Thoughts on the Olympics

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SAJohn

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I feel sorry for our younger population. There was a time when the Olympics (summer or winter) was great fun to watch. The focus was on the athletes actual competitions rather than endless commentary on the color of the pool water or the dangers of Rio and enough commercials to choke a horse.

Whenever possible the telecasts were live, the athletes mostly not professionals (except for the Russians), the events not what you normally see on TV. Professional golfers , tennis players, and basketball players - give me a break.

You could watch a Jean-Cladue Killy win all of the skiing events, not just one specialty. Some events like the downhill were terrible dangerous and exciting. Peggy Fleming - sigh.

You could watch two classes of divers - one class was graceful, smooth, and had great water entries, the other class was Greg Louganis.

Here is a video of Greg doing the easiest dive in the books to absolute perfection:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7KrYXgHwTk

Watching Nadia Comaneci do unheard of things on the bars.

Michael Phelps is the only the only current olympian who interests me.
 
Hi,

I used to watch the Olympics fairly avidly, too. For me, things started going downhill when NBC got the contract for TV coverage, and, to add insult to injury, stuck Bob Costas in our faces night after night. I liked the ABC coverage, when guys like Dick Buttons would go to some lengths to describe what we were watching, how it was scored, etc. Even though I was never sure if Dick wasn't about a half a bubble off, he was educational. Today? Bah...

Add the IOC, who's gone on the warpath this time around about almost ANYBODY in business using the term "Olympics" and all the various terms and buzzwords associated with it lest they miss a penny of revenue in licensing fees. It's so bad the guys I listen to on the radio in the morning have taken to talking about "that South American sporting event!" Yeah, part of that's tongue in cheek, a touch of sarcasm about the whole thing, but overall still a comment on how commercial the entire thing's become.

I haven't watched a moment of it this time around... what a change in attitude, eh? :( After the mess that is Rio, I look forward to the possibility of an entire overhaul of the games, perhaps to the point of "The Olympics" being a multi-city/country event, rather than the single city "billions of dollars boondoggle" it's become. Fingers are crossed!

Rick C
 
I went to the TV to watch commercials and the Olympics broke out about every 15 minutes for about 2 minutes. Disgusting, but then again it is the same crew that does the NASCAR commercials and breaks in once in a while to show a few cars for a minute or two.
(Sarcasm font now off)
 
I really like the idea being pushed by some of moving the Olympics permanently to Greece. Makes a lot of sense, you could build a permanent facility not something thrown up for a year's use. It would take a lot of financial pressure off poorer countries, end the ridiculous selection process and it's politicking. The winter games, if needed, could continue to be run in the northern countries where there's a decent chance of sufficient snow. Yeah, I know Jimbo, there won't be any winter games anyway due to global warming.

One other thing that should be done is to make it either amateur or professional. The business of having some sports pro and some not is dumb. There's really no need for professional sports in the Olympics, those sports get enough exposure anyway.
 
America has swimming about tied up. We have two up and coming female swimmers. Katie Ledke, and Simone? They may take the baton from Michael Phelps. I don't watch, but listen via radio for the results. It is a shame, that the athletes have to be in such a hostile environment health wise. It is unconscionable to have open water swimmers be told " don't put your head under water!"
gramps
 
SAJohn said:
I feel sorry for our younger population. There was a time when the Olympics (summer or winter) was great fun to watch. The focus was on the athletes actual competitions rather than endless commentary on the color of the pool water or the dangers of Rio and enough commercials to choke a horse.

Whenever possible the telecasts were live, the athletes mostly not professionals (except for the Russians), the events not what you normally see on TV. Professional golfers , tennis players, and basketball players - give me a break.

You could watch a Jean-Cladue Killy win all of the skiing events, not just one specialty. Some events like the downhill were terrible dangerous and exciting. Peggy Fleming - sigh.

You could watch two classes of divers - one class was graceful, smooth, and had great water entries, the other class was Greg Louganis.

Here is a video of Greg doing the easiest dive in the books to absolute perfection:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7KrYXgHwTk

Watching Nadia Comaneci do unheard of things on the bars.

