Olympics viewership through the roof, HDTV / internet to thank?

by Darren Murph posted Aug 12th 2008 at 10:26AM

With Michael Phelps spending a great deal of time in front of the cameras between 8:00PM and midnight ET each night, it's hardly a shock to hear that USers are tuning into the Olympics like its 1976. According to preliminary numbers, NBC Universal is reporting that an average of 29.1 million viewers are flipping on the Olympics, which is the "most highly rated broadcast of the Summer Games held outside the United States since 1976." When seeing figures like this, the obvious question emerges: why? Contrary to the beliefs of Big Media, the internet is actually somewhat to thank. Many believed that internet broadcasting would whittle down TV ratings, when in fact, it seems that quite the opposite has happened. Interestingly, it appears that all the high-def footage really isn't getting the credit it deserves. Be honest -- would you have stayed up until 1:00AM watching men's gymnastics had it not been in HD?

Read - Olympics ratings
Read - The internet influence

Filed under: Industry, Misc, NBC, Universal-HD, Internet, Sports

Tags: internet, internet video, InternetVideo, nbc, olympics, popularity, ratings, viewers

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Highest Ranked

Dan Halen @ Aug 12th 2008 10:42AM

"...you have stayed up until 1:00AM watching men's gymnastics had it not been in HD?"

Answer: No.

Highest Ranked

andyg8180 @ Aug 12th 2008 11:00AM

touche' my friend... i would usually watch limited sports like track and field and USA BBall... But that high def is so damn awesome, it makes me want to watch everything... ESPECIALLY women's beach volleyball...

mmmm wooomen's beach voollleyball....

Neutral

vypergts @ Aug 12th 2008 10:55AM

I really like the way that DirecTV has packaged the HD channels carrying Olympic events together like they do for Sunday Ticket or any of the other sports packages. It makes it easier to find the more obscure events and the interactive onscreen display that gives medal counts is neat too. The HD definitely makes it worth watching. I just wish the cameramen would stop using so many extreme closeups. I don't need to see Michael Phelp's nose hairs...

Highest Ranked

Mike @ Aug 12th 2008 12:58PM

agreed. however, a closeup of misty may and kerri walsh's posteriors wouldn't get any complaints from this guy

Neutral

DEEZNUTZ @ Aug 12th 2008 10:57AM

I am certainly watching more Olympics events than in the past, and am enjoying them in HD.

That opening ceremony was incredible. China did their thing.

Neutral

Aaron Smith @ Aug 12th 2008 11:02AM

Agreed, if it's not in high-def I don't watch it anymore. And yes, I'm tired of the extreme close-ups, I'm not watching a flipping movie it's a sporting event. Some artsy fartsy director is running the video and it's wearing me out.

I'm also using TVTonic quite a bit by streaming through my 360, so yes the internet is helping me watch more.

Neutral

Galley @ Aug 12th 2008 11:06AM

I stayed up until 2:40 a.m. this past Saturday watching a regular season baseball game. I dunno if I'd do that for the Olympics. Perhaps if it was a baseball game. ;-)

Neutral

JM @ Aug 12th 2008 11:10AM

Definately enjoying the events in HD. I will say for events like gymnastics I just pause it & play few rounds of Mario Kart then fast forward through the commentary and constant BS they talk. Watching gymnastics last night was do-able with fast forward. You could clearly tell if they did well when you see them smile like crazy and cheer.

But the swimming events are what everyone is watching. I'll be surprised if the ratings stay up the nights that Phelps doesn't swim (if there any nights that doesn't, 18 races he doing?!)

Highest Ranked

XDragon @ Aug 12th 2008 11:21AM

If you look at the picture, the guy on the right looks like he's about to perform a fatality; I wasn't impressed by his reaction when I was watching. Seeing such a crazy mixed with utter rage reaction over a victory is not how I'd expect Americans want to be portrayed as especially on such a widely broadcasted event.

Highest Ranked

XDragon @ Aug 12th 2008 11:29AM

I've also found that some of the broadcasters' comments are very poorly chosen like "based on this performance, she's having a lazy morning".

Neutral

Prey521 @ Aug 12th 2008 11:52AM

If you understood the circumstances behind this race, then you'd know why they reacted in that manner when they won. They beat those loudmouth arrogant POST French pansy's whom guaranteed a win and said that they would CRUSH the Americans! HAHAHAHAHA!!!! They got OWNED!

