How will the Olympics opening ceremony go? The Chinese have been doing 'fake smile training' for a long time now!... Regards, Snufalufagus.....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 05/08/2008 17:08:53    66097

The greatest sporting event of them all starts next Friday and not a word about it on this website until Snuffy mentioned it. Personally, I am really looking forward to the Beijing Olympics and in particular the track and field events. I am not too sure of the Irish athletes' chances outside of these disciplines but I would be hopeful there could be one who could bring a medal home - that Derek lad in the shooting has a fantastic chance apparantly. On the athletics side of things, I think our best hope is Robert Heffernan in the 20k walk. And your one in the 3000m - McGettigan - could cause a few surprises too.The thing though the 2008 Olympics will be remembered for is the 100m between Bolt, Powell and Gay. What a race that promises to be. I can't see Usain being beaten though, he could go down as better than Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson as he is a magnicent athlete.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 05/08/2008 17:38:27    66133

At long last it seems the Man Utd/Ronaldo/Real Madrid Saga has been put to bed. Real Madrid President siad today that van der vaart will be there 1 and only signing this summer (probably). As a United fan i must say i am pleased, and hope he still continues to give it his all for Man u!!!

JOHN_3_7 (Mayo) - Posts: 56 - 05/08/2008 17:53:54    66145

Hard to get worked up about the Olympics. As a kid they were great - up there with the great sporting events. However too many clouds descended on the athletes especially in athletics and swimming - including our own. Leaves a bitter taste and anyone who does anything out of the ordinary now I find myself asking ... mmm I wonder. Also considering what happened to Sonya in the Worlds many years ago when a host of Chinese women - coached by Ma Junren on a diet of turtle soup - appeared from nowhere to take most of the medals and then disappear back to China left a sour taste - must be the turtles. One of these athletes knocked 42 seconds off the 10K record for women - incredible alright!! Give me the oul GAA any day!

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 05/08/2008 18:02:54    66151

JOHN_3_7

If you're actually a United fan don't go around calling the team Man U. That'd nearly get you attacked if you were heard to say it near Old Trafford.

black&white (Sligo) - Posts: 1628 - 05/08/2008 18:19:06    66155

cant stand ronaldo!!

glenn_abu (Down) - Posts: 515 - 05/08/2008 20:20:17    66197

Did U smart ass that started this thread not read the house rules that said the this message board is intended for Gaelic Games related discussions.
U are the type thta would have jumped on the band wagon when an English B team ie Ireland was doing well.
Keep ur Soccer stuff for a soccer board.

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 4060 - 05/08/2008 20:41:00    66213

Wahoo Liam - thats you told. Why are there so many angry men in Cavan?? The biggest protagonist on the Mayo boards is also a Breffni man. I dunno at all at all!

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 05/08/2008 22:29:07    66266

There's only one woman in Cavan and she's gone on Holiday........

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 06/08/2008 10:25:03    66432

I have set up a fantasy football league (although i'm sure there will be people who go on about this being a gaelic site wth no place for soccer, well its only a bit of craic and its in the non gaa thread).

This link is http://fantasy.premierleague.com once you have logged in and entered your team, click on the 'Leagues' link you can find on the the right of the page. Now enter the code 287037-82369 to join the private league.

Welcome to all!!

Dannymc (Down) - Posts: 92 - 06/08/2008 13:49:57    66705

Would you do it (without a harness)?

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1438490562

RMDrive (Donegal) - Posts: 2202 - 06/08/2008 15:33:16    66864

Did anybody save the hay yet?

Clash-of-da-ash (Galway) - Posts: 927 - 06/08/2008 22:52:55    67263

10.5 m for Andy Johnson!!!!! 10.5 !
Christ, remember the days when Andy Cole went to man yoo for a ridiculous, incredible, outlandish 7!!!
Now Andy Johnson is going for 10.5! STERLING!
Dont get me wrong, great signing for Fulham, but jaysus.....thats some money!!!!

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 07/08/2008 10:09:39    67460

A serious lack of interest in the Olympics on this board. I had hoped that they're might have had been a few interesting debates going. Anyway maybe I will start something off.

