Olympic Medal Count or GO Canada GO!

[--Pete]

Hi,

This sounds like a tournament I heard of once. Don't recall where.

One hole golf tournament. each person starts at the same spot... at the top of a mountain. Each participant is given a map, compass and one club. The hole is several miles away... in that general direction. Get whacking! I hope you're good at finding a little white ball in the wilderness, oh, and don't get lost.

I believe there's a similar event held along the coast in Scotland. IIRC, you start on a tee on one coastal course, then play a few miles along the coast to another course where you finish off an a designated green. I think I heard of it forty some odd years ago and all the details are long gone from my memory. Sounds like the kind of competition improved by large quantities of an old single malt -- for the warmth, of course;)

--Pete

[Nystul]

It appears that the US will need to work harder on the fluffier olympic "sports". Seven of China's gold medals are in synchronized diving and air pistol. Now if only we had synchronized air pistol shooting at 10 meters.

If the Olympics were condensed to a series of swims and sprints ranging from 100 to 800 meters, hurdles and relays included, the U.S. would be in good shape.;) I wonder how many countries view those events as fluffy and obscure.

[--Pete]

Hi,

If the Olympics were condensed to a series of swims and sprints ranging from 100 to 800 meters, hurdles and relays included, the U.S. would be in good shape.;) I wonder how many countries view those events as fluffy and obscure.

Ever hear of the Kenyan who ran twenty miles, each way, to the track to work out?:)

--Pete

[kandrathe]

If the Olympics were condensed to a series of swims and sprints ranging from 100 to 800 meters, hurdles and relays included, the U.S. would be in good shape.;) I wonder how many countries view those events as fluffy and obscure.

The fact is that China has a state run apparatus for filling every sport with champions trained to compete in a sport of the state's choosing for national supremacy. "The cold war may have ended, but the echoes of that struggle linger in China's athletic-training program. Across the nation, nearly 400,000 young hopefuls in 3,000 sports schools toil to bring glory to their motherland. Most are plucked from elementary school and sent to train at these state-run sports academies before the age of nine regardless of their interest in athletics." (source). The Chinese copied the successful Soviet model. Although, with the collapse of the USSR, even Russia doesn't use it now. It's like these kids are drafted for the Chinese Sports Army.

I'm also finding the whole "rent-a-jock" practice to be against the Olympic spirit. For example, the press was all set to cover the volleyball match between Russia and Georgia -- you know with them being at war. Except, it turns out that the Georgian Volleyball team was comprised of two Brazilians. I'd say these athletes should do at least what these Brazilians did, and be a citizen of the country you represent for at least two years before qualifying for their Olympic team. I'm not as critical on the practice as this article -- Citizen lame: Olympic carpetbagging amounts to athletic treason -- I don't consider it treason, just unsportsmanlike and somewhat mercenary.

The other thing I'm still unsure of is the unfairness of professional sports mixed with the obvious amateurs of smaller countries without a league system (NBA, NHL, MLB, etc). I find the US dominance with professionals in some sports a bit embarrassing.

[Mirajj]

I find the US dominance with professionals in some sports a bit embarrassing.

Yep. Olympics got even less interesting to watch once the professionals started coming in, and it went from being the a top rate amateur event to a "Let's watch the professionals thrash the amateurs."

If I want that, I'll watch the Harlem Globetrotters take on the locals, and get my laughs in as well.

[Swiss Mercenary]

The other thing I'm still unsure of is the unfairness of professional sports mixed with the obvious amateurs of smaller countries without a league system (NBA, NHL, MLB, etc). I find the US dominance with professionals in some sports a bit embarrassing.

When professionals were barred from the Olympics, what you'd see is the USSR/China dominate those fields. It's somewhat difficult to go for world championship when you aren't paid by the government to train, and have to work a 9 to 5 job.

[Kevin]

When professionals were barred from the Olympics, what you'd see is the USSR/China dominate those fields. It's somewhat difficult to go for world championship when you aren't paid by the government to train, and have to work a 9 to 5 job.

I'm not disagreeing with you at all on that, and that is the reason the rules on being a professional were lifted. An interesting note is that based on the rules from even just 30 years ago some folks you might not expect to be considered professionals would bel. Michael Phelps made about $5 million last year due to swimming. Yes, you read that right. It was from endorsements mostly, but he got appearance fees at some meets as well. So that would make Michael Phelps a professional swimmer by the older standards. I believe most of the of the US team would actually have been ineligible based on the older rules actually. But back then it was pretty easy to avoid being a professional swimmer, no one wanted to pay them money to swim. Now there is enough of a market that someone who dominates the sport can make a few million. It's happened in gymnastics as well.