Michael Phelps is the only the only current olympian who interests me.
Click to expand...
Well then you haven't seen Simone Biles. She does things no other gymnast has or would probably even try. And she does it flawlessly and sticks the landing every time
 
I've caught small bits and pieces. Mostly swimming and gymnastics. There are some impressive athletes there. It's a shame they have to compete against the poor conditions as well as each other. Way too many talking heads with opinions,analysis and commercials. It has to be disheartening to have your one big chance to shine presented like this. After all the training and sacrifice. I mentioned to my wife that the old Gods of Olympus must be angry. :(
 
I enjoy watching parts of it,like swimming, running ,but I never thought that judged events should be a part of it,like dancing,gymnastics,and diving.
I do find that the handball games are fun to watch,but don't care for soccer,or basketball,and my main pet peeve?PING PONG!!!
 
And the harassment I took for . . asking . . if it was safe for our athletes
to be in Rio. We'll know in six months. :roll: . . . AMAZING! Third world
countries are just that, third world.

I agree it's a farce. I'm not sure I think one location for Summer games
is best, but two or at most three that are rotated would do wonders. Then
the country(ies?) would start getting ROI, and could do what ever
facility improvements became appropriate.

As to the TV coverage . . . I have a filter built into my TV set that takes
care of it. It's called an on/off switch. If I'm bored, then I use the other
filter, the channel selector (I've worn out several in the last few years).
 
Haven't watched it at all.
For some reason I lost all interest in it a few years back.
I dislike athletes being placed in hero status. My heroes are firemen, police, doctors
etc. who actually affect and save lives. Sports are for playing, not for watching.
Too many drugs, professionals participating, more ads than sports,
moronic commentators.........maybe a combination of all of the above.
I'll be outside working in the yard. Last Olympics I got a gold medal for weeding. :mrgreen:
 
.

I was glad to watch both men's & women's sports not normally available for me to do so.

* International target Archery

* Fencing

* International Rifle & Pistol

* International Skeet

* Judo wrestling

* Shot Put

* Rowing

* Boxing


I refuse to watch any games that have professionals representing a country. along with most of the sports widely broadcast ( basketball, beach volleyball, tennis, golf, etc, etc).

International soccer's growing on me, though, despite the use of pros; and I've always liked the track/field events.

It's too bad that some of the sporting events are not grouped into a single broadcast (cable) channel, across the 6-7 different channels aired - but I guess that if they were, some of the advertising $$$ would dry up.



.
 
i dont like the way the new olympics are trying to sell sex to get you to watch or be interested.
i could care less if an competitior is cute or hot.
yet....everywhere i look, the media is trying to get you to 'like' or comment on if you like the way someone looks using social media with votes.

i stopped watching when they let pro's in.
olympics has become as boring as watching skeet and trap. someone only wins if someone else is having a bad day and drops just one bird or is off by.000001 second on a speed course.
that...is not exciting to watch.
 
jeffmb said:
I'd rather watch paint dry than soccer at any level. At least most modern day paints dry in an hour or so.
Click to expand...

Obviously , You never played.
American football SUCKS; 10 seconds of play and 5 minutes of standing around BUTT patting;
OH GEE LOOK !! Football Score , 21 to 7; OK, WAIT A MINUTE, That's three goals, three goal kicks by a run on Kicker vs one goal and one goal kick by another run on kicker. Game length one HOUR BUT it takes two or THREE hours to play that hour; Numerous substitutions every time the ball changes direction, numerous Substitutions every time the "play" changes. YAWN; What's to like? The Cheerleaders in short skirts? OH, almost forgot, field length 100 yards and 53 wide. NOT counting the "GOAL" area.

Soccer (Futball in the REST of the world)
Game length 90 minutes, Continual play except for free kicks and throw ins; A total of THREE one time substitutions during the ENTIRE 90 minutes, control of the ball with the feet including scoring a goal.
One ball in the net means ONE POINT on the score board (OKAY want it MORE exciting? Make one ball in the net equal 10 points --- WOW !! :roll: :roll: :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Be an idiot and violate the rules and get a YELLOW CARD (Caution) get TWO of them and then you are OUT of the game and your team plays SHORT one man for the rest of the game plus you just gave the other team TWO free kicks toward YOUR end of the Field.
OH yeah, Field size: 120 METERS long to the GOAL NET OPENING; 90 METERS wide ( for those with no handy table; 120 METERS equals 131 YARDS <gee 30% LONGER>; 90 meters equals 981/2 yards wide.
SO which is the more DEMANDING sport, requires more skill and stamina? Which is more fun and more exciting to watch; WHY SOCCER of course.
UNLESS you like the ABSOLUTE boredom of Baseball.