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 12th 2008 12:00PM

Don't think that I’m ignorant.
I know all about the French BS but they brought themselves down to their level by reacting that way.
You're "HAHAHAHAHA!!!! They got OWNED!" comment is fine and all but a class act would never have reacted that way because the French made themselves look like fools. A real winner doesn't kick dirt on someone who's already in the dirt with mud on his face!

Neutral

amount @ Aug 12th 2008 12:02PM

That's Michael Phelps... and if you weren't impressed by his reaction, you obviously missed the relay that lead up to that celebration. Incredible.

Neutral

Prey521 @ Aug 12th 2008 12:31PM

It's obvious to me that you're not into sports or a competitive person, which is fine, nothing wrong with that. But there was absolutely nothing wrong with the way in which they reacted. These guys train for years for these events and they were the underdog going into the race. They won the race and made those French morons look like fools in WORLD RECORD TIME! They didn't stoop to any level...they showed heart and emotion, nothing wrong with that at all.

Neutral

xemumanic @ Aug 12th 2008 12:35PM

XDragon, its not showboating or anything. Phelps roared like that in the 2004 games. It's also got nothing to do with what the French said, although that made it all the sweeter. It was a close race, the most exciting race of all time. AND, it wasn't Phelps who was most responsible for the win.

There's also the commentators. They didn't belittle anyone. All they did was report what the French had said. That's what they always do.

Frankly, even without the French comment, the reaction from the American team would have been the same after such a race. You don't think the French would have done the same if they had won in the same fashion after the Americans had said that about them? Hell, you could put the comment aside and they would have done the same thing.

All in all, the French talked smack at the worst venue. Of all the competitive events not to say such things, its the Olympic games. It's just bad form and bad sportsmanship. If anyone is a disappointment, its the French.

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 12th 2008 1:23PM

We're all allowed to have an opinion but don't say I don't like sports or I’m not competitive. I just have more class then to bring myself down to their level.

Ya, they weren't favored and the French asked for it but being excited about a win and his little bout are not the same. There's pride and then there's arrogance regardless of the "why factor". Italy can beat some no name country 30 - 0 in soccer but they cut themselves off at 4 or 5. Why? Its classy sportsmanship. Even if provoked, you look that much better by not sticking in their face because the loss is degrading and embarrassing enough even though they deserved to lose.

Even when the Japanese guy bet his American rival, the American swimmer went over to congratulate him. That's class, screaming like a viking while flexing is just pathetic and belongs in the WWE not the Olympics.

Neutral

DEEZNUTZ @ Aug 12th 2008 1:54PM

XDragon,

You're a bit touchy. You simply want to cookie cut what an athletes response should be to a victory they earned? It's emotion, and as humans, we all react differently to it.
Your comparison to Italy going easy on another team is a fail. That was likely a team decision, and yes, it's classy. But had Italy and Brazil played, with a tie score of 2-2 and at the last possible second, Italy scores a goal, you could bet you would see a reaction... screaming, yelling, backflips, taking their jerseys off... emotion.
It happens in all sports, in all countries, so don't try to make this political.
Go USA. Eff the French.

Neutral

FreeRange @ Aug 12th 2008 1:58PM

Funny things happen when you mix adrenaline and testosterone. Couple that with 4 years of hard work culminating in a mad dash finish and, well, you are allowed to celebrate.

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 12th 2008 2:04PM

You're right DEEZNUTZ, the difference is due to all the bad blood before the event caused by the French in comparison to a professional rivalry. You also see them hugging, shaking hands and exchanging jerseys after the game so its not quite the same.

Look, I'm not telling people how to react but what I am saying is when you represent a nation of people on a widely broadcasted and viewed event, thats the best time to show your class by being the bigger person even if you did nothing to contribute to the issue.

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 12th 2008 2:19PM

Let me put things in a different perspective.

