Thoughts for the Day, August 14, 2024: A Very Special Olympics

The Olympics

Sydney McLaughlin-Verone and Katie Ledecky are in another stratosphere in their respective sports.  The margin of victory in their gold medal events is unheard of in Olympic competition.  I will not be surprised if both decide to defend their gold medals in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The USA/Serbia semi-final game was one of the finest and most intense basketball games I have ever seen.  The level of play by the greatest basketball players on the planet was sheer joy to watch.  When the game ended, I started clapping.  Not because the USA won, but for the effort that the players put into the game.

Steph Curry showed why he is without a doubt the best shooter on the planet.  The U.S. needed every one of his 36 points to overcome Serbia in the semi-final game. Then against France in a very loud and raucous arena, he hit four three pointers in the last 2 and ½ minutes to allow the U.S to squeak out a victory.  The last three-point was classic Steph.  Two defenders in his face, and he steps back and shoots off the wrong foot and hits nothing but net. 

If the men’s gold medal game wasn’t exciting enough, the France and U.S. women decided to one-up the men with an even more exciting game.  The U.S. came from 10 back in the third quarter to win by a point and by inches as Gabby Williams of France and the University of Connecticut banked in game what the French fans thought was a game-tying three-point basket. It was ruled a two-pointer because Williams’ foot was clearly on the three-point line.

The U.S. men’s 4×100 relay team continues to be “snake bitten”. There is this think called a baton that needs to be passed from one runner to the other within a certain area of the track and without dropping it. All other countries seem to do this quite well. The U.S. hasn’t figured it out for the last five Olympics. Thus, even though they are nearly always the favored team, they usually end up being disqualified because of their inability to pass a baton correctly.

An Olympic would not be complete without some sort of judging controversy.  It happened in the women’s floor exercise where U. S’s Jordan Chiles originally was awarded fifth place and Ana Barbosa of Romania was awarded the bronze medal.  The U.S appealed the scoring. The judges ruled there was a mistake in Chiles’ score, and she was awarded an additional point which moved her to third place, where she was awarded the bronze medal in the medal ceremony.  The IOC which has as much credibility as the NCAA, decided a few days later that the U.S. appeal was 4 seconds beyond the one-minute timeframe allowed to appeal.  The IOC ruled Chiles must return her medal and Barbosa will be awarded the medal.

Today the Romania Gymnastic Federation proposed that all three of the girls be awarded the bronze medal.  This proposal has been endorsed by the U.S. In addition, the U.S. Gymnastics Federation has provided a new time stamped video showing proof that its appeal was filed within the one-minute timeframe. 

The two girls who worked their butts off to get to this level should not have to put up with this B.S.  Each girl has been told they finished with a bronze medal. Each girl has been told they didn’t win the bronze medal.  This controversy is the IOC’s making.  The IOC should give both girls the bronze medal.  To think that Jordan Chiles needs to return the bronze medal she was awarded is irresponsible and irrational.

The IOC gets a Special Onion of the Day.

Nothing like Stating the Obvious

This headline in yesterday’s Free Press made me laugh when I first saw it. 

Availability, reliability of public chargers is one barrier for consumers considering EVs

Until this issue is resolved, I will continue to drive my 365-horsepower SHO which gets 27 MPG on the expressway.

The Stock Market and Inflation.

Last week the stock market dropped 3% in one day and the doom and gloom specialists were blaming it on concerns about a recession and inflation.  I wrote in my blog about the volatility of the stock market and if one cannot handle the volatility, one should get out of the market.

Today it was announced that inflation is currently at an annual rate of 2.9% and the market is back to where it was prior to the 3% drop of last week.

Yesterday, JD Vance was blaming the high inflation on Vice President Kamala Harris.  I wonder if he is giving her credit today for inflation being under 3%?

The Race is On.

Some new polls have Harris ahead of the former president in key swing states.  My how the race has changed in the last month. 

Now that the MAGA/Kamikaze party doesn’t have Biden to pick on, they have their hands full with the Harris/Waltz team that is generating enthusiasm and hope as the Democrats new standard bearers.

NASCAR Foolishness

 If you haven’t seen the end of Sunday’s NASCAR Richmond 400, it is my Video of the Day.  I am not celebrating the success of the alleged winner, Austin Dillion. I am pointing out the lengths someone will go to win and advance, even when they are putting others’ lives in danger.

With the alleged win, Dillon was granted an automatic playoff berth.

I am pleased to announce today that NASCAR has taken away Austin Dillon’s automatic playoff berth following his win at Richmond on Sunday after deeming that he violated NASAR rules during the Cook Out 400, which saw the No. 3 car intentionally spin out Joey Logano and then Denny Hamlin into the wall before crossing the finish line.

Here is NASCAR’s official ruling:

“After a full review of footage and data, NASCAR officials ruled Dillon’s victory would stand, but that his automatic berth in the 16-driver postseason field would be voided for violating Section 12.3.2.1.b of the NASCAR Rule Book, which deals with playoff eligibility and states: ‘Race finishes must be unencumbered by violation(s) of the NASCAR Rules or other action(s) detrimental to stock car auto racing or NASCAR as determined in the sole discretion of NASCAR.'”

Anniversaries

This is always a big week for Leah and me.  August 16 is the anniversary of our daughter Katy and her husband Brad. It is also the anniversary of our neighbors Kathy and Mike Snyder (50 plus), while August 18, is number 51 for Leah and me.  A celebration dinner is planned for August 16 at the Douglas Lake Bar in Pellston.  Unfortunately, the Snyders will not make it. In their place our good friends Sandy and Pat Ainslie, who are Katy’s Godparents will be joining us.

It is always a great meal at the DLB. It is extra special to be celebrating with Katy and Brad.

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Quote of the Day: “To watch him not only get it but go get it was special” Former NBA great Dwayne Wade during the Olympic telecast following the U.S. men’s final quarter heroics in the gold medal game.

Orchid of the Day:  Steph Curry.  Although he didn’t get the MVP of the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament, there is no doubt the U.S does not win the semi-final game of the gold medal game without his heroics. He is the best shooter on the planet.

Onion of the Day: The mom and dad who tied the leash of their dog to the bike of their approximately 9-year-old daughter while taking a family bike ride on the Little Traverse Wheel Way on Monday.  When I encountered them, the little girl was in total meltdown screaming at her dad that she can’t ride her bike with the dog tied to it.  Mom and Dad could not understand why the girl was having a problem.  I heard dad tell the little girl to peddle faster and then the dog wouldn’t be able to go side to side. You cannot coach stupid.

Question of the Day: If Simone Biles can reach a peak of nearly 12 feet when doing one of her flips on her floor routine, why can’t she enter the high jump and easily win a gold medal there, where the record is less than 8 feet? Just wondering.

Video of the Day: NASCAR Foolishness and Stupidity

NASCAR | A dramatic end to Sunday’s race. #NASCAR | Instagram