Random Thoughts on the Olympics #7 by Lian Dolan

I have not added my voice to the easy whining about the Live vs. Taped Delayed NBC Olympic coverage because why bother? First of all, people, they've been doing this for years so your either on board or your not, but it's a little late to object now. And secondly, that madhouse they are calling www.nbcolympics.com has everything you need to know and everything you need to watch live if you can figure out how to navigate the site. You want Live, go get yourself some Live. But for those us on the West Coast, we are used to being second tier in the Time Zone Wars. We rarely get Live. We exist in Tape Delay: American Idol, Wimbledon, election results, the evening freakin' news-- all Taped Delayed. You just train yourself to stay away from major new sources, home pages, or the ESPN crawl if you don't want to spoil the results. I have come to accept my reality: if I haven't seen it or I haven't heard who wins, it's Live To Me. But last night, my man Bob Costas was really getting in our faces about being a Second Class Time Zone. How many times did he say that the women's gymnastics all-around concluded "well beyond midnight on the East Coast"? About 12, that's how many. Well, Bob , for your information it concluded well after midnight on the West Coast, too, thanks to NBC Standard Time. Where's our love, Bob? We understand that the Pacific Standard Time doesn't register with people from New York ( and you constantly call us at 5 AM on a work day just to prove how insignificant our time zone is...), but don't rub it in our faces during the Olympics.

Now onto more Random Thoughts...

-- There is nothing left to be said about Micheal Phelps. Brilliant.

-- If you were wondering what a "motivational speaker" might say at your next company outing, just replay the Mark Spitz/Michael Phelps/Bob Costas interview from last night. Wow. That Mark is motivational alright, but a little scary.

- I know I seem Obsessed with Golf Shirts, but I actually witness an ill-fitting golf shirt upset the Olympic dreams of one Korean archer in a gold medal match. He had the big ol'collar of his shirt tucked under so as not to interfere with his shot. And guess what, he lost! Upset in front of thousands of flag-waving Korean fans to an archer wearing a sensible V neck shirt. Golf shirt loses Gold Medal.

- American Hyleas Fountain is leading the heptathlon ( she would be the first American women since Jackie Joyner Kersee to win) . Her coach is Lynn Smith who was seriously injured in the Atlanta Olympic bombing. I saw an really emotional interview yesterday with the coach about just how hard it is to be back a track meet with crowds and bags left everywhere and how coaching an athlete at the Olympic level has meant everything to him. I am rooting for Fountain and her coach.

- Don't get me wrong, I love the Dara Torres momentum. She looked great last night and was a real mom out there on the pool deck when she asked officials to hold the start for a fellow swimmer having trouble with her suit. But, hello NBC, there are quite a few mothers on the US Olympic team playing basketball, softball, lifting weights, running track, kayaking. Let's hear about some of the other mothers who may not have the resources for childcare never mind a "team of people" to get them in top shape and yet there they are competing at the elite level. They are all role models.

- Last night while watching Dara Torres , my 13 year old says to me, "No offense , Mom, but that's like you swimming in the Olympics." Should I be flattered or offended?

- Way to go, US women. Soccer, basketball, water polo, volleyball, softball- all victorious. Do I need to mention Title IX?

- I love that Rowdy Gaines loves Janet Evans as much as the Satellite Sisters love Janet Evans.

- I'm sorry to see our hometown boy James Blake of Fairfield, CT out of the Olympics after what he called poor sportsmanship. I saw the replay yesterday afternoon of the point in question and turned to my kids and said, " The other player should have told the umpire he touched the ball." Apparently, James felt the same way and went on to give a worthy lecture on sportsmanship.

Big night. Rest up. I am off to 5 soccer games over 3 days but will be in place to watch the Men's 100 M dash and the 4X100M medley relay. More tomorrow.