Athens 2004 Volleyball
Olympic volleyball falls under the category of “Things I Can’t Do,” but I’ve mostly watched both men’s and women’s Volleyball, Swimming, and Gymnastics so far in the Olympics.
First of all, Logan Tom is really, really good. She’s been on the Stanford volleyball and basketball teams for a long time, and even though I’ve recognized her a few times at the Stanford Treehouse, I almost didn’t recognize her with short hair on the US volleyball team. She served up more than her share of kills and aces as the US beat Cuba 3 sets to none to stay in the competition.
Secondly, the camera angle they use for indoor volleyball makes it pretty hard to tell what’s going on. The way you tell who won a point is by looking to see which team puts their arms in the air and goes into a quick huddle immediately after the ball hits the ground. It’s the same kind of celebration they do in hockey that lets the people at home know that the ball went in the net, exept it happens every 10 seconds instead of every half hour.
Also, when they do the fake swings at the net to make the other team think one person is going to spike it when it’s really someone else along the net, I think the only people they’re faking out are the people watching at home on TV. From our angle, the ball goes straight up, and it could be anywhere along the whole length of the net. When your on the other team, obviously it’s going to be the guy at the far left, not the far right.
Anyway, it’s so easy to get emotional about who to root for, all because it’s the United States. And it’s also easy to see why you hear so many people rooting for all the other teams too. It’s the best and most understandable and least dangerous kind of rivalry.
August 26th, 2004 at 12:02 pm
Darren, in a lot of ways I couldn’t agree more. I watched the men’s incredible comeback victory over Greece yesterday and man, I was pumped. Something about indoor volleyball says that everyone is putting it all on the line.
However, I don’t think its THAT tough to see what is happening. Also, in terms of the fake, I don’t think the point is to fake out the entire team, but rather the 3 “wall” players. By throwing the fake, the idea is to get one of those players to leave her feet or hesitate to stay in position to block the fake spike. Four hands are easy to get a spike through than 6.
Moving on, what say you to the men’s basketball upset victory over Spain? Upset? the men finding their talent finally? Marbury’s olympic record 31 points? In a column about the olympics, this should really be addressed.
Love the site, keep up the good work.
August 26th, 2004 at 12:44 pm
I think that both of you have missed the net entirely, so to speak. The real issue here is the bikinis in outdoor women’s vollyball. I play sports A LOT, and sometimes, in my daydreams, I make it to the Olympics. Never in those fuzzy hued images am I weraing a bikini. When I play soccer, known for it’s quick and agile movements, I wear clothes. When I play softball, known for its laziness and sloth, I wear clothes. Even when I play cricket, where I get to take dinner breaks and read Dickens, I wear clothes. There is no need for this blatant exploitation of Misty May & co’s hardbodies. They could and probably will pose in Maxim for that. So let’s stop taking issue with “fakes” and start taking issue with babes: unabashed, sexist, male-domineered, wet dream inspired, sand-in-my-where outfits these womyn are forced to wear.
August 26th, 2004 at 1:37 pm
UberSoccerChick, your comment reminds me of Omarosa from the Apprentice. Initially, she appeared well put together and intelligent. Then, it became clear she was just crazy. As I read your comment, which seemed to stress the importance of clothes, I was at first delighted by the point you raised about bikini’s, and then disgusted that you would insult these women in the manner that you did.
Beach volleyball, the only sport to consistently sell out at these olympics, is the harbinger of sports in the 21st century. Let’s face it, in this time of get-it-all-now consumerism, no one is going to watch people in parkas waddle around the beach. This, I have no doubt, is what you speak of in your “fuzzy-hued images.” Get over it and, if you are really that worried about it, why don’t you head to the winter olympics and let the rest of us enjoy ourselves.
August 26th, 2004 at 1:38 pm
I also resent you referring to these marvelous athletes as “babes.” They are Olympians, and I for one will not stand here and allow you to besmirch the good name and good intentions that the Olympics have come to stand for.
August 26th, 2004 at 2:46 pm
This post wasn’t intended to be about bikinis, and I’ve watched about equal amounts of men’s and women’s events, but while we’re on the subject, I’d like to point out that if you were watching the Olympics to see attractive and scantily clad (or fully clad) human specimens, Olympic athletes come in all shapes, sizes, and colors under the sun. From gymnists to volleyball players, divers to wrestlers, Kenyans to the palest Russians, there’s definitely something for everyone.