In North America, too many kids control their parents, they are rude to everyone and do what they want to do. The reason for this is due to the parents either not thinking its a big deal or that they don't have the time to be a better parent.
Europeans and Asians are not free from this but its is unacceptable but culture and the kid gets his beats until he behaves in line with the parents values.
The point is, just because its ok for you does not mean its ok for everyone and that’s why when you have a global audience, you should think before you react.
Family Guy is banned in so many countries due to its content. I love the show but I'm smart enough to not let a child watch it because it changes their perception of what's acceptable.
Some countries are so extreme that they kill for religion even in this day and age while others treat women as a lower class then men and this is allowed by law.
I'm not saying I agree or that those are good things, I'm just trying to show you how different the world is depending on where you look.
I never saw a topless woman on TV until after midnight, now I can see porn on standard cable at noon!?
I know I've deviated but it is indirectly related. The more we say, "That's not a big deal" the worse things get including crime and intolerance.
If we all just thought about our actions before we decided to perform them, I think we'd make better decisions and everyone would be better off.

Highly Ranked

FreeRange @ Aug 12th 2008 2:33PM

Here's the catch: No country has competitors in the Olympics who just stand there after they've won the gold. They all cheer in their own way.

You use phrases like, "..since Bush came to power," and you make sweeping generalizations like, "In North America, too many kids control their parents."

I'm sorry that you don't understand how elections work and you have to sit next to loud kids at Denny's, but, at the Olympics, we cheer when someone does something extraordinary. If you think the French wouldn't have cheered just as loudly, you are delusional. And it's not arrogance when you are really are the best in the world.

Neutral

James @ Aug 12th 2008 5:23PM

When you're in a team event in the Olympics and you can react in a manner displaying more "class," then you can give advice on the proper way others should display their emotions in a similar situation. Until that point, your comments are irrelevant as you have no basis for comparison. Phelps didn't taunt anyone, he reacted to having crushed not only the WR but also the opponents who stated in no uncertain terms, that they would be doing the crushing. If you think that an extravagant reaction to winning a hugely competitive event is a reason for distaste toward Americans, you're missing the point. Ironically, your attempt to judge how one can celebrate an achievement smacks of the justification for talking down about the USA, stop trying to tell other people how to think and feel.

Neutral

Spider1981 @ Aug 12th 2008 5:31PM

Good Lord. Never have I seen someone so up in arms about the way someone else is celebrating a personal/team/national/world victory.
Let the man celebrate how he wants, or else go do the same thing yourself, and when you win, climb out of the water and stand there looking indifferent to show them how you think it should be done.

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 13th 2008 11:24AM

Talk about over simplifying.
Nothing about connecting Bush and Phelps other then if you have a negative view of the US and or Bush, Phelps exadurated, I want to be on the front page show just fuels the fire for those people.
I never said he shouldn't celebrate so let me point you to another post to bring you back to reality:

---------------

Michael Pappas @ Aug 12th 2008 3:48PM
XDragon: Very aware you are.

Bare in mind I am not faulting or putting down Phelps and his teammates. I don't know them.

But this is how I felt in the moments watching the win:
Reaction was not in proportion with the victory at hand. My gladness was soured a bit as I watched them scream and pose and scramble to get close to Phelps as he knew all cameras would be on him. Yeah, posing for the next front page spread is what I felt Phelps was truly caught up in and not the victory. Not genuine.

------------

Maybe I'm a bit more passionate about my point then Michael Pappas but the root message is basically the same.

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 13th 2008 7:13PM

Its all good; thanks for your time as well.

Neutral

Patrick @ Aug 12th 2008 11:46AM

Watching the opening ceremonies on my 42" plasma was utterly mesmerizing. I almost feel sorry for the people who only saw it on SD or online.

@ XDragon...I think you're overreacting.

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 12th 2008 11:56AM

On my 2 points:
1. The world hasn't look at Americans in a good light since Bush came to power so I don't think over showboating helps.
2. The athletes train for God knows how long and they put everything they have into the performances that count. Belittling them can be done by any monkey but it shouldn't be done by the commentators during the live broadcast.
Maybe I am over reacting but I've come to expect more from people and I'm very disappointed by what I see.

Neutral

Prey521 @ Aug 12th 2008 12:33PM

He's definitely overreacting. Oh Boohoo, the world hates Bush, they hate the US! Do you actually think that Phelps reaction makes the US look bad? Gimme a break dude.

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 12th 2008 1:25PM

"Do you actually think that Phelps reaction makes the US look bad? Gimme a break dude."

It's that exact ignorance thats the problem.

