hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Jul 25, 2008 15:22:50 GMT -5
The '08 Summer Olympics are almost here. I remember looking forward to the Olympics a lot as a kid. I will still watch a good bit, but for some reason, some of the luster and appeal has gone away. My questions for you are:
1. How excited, if at all, are you about the Olympics?
2. Has that changed much over the years?
3. If so, why do you think that is? Is it simply the massive growth that we have seen in televised sports as a whole? Or do you think the fact that it isn't strictly amateur athletes competing has taken some of the appeal away?
4. Lastly, what are your favorite Summer Olympic events?
|
|
RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 8,835
|
Post by RDF on Jul 25, 2008 23:55:57 GMT -5
I can't stand the United States Men's Basketball team and will pull for them to lose. Just watching them profile and act tough against a friggin Canada team that had ZERO TALENT--I mean Andy Rautins is a nice role player at Syracuse-and he receives serious playing time--and watching guys like Wade, Kidd, etc...acting tough against this group of garbage was disgusting.
Only thing worse--the clown doing the play-by-play with Fran Frischilla doing the commentary. This guy was using tired cliches, trying to be "down" with players by using "KB" for Kobe Bryant, D-Wade, etc...and he was whiter then my teeth-it was just painful. He was bragging about the "awesome display of firepower" and then would say "That kid for Canada doesn't have 1/100th the talent of Kobe...."--no FECES Mr. Smart--he's only the reigning MVP of the NBA and the Canada team was starting Rowan Barrett--a 35 year old who played at SJU in the Mourning Era at Georgetown.
Worst of all, Team USA was getting away with junk they won't in International Play overseas, where they'll get called for odd fouls, traveling, etc....and they'll whine about it--and thing is--they are violations too.
Viva la Greece, Argentina, and anyone else. I can't stand this team.
|
|
SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,719
|
Post by SFHoya99 on Jul 26, 2008 0:00:03 GMT -5
1. Very, very excited. 2. All been a big Olympics fan. 3. No lost luster. Only thing that can be annoying is the announcing/oversnappy special interest junk. 4. Swimming first. Track and field next. I prefer the sports that don't require key judging (diving, gymnastics).
|
|
Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
|
Post by Boz on Jul 26, 2008 0:41:18 GMT -5
1. I think it's difficult to get "pumped up" for the Olympics because...well, basically there's no build-up to it, unlike most other US sports where the championships are preceded by long playoff events. Yes, there are the qualifying competitions (the ones we get to see anyway), but those happen well in advance. We have short attention spans in America (or it could be just me). Once the Games start, I get very into them and I watch as much as I can. But it's not easy to get excited in advance.
2. I like the Games pretty much the same as always, except this year, I'm pretty sure I'll watch the whole thing on mute with nutbar Olbermann leading the commentary.
4. No real favorites, I like most everything, except I agree with SF that I prefer the games that are not bound to judging. I'm fairly confident I will watch no boxing & very little gymnastics. I will watch diving just because that sport amazes me. I know nothing about any of the teams, but I really enjoy watching water polo for some reason.
|
|
Nevada Hoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 18,408
|
Post by Nevada Hoya on Jul 26, 2008 11:15:19 GMT -5
I'm with SF! I had heard that the TV coverage for this Olympics is more than the total combined coverage of the previous Olympics.
|
|
hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Jul 26, 2008 11:20:16 GMT -5
I agree with the sentiment of "judged" events. I just don't like that concept at all. I understand the need, but still find a system of grading to be foundationally flawed.
I think the "lead-up" comment makes a lot of sense. And I think it might go hand-in-hand with a point I made earlier. '72 was the first Olympics that I remember watching and '76 and up moreso. Back then we didn't have ESPN. We had NFL football on Sunday and one game on Monday night. College football was restricted to Saturday and you pretty much only got to see a game or two. We didnt' even have the Superstation shoving Braves games down our throats daily. The point is that we didn't have the steady diet of available TV sports that we do now. I think that fueled a good bit of the interest in watching the Olympics. Similarly, leading up to the Olympics, one thing I remember enjoying a lot back then was the Olympic trials. They were frequently covered on Wide World of Sports. As Boz mentioned, I don't think we have the build up effect that we used to. By the time the Olympics arrived, I "knew" the boxers, the sprinters, the swimmers etc... In fairness, I remember noticing the Olympic trials a few weeks ago but didn't watch a single tiny bit of them. Maybe that blame should fall on me. Either way, Boz is right in the lack of "build up."
