Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Day 5






In men's swimming, in the 100 freestyle, Americans Nathan Adrian and Cullen Jones advance to the semifinals. Nathan Adrian advanceto the finals.

In women's swimming, in the 200 butterfly, Americans Cammile Adams and Kathleen Hersey advance to the semifinals. Both advance to the finals. Kathleen Hersey finished 4th and Cammile Adams finished 5th in the finals on August 1.

In the men's 200 breaststroke, Scott Weltz and Clark Burckle, both of the USA, both advance to the semifinals. Both qualified for the finals. Scott Weltz finished 5th and Clark Burckle finished 6th in the finals on August 1.

The USA qualified for the finals of the men's 4 by 200 freestyle relay.

The USA women's gymnastics team wins gold with 183.596 points. Russia wins silver with 178.530 points and Romania wins bronze with 176.414 points.

The USA men's volleyball team defeated Germany 3-0, 25-23, 25-16 and 25-20.

The USA women's soccer team beat North Korea 1-0. The only goal was scored by Abby Wambach.

The USA men's water polo team beat Romania 10-8.

Allison Schmitt of the USA wins gold in the women's 200 freestyle. Missy Franklin of the USA finished 4th. Camille Muffat of France wins silver and Bronte Baratt of Australia wins bronze.

Michael Phelps of the USA wins silver in the men's 200 Butterfly. Chad Leclos of South Africa wins gold. Takeshi Matsuda of Japan wins bronze.

Caitlin Leverenz of the USA wins bronze in the women's 200IM. Ye Shiwen of China wins gold. Alicia Coutts of Australia wins silver.

The USA team of Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer, Ricky Berens and Michael Phelps win gold in the men's 4 by 200 freestyle relay. France wins silver and China wins bronze.

The USA men's beach volleyball team of Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser beat Herrera/Gavira of Spain 19-21, 21-16 and 15-13.

The USA women's beach volleyball team of Jennifer Kessy/April Ross defeated Van Iersel/Keizer of the Netherlands 21-15, 12-21 and 15-8.

The USA men's basketball team beat Tunisia 110-63. Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love each had 16 points for team USA.

Photos credit: Getty Images, UPI and other media sources. For blog use only.

Medal Standings after Day 5

China 13 gold 6 silver 4 bronze - 23 total
USA 9 gold 8 silver 6 bronze - 23 total
Japan 1 gold 4 silver 8 bronze - 13 total
France 4 gold 3 silver 4 bronze - 11 total
S. Korea 3 gold 2 silver 3 bronze - 8 total



Monday, July 30, 2012

Day 4





In women's swimming, Americans Missy Franklin and Allison Schmitt advance to the semifinals of the 200 freestyle. Both advance to the finals.

In the women's 200IM, Americans Ariana Kukors and Catlin Leverenz advance to the semifinals and finals.

In men's swimming, Americans Michael Phelps and Tyler Clary, both of the USA, advance to the semifinals and finals of the 200 butterfly.

In men's synchronized 10M platform diving, The USA's David Boudia and Nick McCrory win bronze. Cao Yuan and Zhang Yanquan of China win gold. Ivan Garcia and German Sanchez of Mexico win silver.

The USA women's volleyball team beat Brazil 3-1, 25-18, 25-17, 22-25 and 25-21.

The USA men's gymnastics team finished 5th in the team final with 269.952 points.
China wins gold with 275.997 points, Japan wins silver with 271.952 points and Great Britain wins bronze with 271.711 points.

Ryan Lochte of the USA finishes 4th in the men's 200 freestyle. Yannick Agnel of France wins gold, Park Taehwan of Korea wins silver and Sun Yang of China wins bronze.

Missy Franklin of the USA wins gold in the women's 100 backstroke. Emily Seebohm of Australia wins silver and Aya Terakawa of Japan wins bronze.

Matt Grevers and Nick Thoman of the USA win gold and silver respectively in the men's 100 backstroke. Ryosuke Irie of Japan wins bronze.

