Wait..What?

If your like me, you've been watching some very strange looking sports these last few weeks.  And hey it has been great, but that doesn't mean I don't find myself confused more often than not.  I mean even in sports I recognized before hand I constantly found myself asking questions about why things are the way they are.  So I decided to "ask the dumb question" for the rest of you and spent mad hours looking up the answers.  Ok, Ok.  I googled them.  But hey, at least I took the time to figure it out so you wouldn't have to.

1) Why do divers go in the hot tub after every event?
To keep their muscles warm and loose...kind of the diver equivalent of warm ups. 
2) Why does a single player where a different color in volleyball?

These players are designated as "libero" players, and play a new special defensive position within the sport. These players are usually some of the strongest defenders on their team and have some different rules than other positions.They are allowed to fill any position in the back row of the court, and may replace any player in the back row without counting against a team's substitution count. The libero can only be replaced by the player they replaced, and may replace another player after sitting out one volley. The libero is allowed to enter court to make her replacement any time the ball is out of play, or at the beginning of the game.

3) Why do they wear such extreme makeup in synchronized swimming?

Still not completely sure, but it's definitely for "beauty".  Some crazy facts I found out:  The chlorine does a number on their hair.  Often, strands of hair fall out completely from the damage and because of that, many of them have to draw on their eyebrows with makeup. To keep their hair in place during their routines, they actually comb unflavored jello into their hair and twist it into a tight bun. When the jello mixes with the water, it becomes a paste and can only be removed with a hot shower. They also sport a full face of make up during competitions, which includes waterproof mascara and a lot of eye shadow. How does all that stay on in the pool? They use Chapstick as an eye primer!

4)What does Kinesiology Tape actually do?  
It's supposed to relieve muscle pain, promote the healing process and prevent injuries. It is also used to increase blood flow to muscles and joints, to soothe overworked muscles and to strengthen weak or fatigued muscles.  Hmm...sure...kinda seems like that magic spray the soccer players use right? 
5) Why do track athletes wear sunglasses at night?

Turns out it's not only about looking cool (though lets be honest, it definitely is a huge side benefit for them).  The glare caused by the thousands of cameras and the artificial lights are enough to throw off some track stars.  So they keep the sunglasses on to not be distracted.  

 

Diary of A Nervous Soccer Fan

In an attempt to distract myself from my nerves in the USA womens soccer semifinal game, I have given myself a project.  Letting people see exactly what I am thinking when watching the game.  Let's see where this takes us.

Pregame: Canada coach calls out American side for being too rough.  Really?  Doesn't it always seem like the underdogs coach always says something stupid.  It's like come on.  We're sorry you are from Canada, land of hockey where soccer doesn't matter, but shut your trap.  Our response. Scoreboard...22-0-4 against Canada since 2001...Domination.

Minute 1: Thank God we aren't in our horrendous "Where's Waldo" Red and white stripped uniforms. Generally Nike can do no wrong...but this time?  Nike you did bad.

Minute 22:  Sinclair Scores...On Canada's first real chance at the goal. Don't you hate how that happens?  Your team is dominating, but somehow the other team scores first. Suddenly, we are down.  And I am panicking.  Cracking open my first beer now..this situation requires alcohol

Minute 26: Wow...Hope Solo with an insane save.  Saving USA's gold medal chances, as going down by two goals really wouldn't have been good.  And the beer is half gone...so nervous

Minute 26: I love Megan Rapinoe. She's basically me...you know, as Greg says, if I was blond, fast and a lesbian.  

Minute 30: AWWWW!! Morgan header just past the post.  American Chances: A Billion.  Canada Chances: 1.  Score, 1 to 0 in Canada's favor.  Sometimes I really do get the American aversion to soccer.

Minute 37: Abby just misses a diving header.  I just can't believe that both Marta (Brazil already eliminated) and Abby (broken leg for last Olympic run) might not get gold medals.  The two best players of this generation not golden?  Just something sad about that.