|
|
hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Jul 26, 2008 11:24:15 GMT -5
RDF, one thing I forgot to mention: I totally agree with your sentiment concerning the basketball team. I really wish it could return to a true amateur event. That might have been part of the allure. Our guys truly were amateurs, while those from the likes of E. Germany, Russia etc... weren't. But there is no way that I am going to root for us to lose. I can dislike individuals, but when one team has U.S.A. on the front and the other doesn't ... there is zero doubt as to who I want to win.
|
|
Nevada Hoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 18,408
|
Post by Nevada Hoya on Jul 26, 2008 18:57:40 GMT -5
Actually, even track and field has three judged events, two for the men and one for the women. These are the walks, 20K and 50K for men, 20K for women. I have been on the wrong side of the chief judge's red paddle one time myself. Quite embarrassing! The judge's calls appear sometimes very subjective. The same two judges (man and wife) who each issued me a card did not say a peep my next race with them as judges. I have a suspicion that they were not experienced judges and the more learned judges gave them the word after the race. The only Olympian I know personally this year is Philip Dunn, who is the US only entry in the 50K walk.
The other events in track and field are judged just for overt foul-ups like running out of your lane in one lap or less events. But that is like having referees in bball.
|
|
RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 8,835
|
Post by RDF on Jul 26, 2008 23:10:12 GMT -5
RDF, one thing I forgot to mention: I totally agree with your sentiment concerning the basketball team. I really wish it could return to a true amateur event. That might have been part of the allure. Our guys truly were amateurs, while those from the likes of E. Germany, Russia etc... weren't. But there is no way that I am going to root for us to lose. I can dislike individuals, but when one team has U.S.A. on the front and the other doesn't ... there is zero doubt as to who I want to win. Only time I pull for the USA is in combat/serious matters. I could care less about sporting events that are made up to be amateur and the spirit of Olympics is completely different. It's pathetic. Drug Scandals, Professionals, etc.. it's just not same and I'd rather see Greece win then Coach K and the "tough guy" Olympians. BTW--why is Carmelo Anthony always in better shape for this stuff then his job with Nuggets where he's about 10 lbs overweight? Pathetic.
|
|
hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 10,189
|
Post by hoyarooter on Jul 27, 2008 3:26:10 GMT -5
I enjoy the Olympics, but I'm sure I won't watch as much as I would like. I like track (despite the scandals), swimming, gymnastics (despite the judging - I just enjoy the quality of the performances), water polo, and, of course, basketball (sorry RDF - USA, USA!). I gave up on boxing after the Evander Holyfield travesty.
|
|
hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Jul 28, 2008 11:37:12 GMT -5
I was fortunate enough to make the LA Olympics. When all was said and done, I went to the soccer finals, although I can't tell you who was playing. Obviously it wasn't America. But I do remember how cool it was to be at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. We also went to the medal round fights for the lower weight classes. That was pretty cool too. It was the only time I had ever been to a live boxing match. Even though our seats weren't very good, it was still awesome to be there in person as opposed to watching on TV.
|
|
hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 10,189
|
Post by hoyarooter on Jul 28, 2008 11:55:30 GMT -5
I attended a day of track and field at the '84 Olympics (as well as a handful of the cultural events, including seeing two plays featuring Derek Jacobi and the Royal Shakespeare Company, which was very cool), which included the second day of the decathlon, the women's 200 meter finals, and another final that I can't recall. And speaking of the '84 Olympics, there was an interesting article in yesterday's LA Times about Danny Harris, the 400 meter hurdle silver medalist in those games and the runner who broke Edwin Moses' winning streak, and his battle with cocaine addiction.
|
|
hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Aug 6, 2008 10:52:23 GMT -5
I thought the Olympics were supposed to start tomorrow, but I heard on the way to work that they have already started. In a very inauspicious beginning for the Americans, the women's soccer team lost 2-0 to Norway, I think. It might have been Finland, but I'm pretty sure they said Norway. In any case, it was not a good start.
