Comments on: Go Team USA!

Go Team USA!

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:26:02 -0800

U.S. Olympic Swim Team Enters The 'Call Me Maybe' Fray With Video Parody (SLYT).

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:28:31 -0800

man Olympic swimmers have like, crazy bodies.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:29:19 -0800

"Good luck in London, guys. We'll be watching, cheering you on and looking out for the next awesome parody. Maybe something set to, hopefully, 'We Are The Champions,' next time?"*

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:32:28 -0800

man Olympic swimmers have like, crazy bodies. In related news:

Leisel Jones, Australian Olympic Swimmer, Faces Weight Criticism From Aussie Media. No Respect! Athletes, Advocates Defend 'Fat' Olympic-Champion Swimmer Leisel Jones.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:33:33 -0800

I have not gotten tired of these yet. Thanks!

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:37:47 -0800

BTW -- that is Greg Louganis in the opening and closing shots. Greg Louganis Back In US Diving Fold For London Olympics As Athlete Mentor.

By: MartinWisse

MartinWisse — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:39:51 -0800

American sports people with a sense of humour? Now I've seen everything. I hope they do well, just slightly less well than the Dutch swimming team...

By: muddgirl

muddgirl — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:40:43 -0800

I vaccilate between being glad and being sad that we didn't have youtube when I was in summer camp. We would have made dozens of lipsync videos, all of them to Backstreet Boys songs.

By: Mojojojo

Mojojojo — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:46:42 -0800

man Olympic swimmers have like, crazy bodies. One reason olympians get the sex?

By: boo_radley

boo_radley — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:48:56 -0800

"Fray"? What is this "fray"? Is there honestly a controversy there?

By: rtha

rtha — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:51:35 -0800

That was adorable.

By: jquinby

jquinby — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:54:51 -0800

The Herald ran photos suggesting that the gold-medalist Leisel Jones' figure was not up to competition. It caused such outrage that the piece was taken off the paper's site. Nice. Any of them are welcome to suit up and have a swim to see.

By: kamikazegopher

kamikazegopher — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:10:08 -0800

Underwater Robot is my new favorite dance.

By: restless_nomad

restless_nomad — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:12:59 -0800

The best distance swimmer on my high-school team - top ten in the state in the 500 free - was build like a brick shithouse. As in, you know, rectangular. Not a skinny girl. But not someone I ever, ever wanted to race against, and neither did anyone else except the half-dozen or so other girls in Illinois that had a hope in hell of catching her. That said, this video just reminds me how sad I am that I am no longer surrounded on a daily basis by women with shoulders an axe-handle across.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:14:56 -0800

Ever since Harvard's Men's baseball team released their version of the lip-dub video this past Spring, many other athletic teams have been attempting to outdo their version. I suspect that's why MTV used the term 'fray.'

By: Danf

Danf — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:15:41 -0800

Did I miss Phelps, or was he not in it? If he in fact was not in it, it is consistent with all reports that he is his own team, and not really part of the larger USA team.

By: orme

orme — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:17:41 -0800

In related news: US swim team detained by TSA for excessive fun having.

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:19:15 -0800

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:19:42 -0800

Phelps was nodding his head in the beginning of it. +1 underwater robot

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:21:39 -0800

Did I miss Phelps, or was he not in it? If he in fact was not in it, it is consistent with all reports that he is his own team, and not really part of the larger USA team. I didn't see him either -- I wonder if his endorsement contracts prohibit that sort of thing. Crappy either way, but totally enjoyable video nonetheless. Loved the "dancing down the plane aisle" portion!

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:21:55 -0800

I also hear there are kids starving in India!

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:22:44 -0800

Phelps was nodding his head in the beginning of it. Ah, I see -- it's hard to recognize swimmers without their goggles and gold medals.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:22:51 -0800

jessamyn is right. Phelps is sitting next to Louganis in the opening shot.

By: zeoslap

zeoslap — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:23:05 -0800

@Ad hominem - what an odd stance - olympic swimmers aren't exactly MBA players, nobody gives a hoot in the intervening years about them. Shouldn't we support everyone who manages to become the best at what they've chosen to pursue and not just scientists?