Rebecca Soni of the USA wins silver in the women's 100 breaststroke. Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania wins the gold and Satomi Suzuki of Japan wins bronze.

The USA women's water polo team beat Hungary 14-13.

In men's beach volleyball, the USA team of Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal lose to the Polish team of Fijalik/Pridel 17-21 and 18-21.

The USA women's basketball team defeated Angola 90-38.

The USA women's beach volleyball team of Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings beat Slukova/Kolcova of CZE 21-14 and 21-19.

Photos credit: Getty Images, UPI and other media sources. For blog use only.

Medal Count after Day 4

China 9 gold 5 silver 3 bronze - 17 total
USA 5 gold 7 silver 5 bronze - 17 total
Japan 1 gold 4 silver 6 bronze - 11 total
Italy 2 gold 4 silver 2 bronze - 8 total
France 3 gold 1 silver 3 bronze - 7 total

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Day 3






The USA men's basketball team beat France 98-71. Kevin Durant had 22 points to lead Team USA.

USA men's volleyball team defeated Serbia 3-0, 25-17, 25-22 and 25-21.

In men's swimming, Americans Nick Thoman and Matt Grevers qualify for the semifinals in the 100 backstroke. Both qualify for the finals.

Allison Schmitt of the USA qualified for the women's swimming 400 free finals.

In men's swimming, in the 4 by 100 freestyle relay, the USA qualifies for the finals.

In women's synchro 3 meter diving, the USA team of Abby Johnston and Kelci Bryant win silver. Wu Minxia and He Zi of China win gold. Emilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel of Canada win bronze.

In women's gymnastics, Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas of the USA qualified for the all around. Jordyn Wieber of the USA did not qualify.

In women's swimming, the USA's Dana Vollmer wins gold in the 100 butterfly final. Lu Ying of China wins silver. Alicia Coutts of Australia wins bronze.

In men's swimming, Ryan Lochte of the USA advanced to the finals of the 200 freestyle.

Brendan Hansen wins bronze for the USA in the men's 100 breaststroke final. Cameron Van Der Bergh of South Africa wins gold. Christian Sprenger of Australia wins silver.

Allison Schmitt of the USA wins silver in the women's 400 freestyle. Camille Muffat of France wins gold. Rebecca Adlington of Great Britian wins bronze.

In the women's 100 backstroke, Missy Franklin of the USA advances to the finals.

The USA men's 4 by 100 freestyle relay team of Nathan Adrian, Cullen Jones, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte win silver. France wins gold and Russia wins bronze.

In the women's 100 breaststroke, Rebecca Soni and Breeja Larson, both of the USA, advanced to the finals.

In women's beach volleyball, the USA team of Jennifer Kessy and April Ross defeated Gallay/Zonta of Agrentina 21-11 and 21-18.

The USA men's beach volleyball team of Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser beat Asahi/Shiratori of Japan 21-15 and 21-16.

Photos credit: Getty Images, UPI and other media sources. For blog use only.

Medal Count after Day 3

China 6 gold 4 silver 2 bronze - 12 total
USA 3 gold 5 silver 3 bronze - 11 total
Italy 2 gold 3 silver 2 bronze - 7 total
S.Korea 2 gold 1 silver 2 bronze - 5 total
Japan 0 gold 2 silver 3 bronze - 5 total

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Day 2





American Taylor Phinney finshed 4th in the men's cycling road race.

In men's swimming, in the 400IM, Americans Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte advance to tonights final. Phelps finished 8th on time.

In women's swimming, in the 100 fly, both Americans Dana Vollmer and Claire Donahue advance to the semifinals and finals.

American swimmers Peter Vanderkaay and Conor Dwyer advanced to the finals of the men's 400 free.

In the women's 400IM, Americans Caitlin Leverenz and Elizabeth Beisel advance to the finals.

Americans Brendan Hansen and Eric Shanteau advance to the semifinals of the men's 100 breastroke. Brendan Hansen advanced to the finals.

