A few thoughts:

- After the Chinese 2008 female gymnasts (calling them women would imply they were of age) were given a pass I hold little faith that anything will come of this unless Ye Shiwen actually fails a blood test.

- Besides, they way Lochte has performed since the IM, it's not like he's THAT fast. ;)

- Speaking of letdowns, how about a grand round of fail for the US men's gymnastics team. NBC bailed on them after 2 rotations.

- Speaking of NBC, the ratings show that their delay works well, however, if you're going to delay and save things for primetime how about you don't give away the results 6 minutes before you show the event. http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/07/31/Olympics/Franklin-Today.aspx

- Kim Rhode on Sunday became the first American athlete to win five medals in an individual event in five consecutive Olympic Games. 99 of 100. WOW!
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/sports/olympics/kim-rhode-of-us-takes-gold-in-womens-skeet-setting-records.html?_r=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUiN0Sih214&feature=related

>Here we go again.
>
>Page 1 story in the NY Times today, me thunking my forehead not to have seen it. Without making a direct accusation, it strongly implies that the Chinese swimmers in the London Olympics have been getting some unnatural help. It focuses on Yu Shiwen, the 16 year old female Chinese swimmer who has been setting the time clock on fire. In winning the gold medal in the 400 IM on Sunday she came home in the last 50 as fast as Ryan Lochte in his statement making men's final.
>
>Now maybe this was just an incredible performance by an unknown athlete. But the Chinese have a history, as does the sport of swimming. Remember the notorious East German "womens" teams of the 80s, who looked and performed like NFL linebackers? As does bicycling, where the elite athletes are basically all assumed to be doping.
>
>I am a little disappointed in the NBC coverage that this has not even come up for discussion. I have been watching the swimming events closely and had not picked up a whiff of Yu Shiwen's times being fishy. I like Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines a lot. They make the races and competitors compelling, especially the break out star of these games, Missy Franklin. I would really hate to think their corporate masters have zipped their lips given the corporate stakes. That would be even more disappointing than a young athlete cutting corners for a shot at the gold ring.

UUiN0Sih214