Minute 41: Is there anything worse than a horrible free kick or corner kick?  Is just like you can put it anywhere...except right at the goalie.  So what do we do?  Nicely pass it to the Canadian goalie.  And the first beer is gone...

Minute 43:  I should have listened to Greg before the game.  I was already thinking about the Finals and telling people how I might have a nervous breakdown during that game.  Greg's reaction?  "Remember Japan Megan".  To my chagrin, I brushed him off.  No way could we fail again as we did last year against Japan in the World Cup...as half time approaches with us still down I can't believe he might be right.  PLEASE USA! Don't reduce me to multiple tequila shots to console myself again!

Halftime:  I root for the US in all Olympic sports, obviously.  But what matters to me most is Women's Soccer.  I just can't believe we might not actually get to the finals where we can get our revenge on the Japanese squad over last years heartbreaking loss. 

The worst part? We should at least be tied! I mean I know you aren't going to put every opportunity away, but we've dominated in chances, coroners, and free kicks.  There's no way with we aren't going to do this...right?  For my sanity/sobriety I hope we pull it out...cross your fingers!

Minute 45: Old Trafford...I have supported Man U faithfully since I began watching the EPL.  So lend your ghosts to the aid of the USA squad and help us pull it out!  Let the 2nd half begin...

Minute 47:  Morgan completely dominated the Canadian defender and like all defenders do when beaten, she fouled Morgan.  Unfortunately, it just missed a PK.  Instead we have a free kick which comes to nothing.  But if Morgan can keep doing that, eventually she will cause enough trouble to get us a goal.  Calling it. 

Minute 48: I get it.  Canada doesn't ever beat us.  If you repeat the same stat (that Canada hasn't had a lead on us since 2003) I will  be forced to mute the commentary.  Don't make me touch that remote Brandy!

Minute 54: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! THANK YOU GOD!  Megan, my twin, curves in a corner for the tying score!  Bend it like Rapinoe! I definitely hurt my ankle celebrating, but so worth it.  And the beer drinking can slow...thank god, as I was on 3rd.

Minute 56: It's like the announcer is trying to give me a heart attack.  "The US has never failed to advance to the gold medal match."  Knock on wood! Jeez...doesn't he realize I'm nervous enough as it is?  I can't worry about countering out his jinx as well as supporting the team!

Minute 60:  First Yellow card of the match.  All it took was a Canadian mugging Wambach to produce it...wait hasn't that happened multiple times this game?  Maybe the ref just didn't see the 10 other take downs?  I'll give her the benefit of the doubt...this time.

Minute 67: Again...one shot for Canada all half.  And the shot goes in.  I can't believe they have put in both of their chances!  AWWWW!  And its time for shots...screw the beer

MInute 69: Not only is the US down...Sinclair has now caught up to Wambach for 2nd most goals all time internationally.  Abby, your turn.

MINUTE 70: MY TWIN STRIKES AGAIN!!!!!!! I LOVE MEGAN!!!! AWWWW!  I can't handle this game...literally I am pacing my apartment.  I look like a cr

Mazy person.

Minute 72: Sinclair with a hat trick...this game is going to kill me.  I can't believe our defender on the corner moved off the post...and of course just misses blocking the ball from going in.  She's no Christine Lilly.

Minute 75: First Sub of the game.  Moving to a more offensive formation for the US.  Good call.

Minute 77:  I'm not sure I've ever seen this.  A free kick within the penalty box..but it's not a penalty kick.  AND MY TWIN STRIKES AGAIN! Hits the Canadian's hands!!!! So hand ball and now we get a traditional penalty kick!

Minute 78:  ABBY!!! Calmly takes care of business and ties this up.  OMG...this might be the best game of soccer I have ever seen.  Other than the fact that I am so stressed out I can barely contain myself...and the fact my amazing TV is in danger of having a remote control thrown through it if we don't pull it out. 

Minute 81: Um how was that not a penalty kick?  The girl completely swiped Morgan in the penalty box...I guess a make up call as realistically, the hand ball that led to our goal wasn't a hand ball. 

