Brett came home from his walk yesterday morning to find me watching fencing. He asked if I knew the rules. I knew that every so often one would poke the other and some times lights would come on. But other than that, I had no idea what the rules were. And that was perfectly fine. We watched the women’s gold medal match together and cheered. We did learn though that “sudden death” does NOT mean “take off all your armor and use real swords” when the match is tied, as Brett suggested they should do. I guess it’s better than “long drawn out death.”
I also didn’t understand the rules of the horse trotting stuff I’d been watching while he was gone. But the announcers said the horses were excited.
The soccer, basketball, archery, volleyball, badminton and ping pong I could follow. Well, I followed the badminton and ping pong as best I could considering how fast they go. That shuttlecock is going about 200 mph when it leaves the racket.
I know that with the swimming you need to get to the wall first.
And I started to pick up on handball as the game progressed, although there’s still a lot I don’t understand about that one. I’ve just discovered the Olympic website has the basics of each event listed. I’ll have to read up on several of these.
The website also lists which athletes have a birthday each day of competition. I wonder if they have the Olympic athlete equivalent of birthday cake for all of them each day. I used to imagine myself competing in the Olympics, and winning, it’s my imagination, on my birthday.
Phelps lost the medal by less than .5 of a second. It’s amazing to think that the difference between some things in life is something as small as that. He also might want to get a new photo for his profile.
Maybe male gymnasts should shave their underarms like the male swimmers do. Some seem to. Their arms are over their head enough.
I watched a LOT of Olympics yesterday. I did stop to do some yard work after an intense storm softened the ground and do some shopping. And I made progress on another of my revisions while I watched.
I am an educator and PhD. I quilt, belly dance, run, read, and try to grow things. I am a Mormon. I am infertile. I am a daughter, sister, aunt, grand-daughter, friend, wife, and mom.
Brett L. Dennis
Mama g
Giggles
AmandaStretch
Dad enjoys watching all of the Olympic events. He is watching soccer as I type this. I enjoyed watching archery yesterday. It was easy to follw and I understood the scoring. I still don’t understand tennis. 😉
Here’s all you need to know about tennis:
Never fall in love with a tennis player. Love to them means nothing. :brett:
Thanks for the Tip. 😀
I think they should have Olympic bowling. Just to make it that much more interesting to watch. :brett:
The Olympics? Or bowling? :lisa:
Bowling was a demonstration sport in the 1988 Summer Olympics. :tractor:
Well, what d’ya know… :brett:
Brett, looks like your ideas is 24 years too late. :lisa:
We went to a curling match when the Olympics were in Salt Lake. We didn’t have a clue what curling was — but we sat by some Canadians who explained it all to us. Now I understand the sport, I am hooked on it. I can certainly understand you watching fencing when you don’t understand it.
We don’t have TV, so I catch up on the Olympic highlights online after the girls go to sleep. There are a lot of ridiculous sports in the summer olympics now. Air rifle? PING PONG?
Did you see this story?
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/racquet-sports/news/article/top-doubles-pairs-booed-for-appearing-play-lose.html
Those table tennis balls are flying though. The players today were sweating. I apparently do not play table tennis right. I didn’t realize you could break a sweat playing.
I hadn’t heard about that story, but I definitely agree with the boos. You go to the Olympics to do your best and to see the best.
Found your blog through Mormon mommy blogs:)
It’s really fun you should write about this subject and not know the rules, because I was thinking the exact same thing when I watched the fencing!
I finally just said “if they hit each other with the tip of the sword, the lights go off and they score.”
Ha.
Glad I found your blog:)
Pingback, 2 January 2013 at 12:37 pm
2012 Summary – A whole year of blogging | Random Giggles