BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!

Subject: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bugsy
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 05:20 AM

ONYA CATHY!!!!!

Gold for Australia!

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 05:44 AM

Some great stories coming out of this Olympics. Cathy Freeman is of course one. Hard to imagine the pressure she's been under and how well she's handled it.

I don't think I've seen anyone so happy as Laura Wilkinson in the diving. Nice story and a nice family.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 05:45 AM

Is she the one dressed up as a surgeon, Bugs!!!!

Skipjack

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bugsy
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 06:35 AM

She can operate on me ANYTIME!!!

Cheers

bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bugsy
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 06:36 AM

I should have said "Yes and didn't she cut through the opposition like a knife"

Cheers

bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: MudGuard
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 08:05 AM

Jon, is Cathy any relative of you?
MudGuard

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bagpuss
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 08:07 AM

Am I the only person who has an ounce for sympathy for Perec who was hounded so much that she couldn't even compete.

Cathy deserved her gold, but the Australian press should be ashamed of themselves. BTW - Britain's Merry got Bronze in that race! And fellow geordie Jonathan Edwards has just won us GOLD!!!!!!

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Auxiris
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 09:44 AM

Bagpuss, thanks ever so much for defending MJ Perec. . . I can't help but wonder what kind of pressure she'd been under from the Fédération Française d'Athletisme as well. The various powers-that-be controlling what goes on as far as sports are concerned here in France aren't always easy for the athletes to get along with. My sincere congratulations to Cathy Freeman for her gold medal; she was truly magnificent!

cheers,

Auxiris

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: paddymac
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 10:03 AM

I suspect I'm definitely in the minority, but there are more important things than the olympics - like, when was the last time you told your spouse,lover,kids, parents, etc., that you loved him/her/them; or the last time you did something special for them to demonstrate that love; when was the last time you did something to help a down-and-outter. Well, you get the idea. Sports are fun and fine, but -. Just my 2 cents worth.

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bagpuss
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 10:59 AM

I told my spouse that I love him last night, and did something special for him the night before. I buy the big issue every week to help homeless people.

But I still like to watch sport - and most people aren't particularly interested in hearing about my private life - they would prefer to talk about the Olympics. It might not be as important, but it is far more interesting.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bugsy
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 08:23 PM

Damn!

I was really enjoying the Olympics. I didn't realise that if I did I couldn't still love the wife, cook her dinner for her every night and still get my head shaved for charity on October 10.(I could do with some sponsors by the way)

Well that's really pissed me off. I suppose I'll have to stop enjoying it now. What's even worse is that now I've learned this startling revelation, I realise the wife doesn't love me either. She loves the Olympics too.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Hotspur
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 09:57 PM

Well said, Bugsy.

I told my parents i love them when I called them today; I sent my best friend a bauble to play with, and I just took a carload of stuff to a local respite house. There. Now I can enjoy the Olympics guilt free. My favorite part of these much-hyped games is seeing long-shot wins, like Laura Wilkinson in diving and Anair(?) Garcia of Cuba in track.

Did anyone hear that the Romanian gold medallist in gymnastics had her medal taken away b/c her team doctor gave her cold medicine which had a banned substance in it?

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 10:17 PM

Like I said above, I'm with you on Laura Wilkinson....great story.

The "doping" thing is a bit nuts. She did have the gold taken away because the team doctor gave her an over-the-counter cold medicine for fever and flu like symptons. The IOC says they realize it is not her fault but they have rules which must be strictly enforced. What a load of crap. The spirit and the letter of the rule need to be evaluated.

HEY BUGSY!!! We need to check in with Skarpi and see what it is they're doing up there in Iceland. Did you see that the girl from Iceland took a bronze in the Pole Vault behind the American and the Australian? What are they jumping up there......the volcano?

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bugsy
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 10:42 PM

Yes I watched it last night. She was great.

