In reading the local rag....I found an interesting name to come up on the police blotter. Somebody named Ekaterina Gordeeva was arrested for shoplifting in Cooke City, Montana in the amount of $750 and $250 worth of goods. Her sentence was suspended in lieu of court costs of $10. She and her husband won GOLD MEDALS in pairs skating for Russia back in 1988 and 1994............
That can't be the same person, can it? The famous Gordeeva won those medals but then lost her husband when he died of heart failure during one of their practices. The one on the blotter in Montana is surely a different woman with the same name.
USA just keeps getting better in each game, beating Spain by almost 40 today! Unlike in previous games, they got off to a quick start in the first quarter and kept building the lead. Up 9 after the first quarter, 16 at the half, 23 after the third, etc. They had another huge total of steals and forced turnovers, and although the US committed a lot of turnovers themselves, they also finally hit a great percentage on 3s, around 50% for the game. They were 7-10 on 3s at one point in the first half. It seems clear now that the USA's problem in recent tournaments was mostly about defense, far more than bad shooting or isos or whatever else everyone likes to say is wrong with NBA players today. I guess that was clear from the scores they were losing by in those previous tournaments, like 101-95 against Greece in the '06 world championship semi. But they've been totally committed and incredibly dominant on defense so far in this competition, so they should be able to win each game going away.
Spain has been playing half-assed through pretty much all of pool play. They're so concerned with not giving too much away, and "saving" themselves for the knockout punch. Although, i don't think they can beat the U.S. when they start trying either. It really was a bad idea switching coaches so close to the Olympics. The coach they have now is a moron. Playing the PG's primarily at off-guard; Sitting Calderon for an eternity; he gives me a headache. I can't help it. I don't really care too much for the US team. Maybe it's my LBJ/Wade hatred carrying over, but their showboating today was just irritating. I don't actively root for them to lose, but i can't say I'd be upset if they did. Manu, where are you? LOL
I have not been able to see the game because i was working until now,but 40 points is a lot of points against spain,it was the first time i see since pre gasol/navarro era in 1999. Very good usa offensive, our actual coach is the better coach in spain but the problem is that he is coach since two months,he can´t do his work in this time. The first problem is spectacular level usa team,Pepu hernadez could do preparation for competitions and he don´t play against this usa team. Seeing box score Tay has played minutes today. Congratulations usa fans.
I've been lucky to see almost every USA-game live on TV. Dutch TV normally plugs in for a few minutes, Belgian TV shows the entire games. And thank god for that. The Dutch announcers are horrible. A "I've seen this a 1000 times" additude, "the NBA is nothing but show and entertainment", "Kobe is thé big big star with LBJ", "Prince WAS part of the Detroit team". The Belgian annoucers show a deep respect for the USA team. Atlethic abilities, speed and strenght of the players are at a much higher level than Europian players. One of the Begian announcers stated that the way this team played defense was amazing. considering the fact that there were only "superstars" in the field, whose main task normally is not on the defensive end of the game. A nice comment on Prince, being a defensive specialist and part of the Detroit team who beat the Lakers in the Finals in 2004 in "Bad Boy style".
Prince got 21 minutes against Germany, which lead the team. I guess since they were up so much, they let him play. He didn't do anything spectacular judging from the box score, but he got a few boards.
He actually guarded Dirk for some time, and did a good job. Go figure. edited to add; On a side note this NBA.com Olympic Photos: Aug. 18, 2008 scares the hell out of me.
It's said that Chris Kaman's dad thinks he is a traitor. In other Olympic news, a USA woman just won gold in the discus in what the announcer called "the biggest upset of the Games so far." I love the Olympics. I watch everything (badminton, boxing, skulling, synchronized diving, etc.).
Have you checked out any table tennis? That is awesome!!!! I am very good at it......................
