#26
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'cause in every country in the world (including the US) that kid plays soccer.
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#27
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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?
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I play a game, it's called insincerity. |
#29
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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]
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"And that's how you play aces." Yeah, you make kings run in to them. |
#33
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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.
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"Animals die, friends die, and I shall die. But the one thing that will never die is the reputation I leave behind." Old Norse adage |
#34
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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.
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Get well soon, MCA! |
#35
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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. |
#36
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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.
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Get well soon, MCA! |
#39
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If he wants to play for Germany, I don't have a problem with it.
How many athletes over the years have come to the US and played for us ? Many, Many, Many. It is the same thing, just the other way.
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I can only be Me, 'cause that is who I am! |
#40
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The concept of dual citizenship is retarded. A number of nations don't allow for it. Play where you are. The idea of the Olympics is to represent your country.
Oh, what's that? You're second string and will never make it on the team in the land of the free? Then actually MOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How about temparary sex changes to compete against women?
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poopity, poopity pants. |
#41
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But the point is he never went to Germany. People that play for the US have lived here for years.
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Rompin and Stompin |
#43
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Please name an Olympic athlete who played for the U.S. without having ever been to the U.S. prior to qualifying.
Mayhem wins this thread. |
#44
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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.
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Get well soon, MCA! |
#45
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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!
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Get well soon, MCA! |
#48
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Team GB own the Velodrome
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#49
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An Observation
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.
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"Animals die, friends die, and I shall die. But the one thing that will never die is the reputation I leave behind." Old Norse adage |
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