By JOHN O'SULLIVAN
Australia rowers jinxed again
IT seems there is something of an Olympic jinx when it comes to the Australian rowers. For the second Olympics in a row a bizarre incident threatened to undermine a Wallaby crew when the rudder of the men's eight boat jammed, forcing the crew to veer at speed out of their lane and almost collide.
It occurred in the heat and left the Australians trailing in last. The crew will have a second chance of making the final in a repechage today, unlike the women's eight in Athens, who memorably missed out on a medal after rower Sally Robbins stopped racing.
The incident brought back memories of the Athens' women's eight race, which was dubbed the "Lay Down Sally" affair in the Australian media after Robbins stopped rowing in the final stages of the final because of exhaustion.
The incident caused uproar in Australia and led to Robbins being slapped by a team-mate at an official dinner. The crew were ordered to undergo counselling after the prime minister at the time, John Howard, called for calm.
Reuters change their bottom line
IT seems Reuters had to recaption a photograph showing the US president, George W Bush, making contact with the back/backside of the US volleyball player and defending gold medallist Misty May-Treanor.
Treanor and her partner Kerri Walsh were giving the president a few pointers on the sport. After some good play by their new student and in the tradition of female volleyballers May-Treanor turned, bent over slightly and offered her bikinied rear-end to slap.
"Mr President," she said, "want to?" Bush wisely chose to brush his hand against the small of the athlete's back knowing the cameras of the world were trained on him.
But it did not stop Reuters from releasing the photograph and caption; the latter of which they had to correct within eight minutes.
Original Reuters caption:
"US President George W Bush playfully pats the backside of US women's beach volleyball team player Misty May-Treanor at her invitation while visiting the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Grounds at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, August 9th, 2008. Team-mate Kerri Walsh watches."
Reuters corrected caption:
"ATTENTION EDITORS - CAPTION CLARIFICATION: US President George W Bush playfully pats the back of US Women's Beach Volleyball team player Misty May-Treanor at her invitation while visiting the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Grounds at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, August 9th, 2008 . . ."
Shooters put aside differences
TWO women, one Russian, one Georgian, reaffirmed sport will sometimes defy politics. Olympic medals around their necks they embraced and kissed on the cheek.
Russian soldier Natalia Paderina and Georgian sports psychologist Nino Salukvadze ignored the war that erupted between their nations as they celebrated their achievements in the 10-metre air pistol. "It's a small victory for my people, but when it comes to sports we'll always remain friends. Nothing else will affect our friendship, " said Saluvadze.
NBC show money talks
THE Americans exert some control in China judging by the success of their NBC network in having the major swimming finals staged in the morning locally so as to fit in with primetime evening viewing in the US. NBC paid $3.55 billion (€2.4 billion) for exclusive US media rights on condition they could have their primetime slot to showcase Michael Phelps's drive for eight gold medals. While criticism in the commandeering of the schedule has been widespread, it once again shows money really does talk.
