at 12:59 PM on August 19, 2016
I guess I know who would not be starting a petition: my fellow creaky old men who risk life and limb playing ultimate frisbee every week at local parks and stadiums.
I am not a participant. I have more than enough options for loaning my body to medicine as it is. To the point where I won't be able to give it to science when the day comes.
posted by beaverboard at 08:37 AM on August 20, 2016
Also, who doesn't have a soft spot in their heart for full contact javelin?
Give me the stoic, the strong, the resolute...
posted by beaverboard at 09:06 AM on August 20, 2016
Usain Bolt tells off Andre DeGrasse for trying to beat him.
How does it feel if you're in third-to-eighth watching the two guys up front flirt with each other as they cross the line?