Olympics Thread

[GTDawg]

Some people might have a problem with Bolt showboating...but if I was the fastest man on the planet by daylight and I didn't even have to try 100%...I'd be showboating far more than he did.

[Talking Poker]

Yeah, that was awesome. I have no problem with the showboating, other than him costing himself an even better WR.

I am always amazed when one person absolutely dominated their sport... when everything clicks into place just right - genetics, training, etc, etc.

Tiger Woods. Michael Phelps. "Lightning" (best nickname ever) Bolt.

I've said for years that it surprises me how no NFL kicker has ever come along who can make 70+ yarders consistently. I mean, yes, the human body obviously has limits and when you reach the top of pro status in any sport, the playing field is USUALLY mostly level... but as this Olympics has shown, there are these exceptional freaks.

So where is they guy who puts opening kick offs though the uprights every time? He'll show up one of these days.

[MAYHEM45]

That was the sickest thing ever.

[melioris]

'cause in every country in the world (including the US) that kid plays soccer.

[MAYHEM45]

Every single football team I've ever played on our kicker was also the star of the soccer team, one even got a full ride soccer scholarship. Why be a nobody (lol kickers) when you can be ghey like ronaldo and bang any chick you want?

[sjay2k]

Must be posted -- this is the final of the mens 100m

[GTDawg]

I mean...damn...

You don't win the 100m that easily. It just doesn't happen.

As for the kicker thing, it has already been touched on. A kicker with that ability is going to play soccer in every country on the planet, except the US. And, even in the US, it would be a toss-up and he'd probably go to college and do both.

Also, Sebastian Janikowski is probably the closest thing to that freak that I can remember in recent years(and he never looked like a healthy sports figure). I seem to remember video of him at an FSU practice nailing kickoffs through the uprights consistently. [obviously, the NFL moves you back, so it isn't a great comparison]

[Invigilator]

If Phelps were a country, he'd be tied for 5th place in medals as of this morning.

[Reel Deal]

Bullshit.

[MAYHEM45]

[Kurn]

Actually, it has nothing to do with the ability of the kicker. A field goal is too complex; a bang-bang play where 3 people have to coordinate complex skills *and* a bunch of people are charging at the ball like the steroid-crazed felons they are.

If the snappers, holders and kickers had 2 more seconds of peace, 70-yarders would be common.

[PShabi]

What does everyone think about this ?

While it's not the worst thing anyone's ever done, I think Kaman is an idiot. I'm glad his father is pissed at him. His attitude in the piece pisses me off. It's a slap in the face to both countries and the olympic spirit in general.

[melioris]

we (the US) do it for a lot of athletes in other sports- gymnastics, track (distances), field events, and shooting off the top of my head so meh, it is pretty much a pot and kettle thing.

But props to his Pops for sure.

[PShabi]

Kaman has never set foot in Germany. He doesn't speak the language. He's 3 generations removed. He said he won't play for Germany again unless Dirk does. He's treating it like Free Agency basically because "it beats summer league with the rookies."

I copy/pasted the follwing passage from a post on espn.com. It basically sums up my feelings and I didn't have to type it out:

1) Someone who was born and/or spent some/all childhood in one country, but has lived in another since. To me, these people deserve every right to choose which country to represent.

2) Someone like JR Holden or Hakeem Olajuwon or even Becky Hammond who has an established presence living and working in a country other than the one they were born and raised in. I've got no problem with this one either. In fact, Andrei Kirilenko made a good point - Holden has probably spent more time in Russia than he has over the last seven years.

3) Someone who emigrates from one country to another with one of the major motivators being the ability to represent the "new" country. This one is sort of questionable, but so long as that person is spending a good deal of time training/living there, I can be OK with that too.

4) Stuff like the Kaman deal. Come on, he had never been to Germany before joining the team - didn't really train there and definitely has never lived there, just sort of hitched to the wagon in time for the last-minute qualifier in Athens earlier in the summer. I don't see how being three generations removed from actual German citizens and never even visiting the country makes you immediately qualified to represent said country.

[Kurn]

Dizzy Dean once said, "It ain't braggin' if you can do it." Same goes for Bolt. He can break the WR while easing up through the last 10 meters, he can showboat all he wants.

Interesting physical contrast though between Bolt and Phelps. Phelps has a weird body type that just happens to be perfect for swimming. Bolt has a body type that's all wrong for sprinting.