ot: Feel the need to reflect back on what was a pretty amazing 24 hours of (US) women in the Olympics.
There's no doubt that the US softball team is profoundly disappointed in their silver, but holy kamole, do you realize what the Japanese ace Uemo did? She pitched double-header to get her team into the gold medal game, and then led her team to victory. With her pitch-count in the stratosphere, I'm betting her golden arm is all about ready to fall off.
The silver lining? If Tokyo (or Chicago) get the 2016 games, perhaps Japan's victory will encourage the IOC to reinstate softball. 'Cause it'd surely stink to have the lasting image of Olympic softball be five pairs of cleats left on home plate.
Soccer: Fess up -- after Abby broke her leg, most of you thought the US had an outside chance at getting any kind of medal, much less gold.
Well, surprise, surprise, the '08ers must have watched the tape from Athens and learned some lessons (Heck, they were playing the same team.). The single-named ones outplayed the '04 team in every category except the one that counts: balls in the net. The '04ers also were playing under enormous pressure -- it was the "the last game" for so many of US soccer's icons (aka '91ers) -- and experience may have been the deciding factor.
This time, in a bend, don't break game plan, laced with the underlying drama of a new coach and "the redemption of Hope Solo" story line, the US victory shocked everyone. Especially the Brazilians, who must be wondering, what on earth does it take? (The pink sports bra was a nice touch, Kai.)
You've got to wonder how Mia and Julie and the Michelle Akers are feeling. Proud, I hope, that this new crew, who've played in the '91 shadow (a different kind of pressure), was able to win on their own terms.
Volleyball - sandy and on sanded floors. I'm going to include boys in this section 'cause in case no one's noticed, all areas of US volleyball are kicking butt and taking names. Men's and women's indoor volleyball are both in the gold medal game, and women's and men's beach volleyball both earned gold. (Thank you, gents, for re-creating the post-Athens win Walsh/May roll in the sand.)
A word about the amazing pair of Misty May and Kerri Walsh. The first pair to win back-to-back Olympic gold, their winning streak now stands at 108. Some are saying that's Wooden-esque, but us olde folks know it's Edwin Moses-esque. (And thanks, Kerri, for the shout out to the Women's Sports Foundation.)
There's no doubt that the US softball team is profoundly disappointed in their silver, but holy kamole, do you realize what the Japanese ace Uemo did? She pitched double-header to get her team into the gold medal game, and then led her team to victory. With her pitch-count in the stratosphere, I'm betting her golden arm is all about ready to fall off.
The silver lining? If Tokyo (or Chicago) get the 2016 games, perhaps Japan's victory will encourage the IOC to reinstate softball. 'Cause it'd surely stink to have the lasting image of Olympic softball be five pairs of cleats left on home plate.
Soccer: Fess up -- after Abby broke her leg, most of you thought the US had an outside chance at getting any kind of medal, much less gold.
Well, surprise, surprise, the '08ers must have watched the tape from Athens and learned some lessons (Heck, they were playing the same team.). The single-named ones outplayed the '04 team in every category except the one that counts: balls in the net. The '04ers also were playing under enormous pressure -- it was the "the last game" for so many of US soccer's icons (aka '91ers) -- and experience may have been the deciding factor.
This time, in a bend, don't break game plan, laced with the underlying drama of a new coach and "the redemption of Hope Solo" story line, the US victory shocked everyone. Especially the Brazilians, who must be wondering, what on earth does it take? (The pink sports bra was a nice touch, Kai.)
You've got to wonder how Mia and Julie and the Michelle Akers are feeling. Proud, I hope, that this new crew, who've played in the '91 shadow (a different kind of pressure), was able to win on their own terms.
Volleyball - sandy and on sanded floors. I'm going to include boys in this section 'cause in case no one's noticed, all areas of US volleyball are kicking butt and taking names. Men's and women's indoor volleyball are both in the gold medal game, and women's and men's beach volleyball both earned gold. (Thank you, gents, for re-creating the post-Athens win Walsh/May roll in the sand.)
A word about the amazing pair of Misty May and Kerri Walsh. The first pair to win back-to-back Olympic gold, their winning streak now stands at 108. Some are saying that's Wooden-esque, but us olde folks know it's Edwin Moses-esque. (And thanks, Kerri, for the shout out to the Women's Sports Foundation.)
posted by Helen at 12:52 PM
