Screen Shots: Tuesday, July 30th, 2024

Welcome to Screen Shots! This is where I tell you what you should watch on TV. It’s going to be a very sports-centric list since that’s really the only thing we have left that you simply must watch live. Speaking of watching things, you should watch me on YouTube! Have your own suggestions? Shoot me an email at [email protected]!

This is just the 2nd Olympic Games to feature a skateboarding competition. The extent of my skateboarding knowledge begins and ends at Tony Hawk Pro Skater, but the highlights caught my attention due to their uniforms. Olympic skateboarders simply dress like regular skateboarders. I’m not sure what I expected. It makes complete sense. Every other sport does the same thing. It was just jarring to see an Olympic competition with so many baggy pants. Anyway, let’s get to it!

Men's Basketball: Canada vs. Australia at 7:30 a.m. ET on USA, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

Why you should watch: This Canadian squad is as talented as they are unlikable. Back in my day, that was Australia’s role in the international men’s basketball world! It’s time for the Boomers to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Do it for Shane Heal’s Real Slim Shady hair!

Table Tennis Mixed Doubles Gold Medal Match at 8:30 a.m. ET on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

Why you should watch: Aren’t you curious how they’re able to play doubles at such a tiny table?

Men's Individual Triathlon at 10 a.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

Why you should watch: I always get hungry watching this one. 1500-meter swim followed by a 40-kilometer (almost 25 miles) bike ride. As if that wasn’t enough, they finish up with a 10-kilometer (6.2 miles) run. The swim is supposed to take place in the Seine River. However, all training swims were canceled due to excess pollution levels. In case you thought it was polluted with something cool, I want to be very clear that it’s polluted with poop. They’re counting on rain to help clean it up before the competition starts. I’ve spent a lot of time convincing myself that I don’t need to wash my car because it rained, but this is a bit much.

Men's Basketball: Japan vs. France at 11:15 a.m. ET on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

Why you should watch: We’ve already talked about these teams, but Victor Wembanyama is the human version of a swim relay final.

Women's Artistic Gymnastics Team Final at 12:15 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

Why you should watch: Do I have to say anything? Okay, fine. Simone Biles is the best gymnast ever. I don’t know how much longer she’ll compete, but you owe it to yourself to watch her every single time. Team USA also features Suni Lee, who won the Individual All-Around gold medal in Tokyo. With Biles earning the 2016 Individual All-Around gold, that makes this the 1st women’s gymnastics team EVER to feature two different Individual All-Around gold medalists. Jade Carey has been under the weather in Paris, but she won gold in Floor Exercise in Toyko. Jordan Chiles was the 4th best gymnast in the world through qualifying and would be competing for an Individual All-Around gold of her own if not for a rule that limits participants to two per country (Biles and Lee qualified). And Hezly Rivera is talented enough to make this stacked squad at just 16 years old. Tune the fuck in for this one! Also, here’s an interview I did with a former competitive gymnast that will help give some perspective on how difficult of a sport gymnastics is.

Women's Rugby Sevens Gold Medal Match at 1:45 p.m. ET on E!, USA Network, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

Why you should watch: I don’t know who will be in this yet, but I’ve seen enough of this sport so far to be confident that it does not matter. Look at what Ilona Maher does here. I’m pretty sure they had to dig that player up out of the turf. Or check out this Portia Woodman highlight tape. The New Zealand star was named the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade. What happens if Maher and Woodman collide? Is that how stars are made?

Women's Épée Team Gold Medal Match at 2:30 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

Why you should watch: I’m purposely not researching this event because I want to believe that it resembles The Wildlings versus the Night’s Watch in “Game of Thrones.”

Women's Swimming: 100m Backstroke Final at 2:57 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

Why you should watch: Team USA versus Australia is the swimming equivalent of the US-Jamaica sprint rivalry. This event is the perfect representation of that. Regan Smith of the US and Kaylee McKeown of Australia have traded the world record back and forth since 2019. McKeown took home gold in Tokyo as Smith had to settle for bronze behind another former world record holder in this event, Canadian Kylie Masse. All three return as Smith looks to flip the podium fresh off of reclaiming the world record during the US Trials.

Men's Swimming: 800m Freestyle Final at 3:03 p.m. p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com 

Why you should watch: This is the longest poop-free men’s swimming event of the day.

Men's Swimming: 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final at 3:59 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

Why you should watch: You already know what it is.

Men's Basketball 3x3: United States vs. Serbia at 4:35 p.m. on NBC, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com

Why you should watch: You’ll never guess who I found! You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger blast from the past than Jimmer Fredette (or as I call him “Millenial Joe Girard”). Even more exciting is the inclusion of Canyon Barry! His dad, Rick, is the only basketball player ever to lead the NCAA, ABA, and NBA in scoring. Rick never went to the Olympics though, so Canyon’s got him there. When shooting free throws, he copies his dad’s granny shot form. Canyon made nearly 81% of them in college right down the street from me at the College of Charleston. He played a graduate year at Florida while he got his Master’s in Nuclear Engineering. I wish I knew enough about that to feel confident making an Oppenheimer joke here.

Happy watching!