Olympic musings..... - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

exUte · 08-21-2008, 05:38 PM

1) Synchronized gymnastics and ping pong but not real sports like women's softball or mens baseball? C'mon. I guess it's part of the politically correct nature of the olympics. It's more about 'feel good' sports; giving every country an opportunity to win at something.

2) The nationalities of athletes representing 'their' country is a joke. The two Georgian beach volleyballers.....Brasilians. Russian women's basketball player.....US. And it goes on and on. You can shop your athleticism to the country who is willing to give you a passport?

3) Chinese gymnasts.........15 or older? Nuff said.

il Padrino Ute · 08-21-2008, 07:39 PM

I don't really think it's that big of a deal that there are athletes representing a country of which he/she may or may not be a citizen. Didn't Shawn Bradley play for Germany in the games a number of years ago?

I do agree about the sports that shouldn't be Olympic sports. The IOC is going to drop baseball but keep synchronized diving?

China has to put on airs in order to try to convince the world that they are not as bad as the world knows it is. If they have to use 13 year old girls to compete at gymnastics, they'll do it. China gotta do what China gotta do.

MikeWaters · 08-21-2008, 07:44 PM

They actually have good reason to drop baseball--the Olympics is supposed to be about the best players in the world.

Baseball trots out college player and minor leaguers, a far cry from the best ballplayers in the world.

No best players, no Olympics. Simple as that. They got this one right.

il Padrino Ute · 08-21-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

They actually have good reason to drop baseball--the Olympics is supposed to be about the best players in the world.

Baseball trots out college player and minor leaguers, a far cry from the best ballplayers in the world.

No best players, no Olympics. Simple as that. They got this one right.

You make a fair point. NHL suspends play for the 3 weeks during the winter games.

Still, I'd much rather watch baseball than a lot of the events they have.

bluegoose · 08-21-2008, 08:51 PM

Can someone please convince me why its a bad thing that China may or may not be using 13 year old girls on their gymnastics team? Aside from the whole "against the rules" thing.

If the Olympics really is about bringing in the best athletes to compete, why not let their Beehive class have at it? If you can't beat a couple of 13 year olds, maybe you don't deserve a Gold.

Like Walter Dix said after learning he won the Bronze last night by way of DQ, "Yeah, but I still lost".

MikeWaters · 08-21-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegoose

Can someone please convince me why its a bad thing that China may or may not be using 13 year old girls on their gymnastics team? Aside from the whole "against the rules" thing.

If the Olympics really is about bringing in the best athletes to compete, why not let their Beehive class have at it? If you can't beat a couple of 13 year olds, maybe you don't deserve a Gold.

Like Walter Dix said after learning he won the Bronze last night by way of DQ, "Yeah, but I still lost".

it's a reaction to all the abuse and injuries that young girls suffered before they increased the ages.

TripletDaddy · 08-21-2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegoose

Can someone please convince me why its a bad thing that China may or may not be using 13 year old girls on their gymnastics team? Aside from the whole "against the rules" thing.

If the Olympics really is about bringing in the best athletes to compete, why not let their Beehive class have at it? If you can't beat a couple of 13 year olds, maybe you don't deserve a Gold.

Like Walter Dix said after learning he won the Bronze last night by way of DQ, "Yeah, but I still lost".

Here is my beef with letting 13 year old girls compete...

They only compete in the annoying events....gymnastics, dancing (the one with the ball or the ribbon on a stick), trampoline, and all the synchronized activities.

If we eliminate the 13 year olds, there is no more need for those dumb events.

I am all for letting these girls age a few years, fill out, and then come back. Once they have breasts, let them jump on trampolines all day long.

On a side note, I am thinking of volunteering to be an official butt-slapper for the US female athletes. Our women waste too much energy between points and after events slapping each other on the butt. I will be the one who runs around during each event tapping everyone on the cheeks. What can I say, I am a patriot...and my flag's at FULL STAFF, baby!

TripletDaddy · 08-21-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

it's a reaction to all the abuse and injuries that young girls suffered before they increased the ages.

Yes, this is a horrible practice.

You would never see that kind of child endangerment here in the USA.

Sincerely,

maldjusted Hollywood child actors

SteelBlue · 08-21-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

it's a reaction to all the abuse and injuries that young girls suffered before they increased the ages.

I'd argue that they still suffer the abuses waiting their turn.

SteelBlue · 08-21-2008, 09:43 PM

I love baseball, but I'm not sad to see it go as an Olympic sport. It just doesn't have an Olympic feel to me. I guess if a sport already has a huge league and a huge fanbase and a yearly championship that is seen as greater than Olympic gold, then seeing that sport in the Olympic games doesn't feel special. I feel this way about basketball to an extent as well.

08-21-2008, 05:38 PM	#1
exUte Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,326	Olympic musings..... 1) Synchronized gymnastics and ping pong but not real sports like women's softball or mens baseball? C'mon. I guess it's part of the politically correct nature of the olympics. It's more about 'feel good' sports; giving every country an opportunity to win at something. 2) The nationalities of athletes representing 'their' country is a joke. The two Georgian beach volleyballers.....Brasilians. Russian women's basketball player.....US. And it goes on and on. You can shop your athleticism to the country who is willing to give you a passport? 3) Chinese gymnasts.........15 or older? Nuff said. __________________ Ohbama - The Original Bridge to Nowhere

08-21-2008, 07:39 PM	#2
il Padrino Ute Board Pinhead Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the basement of my house, Murray, Utah. Posts: 15,941	I don't really think it's that big of a deal that there are athletes representing a country of which he/she may or may not be a citizen. Didn't Shawn Bradley play for Germany in the games a number of years ago? I do agree about the sports that shouldn't be Olympic sports. The IOC is going to drop baseball but keep synchronized diving? China has to put on airs in order to try to convince the world that they are not as bad as the world knows it is. If they have to use 13 year old girls to compete at gymnastics, they'll do it. China gotta do what China gotta do. __________________ "The beauty of baseball is not having to explain it." - Chuck Shriver "This is now the joke that stupid people laugh at." - Christopher Hitchens on IQ jokes about GWB.

08-21-2008, 07:44 PM	#3
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	They actually have good reason to drop baseball--the Olympics is supposed to be about the best players in the world. Baseball trots out college player and minor leaguers, a far cry from the best ballplayers in the world. No best players, no Olympics. Simple as that. They got this one right.

08-21-2008, 08:51 PM	#5
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	Can someone please convince me why its a bad thing that China may or may not be using 13 year old girls on their gymnastics team? Aside from the whole "against the rules" thing. If the Olympics really is about bringing in the best athletes to compete, why not let their Beehive class have at it? If you can't beat a couple of 13 year olds, maybe you don't deserve a Gold. Like Walter Dix said after learning he won the Bronze last night by way of DQ, "Yeah, but I still lost".

08-21-2008, 09:43 PM	#10
SteelBlue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Norcal Posts: 5,821	I love baseball, but I'm not sad to see it go as an Olympic sport. It just doesn't have an Olympic feel to me. I guess if a sport already has a huge league and a huge fanbase and a yearly championship that is seen as greater than Olympic gold, then seeing that sport in the Olympic games doesn't feel special. I feel this way about basketball to an extent as well.