Minute 82:  To date -- 4 beers, 2 shots.  I might be passed out before this game is completed

Minute 84: SOOOO CLOSE!  God...Morgan beautiful ball across to Abby, but Abby just can't get it on frame. And the madness continues

Minute 88: Hope Solo to the rescue! One on one, Solo stops a shot that would have won the game for Canada.  She might not have had anything to do in any of our other games, but Solo has proven her worth with a couple of insane saves this game.

Minute 90: Time added on.  Corner kick for the US.  Final play in regulation.  Can we do it?  Megan kids it...and...Abby heads it over the bar. End of regular time.  O...My...God.  Extra time.

Overtime:  All I can think?  Please let this not end in PK's, Please let this not end in PK's...

Minute 92: Game has gotten tighter.  Not as free flowing as before hand...but that's to be expected.  Everyone knows what this means.  I mean if I'm feeling this freaked out, don't know how they are feeling.  Please don't let this go to PK's, please don't let this go to PK's...

Minute 93: Beautiful ball from about midfield to Morgan...poor attempt at a finish, but great run.  First real chance of OT.

Minute 98: Sydney, super sub, JUST misses a goal.  Ball flies over post, but amazing movement within the box.  We are threatening...I can feel it. Definitely look the much more composed squad of the two...

Minute 100: AWW! Abby, as she does, wins the ball in the air in the box and guides the ball to the side of the net.  Great save by the goalie though keeps the game tied.

Minute 100: USA subs on its own corner.  Heather O'Reilly in for Cheney.  Makes sense as though Cheney has been solid, hasn't really threatened on the offensive side of the game.  O'Reilly should add another dynamic, fast attacker and keep the pressure on Canada. 

Minute 102:  Wow...scary moment.  Canadian player fouled INCHES outside the Penalty Box.  First chance for Canada.  Luckily free kick misses everyone and harmlessly rolls out of bounce. 

Minute 104: Canada pushing.  Corner kick.  They've finally sunk their teeth into the OT...going to be a tight finish to the game as neither team is going to go down easy.

Minute 105: End of first period of OT.  O God.  PLEASE NO PENALTY KICKS!!!  I mean there is not a worse way to end a great game, which this has for sure been, than penalties. 

Minute 106:  Buehler, our center back, goes down.  Canada with numbers up kicks the ball out of bounce.  I mean it was only a cramp...if I was Canada I wouldn't have kicked it out.  One of those things about soccer I don't really like.  It's too easy for people to take advantage of it...go down, and the other team has to kick it out.  And you wonder why people flop...don't make it beneficial, and they won't do it.

Minute 109: Buehler taken out...no more subs for USA.  Still, we look the fresher of the two squads as we are still sprinting, while Canada appears to be of a more defensive mindset. 

Minute 113: Morgan take out in the box.  No penalty.  Ref for sure afraid to blow a controversial whistle.  

Minute 114: EWWWW! Canadian player hyper-extends knee and can just see it bend a little wrong.  As a former soccer player, knee injuries freak me out.  I still have nightmares about the Willis McGahee injury..

Minute 117: AWWW! O'Reilly just misses goal! And the another cross and Canadian defender just gets there before Wambach!   A huge push by the US just falls short.

Minute 119: ABBY HEADER OFF POST!!! Jeez..how many chances can we have and just miss?!!!?? NO PENALTIES!!! PLEASE!!

Minute 120:  Really Brandi? comparing Canada beating USA to bannister getting first 4 min mile?

Little too much there.  Hope, feel free to call her out anytime.  You have my support.

 

Minute 120: OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG! In the last two minutes of added time, MORGAN SCORES ON HEADER! Literally, seconds left and she puts it in!

 

HOLY F'ING GOD! That was the most amazing game I have ever seen in my entire life.  I mean, literally seconds left, and finally the US gets its first lead of the entire game.  Canada...congratulations on a great game.   You didn't lose the game, the US won it.  

Beer for Breakfast

What do you do when you your favorite Olympic Team has their quarterfinal match in the morning and you don't have cable?  Well find a bar that opens at 9 am of course!