I also watched the 10,000m run last night. What a ripper event that is. I've loved that event ever since I saw David Bedford try to wipe 1 minute off his own world record back in the early 70's. He nearly did it too, but suffered a hamstring about 3/4 of a lap from the end. He set the record in '73 of 27mins 31secs. Does anyone have the time that last night's race was run in? I can't find it anywhere on the web.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Hotspur
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 10:48 PM

I believe it was 50.01...does that sound possible or right? We in the prime-time conscious US just saw it half an hour ago. Taped, of course. The coverage is awful unless you have cable.

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 10:50 PM

Got it Bugsy.............27:18.20 with second at 27:18.29

Must have been one helluva' race......I'm looking forward to seeing it. The delay is a pain at times, but NBC is going for max audience. I got the time at the NBC site which I have been checking to stay up with what's happening before we get to see it.

NBC Olympics Coverage on the Net

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bugsy
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 11:09 PM

Thanks 'Spaw. It is a good race. We have Channel 7 here broadcasting the Olympics 24 hours a day. First live then highlights throughout the late evening and through the night.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 12:34 PM

Since none of it matters at all, whatever means something to you IS the universe. Follow your bliss -- whatever that might be. Go for it. It's the going that's important. And Ms FREEMAN surely did do that.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Lena
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 12:27 AM

Nice story about monday race.I was working in the Opera House,doing the follow spot for a musical.We were about to start the dress reharsal,guests were already coming in.Suddenly the stage manager and the lighting designer went-what's the time?!How much before she runs?!
They were talking about Cathy Freeman.No matter that the performance was ten minutes away,they went upstairs in the Greenroom to watch Cathy run on the tv screen.I've always been quite sceptical about Cathy,saying that I hoped her to get the silver because a gold was too predictable.And also,when Perec left,Cathy didn't look upset about it enough to be dafined a sportive girl.But I went upstairs in the Green Room,and there i saw something amazing.The all Opera House was gathered around the little tv screen-technicians,secutrity people,managers,directors,singers,musicians,ballerinas fully attired in their costumes warming up in front of the screen and shouting to Cathy like truck drivers.The all Op.House had stopped.And there was such a silence when Cathy started running,you could feel everyone having butterflies,and then-gold!!!Everyone was screaming,laughing,jumping.Next to me,the old italian stage hand (who once helped building the O.H. roof)was crying and hugging me.
Half a minute later,the Green Room was completely empty.Dancers were back jumping on the stage,notes were coming from the Concert Hall.All the huge feeling of before was gone.But it was the most emotional moment I had for....well,a long time.It moved me to tears.Even if I'm not a sport /competition person,even if I'm not australian and even if I'm cynical.

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 12:30 AM

Lena, If you are not already and Australian, It sounds like it's just about time you joined us and became one.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Lena
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 12:33 AM

Your very nice government shows me everyday how unwanted I am down here.After all these months like this I even growed proud of not being Australian...

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Lena
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 12:33 AM

Your very nice government shows me everyday how unwanted I am down here.After all these months like this I even grew proud of not being Australian...

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Lena
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 12:34 AM

Ooops.I don't know how gave birth to twins postings....

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 12:36 AM

Well you've got me there. Would you like to elaborate on that?

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 12:51 AM

I'm not up on Australian history, but still appreciate the incredible excitement surrounding Cathy Freeman and what she means to Australia, and the aboriginal people. Especially exciting was that she was running third until the final turn - it was hardly a cinch that she would win. She just turned eveything into high gear at that point. What a moment!

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Helen
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 05:02 AM

If you get a chance to see any of the women's beach volleyball finals, sit down and enjoy it. It was the most entertaining sporting event I have ever watched, even though I don't really understand the rules. It was a couple of days ago now but it was magnificent. Brazil v. Australia.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bagpuss
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 07:09 AM

Well of course, the Autralian press has always loved and supported Cathy Freeman. I remember when she won in the Commonwealth Games a few years back. The Ozzies made such a stink that she carried round the Aboriginal flag on her lap of honour.

