Michael Phelps is not the best Olympian, sex in the Olympic village and other news from around the Web
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As the Beijing Olympic Games take the final turn for the homestretch, here are some stories from around the L.A. Times and the Web that you might find of interest:
Philip Hersh writes here on The Times that as great as Michael Phelps is, he’s still a few medals away from greats like Carl Lewis and is still not in a class of his own.
Phelps however was the king of all media coverage at these Games, accounting to more than 25% of all stories generated, says Editor & Publisher.
Sports Illustrated explains that there are six good reasons why the Jamaicans are cleaning up on the track in Beijing, including the fact that the best Jamaicans are actually running for their country (instead of for other nations, as they have in the past: Ben Johnson, Linford Christie, Donovan Bailey).
Why has BMX been so successful in Beijing? Because of its unpredictability that the best or fastest racer might not win, ESPN.com says. ‘The rider who wins is often the shrewdest, or most aggressive or fastest out of the gate. And, sometimes, it’s simply the luckiest rider that day.’
Two-time British Olympian Matthew Syed writes in the Times of London that the Olympic village is a hotbed for hooking up:
But let us get back to all the sex going down in the village. One possible explanation centres on the fact that Olympic athletes have to display an unnatural (and, it has to be said, wholly unhealthy) level of self-discipline in the build-up to big competitions. How else is this going to manifest itself than with a volcanic release of pent-up hedonism? It is a common sight to see recently knocked-out athletes gorging on Magnums and McDonald’s, swilling alcohol and, of course, shagging like crazy.
Parachuting, surfing, netball, bowling, tug-of-war: Should these be the next Olympic sports? NBC.com has the slideshow that might leave you saying ‘are you kidding’? Yes, chess is on the list.
-- Tony Pierce