Now let me tell you, even in NYC it's hard to find bars that are open at 9 am.  11 am, not a problem.  But anything before that and they think you have a problem for asking for it.  Trust me...I called up multiple soccer bars to see if they would be open at 9:30 Friday morning for the USA vs. Norway game and most of their responses was such that I know they wanted to make me get help.  But hey sometimes you just need a place to watch the game, and Beer Authority appears to understand that.

Yes.  It was a little awkward to walk in to a bar that has 4 levels and have the bar tender tell you that only the bottom level was open.  I mean, with only three of us we felt a little intimidated to be the only ones in this huge space, but you know what, it ended up being a great time!  I mean sipping mimosas while watching your team dominate is a great way to start off your day.  And the best part?  For 6 mimosas and a Hoegaarden, the total was only $27!  That's right, reasonable prices in NYC. Who knew? 

As a soccer fan, there are often times that I find myself waking up at obscenely early times to catch an important game.  An Beer Authority caters to the USA soccer crazy as it is open at 8:30 am every day.  So you know where I'll be during EPL season.  At the bar, downstairs, nursing a Mimosa and starting the day of right with some great soccer.  Can't wait to find similar crazies out there....as you know I can't be the only one in NYC who wants to be at a bar at 9am. 

I mean...at least I hope not!

Totally Ready to Tap A Keg after the USA victory

So Many Stories

I love the Olympics.  Sure, the actual races/performances/games are amazing.  But the thing that gets me every time are the stories of the Olympians.

These aren't pampered athletes who are paid millions of dollars to play a children's game.  No, the Olympics are mainly made up of people who have a real job, and just train on the side.  That dedication, to spend all those hours training in a sport where you might only have a second of recognition, is amazing in itself.  Add in the back stories that NBC has done a great job exposing, and the Olympics is an event that you can't turn off.  Literally...its a beautiful day outside, but instead of tanning in Central Park I'm sitting in my apartment cheering on the US Mens Water Polo Team.  And I wouldn't have it any other way.

My favorite stories half way through the Olympics:

1) Kayla Harrison: Kayla gave the Americans their first gold medal ever in Judo.  What was crazy though was hearing her calmly discuss her back story.  A lot of athletes have had to overcome difficult upbringings and use the hunger of those experiences to push themselves further than most people will ever be able to.  Kayla has a story that broke my heart, as she has had to overcome being sexually abused by her coach when she was a teenager.  Having someone you trust such a coach hurt you in that way leaves a scar we can't begin to understand.  But instead of hiding from it, Kayla has embraced whats happened to her and wants to use her gold medal as a platform to help spread her story to help bring money/attention to abused children charities.  Can you think of a better person to represent our country?  I can't.

2) Women's Gymnastics: One of the glamor sports of the games, the US team has lived up to its prime time billing with its gold medal performance.  The domination of the team though hasn't been as interesting as the individual athletes stories.
      a)  McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross: Best Friends as little kids make a promise that they will go to the Olympics together.  Sound familiar?  For anyone who was an athlete as a kid, I'm sure you all made similar goals with your friends.  These two though get to live that dream as all the hours of work they have put in together materialized into an actual goal medal.  Disney movie much?

      b) Jordyn Weiber: the best gymnast in the world didn't make the all-around competition because of a stupid rule limiting the amount of athletes from each country.  So what if she was the 4th best in qualifying...an arbitrary rule keeps her from a competition she completely deserves to be at.  How do you bounce back from a disappointment like that caused from one of your own teammates? Well if you are Jordyn, you come back and show the Olympic Committee how bad a decision they made by dominating the team finals and leading your team to Gold.  Team before individual...Jordyn showed that spirit.


3) Murray:  Yes, I know.  He's not exactly a struggling athlete. He's the number 4 player in the World and makes a tons of money.  But after watching him fall apart upon losing the Wimbledon final to Federer, you know he wants this Gold even more than the British public wants him to win it.  And he is right on schedule to give us a rematch of that epic Wimbeldon final.  Can you imagine the tension in that arena?  I can't.  But I sure hope I get the chance to see it.