The COVIDLympics, Day Eight: No, NBCUniversal... Some of us view them as the drums of REALITY...

• NBCUniversal has shunted off all criticism of the ratings and the attitudes surrounding Team USA in the Olympic Games and their coverage.  They basically state that the Games WILL be profitable to NBC (I'd ask "How??", but the advertising is so prevalent on the stream coverage that they probably just jam every ad they can find and do it that way!!!), in spite of the shit ratings and what they call "the drums of negativity"...  I am reminded of a very wise woman I look up to once demanding of me that I become an optimist.  (She's kinda loopy that way...  ;) )  Of course, the one time I decide to try to take that optimism and test it...   
• As such, another 40% drop from Rio last night, but 19 million saw primetime action last night, one of the best numbers so far for Tokyo. (Sports Media Watch)
• Two tracksters and one coach from Trinidad and Tobago are done at the Games with COVID positives...
• So is a South African golfer, before the second round was called off due to weather partway through.
• The total, as of yesterday's report, is now over 200 COVID positives from the Olympic community.
• Protests continue regarding the COVIDLympics, one Japanese professor certain that there is no way the Games are prepared to deal with "the worst-case scenario"...
• US men's volleyball team is at least doing some internal chirping, but more at itself.  It now has a must-win vs. Argentina to not become the first men's volleyball US team to not make the playoff since Sydney, when they went 0-5!
• Gracenote has not released their numbers yet for today -- but, as of yesterday, their Twitter account was noting the USA projected to win 46 golds and 109 total.  WHAT???  They admit their lack of Chinese data, but...   
• Benefits of being the host:  Japan has already broken it's national record for gold medals in just seven days.
• Sports Illustrated article on continuing lies from USA Gymnastics.  Easy answer to the title of "Can Gymnastics Be Saved?"  NO.
• And we have our first drug disqualification of the track meet:  Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria continues the Nigerian story of their track team in these Games.  Busted for HGH and never should've been allowed in Tokyo.  It was an out-of-competition test on the 19th which has her provisionally suspended.  She was 9th fastest in Round 1 of the 100m.
• Simone Biles has, as expected, withdrawn from Sunday's individual apparatus events.
• Mixed relays did not go well for Team USA last night -- swimming took 5th.  And after being reinstated, almost the story of the Games for the USA, track took bronze.
• And, as I all but predicted to people who are trying to say the USA has tracksters to make up the difference...  Jamaica:  CLEAN SWEEP 1-2-3 in the 100 meter women's final.
• Only two golds in the pool.  China leads the golds, now, by FOUR with 21.  Japan, after a shock loss in the team Judo to finish the Judo program, has 17 (9 in Judo).  USA has 16.
• China and the USA are tied with 46 total medals.  Illegal Russian Team has 37.  Japan has 30.
• Just about half the medals are now gone:  159 of the 339 events have been completed.
• Four years ago:  24 golds (16 in the pool), 61 (33 in the pool) total for the USA.  They're 14 (8 in the pool) and 46 (26 total in the pool) right now.  China was 13 and 41 last Olympics through eight days -- now 21 and 46.
• 49 nations have gold medals so far in the Tokyo Games.
• 76 have medaled in total.
• Only five Swimming finals left.  USA might be remotely favored in two.