The A2K Fantasy Olympics Beijing 2008

It's much too late for that, Foxy.

Does fbaezer want to use team names or screen names when giving updates on who is leading?

(This question has been keeping me awake at night.)

I think I'm the one to start the team names - all in fun, not meant to replace our a2k usernames, not part of the game rules.

Well okay. But I though an image of my defensive guards on the balance beam was fun not to mention the thought of that hairy extended leg in synchronized swimming.

4 days to go, 21 complete teams, and counting:

fbaezer
jespah (Ring-o-leave-os)
ossobuco (Dolphinkincking Dogpaddlers)
Pantalones
McGentrix
wandeljw
MyOwnUsername
EhBeth (Caramel cups)
Imur (THIOS)
Diane (PDQ Geckos)
hingehead
cicerone imposter
Calamity Jane
realjohnboy (WIFF's)
jpinmilwaukee
Ticomaya (should I say "Ticomaniacs"?)
alex
Foxfyre (Night Owls?)
Patada Veloz (Fantasy Warriors)
Capitalgull (British Dreamers)
George (TGIF)

Cool! I note that JPB, Rockhead and Maporsche (Absolute Zero) are not in. Perhaps you could go after them.

I've sent them PM's. And to Joe Nation too. Perhaps they're waiting for the last minute...

True, very true, foxfyre.

In my case, dolphinkicking dogpaddlers are a contradiction in terms, true of some of my own hilarious sport endeavors.

So, folks, seen the smog photos?

Several, I'm tired of them.
They look similar to those published before the Mexico games. "Athletes will fall like flies", said the British press.
They flew like butterflies:


The accusation was repeated for the Football World Cup in 1986.
Same thing was said before the Seoul Games (but nothing on L.A. 1984).

The Western canon has never trusted the Third World.

Oh, my, it looks like osso has touched a nerve with fbaezer.

I'll buy that, the condescension/fear of other bit being an element.

But if they had the LA Olympics in, what, 1948, the air might have been like the famous london yellow fog, whenever that was. Much more particulate yucko, indeed more yellow brown compounds, on high smog days, back then in the forties than in, say, '84, and I would guess also much more than for the Olympics in Mexico in '68. (I don't remember Mexico df as that smoggy, but I was never there in August and.. I'm from LA.)

Mexico df is like LA in being at least semi-surrounded by mountainous areas, isn't it? Natural pollution holders in certain conditions.

Mexico City Olympics were held in October, osso. It rains almost daily in July-August. Pollution is worse in winter, and was at its worst in the early 90's.
The air in Athens wasn't better, and very little was said.

This is not the thread to discuss it, but anyway, I say that there's a lot of propaganda, from every possible side, during the Olympics. The Chinese government is doing its part, the Western press is doing its part, etcetera. My only advice is: consider that there is no neutral reporting on the games. It doesn't come with what they've become.

How many times have you heard about the conditions of the Kenyan high planes and their influence on the long-distance runners? How many times about State sponsored doping in the East-Bloc countries? And how many about the Orientals' circus-like elasticity since childhood? They are all different ways of explaining that when "we First World Westerners" don't get the medals it's an exception of an iron rule.

Well, if this kind of discussion blooms, maybe we can start an offshoot thread. (I remember some hoohah about Athens' air, but I take your point - I think your point - that the commentary is part of the games, or gamesmanship.)



As decrepitude looms, I lose count of my visits to Mexico (City) and when, but I think all from Jan - March. Baja, that varied more.



I remember your posts about '68.

Another thread - I'll start one tomorrow unless you or anyone else wants to, Fb.

OK, OK, OK, this is the PANCHO´S OLYMPIC TEAM...

"A"

CHINA WOMAN
USA MEN

"B"

FRANCE
ITALY
JAPAN

"C"

BRAZIL
CANADA
GREECE
NORWAY
SWEDEN

"D" (HERE IS THE WINNER)

CHINA TAIPEI
CHILE
GEORGIA
IRAN
NEW ZEALAND


Good Luck for everybody

Tocayo, no wonder you say it's the winner, Iran is part of group "C".

WOULD YOU PLEASE, CHANGE IRAN BY JAMAICA IN THE "D" GROUP, EXCUSE ME WAS A MISTAKE, NO PROBLEM.

My team
Group A
USA men
China women

Group B
Cuba
Japan
France

Group C
Brazil
South Africa
Poland
Canada
Czech Republic

Group D
Jamaica
Mexico
New Zealand
Hungary
North Korea

Re: My team
Good goin' fom2020



Welcome to a2k Barneyhull. Hungary is part of group B, please substitute it.

changing country
sorry, didn't see that

please change hungary for croatia

2 days to go, 23 complete teams, and counting:

fbaezer
jespah (Ring-o-leave-os)
ossobuco (Dolphinkincking Dogpaddlers)
Pantalones
McGentrix
wandeljw
MyOwnUsername
EhBeth (Caramel cups)
Imur (THIOS)
Diane (PDQ Geckos)
hingehead
cicerone imposter
Calamity Jane
realjohnboy (WIFF's)
jpinmilwaukee
Ticomaya (should I say "Ticomaniacs"?)
alex
Foxfyre (Night Owls?)
Patada Veloz (Fantasy Warriors)
Capitalgull (British Dreamers)
George (TGIF)
fom2020 (Pancho's Olympic Team)
Barneyhull