Olympics Thread

[PShabi]

Right on, Invig.

Some douche on ESPN wrote something like: "I like the idea of not being confined to one's country. That way we see the best of the best competing and not the best of one country beating up on the inferior."

Fucking stupid that is.

[PShabi]

Really looking forward to Wednesday's USA vs. Australia hoops game. I know even Americans like to hate on our overpaid superstar hoopers, but I hope we kick the living shit out of them. They've played hard and some big egos have really showed me something by willingly stepping out of a personal spotlight to let the team shine. Time to bring this thing back home. This is still "our game."

USA!

[sjay2k]

(sadface)

[thadeas1]

Team GB own the Velodrome

[Kurn]

I am admittedly not super-nationalistic about the Olympics. I almost enjoy it more when someone from a tiny country wins a gold than when an American wins.

Olympic medal counts are a function of 3 interrelated factors.

1) Population
2) Organization of sports programs
3) Financial commitment

#1 is clearly the most important as the US and China being 1-2 shows, but without #2 and #3, population alone won't get you to the medal stand very often as the India and Indonesia (#2 and #4 in population) can attest, though I suspect if there were a secondary school academic olympics, India would dominate.

The fact that Australia can even challenge the US in swimming is an amazing achievement considering the Aussies start out as about a 16:1 dog population-wise.

As for Basketball, most countries are lucky to have 1 or 2 NBA players on their roster. The entire US team is from the NBA.

So if I'm never heard chanting "USA, USA" during the Olympcis, its not that I'm not patriotic, its just that I think some things should trascend nationalism.

And for those who don't like countries renting olympic athletes, I guess you think Great Britain should give back their 1936 Gold Medal in Ice Hockey.

[sjay2k]

[Reel Deal]

Dey got some good wacky weed down der in dat Jamaca mon.

[sjay2k]

Why do NBA players travel EVERY single time they get the ball outside the 3 point line? I'd really love to hear a whistle one time when Wade (or Kobe, Lebron, Redd, etc.) catches the ball and then waddles around to his preferred position on the permieter without putting the ball on the floor. I can usually tolerate it in NBA games, but it really makes me cringe in FIBA games.

Other than for Patrick Mills, this was a painful game to watch.

[jillaj]

The get away with it in the NBA since it isn't a sport it is entertainment.

In the FIBA games the refs are terrible.

[MAYHEM45]

lol front page news of my local paper. Quality journalism right there.

[Robbie Robb]

One of the poker sites I have in my RSS quoted another US Olympian as saying he would often play online 10 hours a day as well. No indication of which site or screen name though. I didn't know if him playing poker was legit or a level - the site was Wicked Chops Poker and, in addition to their penchant for scantily clad women, they like to...stir the pot...from time to time. Guess it seems to be legit!

Unlikely that I'll run into him this Sunday while I'm there though...

[jillaj]

Anyone who watched gymnastics won't find this too shocking.

[redbank09]

im glad they stated that he crossed the border in a car cause i was for sure he swam into windsor!

[sjay2k]

Stephen Hooker wins a gold medal in Pole Vault for Australia

[PShabi]

Let's not exaggerate.

I'm not an NBA fan but this is pretty much bullshit.

[jillaj]

It's not the WWE but it isn't just pure sport. And I am a fan of the NBA.

[MAYHEM45]