Neutral

hexoDAT64 @ Aug 12th 2008 5:02PM

@XDragon

Ok so why do you need to bring your Anti-Bush and Anti-American views here? These guys were simply excited that they had one, as they got a new world record and were not the favored to win. If you can tell me you've never been really excited about something then your life must be pretty boring. And I don't buy that they were being douche's and weren't classy. If you had watched any of the feed after that you could see that they were infact shaking hands and being very professional. Just allow them to be human and be excited

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 13th 2008 8:39AM

Lets get something clear, I'm not anti-American but right now, a lot of the world is. Don't put words in my mouth to try to make your point sound more profound. I think a lot of people agree with me as my original post is ranked highest and everyone at my work was talking about it negatively too. You're entitled to your opinion and the bottom line is, my suggestions are not telling people HOW TO celebrate but more of how NOT to celebrate.

Neutral

FreeRange @ Aug 13th 2008 9:41AM

Now I don't want to be putting words in your mouth, but have you basically decided that in the eyes of the world Michael Phelps has become the poster boy for poor sportsmanship? Because, his team won? And then celebrated?

Your highest ranked comments (and don't celebrate them too loudly, btw, as the rest of the world is watching and we wouldn't want them to think we're proud of ourselves) were probably ranked so highly because of the humorous nature of suggesting that he looks like he's about to perform a fatality. Video game references count for a lot with this crowd. That's what I found valuable about it, anyway. It's like rating a stupid picture with a great caption as funny. Heck, your next comment was about how the broadcasters' comments strike you as poorly chosen and you include yet another humorous example.

Do I find THOSE observations of yours as worthy of a high ranking? Yes, quite funny, thank you. Do I find your comment about how American athletes who have just won gold medals in the single greatest sporting venue in the world should show some restraint because America, on the global stage, isn't the most popular country to be ridiculous? Yeah, I do. I'm sorry. You are literally saying that the actions of President Bush now require Michael Phelps to take a chill pill. Let's disregard his life of training and every bit of sacrifice he's ever made and tell him that a lot has changed since the last time he won Olympic gold. Whereas he used to be able to cheer, now he needs to show the rest of the world that when we win gold, when we beat the best athletes from every other country, we must walk out of the water, bob our heads around with a wry little smile and give a little wave because the world hates us.

When China won their gold, I'm sure every one of those athletes thought, "If not for those human rights violations I could really enjoy this. What a shame."

If you really think people the world over are connecting George Bush and Michael Phelps in their minds, you seriously are mistaken. At best they connecting Michael Phelps and Mark Spitzer.

Come back when Phelps punches a child while collecting a medal or when he pees in the pool just because he knows the other swimmers are still behind him. Until then, let the man have his moment.

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 13th 2008 11:27AM

Neutral

FreeRange @ Aug 13th 2008 12:17PM

Okay, first, I got his name wrong. It's Mark Spitz and not Spitzer. I did a search to make sure I got it right and, lo and behold, others had also gotten it wrong so I was going off of people who got it wrong.

Second, you clearly haven't made a single argument so for you to say that I'm over-simplifying is hilarious! You say the world hates the US and I'm the one over-simplifying?

Tell you what, give me a single example from a legitimate source of how anyone else in the world (political blog, cnn article, sports freakin' illustrated) hates the US and how our athelese are showboating and need to be good sports and I'll concede that your point is valid.

After you're done looking, consider this, Michael Phelps is now being considered among the greatest athletes in the world (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/writers/brian_cazeneuve/08/13/phelps/index.html?eref=T1), Bush is being looked to with hope in the Russia-Georgia conflict (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/13/us.russia.diplomacy/index.html) and Michael Pappas point is that he's posing for the cameras and NOT that he's "kick[ing] dirt on someone who's already in the dirt with mud on his face!" Your words. He celebrated his victory, you insulted the people he defeated.

Come back at me when you have a valid point but until then, recognize that you are typing nonsense. Oh, and at one point you talk about how two swimmers, after a race, embraced. You called that "classy sportsmanship." Consider that they were exhausted and Mr. Phelps, in that picture, had been out of the water already for some time and a bit more rested. Watch how he acted at the end of the race that won him his 11th gold medal today and you'll see he's much more subdued. He doesn't cheer, he doesn't flip off the world, he just removes his cap and goggles and catches his breath.

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 13th 2008 2:37PM

Again over simplifying and putting words in my mouth.
I never said the "world hates".
The whole point of camera posing is your actions represtent the colors you wear.
If you can't even understand my point never mind agree to disagree on then you're just wasting my time.
I'm ok with you thinking it wasn't a big deal but I don't agree with you and as I've said, that's all I'm hearing about when I talk to friends, family and co-workers so its not just me.
If you want to keep this up, then go ahead and keep responding but you're not getting anywhere.