I guess too, I should mention that they have found that in WORLD CUP and Olympic Play, the CENTER REF runs an average of 7 and 1/2 miles during the match and generally are not old portly men who huff andpuff to keep up and have to look at a video to "call" plays.
 
You won't get much support in THIS country for soccer over American football. And yes, I've played both. As to which takes more skill to play, it's American football by a mile. Both require stamina. American football is a brutal, hard hitting sport and most soccer "stars" would be on a stretcher after one good hit. To me, soccer is a snore to watch, Rugby on the other hand, some of those guys are the very definition of tough. That's a tough sport
 
Hey... I remember watching Bruce Jenner win the 1976 Decathelon gold medal. Wow... I was SO VERY PROUD of our great country.

Now... Jenner's a mental-illness-basket case... brought about from his association with a dysfuntional freak family... and he thinks he's a friggin' woman... calls hisself Caitlyn. shhhessshhh. He makes me puke like I'm poisoned dog.

Not sure if he has gone all the way... and had one of them... choppadikoffofme's just yet. But it don't matter none. He's ruined forever in my eyes.

Anything that he has ever done good for this great U.S.A.... has been erased and set back.

And that COMPLETELY turns me off of EVER watching the spoiled-brat Olympics again.
 
gtxmonte said:
You won't get much support in THIS country for soccer over American football. And yes, I've played both. As to which takes more skill to play, it's American football by a mile. Both require stamina. American football is a brutal, hard hitting sport and most soccer "stars" would be on a stretcher after one good hit. To me, soccer is a snore to watch, Rugby on the other hand, some of those guys are the very definition of tough. That's a tough sport
Click to expand...

WELL, Actually, to disappoint you about this country, there are MORE youth/children playing Soccer in this country than "little league" type baseball or whatever they call the kids football. Sorry again, but Soccer requires a large amount of skill, try running and controlling that ball in front of your feet, stopping and starting and then passing. It also takes skill to loft the ball into the net and out think and/or fake out the goal keeper.
Reffed all levels from the kids (under 9's and up) to the Adults including a game of the Premier Division; Usually th over 30's and the mixed leagues of adults with a few of the next level down from the Premier.
ALL nationalities including the line on a NYC team and one from Argentina. O
OF course NEVER FORGET, the center ref has seen it ALL and is smarter than any of the players , not to mention EYES in the back of the head.
I'll take soccer ANY DAY over over paid people playing a kids game.
 
Colonialgirl said:
gtxmonte said:
You won't get much support in THIS country for soccer over American football. And yes, I've played both. As to which takes more skill to play, it's American football by a mile. Both require stamina. American football is a brutal, hard hitting sport and most soccer "stars" would be on a stretcher after one good hit. To me, soccer is a snore to watch, Rugby on the other hand, some of those guys are the very definition of tough. That's a tough sport
Click to expand...

WELL, Actually, to disappoint you about this country, there are MORE youth/children playing Soccer in this country than "little league" type baseball or whatever they call the kids football. Sorry again, but Soccer requires a large amount of skill, try running and controlling that ball in front of your feet, stopping and starting and then passing. It also takes skill to loft the ball into the net and out think and/or fake out the goal keeper.
Reffed all levels from the kids (under 9's and up) to the Adults including a game of the Premier Division; Usually th over 30's and the mixed leagues of adults with a few of the next level down from the Premier.
ALL nationalities including the line on a NYC team and one from Argentina. O
OF course NEVER FORGET, the center ref has seen it ALL and is smarter than any of the players , not to mention EYES in the back of the head.
I'll take soccer ANY DAY over over paid people playing a kids game.
Click to expand...
No disappointment for me. The NFL is king in this country and college football is not far behind. They make billions of dollars every year and leagues sign billion dollar TV deals........why? Because that's what the people watch on TV and go to see. Ask the average person on the street to name just ONE star on an American MLS soccer team and most will have never ever heard of the MLS period. Ask the same person to name some NFL stars. I bet they can rattle off quite a few.

Soccer is big with younger kids, because it is a "participation" sport. Any child can get out there, run around, kick the ball when it's close and feel part of the team. Now I realize to be "good" at soccer, takes real skill, but it will never approach American football in this country for popularity
 
gtxmonte said:
Colonialgirl said:
gtxmonte said:
You won't get much support in THIS country for soccer over American football. And yes, I've played both. As to which takes more skill to play, it's American football by a mile. Both require stamina. American football is a brutal, hard hitting sport and most soccer "stars" would be on a stretcher after one good hit. To me, soccer is a snore to watch, Rugby on the other hand, some of those guys are the very definition of tough. That's a tough sport
Click to expand...

