What, no Olympics thread?

[Ranger REG]

Well at least basketball is interesting this year. The US team plays like none of them wanna get hurt.

They can't afford to get hurt. If they're not playing one game in the NBA's regular season, that's $200,000 minimum loss of income.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

They can't afford to get hurt. If they're not playing one game in the NBA's regular season, that's $200,000 minimum loss of income.

Yeah! And they need that for child support and lawyer fees.

 

[Wycen]

MSNBC is showing more of the varied sports, however, right now, they are showing run walking.

1. Run walking is not a sport.

2. Run walking sure as hell should not be in the Olympics.

3. Nobody should be wasting television time airing this ridiculous event.

 

[FireLance]

As for celebrating 2nd and 3rd places, I think that's great!

Most countries don't have athletes that are on par with powerhouses like China, Cuba, USA or Ukraine. For them, simply getting a better positioning than previously is something to be celebrated.

Yup, take it from me and my country .

We have only ever won one single Olympic medal - a silver - and that was a long time ago.

During the last Olympics, we were all excited even at the chance of getting a medal when one of our table-tennis players qualified for the semi-finals. Many of us were glued to our TV screens watching the match. Unfortunately, she lost both the semis game and the bronze playoffs.

We were excited again just last week when one of our badminton players beat the world No 1, but he lost during the quarter finals.

Just yesterday, another of our table-tennis players qualified for the semi-finals. All our hopes and best wishes are with her now. Perhaps this will be the year that we win our second medal.

 

[Klaus]

THE match of these Olympics already happened:

Brazil vs. Italy in men's volleyball. The tie-breaker (fifth) set, slated to end at 15 points, went ON and ON until Brazil won by an amazing 33 to 31!!! Those balls just wouldn't fall! :O

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Most countries don't have athletes that are on par with powerhouses like China, Cuba, USA or Ukraine. For them, simply getting a better positioning than previously is something to be celebrated.

Then there are countries which do better, per capita, than the United States, China, or Russia.

Like, oh, Australia? 19 million people, 20 medals in total, 7 gold.

Compare to the USA: 293 million people, 36 medals in total, 15 gold.

China: 1.3 billion people, 32 medals in total, 15 gold.

Russia: 143 million people, 22 medals in total, 4 gold.

We will kill you, you underperforming fools! Mwahahahahahaaaaa.

By my count, the US has to get another 257 medals in total to even equal Australia's performance.

 

[Iuz]

Then there are countries which do better, per capita, than the United States, China, or Russia.

Like, oh, Australia? 19 million people, 20 medals in total, 7 gold.

Compare to the USA: 293 million people, 36 medals in total, 15 gold.

China: 1.3 billion people, 32 medals in total, 15 gold.

Russia: 143 million people, 22 medals in total, 4 gold.

We will kill you, you underperforming fools! Mwahahahahahaaaaa.

By my count, the US has to get another 257 medals in total to even equal Australia's performance.

I think what would be very interesting to see is how many medals different countries are winning per $. Look at how much money is being spent both by governments and coporate sponsors and see how that reflects in medals count.

 

[Ranger REG]

MSNBC is showing more of the varied sports, however, right now, they are showing run walking.

1. Run walking is not a sport.

2. Run walking sure as hell should not be in the Olympics.

3. Nobody should be wasting television time airing this ridiculous event.

Many would disagree with you.

Personally, boxing with headgears and boxing gloves is ridiculous, too. Go back to the traditional way: one round, last man standing is the winner. Oh, stiff leather wrapping is optional.

And screw freestyle wrestling. Ultimate fighting combat is the way to go.

IOW, I want blood spilled.

 

[Ranger REG]

I think what would be very interesting to see is how many medals different countries are winning per $. Look at how much money is being spent both by governments and coporate sponsors and see how that reflects in medals count.

Exactly how much is our US governments (federal, state, and/or local) are spending toward our olympic teams? (I've heard they have given tax breaks toward the building of training facilities.)

I thought it was private-sponsored (individual and corporate sponsored).

 

[drothgery]

Exactly how much is our US governments (federal, state, and/or local) are spending toward our olympic teams? (I've heard they have given tax breaks toward the building of training facilities.)

I thought it was private-sponsored (individual and corporate sponsored).

Government sponsorship varies wildly from country to country and event to event. Even on the (extremely well-funded by global standards) US Olympic team, there are people who had trouble just covering the plane tickets to Athens, and multi-millionaire pro athletes like the men's basketball team or Venus Williams. Probably the closest thing to complete government sponsorship we've got is a few athletes in a special program the military has for athletes in some less-popular sports.