Oohlympix

0-0-0 to 1-0-0 to 1-0-1 to now 2-0-1 or 1-1-1 or 1-0-2. That would be India's medal tally this year at Beijing and I am not complaining.

Thankfully, I have missed most of the Bindra mania that must have gone on and on back home with everyone from his 1st grade school teacher to the "dhobiwallas" and the local MLAs and MPs telling the world, how brilliant Bindra was as a child, and how they knew he would win the gold, and how their prayers and special poojas were the reason for his success. I guess the same will now be happening for Sushil and Vijender.

Hopefully more people will consider sports other than cricket seriously. May be the load of freebies given to Abhinav and those to be given to Sushil and Vijender will be tempting enough. I wonder if all the state governments had already decided after Bindra's gold that we will not be seeing any more medals this year. Now they are forced to give some to the other two athletes too!

Btw, the coverage at NBC is't too good either. It is as bad as yesterday's pizza - you still eat it but only think of how good it would be if it were fresh. Needless to say, the coverage has been predominantly for the US events, which I am okay with considering their participation up to finals in most events. The coverage of the Phelps' mania, however, has been nothing short of a soap opera with interviews and comments from anyone and everyone, and re-telecasts and re-re-telecasts of the same. I guess it is still alright that considering his tremendous feat. But what irked me most was the constant cribbing and complaining throughout the commentary (and the follow-up afterward) for the gymnastics events.

I agree that China's He Kexin doesn't look anywhere close to 16. But do you have to bring that up every time either she or an US athlete performs? If Nastia Liukin or Shawn Johnson (or team USA) lose the gold to China then it is because China cheated and the judges were unfair (they are anyways dumb since their countries don't even have gymnasts good enough to reach the finals). On the other hand, if the US does manage to win the gold then it is despite China's cheating and despite the unfair judging (by the dumb judges of course)! Will someone please ask the Béla Károlyi guy (and the NBC host too) to shut up. I can not believe this chap is a coach for he doesn't seem to have a single sportsmanship bone in his body. I can not understand his problem with the tie-breaking rule after the uneven bars finals. He speaks as if the rule was made up on the spot so that China would get the gold. If the result had been the other way round, I bet he would have said that Liukin deserved the gold since she performed better. This guy need to be tied up and forced to watch his own commentary and interviews repeatedly.

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