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:24:18 -0800

There is also the destruction of the middle class right here at h...... goddamn it .. must not become anti-fun.. Such a struggle.

By: muddgirl

muddgirl — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:25:36 -0800

From my perspective, people trying to cure cancer are lionized compared to the people trying to, say, prevent car accidents or gun deaths. (Also, Olympic athletes don't usually get much taxpayer money, unlike cancer researchers. Maybe a new training facility or two.)

By: Tell Me No Lies

Tell Me No Lies — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:26:44 -0800

Not so much a parody as a bunch of people dancing and having fun. Cool.

By: Tell Me No Lies

Tell Me No Lies — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:30:59 -0800

goddamn it .. must not become anti-fun.. I must not have fun. Fun is the time-killer. Fun is for children, customers, and the help. I will forget fun. I will take a pass on it. And while it is going, I will turn a blind eye toward it. When fun is gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain--I, and my will to win. Damn, I'm good. -- Litany Against Fun, "Doon"

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:31:04 -0800

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:33:13 -0800

You're already clean and non-sweaty! You do swimming differently from me. I am all covered in chlorine and I wind up sweating for an additional 20 minutes. It's a weird thing because you'd think you were clean but you actually need more of a showering off than if you were just out bike riding. But you are not as overheated.

By: restless_nomad

restless_nomad — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:33:58 -0800

as opposed to activities that'll give you head trauma, shin splints, or shredded cartilage. My right rotator cuff would like to have a word with you...

By: laconic skeuomorph

laconic skeuomorph — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:35:27 -0800

Man, fuck NBC for not showing or ever STREAMING the opening ceremony.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:36:08 -0800

(Also, Olympic athletes don't usually get much taxpayer money, unlike cancer researchers. Maybe a new training facility or two.) The U.S. Olympic team receives no funding from the government. U.S. Funding of Olympic Athletes a Private and Community Affair -- "Individual citizens and corporations enable America's Olympic effort."

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:37:30 -0800

You do swimming differently from me. I am all covered in chlorine and I wind up sweating for an additional 20 minutes. It's a weird thing because you'd think you were clean but you actually need more of a showering off than if you were just out bike riding. But you are not as overheated. Yeah on the rinse-off and residual sweating, but I meant that I climb out of the pool not feeling all smelly and greasy.

By: BeeDo

BeeDo — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:40:08 -0800

But you are not as overheated. Perhaps, but as I learned the hard way (both times) it is deceptively easy to get heat exhaustion or hypothermia while swimming. You can feel cool (or warm) while your body is rapidly heating (or cooling) due to being surrounded by a warm (or cold) liquid.

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:42:24 -0800

My right rotator cuff would like to have a word with you... I guess I'm irrationally chipper about having one activity I haven't had to swear off thus far, unlike biking, aerobics, tennis, quilting, kick boxing, weights, and, soon, piano.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:44:15 -0800

Yeah, Michelle! Michelle Obama in Awe Meeting U.S. Olympians.

By: restless_nomad

restless_nomad — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:45:49 -0800

Well, to be fair, I jumped in to the JV squad of a very competitive program at 16 never having swum competitively before, and I'm sure I could have avoiding trashing my shoulder if I'd had a lick of self-preservation at that age. (See also: my ankle, my knees, and each separate joint in my fingers.)

By: hydrobatidae

hydrobatidae — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:47:21 -0800

I climb out of the pool not feeling all smelly and greasy. I climb out absolutely ravenous. It's so weird - swimming along, everything is fine but as soon as I get back into gravity - nomnomnom.

By: jcreigh

jcreigh — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:56:16 -0800

Aww, this is great. They're having so much fun with it. Makes me want to be on an Olympic team, if I didn't have to have, you know, skill and dedication.

By: bluesky43

bluesky43 — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:03:34 -0800

Adorable! I wish them well at the Olympics! (but my favorite version of this remains Jimmy Fallon, Carly Rae and The Roots).

