Bravo, Gary!

Those guys were just all so happy to be there at the Olympics, and they supported each other. Artemov's final pommel horse routine was amazing--and pommel horse isn't usually the apparatus that makes you say, "WOW!" These guys rocked!

Kamiya's writing was just like the NBC commentator's announcing: drama, drama, drama, and only three competing teams. There had to be a compelling, heart-breaking story to this to keep viewers tuned in.

What about the German, South Korean, Romanian, and Russian male gymnasts? Did anybody see much of them on the floor during the team finals? They must have recorded some 16+-point totals, but why didn't we see them? Because the story was only China and the United States (the Japanese were simply an afterthought). And Kamiya can only report what he saw on his NBC-produced television screen.

That's not the Olympics. It's a made-for-TV movie.

What it boils down to is: After a few ups and downs, the Chinese, Japanese and Americans all finished exactly where everyone expected them to finish.

I didn't think this was a great competition really. Didn't grab me as have some in the past.

Actually, the Americans WEREN'T expected to finish third. Not after the team lost the person who was supposed to be its top star, Paul Hamm, to injury. The stories about the pressures these teams faced and the obstacles that were overcome were not made up...they represent real achievements and should be acknowledged as such.

Thanks, Gary. I have been in a good mood all day after watching the joy and the enthusiasm of the American team last night. Yes, the Chinese performed brilliantly, and, as much as I love to see us Americans win, I always think it's cool when the host country gets some glory. But it was the sheer enthusiasm of the US team and their unabashed expression of that enthusiasm (in contrast to the reigned in emotions of the other teams) that made me glad I had stayed up way past bedtime to see it all play out. Jonathan Horton is as great an example of the Olympic spirit (and dare I say it, the American spirit) as I've seen in a long while.

You can only call 1 time out to ice a kicker. Otherwise, it's a 15-yard unsportsman-like-conduct penalty. Didn't you watch Joe Gibbs make this mistake against Buffalo last December?

Even though I didn't think this was such a great competition, I still stayed up way too late watching it, and I have to echo everyone who thinks the American kids displayed a lot of heart and (outdated concept coming up) class.

Well, twain, yeah, i had overindulged a bit on kamiya's treacle (that's not to deny my shedding a tear of two). but i think that was understandable given my interest in gymnastics dating way back - w-a-a-ay back - into the century past. if you had more than a casual interest in the sport, you would know why the three principal teams hold the most interest. the reason many other teams get excluded has much to do with the fact that we were for decades fed a steady diet of russkies, romanians et al, with nary a "murrican" to be spotted. well, maybe our guys got some coverage for all the times they fell off the apparatuses, er, apparati (spell check says "apparatuses"). you probably have no recollection that kathy riggs, one of our female athletes of long ago, got reams of press and was touted high and wide to be our best hope for a medal since the '96 games (that's 1896, of course). kathy did get famous for missing virtually all of her routines (i spose that is infamy. she nonetheless emerged unscathed with a contract to star in a road version of "peter pan" for something like sixty years. i think the fate of our subsequent successful athletes dating from the "80's have had more distinguished retirements.) and for all the time our women and men toiled in the gymnastic wilderness, the closest we came to a podium was the dais or platform at some dinner or event which was held to commemerate the national meets, or to raise money for the sport. furthermore, given the fact that there are so many other olympic sports to cover and so little time (there are only like twelve channels broadcasting 24 hours in day, after all) . . . . i think we can all agree that there is only so much time that nbc can devote to airing single sport from beijing, you should excuse the expression. as for gary's article, i would have really liked our men to achieve gold in team. certainly, with a healthy paul hamm there might have been more likelihood for silver; but gold, no way. and in that company, china and japan foremost, a bronze looks looks mighty . . . well, mighty. it is true, we didn't get to see the other teams, but once you have seen the best gymnast in the world miss a routine, or fuck up a skill, who needs to see the 20th best from france (of all places!) in the world miss a trick. and lest i forget, i'd like to give a huge shout-out to tivo; because without the ability to jump ahead, watching the games would be unbearable. and who can afford to buy anything, no disrespect to nbc and their sponsors. one more thing. kudos to all the american olympians. what class! no talking smack or acting like overindulged and overgrown children. oh yeah, we reserve that crap for pro ball athletes.

[I meant to post this yesterday, but it still is relevant.]

Some Americans know what Schmaltz is. It is chicken fat, and metaphorically, it means, "verbal cliche sentimental comfort food for the mind."

However, almost zero Americans know what Treacle is. Treacle is Syrup, the sweet viscous stuff you pour onto your pancakes. Metaphorically, it means about the same as Schmaltz.

Salon writers, be careful. Yesterday, one of you wrote Treacle several times. Do not do that. It is an English word. It reads snotty. Schmaltz probably is okay, but bear in mind that most Americans only understand its metaphorical sense.

Stick with the meat, please. Yum, yum.