The USA women's 4 by 100 relay team advanced to the finals.

In women's basketball, the USA beat Croatia 81-56. The USA lead at halftime 31-28 and outscored Croatia 28-9 in the 4th quarter.

USA women's soccer beat Columbia 3-0. Goals were scored by Megan Rapinoe, Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd.

The USA women's volleyball team beat S. Korea 3-1, 25-19, 25-17, 20-25, 25-21.

The USA men's beach volleyball team of Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal beat Chiya/Goldschmidt of South Africa 21-10 and 21-11.

In women's beach volleyball, the American team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings defeated Cook/Henchley of Australia 21-18 and 21-19.

In men's swimming, Ryan Lochte of the USA wins gold in the men's 400IM beating Michael Phelps who does not medal. Phelps finished 4th. Thiago Pereira of Brazil wins silver and Kosoke Hagino of Japan wins bronze.

American swimmer Elizabeth Beisel wins silver in the women's 400IM. Ye Shiwen of China wins gold. Li Xuanxu of China wins bronze.

In women's swimming, the USA(Missy Franklin, Jessica Hardy, Lia Neal and Allison Schmitt) win bronze in the 4 by 100 free relay. Australia wins gold and the Netherlands win silver.

In the men's 400 free, Peter Vanderkaay of the USA wins bronze. Sun Yang of China wins gold. Park Tae Hwan wins silver.

The USA men's gymnastics team qualified for the team finals on Monday evening.

Photos credit: Getty Images, UPI and other media sources. For blog use only.

Medal standings after Day 2

China 4 gold 0 silver 2 bronze - 6 total
Italy 2 gold 2 silver 1 bronze - 5 total
USA 1 gold 2 silver 2 bronze - 5 total
S.Korea 1 gold 1 silver 1 bronze - 3 total
Brazil 1 gold 1 silver 1 bronze - 3 total
Japan 0 gold 2 silver 1 bronze - 3 total

Friday, July 27, 2012

Day 1 - Opening Ceremony







The opening ceremony was created by Danny Boyle director of the academy award winning movie Slumdog Millionaire.

The title is called Celebrating the Isles of Wonder.

2012 Tour 'D France winner Bradley Wiggins opens the ceremony by ringing the bell.

The ceremony starts out in the Egrarian age with green pastures.

Children's choirs from all parts of the UK sing. Jerusalem was sung in the Olympic stadium, Londonderry Air was sung in Northern Ireland, Flower of Scotland was sung in Scotland.

Kenneth Branaugh quotes from Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Drummers usher in the movement from the Egrarian erea to the Industrial Revolution. Smoke Stacks rise from the ground then rings were forged by factory workers. The pastures become a map of London.
5 rings enter the stadium from the top as the smokestacks fade. They are the Olympic rings as they sparkle from above.

Daniel Craig(James Bond) and Queen Elizabeth fly into the stadium and parachute down.
The Union flag was walked down by the British Royal Navy, Army and Air Force and raised to the national anthem God Save the Queen.

The next segment is called Second to the Right - Straight on Till Morning.
Mike Oldfield plays to nurses getting children ready for bed.
The Dancers spell out GOSH and NHS which stands for Great Ormand St. Hospital and National Health Service.
JK Rowling reads from opening paragraph of Peter Pan.
As Children try to sleep english literature villians Captain Hook, Childcatcher, Cruella de Vil and Lord Voldemort haunt their dreams and are chased away by Mary Poppins.

Next the London Symphony Orchestra performs Chariots of Fire with Rowan Atkinson(Mr. Bean).

The next segment is Say Thanks to Tim where the Industrial Age becomes the Digital Age.
This segment describes the love story for the digital age between Frankie and June that includes texting, social media and going out. Children dance to 4 decades of british music.
Tim Bernes Lee who invented the world wide web thanks the crowd.

East London rapper Dizzee Rascal performs.
David Beckham carries the Olympic flame to the stadium on a speedboat.

