London calling

A games miscellany compiled by MARY HANNIGAN

Software glitch: Gay gets name change

A story doing the rounds yesterday about The American Family Association’s quirky refusal to use the word ‘gay’ on its Christian news site OneNewsNow appears to have actually been four years old, unless they’ve been having difficulties with American sprinter Tyson Gay all over again.

Back in 2008 the Washington Post reported that the group’s “strict policy to always replace the word ‘gay’ with ‘homosexual’ on the website”, using automated software that changed the word if it appeared in Associated Press stories, resulted in them carrying a report on the success of “Tyson Homosexual” at the Olympic trials.

The original AP story: “Tyson Gay was a blur in blue, sprinting 100 meters faster than anyone ever has …. Gay qualified for his first Summer Games team and served notice he’s certainly someone to watch in Beijing. “It means a lot to me,” the 25-year-old Gay said…..”.

OneNewsNow’s version: “Tyson Homosexual was a blur in blue, sprinting 100 meters faster than anyone ever has …. Homosexual qualified for his first Summer Games team and served notice he’s certainly someone to watch in Beijing. “It means a lot to me,” the 25-year-old Homosexual said…..”.

Fred Jackson, news director of OneNewsNow, told the Post that it was a “software glitch” that was fixed – “We don’t object to the word ‘gay’ …except when it refers to people who practice a homosexual lifestyle.”

It wasn’t the only time OneNewsNow experienced such sporting difficulties, NBA player Rudy Gay also tripping them up: “Memphis Grizzlies backers hit the hay hoping that Kevin Love would open things up for Rudy Homosexual in the frontcourt.”

It's not Fab: Catalan Alex not feeling it

Tingling to be representing Spain – Catalan hockey player Alex Fabregas: "I play in the Spanish team because there's no other team I can play with, I have no other choice. I feel Catalan. I do not feel the same way listening to the Spanish anthem as I do listening to Els Segadors.

"I enjoy playing in the team for myself, for my peers and for the people who come to see me. But at no point do I feel I am playing for Spain."

Mind you, only two of the 18-strong Spanish men's squad aren't Catalan, so he shouldn't feel alone.

Losing the rag: Fouhy left fuming

It's probably fair to say New Zealander Ben Fouhy was feeling a little downbeat after he finished sixth in his kayak semi-final in London, eight years after winning silver in Athens.

The former world champion let rip at the NZ sporting authorities (Sparc), with whom he hasn't always had the comfiest of relationships.

"It stings a little bit to finish your career like that. I'm disillusioned. I'm ****ing disgusted at Sparc. I don't mind them making decisions I don't like. But at least have the ****ing courtesy to get on the phone and tell me, or meet to my face. I've had a world record for five years and been a world champion, there's a lot of detractors out there that like to kick you when you're down. That's New Zealand for you, isn't it?"

Fouhy later apologised for his rant, not unreasonably pointing out these things can happen when you have a microphone shoved in your face minutes after a crushing disappointment. He also revealed he has struggled to pay his mortgage in the run-up to the Olympics, and has been in financial difficulties most of his career.

"When the chips are down and you're not winning, all of a sudden you're a moaner. Well, I'm a moaner that's been training six days a week, three times a day off $25,000 a year. I won the world title and I spent $20,000, all my savings, and I was ten grand in debt. We did it off the smell of an oily rag."

He's now thinking about switching sporting careers and becoming an "Ironman", which, with a bit of luck, will prove more lucrative than the whiff off an oily rag.

Wuff luck: Medal mutts

It can't have been an easy decision for Andy Murray to decide which of his two dogs deserved his Olympic gold medal, and which had to make do with his silver, but judging by this photo tweeted by his girlfriend Kim Sears it looks like Maggie May is seriously peeved that Rusty was awarded the runners-up prize. Second is second, first is nowhere?

As if the Australians weren't feeling delicate enough about their modest medal haul at London 2012 so far, the British media took considerable delight yesterday in telling them that they'd fallen behind someone else in the medals table: Yorkshire.

Alistair and Jonny Brownlees gold and bronze in the triathlon brought the county's tally to five golds, two silvers and three bronzes, which also put Yorkshire ahead of Japan and just behind Germany.

"Strewth," cried Australia.

SPORTSWRITER DWYRE SMITTEN WITH TAYLOR'S HITTIN'

He was far from being the only member of the international media to have been more than a little impressed by Katie Taylor's performance on Monday, but Bill Dwyre of the LA Times was left positively purring:

"History told us of Babe Didrikson Zaharias, then of Fanny Blankers-Koen. Legends grew around Dawn Fraser and Olga Connolly; also Joan Benoit and now Kim Rhode. They are Olympic women. Hear them roar.

"Someday, given what took place at a boxing arena in the far reaches of the London Olympics on Monday afternoon, the name Katie Taylor (right) may be on the list . . . the beloved daughter of Irish sport's introduction to the rest of the world was spectacular.

"Veteran boxing writers who had shown up expecting to characterize this as little more than a political gesture toward equal-opportunity brain damage inched forward in their seats.

"This was real boxing action . . . The place rocked, the show was magical . . . The Olympic legend of Katie Taylor begins."

And divil a mention of booze or the fighting Irish. Thanks Bill.

...FOR A GAME OF SOLDIERS

If you'd a euro for every time a headline along the lines of "For Feck's sake" appeared since poor old Stephan Feck finished last in the preliminary round of the springboard diving on Monday, you'd be laughing.

The German had the misfortune to land on his back in the water when his second dive didn't go so well, the 22-year-old clearly in distress after he left the pool. He completed one more dive but the pain then forced him to withdraw.

Australian diver Ethan Warren was sympathetic and talked about the injuries you can pick up in his game: It depends how you hit the water, really. You get this big sort of burning, stinging sensation. A bit of bruising, some blood vessels can pop, but overall that's sport."

Ugh.

CAUGHT ON THE HOP

As if Locog, the London 2012 organisers, hadn't enough to be doing, they're now hot on the trail of whoever brought a supply of "Kangaroo condoms" in to the Olympic athletes' village.

Australian BMX cyclist Caroline Buchanan tweeted a photograph showing a container of "Kangaroo condoms, for the gland downunder", made by Australian company Ansell Ltd.

And what's the problem there, you might ask?

Durex are London 2012's official condom people.

"We will look into this and ask that they are not handed out to other athletes because Durex are our supplier," said a Locog spokeswoman.

Wishing them all the best with their investigation.

London next stop: Team Rwanda bus it to the Games

Tweet of the Day, from Michael Acton Smith (@acton):

"This is why I love the Olympics. Team Rwanda at my bus stop."