Note for anyone interested: if you get a chance to watch the USA baseball team, I would highly suggest doing so. Former Mets manager Davey Johnson is the USA manager. He is almost always good for a storyline or two himself. There is also a young slugger named Matt LaPorta who will play 1st for team USA and bat 3rd or 4th in the lineup. He has incredible power. He was the key cog in the Sabathia trade a few weeks back. The Brewers found him expendable because they have Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun at his primary 2 spots -- first base and left field. They had been playing him in right field thus far this season, but they are fairly happy with their outfield in general. They made the move for Sabathia in hopes of putting them over the top this season. Getting swept by the Cubs probably put a bit of a damper on that theory however. In any case, I think you might want to take notice of LaPorta. He is the real deal. He left Florida last season as the all-time homerun hitter. He was also the SEC player of the year twice and was the 7th overall pick of the Brewers last summer. The kid is really talented. He was a catcher in high school. He DH'd as a freshman and played a damn good first base his last 3 seasons. He's an oddity in that he stayed in school all 4 years, but he is that much more developed as a result. I fully expect him to be in the bigs next season, and likely for years to come.
|
|
hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 10,189
|
Post by hoyarooter on Aug 6, 2008 12:25:32 GMT -5
If the women's soccer team bombs (does anyone really care?), can we urge SI to revoke the Sportsman of the Year award from a few years ago that should have gone to Lance Armstrong? ;D
|
|
Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
|
Post by Boz on Aug 6, 2008 12:36:23 GMT -5
As long as Heather Mitts continues to play, and they don't try to bench Hope Solo again, I'll continue to root for the US women's team.
|
|
hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Aug 6, 2008 12:42:15 GMT -5
As long as Heather Mitts continues to play, and they don't try to bench Hope Solo again, I'll continue to root for the US women's team. So you are saying that if we were voting on it, then the "Eyes" would have it rather than the "ayes" having it? You have my vote as well.
|
|
hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Aug 6, 2008 13:17:15 GMT -5
|
|
RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 8,835
|
Post by RDF on Aug 6, 2008 13:38:49 GMT -5
US Basketball team looked like skank yesterday against Australia--who didn't have Andrew Bogut playing--he sat out--and from way team is built-he's type who is going to give them troubles--inside players are lacking for Team USA--it's Dwight Howard and nothing else.Austrailia is decent--but not one of the top contenders for gold medal. BTW, how hypocritical is it for NBA teams asking the foreign players to sit out and "not risk injury" in international play--but allowing Americans to play? I mean are we to point of desperation where we need to weaken the field to get a Gold Medal?
If this team loses and doesn't get Gold, please go back to Collegiate players.
P.S---someone end the announcing career of guy working with Fran Frischilla.
|
|
hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
|
Post by hifigator on Aug 6, 2008 14:53:43 GMT -5
RDF, I didn't see any of the game yesterday, aside from the ESPN highlights, but obviously -- at least on paper -- an 11 point victory over an Australian team playing without one of its best players certainly doesn't look very impressive. I have a feeling that they will treat this just like the NBA treats most everything. They know they can "turn it on" when they need to -- or at least they think they do. That didn't work very well 4 years ago. I still have a hunch we come away with the gold this year, but if we are going to play with our "best" pro players, we really should win just about every game by 30 points. Maybe it is similar to that #1 ranked unbeaten team with the bullseye on their chests that you always hear talked about in sports. I don't know. Whatever the reason, we have not performed up to our potential in quite some time.
As for not using pro players, I like that idea, but I would like to see the pressure come from the Olympics themselves. Back in the 70's, we weren't using pro players, but other parts of the world were -- even though they weren't considered pros. The Russian teams, for example, were made up of the finest protege's in their country that were then trained and taken care of 24/7 by the USSR officials. That was as close to "professionals" as they had. That was of course, in the days before they could come play over here without an overt defection. As Bob Dylan said, the Times they are a-changin'. I think it might be time to go back to amateurs only.
Lastly RDF, I didn't hear the NBA making that request, but if they did then that is certainly hypocritical to ask it only of athletes from other countries.
|
|
|
Post by williambraskyiii on Aug 6, 2008 15:10:53 GMT -5
Hope Solo looks like a man
|
|