"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

[gwalla]

Did anyone else see that Brazilian marathon runner get tackled mid-race by some asshole from the crowd?

That was bad enough. What a shitty thing to happen, and what a shitty thing to do. But what really pissed me off was that the announcers started referring to the costumed jackass as an "apparent protester", and then as simply a "protester". Why? There wasn't any evidence that the guy was protesting anything, and the guy he assaulted was Brazilian, not American.

And it eventually turned out that he wasn't a protester, he was just some (ex?-)priest from Ireland with mental problems, who had also run out onto the track on a previous occasion (wearing the same costume!) during an indy-car race and narrowly avoided getting his ass run over.

(Oh yeah, and nice job, Olympic Security! One of your guys was right there on a bicycle and couldn't prevent the guy from attacking; the crowd had to pull him off of the runner.)

Comments

[maritzac.livejournal.com]

He got the bronze.

But he was GOING TO HAVE THE GOLD. And he didn't, because sh*t happens.

No, the guy has mental problems. Just your regular wacko. There's no logic in the actions of someone sick on the brain. And for that, even though I'd strangle the guy, uh, better not.

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

Well, there's no guarantee he would've won. People who lead the marathon by a wide margin for a long time frequently don't win in the end, and there was quite a ways to go in the race. However, he was certainly in contention, and now we'll never know if he could've done it or not.

At least he ended up getting the bronze. That certainly counts for something, especially since it's Brazil's first medal in the event ever.