Neutral

FreeRange @ Aug 13th 2008 3:35PM

Oops, now I find myself a victim of the posting system as well..

------------------------------------------------------------------

I just wish you'd make a point instead of jumping all over the map. I'm sorry I put the words "world hates" in your mouth but I thought your exact wording was poor: "The world hasn't look at Americans in a good light since Bush came to power so I don't think over showboating helps." Or "I'm not anti-American but right now, a lot of the world is." Please, tell me what you are trying to say there. I'll happily use your own language.

You know what, let's try something different; you tell me your point in clear language and I'll tell you if I agree or disagree. I'm a fair man; I could agree with you if I knew what you were trying to say. I'm willing to believe you have friends, family and co-workers who agree with you on this. If I were to hear what you said to them, I might agree as well. So, please, concisely summarize your point so that I might FINALLY judge it without having to put words in your mouth in an attempt to find something coherent to respond to.

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 13th 2008 4:38PM

Bottom Line:
People saw his explosive reaction and felt that it went beyond what is considered appropriate even when keeping in mind the controversy.

That lead to comments similar to:
--------------
no wonder people think Americans are arrogant

all he wants to do is make sure he gets all over the front pages of the papers

Bush makes us look ignorant and self absorbed enough as it is and now everyone will see this showboating at the Olympics and think we're all a bunch of fools

that over-reaction made me feel embarrassed

------------

Those are not my words but those and other similar comments were widely expressed where as some other people said stuff like "who cares, the French had is coming so they shoved it in their faces". I'm personally not the type of person who would make the extra effort to stick it in their face even with the controversy because the win does that on its own and by not doing so, it shows you're the classier, bigger and better person but that doesn't mean I wouldn't celebrate and be visibly happy, excited, proud and confident while I’m jumping around.
The point is, it looked like he made an effort to make a spectacle of himself because of the win, directly at the cameras. What ever the reasons for choosing to do so, he's still a representative of his nation and some people felt it misrepresented them or maybe I should say, they felt like other viewers would think all Americans behave like this when something good happens.

My personal stance is I felt it was beyond which I’d consider a sportsman like reaction even more so because of the French’s comments because it felt like he lowered himself to their level.

Neutral

FreeRange @ Aug 13th 2008 5:00PM

Fair enough.

I'm not sure his posturing was aimed at the French but I'm not sure it wasn't either. I just read it as, "We did it and it was astounding and I'm incredibly proud of that."

We got off track, you and I, in discussing the way the world might perceive the US but if that, right there, is your stance, I will not disagree with your views because they display merit.

Now, I have not heard any other person comment on Mr. Phelps reaction but that, of course, does not mean it's not the talk of water coolers the world over.

Now, if we really want to discuss athletes who will say and do things that might enrage the world, we should probably look to men's basketball. I figure it's only a matter of time before some of them doing something insensitive: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/08/13/spain.photo.ap/index.html

XDragon, thank you for your time.

Neutral

lorennerol @ Aug 12th 2008 11:52AM

I'm watching more because NBC finally (mostly) got the message that 25 minutes of fluff run-up to five minutes of action that CBC had already shown *live* the day before wasn't what I wanted to watch. This time NBC is showing more complete coverage of the actual events and has cut way back (thankfully) on the fluff.

Still, CBC is carrying much more live than NBC- most of the swimming events had been over for hours on Monday night (and I'd watched on CBC in SD) before NBC got around to showing them. To add a bit of insult, NBC still left the silly 'Live' tag on the screen even though the feed clearly wasn't.

NBC would get more of my viewing time if they:
- Showed the events live. PLEASE. Rerun them in prime time if you want, but don't get scooped by CBC who has maybe 1/10 your budget.
- Showed a more rounded lineup on UniversalHD. The last few days has been almost exclusively boxing.
- Let CNBC(?) HD run more. Currently it's only on when the main NBC feed is off.
- Even less fluff. Seriously, NBC, I'm *not* watching for human interest stories. Show me LIVE sports action, not Bob Costas interviewing Bush about geopolitics. I'll take handball over an interview every time.

Neutral

David Hildreth @ Aug 12th 2008 12:06PM

Well, I'm on the west coast so it wasn't that late for me... but my answer is probably not.

