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Post by brybry on Aug 18, 2008 1:21:25 GMT -5
I don't think China is cheating (in this sport). Russia could be a really tough opponent. They might just turn it up. And like others have mentioned, China does not want to face Brazil. A rematch against Cuba would sound better to China.
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Post by OverAndUnder on Aug 19, 2008 14:48:53 GMT -5
The selection process was open to representatives from all participating countries.
From Joan Powell's blog:
I made it in plenty of time and was able to sit with Diane and Gen who were scouting the Russian/Serbian match. After the three-set match and the press conference, FIVB’s Cristobal Marte from the Dominican Republic started the draw procedure. This process is new to the Olympics as the FIVB frowned on the fact that some teams could possibly throw their last match in pool to get a better draw from the other pool.
We were informed through a brief power point where the women’s teams stood at present. Then Cristobal in his typical form explained the procedure eloquently. He then showed the “open to the public” audience that there were two crystal bowls with two Mikasa mini balls in each and the names of the teams printed on separate slips of paper. Cristobal picked up the mini balls and opened each of them to show that there was nothing inside. I thought I was at a magic show! I expected the “nothing up my sleeve” line next. He and his cohort folded the teams’ names and placed one inside each of the balls and screwed them tight. They mixed both bowls and Cristobal held up the USA A2 placard to indicate that the name picked would play us. Cristobal had a volunteer from the crowd come forward and choose one of the balls. It was opened and at the stroke of midnight, Cristobal revealed – “Italia.” So it is USA/Italy at 10 p.m. with Russia against China at 8 p.m.
Diane, Gen and I reacted positively and I called Jenny as she was waiting back at the dorm to begin studying our opponent. We shared the shuttle home with the Cuba and Chinese contingencies. It was a pretty noisy ride home with the three languages, with Diane opening her computer to get a jump on her late night preparation of Italy.
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Post by vbdewd on Aug 19, 2008 19:25:51 GMT -5
What possible reason would they have to do the tournament draws in the traditional way with pre-seeded bracket playoffs based on finish seedings? That's as old school as side out scoring. This is the new millennium, man, get with it! Change the rules, change the ball, change the bracket procedures, change the...oh never mind. You'll just never understand the great strides FIVB and the governing bodies are going to to keep the game ....uummm...FRESH!
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Post by baywatcher on Aug 19, 2008 21:01:25 GMT -5
After reading about the procedure I am much more skeptical than before. Nothing up my sleeve? Volunteer from the audience? Any two bit magic hack from Vegas could have rigged that draw. Doesn't mean they did, but I am now suspicious.
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Post by vbbuck on Aug 19, 2008 21:08:33 GMT -5
All of the slips of paper had Italy on them - and half were written in Chinese for our draw!
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Post by Edmond on Aug 19, 2008 22:03:31 GMT -5
After reading about the procedure I am much more skeptical than before. Nothing up my sleeve? Volunteer from the audience? Any two bit magic hack from Vegas could have rigged that draw. Doesn't mean they did, but I am now suspicious. No, not from the audience, but the press members present. The first draw was done by a Chinese female reporter who drew China into the lower bracket.
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