Back to the Beach
Errrr, make that the Horseguards Parade where beach volleyball took place at the London Olympics. I felt I was living there for a while; NBC telecast a lot of beach volleyball (mostly but not all women's). It must have been on the ch8illy side, too. Along with the traditional gear of bikinis, I saw bikini bottoms with what looked like warmup jackets, bikini tops with leggings, and these awful tops that looked like the players were wearing a sports bra on the outside (but it was a single top), again with leggings.
Nonetheless, I have to say I rather enjoyed it all. First, it was the third Olympics for Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings, not to mention other championship games I've seen them play, so it was like watching old pals play. Second, I've played (indoor and backyard) volleyball and the rules are not so different, so I understand what they're doing (unlike, say, water polo). Third, and my husband mentioned this as well (and didn't even complain too much when the bikinis were covered up), there were some damned good games.
Kudos to the German player who never berated her partner, who was having a bad night, and who fought like a tiger (if tigers played volleyball) to keep her team competitive. Brava to the Russian team who gritted through six match points trying to take down a Brazilian team that just wouldn't give up. Congrats to that Brazilian team, too. (They eventually took the bronze.) Applause to the Austrian team that managed to beat Misty and Kerry. For one set though they lost the match. A tip of the sun visor to the Japanese who put up a real fight before Misty and Kerry could advance to the gold match. (I assume they did the same when they played the Brazilians for third, but I didn't see that game.) Cheers also to the other USA team--I can never remember their names--who made it to the final and ended up with silver.
Finally, super congratulations to Misty May-Treanor and Kerry Jennings-Walsh. I won't say they make it look easy because it isn't easy, but they do make it look inevitable. They won their third Olympic gold medal(s), and now Misty is retiring. Truly the end of an era.
Nonetheless, I have to say I rather enjoyed it all. First, it was the third Olympics for Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings, not to mention other championship games I've seen them play, so it was like watching old pals play. Second, I've played (indoor and backyard) volleyball and the rules are not so different, so I understand what they're doing (unlike, say, water polo). Third, and my husband mentioned this as well (and didn't even complain too much when the bikinis were covered up), there were some damned good games.
Kudos to the German player who never berated her partner, who was having a bad night, and who fought like a tiger (if tigers played volleyball) to keep her team competitive. Brava to the Russian team who gritted through six match points trying to take down a Brazilian team that just wouldn't give up. Congrats to that Brazilian team, too. (They eventually took the bronze.) Applause to the Austrian team that managed to beat Misty and Kerry. For one set though they lost the match. A tip of the sun visor to the Japanese who put up a real fight before Misty and Kerry could advance to the gold match. (I assume they did the same when they played the Brazilians for third, but I didn't see that game.) Cheers also to the other USA team--I can never remember their names--who made it to the final and ended up with silver.
Finally, super congratulations to Misty May-Treanor and Kerry Jennings-Walsh. I won't say they make it look easy because it isn't easy, but they do make it look inevitable. They won their third Olympic gold medal(s), and now Misty is retiring. Truly the end of an era.