WELL, Actually, to disappoint you about this country, there are MORE youth/children playing Soccer in this country than "little league" type baseball or whatever they call the kids football. Sorry again, but Soccer requires a large amount of skill, try running and controlling that ball in front of your feet, stopping and starting and then passing. It also takes skill to loft the ball into the net and out think and/or fake out the goal keeper.
Reffed all levels from the kids (under 9's and up) to the Adults including a game of the Premier Division; Usually th over 30's and the mixed leagues of adults with a few of the next level down from the Premier.
ALL nationalities including the line on a NYC team and one from Argentina. O
OF course NEVER FORGET, the center ref has seen it ALL and is smarter than any of the players , not to mention EYES in the back of the head.
I'll take soccer ANY DAY over over paid people playing a kids game.
Click to expand...
No disappointment for me. The NFL is king in this country and college football is not far behind. They make billions of dollars every year and leagues sign billion dollar TV deals........why? Because that's what the people watch on TV and go to see. Ask the average person on the street to name just ONE star on an American MLS soccer team and most will have never ever heard of the MLS period. Ask the same person to name some NFL stars. I bet they can rattle off quite a few.**

Soccer is big with younger kids, because it is a "participation" sport. Any child can get out there, run around, kick the ball when it's close and feel part of the team. Now I realize to be "good" at soccer, takes real skill, but it will never approach American football in this country for popularity
Click to expand...

NFL, AL, NL and all the rest; It's PAST TIME to start TAXING their profits and start letting them build their OWN Stadiums or pay out a SIZABLE portion of their income as RENTAL for the stadiums.

** YA SUPPOSE, Just maybe, possibly, that's because of all the media spew and hero worship of the lamestream press and low intelligence "reporters"?
 
It's been miserably hot and humid here in SW PA for the past month or so, which has prompted me to spend more time on my trainer inside my house as opposed to riding outside. I'll put the Olympics on to keep me distracted. The NBC coverage has been terrible, just prepackaged garbage with the same stories over and over. Some of the competitions have been fun but these are generally all professional athletes in some form or another now. I don't watch it otherwise but it's no worse than putting on a sitcom.
 
Oh good grief Pamela. Taxes are paid on profits. I don't care if you make $2 or $2 billion. Who ever told you that professional sports teams don't pay taxes? Jerry Jones pays taxes unless he can't write them off like every billionaire. It has nothing to do with sports!

As far as the Olympics, they have been very entertaining. One thing that got me tonight was when Usain Bolt won the 100 meter gold. The idiot broadcaster said that he was the greatest athlete ever, more then MJ, or Mohammed Ali. I just thought wow. Compare a guy who can run fast to every other athlete who can run fast and shoot a basketball, or run fast and hit a 100mph fastball, or run fast and catch a football and avoid tacklers. What a stupid statement this man made. Plus, I wonder if he can swim as fast as Michael??? Greatest athlete ever, I think not.


Karl
 
I think the point was.......it is unheard of for a sprinter to win the 100 meters for 3 consecutive Olympics, which Bolt has. So like Phelps, he is a freak of nature.

As far as Pamela's comments, obviously she doesn't appear to know a lot about sports and certainly not how it works. And the answer to her question is people watch and spend money on football, baseball and the NBA, because they LIKE it. They DON'T spend money on soccer in this country because they don't much like it. Nothing wrong with being a soccer fan, just not big here and likely won't be. Few Americans care much about soccer until the Olympics and the World Cup rolls around, then they just get mad because our mens team isn't good. Hockey is the same way. Huge in Canada, not so much here
 
To me the olympics are all about money and commercial air time

When basket weaving, tiddly winks & ear wax pulling became olympics "sports" I lost all interest and have not watched them at all
 
Hmm.......I haven't seen those events in the line up. I used to be good at tiddly winks. Wonder if I could make the team

Of COURSE it's money. Always has been. If it didn't make money, it wouldn't be on TV
 
Colonialgirl said:
NFL, AL, NL and all the rest; It's PAST TIME to start TAXING their profits and start letting them build their OWN Stadiums or pay out a SIZABLE portion of their income as RENTAL for the stadiums.
Click to expand...

Corporations should pay zero in taxes. In actuality any tax paid is borne by the consumer anyway
 
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