Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: Playing Catch Up

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  • Graeme Edgeler,

    I was listening to ESPN's Pardon The Interruption the other day and they were discussing China's dominance of the medal table.

    And I caught a brief glimpse of World News with Charles Gibson last night on TVNZ7. "The United States is still at the top of the medal table with XY medals, although China has more golds..."

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    a way for poorer gentlemen to show their virility to potential wives

    Oo er - rather puts the Boobs on bikes in perspective.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    Yeah, the American news outlets don't weight their medal tables. They're all happily declaring that America is on top, when a cursory glance at just about any other nation's media suggests that it might be seen otherwise. I know Americans love to measure things differently, but this is just egregious. Even wikipedia places precedence to gold medals won.

    I've been trying to see if this is how they've done it in the past, or if it's just this time around, but the university suddenly won't let me into the databases. It's a conspiracy I say. And it doesn't just conveniently put the US on top, it completely rearranges the rankings from number 3 down.

    As for not caring about gymnastics, the American commentary team have been going mental over the women's gymnastics judging. It would make an All Black fan in the weeks following the 2007 World Cup blush.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    So, which is it? golds, or total?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Maybe I need to think about getting MySky

    Do not think. Do. </Yoda> It will change your life for the better. Exponentially.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I read an American piece saying that the Chinese specifically targetted golds because they knew that they were unlikely to beat the US in total medals won.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    It will change your life for the better. Exponentially.

    They need to up the storage though (especially if a whole day's olympic coverage is going to count as one single ginormous programme) - I'm resorting to saving MySkyed shows to DVD HD.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    As for not caring about gymnastics, the American commentary team have been going mental over the women's gymnastics judging

    Oh i was trying for sarcasm there.

    Oo er - rather puts the Boobs on bikes in perspective.

    Dammit! That would've been great! Argh the lament of a joke lost...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    a way for poorer gentlemen to show their virility to potential wives

    Oo er - rather puts the Boobs on bikes in perspective.

    Ah! Now I understand cycle shorts.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    Oh i was trying for sarcasm there.

    Yes. Sorry, as I was typing that I listened to an American commentator yet again declare that the Chinese gymnast's score was 'high. Too high'. Ugh.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Argh the lament of a joke lost...

    Oh I dunno.... :)

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    So, which is it? golds, or total?

    The official website ranks in order of golds, if there's a tie they look at silvers, and if both golds and silvers are tied they look at bronze. It also includes the ranks by totals, but clearly, that's not the preferred system.

    Really, I don't care, and just like to tease my American friends about it.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    <i>The strength of the synch-swimmers is amazing, and I am totally against anyone who thinks it's should be removed from the games.</i>

    You may have to fight my girlfriend.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    "So, Peter, exciting, isn't it?"

    (background shot: Kiwi closes on gold medal, presenters ignore)

    "Yes Wendy, and we will bring you news soon"

    (background shot: Kiwi actually wins gold medal)

    "Thanks, Peter, let's hope for good news!"

    (Kiwi starts celebrating gold medal)

    "And now to an ad break ..."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    You may have to fight my girlfriend.

    So be it. Prepare the arena.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    (Kiwi starts celebrating gold medal)

    "And now to an ad break ..."

    Ah crap. Really? Did anyone PVR it?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I like the debate that comes around every Olympics, where someone declares that certain Olympic events aren't real sports and should be removed from the Games.

    But what's a weird pseudo sport in one country is the national game of another. Slalom kayaking, handball, and rhythmic gymnastics might not be sports that have a huge following in New Zealand, but our medal tally/hopes are reliant on niche sports like sailboarding, BMX and triathlon.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Eleanor,

    A few years ago I read about a study of claiming that synchronised swimmers are the fittest athletics at the Olympics.

    Never mind the prancing choreography and waterproof glitter make up,
    that is not to be sniffed at!

    I love the origins of table tennis, a Victorian after-dinner parlour game called whiff whaff!

    wellington • Since May 2007 • 81 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    I am really pleased with all of the talk about our bronze medalists. Other than the occasional stupid question from TVNZ most people are really proud of medalists no matter what the colour.

    Not everyone

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    (Actually last night Outrageous Fortune took precedent despite my protestations of "the Olympics only happen every four years!" Maybe I need to think about getting MySky)

    Perhaps, but watching Antonia Prebble reaching new depths of transcendental evil is a damn sight more interesting...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    medal counting....

    I can see that just counting the total number of medals does not give appropriate "weight" to the value of winning over being second or third (which are still VERY good... but are not the same as winning.)

    But I find the counting of golds over anything else is also egregious... Should a country with 1 gold only be ranked higher than a country with ten silvers and ten bronzes?

    I think if you want to rank the countries, you need to weight the value of the medals somehow..... whether thats 3,2,1 or 5,3,1 or some other accounting..... you need to be able to acknowledge golds as more valuable and desirable without completely discounting the effort and achievement required to come 2nd and 3rd.

    And, with China having twice as many golds as USA, and one or two less medals in total.... that's obviously places China above USA in this years table to my mind...

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Not everyone

    Thanks for that, Megan. Rick Suhr -- what a paragon of good sportsmanship. Cock.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    Fletcher: The 3 2 1 method would put China 21 points clear of the USA. Britain would be a bit upset about it, because I think they'd slide down to fourth, to be replaced by Russia.

    The reason I said it's egregious is because the coverage in the US is centred around this battle for supremacy, and is very clearly being played out as a struggle between the superpowers. I'm sure that subtext is obvious in New Zealand as well, but on basic NBC, where they show precious few events that don't feature US athletes (we wouldn't have seen the rowing medals on TV here if they didn't also feature American crews as well), it's quite visceral.

    The Americans complain about the ages of Chinese gymnasts, and then go and declare victory in their mini-Cold War by juking the stats.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Thanks for that, Megan. Rick Suhr -- what a paragon of good sportsmanship. Cock.

    My pleasure.

    What bothered me was watching this woman, who had every right to be on top of the world, because, as far as I can tell, just being able to get over the bar is a feat of phenomenal athleticism, struggle to hold back tears.

    Where's your 'Olympic spirit' Rick?

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    (Actually last night Outrageous Fortune took precedent despite my protestations of "the Olympics only happen every four years!" Maybe I need to think about getting MySky)

    All sports fans should have HD MySky. Who knew that Dan Carter suffered from shaving rash? Dude needs product.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

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