h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Wasn't one of the bigest things about the dream team the fact they lost (or was that dream team 2 the next time round).

Gooday Loonytunes,

Considering that New Zealand has not yet emerged from the 1970s I am a little perplexed as to how men's fashion over there could have even got out of sync, let alone need to be recycled.

NEWSFLASH: IOC boss Samaranch announces new sport for 2004 Olympics - synchronised sheepshearing. Samaranch says such an initiative is necessary so that smaller countries get a fair go in future Games. However, prominent Sydney broadcaster Alan Jones, who should know about these things, said the New Zealanders will not be able to distinguish this from their national sport (gentle readers, this has to do with making jumbucks jolly, but good taste forbids further explication). Either way, there is sure to be a lot of bleating over in the land of the long white cloud. So what's new, you say? Beats me.

The US Olympic men's basketball team has not lost a game to anyone since the pros began playing in 1992. In fact, this Olympic Games had the first moment when the men actually trailed in the second half. I forget who pulled it off, but they were decimated in due fashion after that moment.

Outstanding Olympics for the US in team sports. The women's softball team loses to three countries in qualifying, then avenges all three on the road to gold. The women's soccer team defended their title as world's best after winning the World Cup at home. The men's baseball team, devoid of major leaguers, defeats heavily-favored Cuba for the gold. And then there was all that domination in the pool. Overall, it looks like the best US Olympic showing since '84 in Los Angeles... and the Soviets had to boycott that one to open the door to US domination on their own home soil.

Good morning everyone,

A little quiet on the forum today.

A men's 200 metre final without the world record holder and the world champion. The Americans must have an abundance of riches if they can afford to omit Greene and Johnson. As it turned out, they couldn't.

Did anyone catch the Paralympian women's 800 final, with Samaranch making the presentations to the placegetters? A wonderful moment for some wonderful athletes.

We are sailing.

Walter.

Walter, hy on earth didn't the female Aussie walker slow down to ensure she would not be disqualified yesterday. The Chinese girl was way behind. Any comment in the Aus papers about this point?

Oops, the second word was "why"

The Brits have now got their bst haul of medals since 1956...
But now, 'Professional' sports such as tennis and basketball are creeping their way in..........
I thought that the ethos of the games was that it was totally amateur!!!!!!!

Where are we going wrong? Are we allowing proffessionals in just for money reasons?
If we are, I beleive it is wrong!!

'G'

Loony,

The papers are full of Jane Saville's disqualification: the overwhelming Oz view is that she wuz robbed, but this is a sport that is crammed full of disquals every time an event is RUN. And let's be honest, so-called walking has to be the most unnaturally contrived event at the Olympics bar none. If anyone has been robbed at these Games it is the young Rumanian gymnast, who had to swallow the bitterest pill of all.

Jumping Jai Flash is such a gas.

Walter.

"We are .... sai - ling,
We are .... say - er - ling.."

Would someone define water sport for me, as in 'Australians are good at ...' (Hint - it does not just mean swimming).

"Across the Walter, across the C.
We are - sa..."

I think I hear the snort of a T Devil, so....
Bye!

Hi,
You know what else the Aussies are good at- Girl teams, did you see them. Did you see those Hockeyroos. Are they not great? I don’t have to brag they do it with their actions.

Moondancer

My husband phoned me ecstatic this morning as he had just heard that KYLIE is going to do the closing ceremony - I'm surprised he hasn't popped home to set the video well in advance!!

I was amazed to see the divers climbing into a jacuzzi after their dives - now that is something I could be a world leader in....sitting in a Jacuzzi - do you think I could get sponsorship?

Good morning everyone,

Just two days left. It is hard to believe the closing ceremony is tomorrow, it's even harder to believe that Kylie Minogue is to have a role in it. The undoubted highlight will be the drag queen parade; if you think we jest, just keep watching.

Brian of Bourne, thanks for the lyrics and stuff, funny and much appreciated. The answer to your question is "Australians are good at bloody everything but we are extremely modest and self-effacing about it."

And Moondancer, the Hockeyroos are a crack outfit alright, but it took a bloke (Ric Charlesworth, their coach) to get them into shape and walking the walk. Several of them are retiring now, and Charlesworth is giving it away too, so it may be that this gold medal effort will mark the end of an era.

Walter sends slug a small bottle of cinammon and vanilla bath oil to put in her jacuzzi.

Walter.

Good morning? What time is it where you are? It's 10:10pm here in London, so I'll say 'Good Evening!'

Hi Tigerlily,

It is 8.30 in the morning here in sunny Hobart Town, Tasmania. Where are you where it was 10.10 in the evening a short time ago?

Walter.

There's an old Australian stockman, lying, dying, and he gets himself up on to one elbow, and he turns to his mates, who are gathered round him and he says -
Watch me hockeyroos shoot, mate,
Watch me hockeyroos shoot.
They're a dangerous breed, mate,
So watch me hockeyroos shoot.
Altogether now!
Well done convicts

Gooday Loonytunes,

That was nice, a very generous tribute. But it is not like you Loony: is everything okay?

Walter.

Walter, I was overcome with emotion after watching the spendid performance of the New Zealand girl who was playing in goal for Australia.

Loony

Hooray,hurrah! Cameroon won the footie!

Appearing tomorrow (Sunday) in the Sydney Morning Herald

The deeply patriotic Russian parents of pole vaulter Tatiana Grigorieva have spoken of their disappointment she did not win silver for Russia. Speaking from Tatiana's original home in St Petersburg, Lidia Ilinechna said: "I am very proud for my daughter but of course it is a pity that she won this medal for Australia.

"It would have been better to have won a bronze for Russia than a silver for Australia." Blonde model Tatiana, 24, emigrated to Australia with husband and fellow pole vaulter Viktor Christiakov from Russia three-and-a-half years ago and took out citizenship just in time for the Games.

Her success cannot take away the pain of her departure for her parents who still live in the three-bedroom apartment where Tatiana and her elder sister, Marsha, grew up. They will not follow Tatiana to her new home. "Of course I am sad that she has gone, but I will never move to Australia," she said.

Hi,
I watched the interview of Tatiana with Roy & HG, she said that sport in Russia had got corrupt, gamblers had threatened Viktors coach so he moved to Australia, Viktor followed his coach and she followed Viktor. And she was in a house full on polevaulters to she took up polevaulting.

So it gets back to the debate was it the environment that got her to where she is or would she have achieved it no matter where she was.
If she had stayed in Russia she may not have been getting any meddle for anyone.

Loony this also applies to all the NZers you have been pointing out to us are competing under the Australian flag, why are they not under the NZ flag. Don't look too close everyone here has come from somewhere else.



Moondancer