Next is the parade of nations. The USA has 529 athletes, 268 women and 261 men. USA woman fencer Mariel Zagunis is the flagbearer. China has 383 athletes, Germany 398, Italy 286, France 337 Japan 305 and Great Britain 558 athletes.

Doves riding bicycles to the band the Artic Monkeys followed the parade of nations. A dove on a bike rises through the air.

Soccer star David Beckham hands the torch to Rower Steven Redgrave who passes the torch to 7 young british athletes who each get torches from their Olympic sponsors who are 7 british Olympians. Each of the 7 young athletes lights a copper leaf and then all 200 copper leaves light and then all of them rise up to form the cauldron in the center floor of the stadium.

Lastly, Paul McCartney sings Hey Jude.

Photos credit: Getty Images, UPI and other media sources. For blog use only.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Women's USA soccer -

The USA women's soccer team beat France 4-2. The USA trailed 2-0 and then scored 4 unanswered goals. Goals were scored by Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan(2) and Carli Lloyd.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

London games predictions

With just 6 days to go until the games I thought I would offer some games predictions.

The United States will win 41 gold, 29 silver and 33 bronze for a total of 103.
China will win 34 gold, 32 silver and 29 bronze for a total of 95.
Russia will win 25 gold, 27 silver and 25 bronze for a total of 77.
Great Britain will win 27 gold, 17 silver and 21 bronze for a total of 65.
Australia will win 18 gold, 15 silver and 16 bronze for a total of 49.

The USA won't win as many total medals in 2012 as they did in 2008 but they will win more gold than China.
China will not win anything close to the 51 gold they won in Beijing in 2008.
Great Britain as the host country will do really well compared to 2008. I'm predicting 18 more medals in 2012. 8 more gold than in 2008.

Michael Phelps will win 6 gold and 1 silver losing to Ryan Lochte once.
Missy Franklin will win 4 gold, 2 silver and one bronze.
Ryan Lochte will win 3 gold and 1 bronze.
Rebecca Soni will win gold in the 200 breaststroke.

The USA men's volleyball team will win silver.
The USA women's volleyball team will win gold.
Kerri Walsh and Misty May Treanor will win gold in beach volleyball for the 3rd straight Olympics.
Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers will win gold in beach volleyball for the second straight Olympics.

USA men's and women's basketball teams will both win gold.

The USA women's gymmastics team will win gold and Jordyn Wieber will win gold, Gabby Douglas will win silver in all around.
The USA men's gymnastics team will win bronze.

In Men's track and field Tyson Gay will win silver in the 100M finshing second to Usain Bolt. Bolt's time will be 9.62 and Gay's time will be 9.69.
In the men's 200m, Yohan Blake of Jamaica will beat Usain Bolt also of Jamaica. Blake's time will be 19.23, Bolt 19.28. Wallace Spearmon, Jr. will win bronze.

Carmelita Jeter will win gold in women's 100m with a time of 10.71.
In the women's 200m, Allyson Felix will beat Jamaica's Veronica Campbell Brown for gold, Sanya Richards Ross will win bronze.

Sanya Richards Ross will win gold in the women's 400m.
Lashawn Merritt will win gold in the men's 400m.
Dawn Harper will win gold, Lolo Jones bronze in the women's 100m hurdles.
Lashinda Demus will win gold in the women's 400m hurdles.
Angelo Taylor will win gold in the men's 400m hurdles.
In the men's 800m, Nick Symmonds will win silver.
Galen Rupp will win a medal in the men's 10,000m
Mo Farah of Great Britain will win gold in the men's 5000m beating out Bernard Lagat of the USA who wins silver.
In the women's 1500m, Jenny Simpson will win gold.
Ashton Eaton will win gold in the decathlon.
The USA will get to the finals and get the stick around the track in the men's 4 by 100m relay but will win silver. Jamaica wins gold.

In men's diving David Boudia and Troy Dumais will medal.
In women's diving Brittany Viola will medal.

USA women's soccer will win gold.