By: aclevername

aclevername — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:23:12 -0800

Not only are they having fun, but man those are some attractive people!

By: Danf

Danf — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:24:45 -0800

It's a weird thing because you'd think you were clean but you actually need more of a showering off than if you were just out bike riding. But you are not as overheated. And don't get a swimmer started on hair-washing. . .it's a drag to get all of those chemicals out of one's hair.

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:32:35 -0800

And don't get a swimmer started on hair-washing. . .it's a drag to get all of those chemicals out of one's hair. Really depends on the pool for me. Indoor campus pool is lightly chlorinated, and it seems to rinse out easily. Local outdoor community pool -- Jesus, I don't know what toxic cocktail they use, but my suits and skin reek like an industrial laundry, and I get a hellish pool rash on my forearms and jaw sides (only there, weird) unless I slather myself in DermaSwim Pro as if I'm greasing up to swim the English Channel.

By: docpops

docpops — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:51:18 -0800

Light chlorination is not an issue for skin and clothing. The chloramine by products from humans not being adequately dealt with gives the pool the reek and irritation factor.

By: thinkpiece

thinkpiece — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:57:58 -0800

American sports people with a sense of humour? Now I've seen everything. Clearly not a Mets fan.

By: Big_B

Big_B — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:58:29 -0800

Why isn't this available to view on mobile? Licensing?

By: camdan

camdan — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:17:39 -0800

i can't seem to find any videos of carly rae jepson swimming

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:21:03 -0800

According to twitter the opening ceremonies are like live action tumblr.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:25:57 -0800

They apparently train in bleach.

By: Lukenlogs

Lukenlogs — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:26:28 -0800

According to twitter the opening ceremonies are like live action tumblr. chortle, snort, chuckle, pause, repeat... people are looking towards my desk now. Nice one.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:27:01 -0800

By: esmerelda_jenkins

esmerelda_jenkins — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:34:06 -0800

I can't wait until this "song" goes away FOREVER.

By: muddgirl

muddgirl — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:41:27 -0800

I can! I need at least 2 more months of it.

By: muddgirl

muddgirl — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:42:21 -0800

Before it came into my life, I missed it so bad. The song "Call me Maybe", I mean.

By: donajo

donajo — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:43:07 -0800

+1 underwater robot Not to mention water slide sprinkler

By: I_Love_Bananas

I_Love_Bananas — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:43:24 -0800

It's the quintessential summer song.

By: Atom Eyes

Atom Eyes — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:54:37 -0800

It is a sad state of affairs when people with what amounts to an odd hobby, swimming fast, are lionized and people curing cancer are struggling for funding. I never thought I would jump on the "our priorities are fucked up" bandwagon but here I am not approving of olympic swimming. Did you know... Jonas Salk was a dedicated roller coaster enthusiast who spent the last decade of his life, in his words, "ridin' them rickety rails" (i.e., traveling from town-to-town all across the continental U.S. with a group of fellow coaster boosters in a souped up VW bus he'd dubbed the "Thrill Mobile")? Well, it's true*. And it just goes to show, as the Bard wrote, "There are more things in heaven and earth, [Ad hominem], Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." *It's not true.

By: mippy

mippy — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:17:09 -0800

This is just to say that I'm enjoying the confusion of Americans to the opening ceremony. To borrow a very US idiom, it's pretty inside baseball. What you missed: - a clip of black barbershop sitcom, Desmonds - the first lesbian kiss on British TV, from the soap Brookside - a clip of Kes - a very Yorkshire film which I cruelly watched while a South African housemate was in the room (he could NOT parse those accents) - a clip from the wonderful Gregory's Girl

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:21:44 -0800

it's starting on the east coast on NBC in like ten minutes BTW. Everyone go watch it, apparently it's like the League Of Extraordinary British InJokes.

By: adamdschneider

adamdschneider — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:30:40 -0800

It's the quintessential summer song. Pfft.

