BEIJING TALLY HO!

BRB

"We now return you to your regularly scheduled program..."

- America's Got Talent
- America's Biggest Loser
- America's Toughest Jobs
- Football Night in America

Yes, we all watched American network television for sixteen consecutive days. Not since the pre-YouTube era has something like that happened.

Here's hoping it doesn't happen for another four years. See you in London!

Si Se Pudo

The night after the close of Beijing 2008, an equally important geopolitical event will be taking place in Denver, Colorado.

The Democratic National Convention kicks off in the Mile High City, which is home to one of the fastest growing Hispanic communities in the United States And now it's the home of the youngest-ever gold medalist in wrestling, 21-year-old Henry Cejudo, whose parents were undocumented "illegal" immigrantes from Mexico.

Jacque On the Money

What's the French word of "Ponzi"?

Ole!

Finally, a FIBA-sanctioned international basketball game worth watching the whole four quarters.

Rock You Like a Huracan

Thoughts on the Nigeria - Argentina men's soccer final...

* Another feather in the cap of the Super Eagles: After missing out on the last World Cup, the tremendous success of Nigeria's youth teams bode well for the future. Starting with the first World Cup in Africa in two years time.

* Goal droughts in matches taking place in searing heat: Terrible decision by the B.O.B. to schedule the final at noontime. Ever since the World Cup 1994 final in Los Angeles. Ever since the 1984 Olympic final at the LA Coliseum. Ever since the last Olympic gold medal match four years ago.

* Like clockwork oranje: Should we see the timeout scenario again? Sure seemed to work today despite 107 degrees.

* Bird's eye view. I had a blast watching the halftime show - which was for me just a raw feed from one camera perched atop the Birds Nest stadium, with the stadium PA blasting all the tunes from the Games' official soundtrack. But they managed to play this song - twice.

Peek-a-boo Street

Punching 'Bag ?

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The "Heroes" on NBC

So during the Argentina-USA semifinal in men's basketball, anal-yst Doug Collins goes off about how the Chinese and international fans at the Olympics are adoring the American ballers - that they're revered "heroes" this and that.

Let me give you some stats that you won't find in the post-game media releases...

Number of GEDs:
Number of criminal convictions:
Number of fugly, trashy-looking tatts:

Binding Lights

The Empire State Building in Manhattan is setting its lights in celebration of the Beijing games.

Check out the live webshots here.

Mashalah

While China and India both share claims of being the next great superpower, the desis don't hold a candle to the Chinese in athletic prowess. Except for cricket of course.

I've been really curious about first medals here on this blog, and yesterday India picked up its FIRST gold medal in the history of the Summer Olympics. An astonishing factoid, dont ya think?

Sakhti

While U.S. presidential candidate John McCain wants to bomb-bomb-bomb "nuclear" Iran, NBA commissioner David Stern wants to make an Iranian big man named Hamed Hadadi the center of attention...

NBA Shows Interest in Iran Center

The Great Wall of Vagina

I recall when Volley De Playa was introduced as an Olympic sport back in '96. Everyone was mocking the IOC and it was barely covered (ahem) on television.

Now its all over the primetime slots, on the primetime affiliate.

I enjoy women's beach volleyball. It's nice to see a women's sport that doesn't try to be exactly like the men and actually embraces its feminity. It's an attribute totally lost these days, as guys go metrosexual and women go butch. And I go dutch.

It would be cool to see NBC separate the coverage into different markets. Like, beach volleyball gets beamed into homes in California, field hockey into Minnesota, and doping into New York.

1984

I'm presently in Los Angeles, where the Summer Games took place in 24 years ago.

It's rather Orwellian to watch the Olympics here on NBC with 'LIVE' emblazoned on the screen when the even you're watching is actually on a three-hour tape delay.

Los Angeles 1984: The LA-LA-Land Olympics

Kanye East to West

I understand this rapper fellow's dad moved to China to be a photojournalist, so the puppets had to fill in the voids.

Usain in the Membrane

More good news for high-flying challenger Obama. Yes, that Obama.

(H)Usain 'Lightning' Bolt of Jamaica took home the gold in the 100m dash to become the world fastest human. It was the first Olympic gold ever for JAM in the 100m, both mens or womens.

This on top of Tunisia's very first gold a few hours ago - a guy named Oussama Mellouli.

(H)Usain's celebration was something to behold. Besides the obligatory embrace of his mother, he really kicked it with an international buffet of fans.

All Over for the Voiceover

With Phelps having just broken the gold record, NBC showed the latest Visa 'Go World' commercial. The ones with Morgan Freeman on voiceover.

In the spot Freeman "congratulates" him on the record. Obviously it was pre-recorded -- a live commercial would be soooo cool, though, yeah? -- but how long ago? Morgan Freeman sounds as good as ever, but he's been in a hospital for much of the last month. Right?

Tuning In

Twelve years ago I attended my first, and thus far only, Olympics. The '96 Atlanta Games had the soccer competition spread out to other cities, and so I pre-ordered tickets for the opening men's football match at RFK Stadium in the nation's capital. When I bought my tickets the draw had not been known so the teams were TBA.

It turned out to be Tunisia versus Portugal. The under-23 squads turned out to be the meat of their respective senior teams for each of these two country's in World Cup runs the next ten years. I really like the North African fans, and it was taking place on the weekend when Algeria was rip with civil war. Plus I always liked Esperance and reading African Football at the international periodical section at the Border's at the Water Tower Place in downtown Chicago.

Saturday (PST) saw 24-year-old Oussama Mellouli come out of nowhere to win a gold medal in the 1500m swimming competition. It was Tunisia's first gold ever.