8-15-08 Olympics Thread

**mj4cy** · 08-15-2008, 08:04 AM

Silver was great for Shawn. The only person she wanted to beat here did, so that is great for the USA. Maybe I'm biased, but I thought she was judged pretty darn harsh. One of the Chinese girls had a similar difficulty on beam as Shawn and wobbled twice as much, yet Shawn got the worse score. Oh well.

**Palmer** · 08-15-2008, 08:07 AM

millions went down the drain for her last night....I wish her well in her last couple of events..

I for one will be happy for the hype to be over.

**Knownothing** · 08-15-2008, 08:08 AM

She did great. The good part is she is only 16. She can get gold in 4 years if she choses. She can still win gold tonight in the individual events.

**linkshero** · 08-15-2008, 08:10 AM

I would say that Nas earned the gold, but clearly Johnson's scores were not fair. It should have been much closer. I think the cross over on her vault cost Johnson the gold, and it's too bad because she did it perfect 2 minutes before. I think she lost by .6 and her beam score was at least .3 too low....oh well, still a geat accomplishment.

**cmoneyr** · 08-15-2008, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by Palmer

millions went down the drain for her last night....I wish her well in her last couple of events..

I for one will be happy for the hype to be over.

She can still win 2 gold medals, I wouldn't say all is lost.

**CyinCo** · 08-15-2008, 08:21 AM

This is why I can't watch sports that are judged. I have never liked competitions that are judged. It is based far too much on discretion of the individual judges. If I were an athlete in the sport, it would drive me CRAZY trying to figure out why I got a low score and someone else with seemingly a worse performance got a higher score. For me, I like to see a ball go through a hoop or a goal. It is a sure thing. I know refs can sometimes make a judgement call but for the most part, other sports are sure things based on times or definitive scoring methods.

The USA went 1-2 in the end. For the rest of the country, that is really great. For all those in Central Iowa who really wanted Shawn to get gold, it sort of sucks. I'm glad she got the silver though and beat out the Chinese gal.

**cycloneworld** · 08-15-2008, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Palmer

millions went down the drain for her last night....I wish her well in her last couple of events...

I wouldn't worry about her, my guess is that she won't be hurting for money.

Originally Posted by Palmer

I for one will be happy for the hype to be over.

Why?

**mj4cy** · 08-15-2008, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by Palmer

millions went down the drain for her last night....I wish her well in her last couple of events..

I for one will be happy for the hype to be over.

Wow, that is pretty darn negative. I for one think she deserved the hype. For once it was nice to see a sport with minimal coverage jump to the front page. Two silvers is awesome and I think she'll be just fine. She can still get two more medals.

**Palmer** · 08-15-2008, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by cycloneworld

I wouldn't worry about her, my guess is that she won't be hurting for money.

Why?

speaking for myself...I am just tired of the 'hype' machine everywhere you go. I also find it curious that Lolo is an after-thought in this market (where's her statue/butter likeness?) compared to Shawn?

but that is just me and I am not telling others how to think.

I do wish her well....and I do hope she wins the last two gold opportunities.

**cycloneworld** · 08-15-2008, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by Palmer

speaking for myself...I am just tired of the 'hype' machine everywhere you go. I also find it curious that Lolo is an after-thought in this market (where's her statue/butter likeness?) compared to Shawn?

but that is just me and I am not telling others how to think.

Marty & Miller were talking about why Lolo isn't getting the hype Shawn is. It's pretty obvious to me...the same reason May-Walsh (beach volleyball) aren't getting the same hype as Michael Phelps...Lolo is running 1 event and didn't have the chance at 5 golds like Shawn did. Also, in the minds of audiences and the media gymnastics and swimming >> Beach volleyball and track.

**isuno1fan** · 08-15-2008, 08:40 AM

I estimate she lost $5M at least last night by not winning the all around. She might get some of that back by winning 2 golds in individual events.

I believe she would have lost to Nas even with a better vault and beam/bar score. Nas was on her game. Shawn would have had to have been 100% flawless and I don't know that she can do that.

Be interesting to see if she keeps up with it for another 4 years and tries it again at 20. She will be one of the older gymnasts at that time if she does.

**The_Architect** · 08-15-2008, 08:40 AM

[quote=Palmer;582887]

Originally Posted by cycloneworld

I wouldn't worry about her, my guess is that she won't be hurting for money.

Why?

speaking for myself...I am just tired of the 'hype' machine everywhere you go. I also find it curious that Lolo is an after-thought in this market (where's her statue/butter likeness?) compared to Shawn?

but that is just me and I am not telling others how to think.

I do wish her well....and I do hope she wins the last two gold opportunities.

That's because the Shawn Johnson hype has been going on for a few years as she started to dominate the world stage. Lolo Jones just recently came out of nowhere to qualify for the Olympics.

**Palmer** · 08-15-2008, 08:43 AM

Again...my comments were more about the 'hype' in the media.....not Shawn.

Hope she wins the last two events.

Don't wish to be skinned alive here.

**ISUFan22** · 08-15-2008, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by isuno1fan

I believe she would have lost to Nas even with a better vault and beam/bar score. Nas was on her game. Shawn would have had to have been 100% flawless and I don't know that she can do that.

And keep in mind, there was at least one score in which most felt Nas was hosed a bit too.

I really wanted Shawn to win but I think Nas was just better all-around during the entire Olympics.

But man, it was awesome to go through the suspense at the end, having all the top girls on the same event at the same time. Fantastic floor exercises when our girls needed 'em.

And quite the opposite of how our gymnasts have been closing out competitions. First time we finished on a high note, instead of wrapping up with errors.

**cybsball20** · 08-15-2008, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by isuno1fan

I estimate she lost $5M at least last night by not winning the all around. She might get some of that back by winning 2 golds in individual events.

I believe she would have lost to Nas even with a better vault and beam/bar score. Nas was on her game. Shawn would have had to have been 100% flawless and I don't know that she can do that.

Be interesting to see if she keeps up with it for another 4 years and tries it again at 20. She will be one of the older gymnasts at that time if she does.

I think it is alot more thatn $5 million, especially over her lifetime. An all-around champion, with her smile and charisma would have been worth alot more. I think over her life she could have made at least $50 million more if she was an all-around champ, just look what Mary Lou has been able to do...

With the judging, I think it came down to the judge's preference and been somewhat consistant. They overlooked some flaws for grace and beauty and didn't have alot of love for the power and strength in Shawn's routines...