About the Romanian gymnast - the substance concerned was not on the list of banned substances given by the International Gymnastics Federation - obviously the team doctor hadn't realised that the IOC list was different. They did give her some leeway though, as they allowed her to keep her team gold medal, but not her individual medal. Besides, if they let her off now they would get some huge stick about all the naldrolone bans that they have been enforcing - even when it was obvious it wasn't taken deliberately. I mean, why would Linford Christie start cheating now when he is retired.

Anyway, just watched an amazing 400m race from Dean Macey in the Decathlon to see him move to withing 8 points of the leader. It would be amazing if he could get a medal again.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 06:01 PM

Lena,

Where are you? Who are you? Why are you having troubles with the government? Mudcatters are good at being supportive. We'd really like to hear your story -- if you wouldn't mind telling us, that is. I think many here are taken with the few bits of your story that you have disclosed.

The best of luck to you in all your doings.

Art Thieme
Peru, Illinois
USA

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bugsy
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 08:34 PM

So, Lena, are you going to enlighten us?

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 08:44 PM

Perhaps not Bugsy. Maybe she's had a Vegemite overdose.

I saw you guys got a bronze in the synchro diving. Also, NBC just did a piece on East Timor and the athletes they have there. The people of East Timor now have 3 new heroes even though they all finished last or almost last in their events.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Lena
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 09:34 PM

For Heaven's sake,not in the morning when I'm struggling to keep as good mood up.To say it blankly,Australia is a lovely country,but you try and live here if you're not'proudly Australia'.Indeed I'm italian,gladly italian.and because I was born there,I'm never going to be allowed to live in Australia.I'm not going to be allowed to live with my australian citizen father because I'm over eighteen.If I'm sick,i'm not elegible for any medical assisrtance unless I pay(a lot).And You'll say:well,fair enough,you're not australian,what do you espect?!Well,I pay much more taxes than any average australian.Taxes I take off from any job people is so generous to offer me.Because not being a resident.I'm allowed to work thrre months at a time,after which period I have to be fired by law.And of course no boss wants you for just three months.And if a boss wants you,well,by law you can't work more than twenty hours a week.Of course you'll never find a proper job,but only something paying you around AU$ 10 an hour.So,in the end,if you're lucky you can get AU$ 200 a week...take off AU$ 60 for taxes...you survive with 140 $ a week,taking off 100 for the rent,than you just have enough money to eat(if you can gamble with GST and stuff),pay bills,and pray to not get sick.I've been going on like this for nearly one year now.I'll soon (a few months)have to leave again my father and sister,and go back to Europe.I might miss Australia then...but not being in Australia like this.Which was the only way.Call me a proud european ,thank you very much.At least our consideration for education and erudition is better and less elitarian,and I'll be able to go to UNI back there.

Apart from this angry stuff,the funny new I was given the other day is that there is some Optus pay Channel showing the flame 24 hours a day.You pay for sitting there whatching the Olypmic flame for hours!!!!!Unbelievable...

Besides,the other

Subject: RE: BS: Cathy Freeman sticks it to Perec!
From: Bugsy
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 10:15 PM

This is the same problem that my neice had when coming to Australia. She came, as you did on a 12 month working visa.

The idea of this visa is to allow young overseas visitors to travel around the country and get an idea of the diversity of our culture. That is why you cannot stay with one employer for more than 3 months. It is supposed to encourage you to move to another State and experience life there. If after that time you wish to emigrate, you must return to your home country and apply as any other prospective Imigrant, on a points sytem.

I'm sure that if an Australian wanted to got to Italy, USA, Canada, UK or anywhere else to live, the procedure would be very similar.

I am sorry that you feel harshly treated by the Australian Government, but you are by no means being singled out for harsh treatment. Imigration laws are just as hard everywhere else in the world.

CHeers

Bugsy