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:33:24 -0800

I vaccilate between being glad and being sad that we didn't have youtube when I was in summer camp. We would have made dozens of lipsync videos, all of them to Backstreet Boys songs. Giiiiiiiirl, I would have been right there with you. AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME BAAAABEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY WOOOOOOOOOOOOOoOOOoOoOOOOOOO!

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:56:10 -0800

Well, I expected it to be weird, it's produced by Danny Boyle after all, but that was a whole 'nother level of weird.

By: mippy

mippy — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:01:02 -0800

I'm not going to spoil the surprise, but the flag being carried out and the cauldron lighting was amazing.

By: esmerelda_jenkins

esmerelda_jenkins — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:06:26 -0800

... What are those angry Dickensian worker bees doing to TeleTubbie Town?

By: Dr. Zira

Dr. Zira — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:15:46 -0800

Ladies and Gentlemen: Please give it up for Daenerys Targaryen and the Industrial Revolution Dancers!

By: peacheater

peacheater — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:23:16 -0800

God, this makes me nostalgic for my competitive swimming days (obviously on a much smaller scale) -- but I miss our easy camaraderie and amazing amounts of eye candy every day.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:24:12 -0800

as said on Twitter, the opening ceremonies are basically fanfiction at this point.

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:30:34 -0800

A large number of Mary Poppins clones fly in at one point. I'm pretty sure that's lifted from some Mary Poppins/Harry Potter fanfic.

By: Dr. Zira

Dr. Zira — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:32:42 -0800

At some point, will "Hello Guv'nah" be spelled out with TARDISes?

By: running order squabble fest

running order squabble fest — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:42:18 -0800

Oh man this is adorkable.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:44:50 -0800

Holy shit, London. Fantastic job on the opening ceremony!

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:48:11 -0800

" we'll if he doesn't show up then we know we live in Rose's universe" " this is literally a kingdom hearts level"

By: Malice

Malice — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:59:09 -0800

So we're still doing this I see.

By: New England Cultist

New England Cultist — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:00:28 -0800

Lightbulb moment during Olympic opening ceremony: Isengard is real!

By: Dr. Zira

Dr. Zira — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:02:25 -0800

Needs moar Ziggy Stardust.

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:05:24 -0800

Isengard built by Isambard... impersonating Caliban from The Tempest... as played by Kenneth Branagh.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:07:13 -0800

Alan Moore what have you done

By: dirigibleman

dirigibleman — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:07:59 -0800

I approve of masturbatory references in my Olympics opening ceremonies.

By: Dr. Zira

Dr. Zira — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:14:05 -0800

Did I just see the Taylor/Zira kiss? I can't really tell if I'm awake anymore, as I'm just lying in a fetal position waiting for Beckham to save me.

By: peripathetic

peripathetic — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:19:56 -0800

... they are so beautiful.

By: melissam

melissam — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:32:01 -0800

One great thing about competitive swimming is that it encourages people to participate in what may be the world's perfect form of exercise -- as opposed to activities that'll give you head trauma, shin splints, or shredded cartilage. I swim every day, and it's glorious: an hour or two of no impact, lots of resistance, aerobic benefit, joint lubrication, nasal irrigation -- my arthritis, carpal tunnel, and allergies are all MUCH better. I miss swimming so much. I used to swim competitively and I agree it's one of the best forms of exercise, but unfortunately it became clear over time that the chlorine in the pool was triggering my asthma. I hear pools are getting better about lowering chlorine levels though and I'm trying to get into Open Water swimming, but that is a lot more dangerous in other ways.

By: Malice

Malice — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 19:58:09 -0800

By the way, is the entire US Olympic swimteam Caucasian?

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:04:04 -0800

No. There are 3 African-American members of the team (a first). Not sure what other race/ethnicities are represented.

By: Evilspork

Evilspork — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:44:54 -0800

Best cover of Call Me Maybe.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:19:44 -0800

Black Swimmers Increasing Diversity of the U.S. Team.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:21:10 -0800

Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones aims to reduce black drowning deaths.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:31:10 -0800

No Elton John and no Dr. Who references?

By: LobsterMitten

LobsterMitten — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:53:40 -0800

There was a Rocket Man reference I think?