Mens 100m - This could be the race of the century, Powell v Bolt v Gay and whole load of other sub 10 second sprinters. I reckon Bolt will produce his best and break the record again.

Mens 4X100m relay - Jamacia's team consists of Bolt, Powell, Frater and Carter - all athletes who should make the final of the individual 100m - if they don't win this I will never post on this message board again.

Mens 110m hurdles - There is so much expectation on the shoulders of Chinese superstar Xiang Liu, if he dosen't win, he won't be let near his country again but I think he will.

Mens 200m - Well if Bolt does not win the 100m, he will certainly win this.

Mens 400m - A two horse race. Jeremy Wariner is the favourite but LaShawn Merritt bet him at the US trials and is improving all the time. He could come of age in this.

Mens 4X400m relay - America without a doubt.

Mens 400m hurdles - Karon Clement to run away with this.

Mens 800m - I am really looking forward to this and in particular to seeing the reigning champion Yuriy Barzowoskiy from Russia. I think he will do it again if he gets that fast pace he so desperately needs. Hopefully he will get it and run them all down in the last 150m.

Mens 1500m - The blue riband of athletics and what a race this is going to be with Lagat, Baala, Kiprop and the favourite Choge. Lagat was third in Sydney and second in Athens, he is reigning world champion, its now or never for him.

Mens 3000m steeplechase - not a clue on this

Mens 5000m - Again not to sure on this, maybe Kenesia Bekele but 10,000m will be his main objective.

Mens 10,000m - Kenesia Bekele will not be beat in this

Mens Marathon - I can't decide between Martin Lel and Sammy Wanjiru. Lel won the London Moarathon but Wanjiru is getting better all the time. Its impossible to call.

Right wrecked after that, other people to listen out for are:

Phillip Idowu in the Mens triple jump
Michael Phelps in his bid to break the record and win 8 gold medals at one Olympics
Victoria Pendleton - The English will go crazy WHEN she wins the individual pursuit in the cycling
Paula Radcliffe - Likewise if she wins the marathon, the english will go crazy, not to sure she will though
Yelena Isinbayeva in the women's pole vault
Robert Heffernan in the 20k walk, he has a serious chance for Ireland, it will be great if he can bring back a medal

Roght thats me finished on here for the day.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 07/08/2008 10:55:37    67524

What in the name of God is a politician Patricia McKenna doing on this Failte Towers rubbish?
Is this what people elected her for?
The Dail may be on holidays (a lot longer than the rest of us) but does she not have constituency work to do for those who elected her.
How do one of her constituents contact her with a problem in their locality?

Get back to work and do what your being paid to do!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 07/08/2008 11:12:36    67562

dont think she holds any office at the minute snuf.

bit of a weird one her goin on nonsense like that though.
whatever small bit of credibility she had is now gone down the drain.

i remember that george galloway clown went on big brother before and lost his seat in the next election i think.

these reality tv shows show how pathetic and publicity hungry these z listers really are - they will literally do anything to get on tv.

Horse (Laois) - Posts: 1146 - 07/08/2008 11:28:36    67586

So is messi going to be allowed to play in the olympics then? I can understand barca not wanting to let him go but its the olympics and I'm sure he wouldn't mind going for a gold medal. Football mightn't be the most prestigious event in beijing but a few players of messi's quality would heighten the profile of it and make it more interesting. Compare barca to man utd who aren't making any fuss over anderson going(ok so there's a gulf in class but still).

mid-mon man (Monaghan) - Posts: 1680 - 07/08/2008 11:32:36    67595

She's atually an MEP for the Green Party - though whether she gets nominated for next year's elections is another thing. Would have thought you'd be sweet on her Snuff as she helped deliver the No vote!

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 07/08/2008 11:34:52    67598

No he's not playing in the Olympics - Sports Arbtiration have ruled - Olympics not a FIFA competition!

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 07/08/2008 11:35:39    67602

07/08/2008 11:35:39
JayoCluxton
County: Dublin
Posts: 917

67602 No he's not playing in the Olympics - Sports Arbtiration have ruled - Olympics not a FIFA competition!

But didn't they say that they are going to play him anyway?

RMDrive (Donegal) - Posts: 2202 - 07/08/2008 11:45:02    67616