I will say from experience that different pools have different feels, and this one has been reported to be extremely fast. Most actual Olympic pools are built to be. They’re deep which affects how much the water moves when you move through it, they use new lane lines (which as silly as it sounds has a really big effect), they’re engineered to reduce turbulence, all in an effort to reduce times. In the same respect, the faster swimmers are rewarded by being seeded in the middle lanes, where the water is more still — think ripples moving out from the center. All of these things are legal, but you have to question how much oversight the IOC has when a pool is being built. I would imagine they get to inspect the pool prior to a race beginning, but who knows what they’re capable considering some of the other stuff we’ve seen.

Again with a H2O Polo update, didn’t get to see it as they were playing too early in the morning/too late at night for me to see it, but the US men defeated Germany 8-7 to advance to the quarter finals. This is huge, as it gives us momentum as we move into the elimination rounds. US coach Terry Schroeder has said he feels this team has a legitimate shot at the gold. This would be huge as the men have not medaled since 1988.

Reading the play by play, it’s apparent that the game was really competitive. 25 five meter penalty shots, US goalie Merill Moses blocked 14 shots on goal, and . The US plays the winner of Spain/Serbia on Friday.

There’s some controversy about that game, as the Serbs have been accused of taking a dive on their game against Italy — they used their second string goalkeeper, and a number of questionable shots on goal have been reported. Had they won, the Serbs would have faced more traditionally difficult opponents in the form Montenegro and Hungary, instead of Spain and the US. An intentional loss could give them a seemingly easier shot at the final and the gold.

Amazing to watch. Clearly an impressive, inspiring athlete.

And I admittedly need to do more homework, but that hasn’t stopped me from throwing things out here before.

Seems to me that swimming is a battle of half-seconds, tenths of seconds and smaller.

Has anyone ever beaten world records (in swimming) by 2-3 seconds before?

It seems odd to me. It seems fishy. In the context of fake fireworks, fake national anthems, walled ghettos and underage preteen gymnasts, well……

China is communist and communists are propaganda machines. They clearly were willing to stop at nothing for this olympics to be an international success.

Does that shaving an inch or two off each side of a pool?

I don’t know how they would do it, honestly.

I will look, but if someone can show me another instance where a swimmer conquered a world record by 2-3 second then…well…I will be Wrong.

HE certainly looked the best out of the three, but that being said, they weren’t on a even playing field.

Rice looked great…Walker looked horrendous.

It’s difficult to tell which quarterback is ahead when looking at the ragged ratings of Smith (33.3) and Boller (36.8)

yikes.

it will be interesting to see what harbaugh will do if both of them continue to stink up the joint. i still think troy smith gives us a better chance, even if it’s a team psychology thing. i don’t think any raven feels that they’re going to win with boller.

and as tempting as it may be to throw flacco out there (he looked pretty awesome last night) i still think it would be a mistake.

again i ask, why the hell didn’t the ravens go after favre?

Less mad but still plenty of props to Ray Rice, who looks damn good for a 5’8″ 200lb running back. He’s got the moves. Very happy we drafted him.