Olympic fever

[satchel]

I'm starting this thread as a general Olympics musings forum for anyone else following the games.

Folks, I just love the Winter Olympics.

I know most people think the summer games are purer, the main attraction and so on, but I have a warm spot in my heart for the games in the cold.

Ever since as a 7 year old I watched Eric Heiden win five golds in Lake Placid, and I speed-skated in my socks accross the hardwood floors in my house singing the Olympic anthem, I have loved the winter games.

Why must NBC's coverage suck? Apart from the obvious (and IMO understandable) USA bias, Bob Costas's obvious contempt for the whole enterprise is bizarre, to say the least.

Is anyone surprised that the fix appears to have been in for the last three decades in figure skating? The Canadian Sale and Pelletier's performance floored me. I can assure you it's not just silver-medal-sour-grapes on their part: either the judges were smoking crack, or they were on the take.

Back to my old favorite, speed skating, one of the German women, Claudia Pechstein, sets a world record in the 3000m in her qualifying run. Her teammate breaks the record in the final. Then it's Pechstein's turn, and she breaks the record AGAIN for the gold. 3000m in less than 4 minutes.

How about Georg Hackl - the luger who medal in five consecutive Olympics, more than anyone. Three of them are gold. It's stuff like this - the pure, consistent excellence in arbitrary, obscure sports - that makes me love the olympics.

Well, that's enough rambling for now. If you're following the Olympics, what are your highlights and lowlights?

[gyb13]

Olympics? Aren't they in two years? :D

[Xanadu Dragon]

Heard on the radio that the theory is the Russian and French judges were colluding. Sad. But, nothing will happen of it - and, the Canadian couple will get more mileage now out of getting screwed.

[Duque]

I will watch some of the hockey, and maybe some of the downhill skiing, though that's about it. I won't watch the figure-skating - it's not a sport, just like the WWF isn't a sport, or the Westminster Dog Show. Of course the judges are full of it. Haven't there been a plethora of investigations showing how corrupt some of these people are?

[Xanadu Dragon]

Originally posted by Duque
I will watch some of the hockey, and maybe some of the downhill skiing, though that's about it. I won't watch the figure-skating - it's not a sport, just like the WWF isn't a sport, or the Westminster Dog Show.

Quick sidebar - heard a funny line about the WWF this AM - - - it said it was fake, and, what they should do is have the loser in a match service the winner (sexually) - - this way, at least one of the wrestlers will be fighting to win.

Back to the O - - - when did this start with the Winter O? I always remember it, but, I know it doesn't go back to ancient Greece. Is it just a money scheme?

[sweaver]

Wrestling isn't "fake." It's scripted, like most shows on TV. It's sort of a soap opera with muscles, if you like that sort of thing.

The pairs ice skating results show the problems of a "judged" event vs. a true contest, where best time, highest score, etc. is the goal. I wouldn't call anything that is judged a sport.

However, women watch the Olympics, more so than other sporting events, because of competitions such as this. So they remain popular.

[Xanadu Dragon]

Originally posted by sweaver
However, women watch the Olympics, more so than other sporting events, because of competitions such as this. So they remain popular.

I'm sure those "suits" that the speed skaters wear with their "packages" hanging out don't hurt none with some gals neither. :stinker:

[satchel]

Oh, all right, you bunch of grouches. Why don't you go start your own "Olympics suck" thread instead of hijacking my positive, happy thread about something I have loved since I was a kid?

Who cares if figure skating is a "sport" or not? It's spectacular to watch and a hell of a lot more athletic than anything you miserable couch potatoes can bring yourself to get off your asses and do. And who needs your sexist comments either?

Actually, never mind - you can have this thread and spout whatever crap you want on it - I won't be reading it any more.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by sweaver
The pairs ice skating results show the problems of a "judged" event vs. a true contest, where best time, highest score, etc. is the goal. I wouldn't call anything that is judged a sport.
What about calling balls and strikes? Seem like a judgement call every now and then...

[Xanadu Dragon]

Originally posted by satchel
you can have this thread and spout whatever crap you want on it - I won't be reading it any more.

Aw, com'on Satch. I'm sure someone will have the same view on this as you - don't give up on this thread yet.

[BuzzBuzzard]

Originally posted by Duque
I will watch some of the hockey, It just isn't the same with the pros playing. Say the US wins the Gold. It would mean about 1/1000 of what 1980 did. It's too bad. The pros should be playing in the NHL.

[SmedIndy]

I love the biathlon, luge, bobsleigh, cross country skiing, and ski jumping. I'm intrigued by curling, but you can have a beer and a smoke while playing it (well, Keith Hernandez did too, I guess...)

And of course i love the hockey.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by BuzzBuzzard
It just isn't the same with the pros playing. Say the US wins the Gold. It would mean about 1/1000 of what 1980 did. It's too bad. The pros should be playing in the NHL.
Why? The Olympics are about the best, strongest, fastest, etc... it shouldn't matter whether that's a 33-yr old pro or a 17-yr old amateur.

[sweaver]

There have always been pros in the Olympics, they just didn't always admit it.

I do love the Olympics. Watch it almost every night, while it's on. But NBC's coverage almost does me in sometimes. It's not right, NBC should do baseball, ABC should do the OLympics.

[BuzzBuzzard]

Originally posted by gyb13

Why? The Olympics are about the best, strongest, fastest, etc... it shouldn't matter whether that's a 33-yr old pro or a 17-yr old amateur. I just don't see it that way. In my mind, the Olympics should be for amateurs.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by BuzzBuzzard
I just don't see it that way. In my mind, the Olympics should be for amateurs.
Well, when they originated in ancient Greece, they were more for a regular John who just also happened to excel in running, throwing a javelin, etc.
The modern Olympics, however, have always been associated with money. Even the 'amateurs' (usually associated with individual, rather than team, sports) still need funding for their travel costs, etc - and spend their careers looking for sponsors and other contributors so that they can take part in these competitions.

[sweaver]

I'm no more upset over the money for athletes in the Olympics than I am for those in college sports.

I would rather they admit they are getting money, than have to hide it, with a wink wink, nudge nudge.