By: Dr. Zira

Dr. Zira — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:54:38 -0800

Maybe they were in there somewhere, and we were just distracted by the Mary Poppins Army of Darkness Dancers.

By: the man of twists and turns

the man of twists and turns — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:58:44 -0800

Slate: Can You Guess These Athletes' Nationalities? Olympians may reveal their origins with just a smile.

By: camdan

camdan — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 23:03:22 -0800

i wonder how many of these swimmers have been not preparing, just sitting on the couch eating bon bons for the last year, and regret it right about now

By: marvin

marvin — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 08:55:45 -0800

brain-melting Margarita Pracatan cover of Call Me Maybe.

By: ericb

ericb — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 09:45:20 -0800

Ouch! 'That one didn't feel too good': Phelps barely qualifies for 400m final.

By: Dr. Zira

Dr. Zira — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 16:01:02 -0800

Alas, we USians have to wait for NBC's prime time coverage to watch the swimming finals (I already had the outcome spoiled when I clicked on NPR's homepage earlier). On the flip side, NBC appears to be going all out this year with extended daytime cable coverage on various channels, plus the live web coverage, so I suppose we should be grateful for that. I can wait a few hours to watch finals for the more popular events if I get to watch robust coverage of fencing and handball and rowing and taekwondo, and other events NBC has ignored in previous years.

By: MissySedai

MissySedai — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 00:25:53 -0800

BTW -- that is Greg Louganis in the opening and closing shots. He's looking FANTASTIC! Like, delicious. Seriously. My oldest friend was a diver in high school, and she was totally mad for Louganis. It didn't take long to see why, and he certainly had my attention. I still remember the famous head smack, and I'm still astonished that he didn't end up permanently injured. He's a phenomenal athlete, and I'm pleased as pie that he's helping out our current crop of divers.

By: MissySedai

MissySedai — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 00:28:16 -0800

Oh, also, this vid? ADORABLE. I know the song is earwormy as hell, but I love the cheerfulness of it. It's on my cycling playlist, and I fully expect it to help on next Saturday's 60 mile ride.

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 06:55:35 -0800

On the flip side, NBC appears to be going all out this year with extended daytime cable coverage on various channels, plus the live web coverage, so I suppose we should be grateful for that. In reaction to complaints over the lack of a live stream from the ceremony, NBC said:

"We are live streaming every sporting event, all 32 sports and all 302 medals ... The opening and closing ceremonies, however, are entertainment spectacles. "Our award-winning production team will present them on a medium that best demonstrates their grandeur and majesty, and at a time when friends and family are able to gather together to watch, which is in primetime."

This is from the Guardian article that talks about NBC editing the opening ceremonies to remove the section that was "widely interpreted" as a tribute to the 7 July 2005 London bombings, in which NBC thought the US would be better suited seeing Ryan Seacrest talk to Phelps. The video segment may not be streaming (at the moment -- at least, I couldn't find it in a quick video search), but thank goodness for the open access provided by international bittorrent sharing.

By: jcreigh

jcreigh — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 09:12:23 -0800

So the original video is down now: This video contains content from nbcolympics2012 and UMG, one or more of whom have blocked it on copyright grounds. Okay, yeah, obviously, the song is copyrighted, so I see UMG's claim, but NBC thinks they own footage of Olympic athletes making a libdup video? Really?

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 09:21:12 -0800

Here's another link to it just for posterity.

By: running order squabble fest

running order squabble fest — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 09:22:44 -0800

This is from the Guardian article that talks about NBC editing the opening ceremonies to remove the section that was "widely interpreted" as a tribute to the 7 July 2005 London bombings, in which NBC thought the US would be better suited seeing Ryan Seacrest talk to Phelps. I'd actually say it's an oversimplification to describe Akram Khan's section as a tribute to the dead of 7.7. His brief was to create a piece about mortality, and I think he was extremely successful in doing so - including but not limited to those victims. But yes - anyone who thinks watching Ryan Seacrest do anything is a better idea than seeing Akram Khan dance is dead inside.