The Fever Gets Worse
Photo: AP
You know how when you’re sick it tends to get better after a few days? Not for me. Nope, my nasty case of Olympic fever continues to get worse and worse by the day. I thought that with the conclusion of Michael Phelpsapalooza that I might return to normal. Instead I continue to get all T-Birdy watching amazing feats of athleticism and sportsmanship.
The gymnastics that I loath so much even sucked me in. Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, and Alicia Sacramone brought the fever to it’s peak the past coupla days. At least the end end is near, so I thought. Then Usain Bolt has to go and set world records in the 100 and 200 meters without breaking a sweat. Now even track and field has broken through my sports immune system. This had to be the crest of the Olympic fever wave for me hopefully. I couldn’t possibly get more emotional watching sports that I normally don’t care about. Again, I was wrong.
Today the fever struck twice in the form of two huge upsets. SPOILER ALERT: COME BACK TOMORROW AND FINISH READING IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED WATCHING NBC TONIGHT
In what was supposed to be the golden sendoff for their sport instead turned into a bittersweet finale for USA softball: (AP)
With silver medals swinging from their necks, their eyes filled with tears, five members of the U.S. Olympic softball team walked to home plate and placed their cleats in the dirt.
Their games were over, and so were their international playing careers.
With that they said goodbye to softball, the sport they played better than anyone else save for one game.
Losing for the first time since 2000, the Americans were denied a chance for a fourth straight gold medal Thursday, beaten 3-1 by Japan in softball’s last appearance in the Olympics for at least eight years. Maybe forever.
With local hero Abby Wambach out with injury for these games we’re not hearing as much about her sport. But her teammates marched on and gave a little payback to a rival in women’s soccer: (AP)
Outplayed and overwhelmed for most of the night, the Americans got the only shot they needed.
Olympic champions, once again.
Carli Lloyd scored in the sixth minute of extra time Thursday night, (hot) Hope Solo bailed out her teammates time and again, and the United States beat Brazil 1-0 to win the gold medal in women’s soccer for a third time in four Olympics.
The victory was a bit of redemption for the Americans, who went to the World Cup as favorites last fall only to be humbled 4-0 in the semifinals by Brazil.
Someone hide the remote. I can’t take this any more. Hurry up before that Visa commercial comes on again.