Neutral

Leonardo DiCrapio @ Aug 12th 2008 2:15PM

I thought NBC was airing their Primetime programming on the West Coast on a 3-hour tape delay. I'm not sure what their motivation was for this except to piss people off.

Neutral

Leonardo DiCrapio @ Aug 12th 2008 2:30PM

Actually that's not true -- I probably do know what their motivation is for showing the Olympics tape-delayed on the West Coast. NBC probably doesn't want to pre-empt their affiliate's local 5PM news.

Neutral

why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 12th 2008 1:14PM

HDTV does a lot for me, Olympics-wise. They still have periodic audio/or video screw ups though. I guess on-site HDTV production isn't quite perfected yet.

I do appreciate that NBC is only doing roughly one big puff piece per evening (which I zap through). Most of their filler is because they are airing events live (like swimming) and are waiting for the next event to begin. Sometimes they even squeeze another event in off tape, which is great work.

I'm disappointed so far with the alternate channels. I have watched rowing (a lot of rowing), but all in all, shouldn't there be more than 2 channels of events plus soccer going on at any given time?

Ugh boxing.

Neutral

Tom @ Aug 12th 2008 2:26PM

I'm likely in the minority given the subject matter of this blog, but I'm watching more Olympics than I've ever done in my life because of the breath of events that the online streams covers (at a reasonable 480p), not at all because of HD. Almost every sport not being televised is covered online and live to boot, which is amazing.

The "Olympics to Go" through TVTonic is a total failure though. The only content I see on there is the same exact program we see on TV, except it's 1-2 days later than airing. I have no use for that when I can record them myself.

Neutral

Vic @ Aug 12th 2008 2:26PM

Didn't stay up late watching gymnastics, but I did see the Americans surprise the French in swimming (BTW, I have no problem with Phelps' reaction but my fiance did comment that he needs to pull his suit up a little bit - I agree).

I'm definitely watching more of the games than in the past, thanks to NBC & Time Warner gifting us with USAHD, UniversalHD, and dedicated soccer and basketball HD channels.

My only gripe with the soccer and basketball channels is the functionality of the program guide...This morning, basketball games started at 2:30AM with the US playing at 8AM, but the episode was listed as 2:30AM - 9AM and then another episode from 9AM - 2PM I believe. No way to program a manual recording from 8 to 10:30AM (although I know this was possible with the old Passport software TW used) so I can watch the US game later tonight. Instead, I had to set it to record both programs which can quickly fill up the DVR. Luckily, not too much content currently on the hard drive, but this is still a real pain IMO.

Anyone who knows how to setup a manual recording on the SA8300HDC with Navigator software, please let us know. Thanks.

Neutral

jkluzi @ Aug 12th 2008 2:35PM

I would be excited about Olympics in HD, except my local NBC affiliate overcompresses its signal like none other (doesn't matter if it's cable or OTA). I THINK there was a water polo match on this past weekend, but I can't say for sure because all that I saw was a bunch of light blue blobs. I'd love for them to drop all of the subchannels, but at the very least they could nix that useless weatherplus channel.
On a brighter note, olympics on USA in HD look great for me, when they're actually showing olympics on USA.

Neutral

mcrexx @ Aug 12th 2008 3:08PM

If the Olympics weren't in HD, odds are I wouldn't be watching them as much as I am.

Neutral

Miggity @ Aug 12th 2008 3:34PM

Too bad Men's Synchronized Diving was hands down the gayest thing I've seen in the Olympics this year. A bunch of waxed down sexually confused teenagers. I bet he "dirty old man" demographics were off the chart for that hour. Luckily they followed it up with Women's Beach Volleyball just to "un-queer" all the viewers.

Neutral

Michael Pappas @ Aug 12th 2008 3:48PM

XDragon: Very aware you are.

Bare in mind I am not faulting or putting down Phelps and his teammates. I don't know them.

But this is how I felt in the moments watching the win:
Reaction was not in proportion with the victory at hand. My gladness was soured a bit as I watched them scream and pose and scramble to get close to Phelps as he knew all cameras would be on him. Yeah, posing for the next front page spread is what I felt Phelps was truly caught up in and not the victory. Not genuine.

Neutral

XDragon @ Aug 13th 2008 8:45AM

Thanks. I may be more forceful with how I've worded things but you've said it in a way that you won't have people attacking your view.

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