Friday, July 13, 2012

US Olympic outfits made in China

It is my opinion as with many in congress that the USOC made a mistake and had Ralph Lauren manufacture the US uniforms in China instead of in the USA. The USOC has been critisized for keeping BP as a sponsor as well as adding German car manufacturer BMW as a sponsor. BMW does make cars in the USA and has many employees that work in America. We need American companies sponsoring the US Olympic team! I realize with the economy today it is hard for the USOC to replace outgoing sponsors like Home Depot but we've had several years to get sponsors now. Its time for the USOC to hire Americans to make our uniforms and American companies to sponsor the US Olympic team.

Also the USOC has resolved its revenue sharing agreement with the IOC and now we can to think about bidding for future Olympics on US soil. The USOC has ruled out bidding on the 2022 winter Olympics that had Denver, Reno and Salt Lake City as possible bid cities. The USOC is now looking at bidding on the 2024 and 2026 Olympic games. Chicago, Dallas and New York City are mentioned as possible cities for the 2024 summer Olympic games and Lake Tahoe was interested in hosting the 2026 winter Olympic games.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

USA Men's and Women's Basketball teams named

Men's 2012 Olympic Basketball team:

Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets).

The 2012 USA coaching staff is led by Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has led the USA Basketball Men's National Team to gold medal finishes at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2008 Beijing Olympics. Assistant coaches include Syracuse University and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, and former NBA head coaches Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan.


Women's 2012 Olympic Basketball team:

Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), as well as 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medalists Seimone Augustus (Minneosta Lynx), Swin Cash (Chicago Sky), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky) and Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Angeles McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx) and Asjha Jones(Connecticut Sun).

USA Men's and Women's Volleyball teams named


2012 USA Men's Olyimpic Volleyball Team:

Outside Hitters: Reid Priddy, Matt Anderson, Sean Rooney, Paul Lotman

Middle Hitters: David Lee, Russell Holmes, David Smith

Opposite Hitters: Clay Stanley, David Mckienzie

Setters: Donald Suxho, Brian Thornton

Libero: Richard Lambourne

2008 Olympians Ryan Millar, Evan Petak and Riley Salmon did not make this team.



2012 USA Women's Olympic Volleyball team:

U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) has selected setters Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) and Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.) for the Olympic Games Team. Middle blockers chosen for the squad are Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.), Christa Harmotto (Hopewell Township, Pa.) and Danielle Scott-Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.). Outside hitters earning a spot on the Olympic Games nomination roster are Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.), Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) and Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah).

Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Laguna Hills, Calif.) and Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) are opposites selected to the U.S. Olympic Games Team. Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) and Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii) are liberos being nominated to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games.


2008 Olympians Stacy Sykora and Kim Glass did not make the team

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

USA Men's and Women's Gymnastics 2012 Olympic teams named

2012 Men's Olympic Team:

Jake Dalton, Reno, Nev./University of Oklahoma
Jonathan Horton, Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress)
Danell Leyva, Miami/Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics)
Sam Mikulak, Newport Coast, Calif./University of Michigan
John Orozco, the Bronx, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (U.S. Olympic Training Center)
Replacement athletes
Chris Brooks, Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress)
Steven Legendre, Port Jefferson, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (University of Oklahoma)
Alexander Naddour, Gilbert, Ariz./Team Hilton HHonors (USA Youth Fitness Center)


2012 Women’s Olympic Team:

Gabby Douglas, Virginia Beach, Va./Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute
McKayla Maroney, Long Beach, Calif./All Olympia Gymnastics Center
Aly Raisman, Needham, Mass./Brestyan's American Gymnastics
Kyla Ross, Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max Gymnastics
Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts' Twistars USA

Replacement Athletes:
Sarah Finnegan, St. Louis, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express
Anna Li, Aurora, Ill./Legacy Elite
Elizabeth Price, Coopersburg, Pa./Parkettes National Gymnastics Center


2008 Olympians Nastia Liukin and Alicia Sacramone did not make the team.
Shawn Johnson retired from Gymnastics.