Jim Thorpe wasn't able to compete in an Olympics due to a very obscure issues where he got like $200 from someone (this was before he actually played in the NFL way back when). There have been issues where someone couldn't compete in the Olympics in track and field because they got paid to race a snow mobile. Issues where people ran in 5K race that had prize money but had to sign waivers saying they wouldn't accept if if they won to keep their eligibility. Case like that really put me on the side of being more lax on what you consider a professional.

What made the rules worse is that the IOC had some rules but various countries had other rules. So someone may have been considered a professional by the US but not by the French. Some Americans even played in leagues for various sports in different countries but weren't considered professionals by the US standards in one sport, but were in other sports. There are still messes like that.

But like I stated earlier I'm fine with sports that have major leagues in several countries (soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, etc) not being in the Olympics. I'm not that bothered by them being included either though. I like to see the extremes of human sports performance and the folks that are in the professional leagues certainly posses that. But as evidenced by the last few major world events in basketball it doesn't always translate to success. The US doesn't have a national team. Prior to 1992 the pulled one together from the college ranks and then played against other national teams and teams that had NBA players on them or players from the European leagues. Then we allowed NBA players on the US team and we put together the "Dream Team" and wafflestomped everyone. But our NBA stars haven't been doing quite as well previously because better teams, with less talent, outplayed us. Or we lost to teams from other countries that had 3 or 4 of their own NBA players + a couple of European League professionals as well and who played together on their national team together frequently. Story lines like that do interest me.

I still say the biggest issue with the Olympics is that it's so hard to actually watch the Olympics. You have to find streaming video to see any actual sport. I did some timing of NBC tonight. They showed 10 minutes of actual competition in a 45 minute span. The other 35 was people talking and comercials. There were 8 different sports with events happening during that time. So what people see of the Olympics is next to nothing.

As to the other issues. I don't get as worked up about the underage kids stuff or even some of the drug issues. It was still pretty cool to see Ben Johnson hopped up on roids go stupidly fast in 88, a 9.79. The medal was of course stripped later. But I remembered that, and when Maurice Greene tied that time, 11 years later, at the world championships in Athens, I found Greene's time even more amazing. I knew a human on roids could go that fast, but someone who wasn't on roids finally did go that fast.

And yeah it's easy to be jaded by all the people who have used roids. There are 2 Americans who were stipped of world records in the 100m dash post 1988 as well. It's easy to believe everyone is using. I kind of like how they are dealing with it for the swimmers this Olympics. They are tested immediately after each swim. They were tested prior to the Olympics, randomly on average about once a week starting back in May. Phelps had 4 tests in one day at the Olympics already. The data from the tests for the swimmers is going to be logged for 5 years as well. Apparently testers have found that some of the new substances that aren't being directly tested for, once they are discovered, can be found by looking at old test data. This isn't always the case, but it has been shown that it can show some stuff up.

Of course I wonder what people 80 years ago would think about some of the nutritional supplements and such that is legal these days.

And of course there is the thought, that even with performance enhancers that would in the long run ruin my body, that I couldn't do what these folks are doing so I'm still amazed. :) Since I watch because I want to be amazed that still works for me, even if it's cheapened.

And of course I'm amazed just by the effort Phelps puts into training. He has been eating a 12,000 calorie a day diet for months and he burns all that off or converts it more muscle as he still sits at only 4% body fat. Burning that many calories every day for months. All that nutrition data that is reported on the food we buy here in the US is based on 2000 calorie diet. I did some calorie watching last week for myself, I only took in 10,000 over 7 days (but then again I don't do a hell of a lot some weeks). It's crazy the work he puts in to be that fast, even if he is using drugs, he is still putting in crazy amounts of work to be that good.

Wow I knew I was gonna ramble but I really went off didn't I? Kudos to you if you read this whole thing. :)

[Colonel_here]

Finally, Canada gets one gold, one silver and one bronze.

[--Pete]

Hi,

Well said. You've pretty much captured my feelings on this, too.

I still say the biggest issue with the Olympics is that it's so hard to actually watch the Olympics. You have to find streaming video to see any actual sport. I did some timing of NBC tonight. They showed 10 minutes of actual competition in a 45 minute span. The other 35 was people talking and comercials. There were 8 different sports with events happening during that time. So what people see of the Olympics is next to nothing.

I've set TiVo to record both the US and Canadian channels that are broadcasting the Olympics. Then I view them at max speed, dropping to normal when something I want to see is on. I've been 'watching' about 9 hours of broadcast per hour. Bah!

Of course I wonder what people 80 years ago would think about some of the nutritional supplements and such that is legal these days.

Yep. And what the people of 80 years from now will calmly accept that is considered cheating now.

Wow I knew I was gonna ramble but I really went off didn't I? Kudos to you if you read this whole thing. :)

Hey, you kept it interesting;)

--Pete

[kandrathe]

When professionals were barred from the Olympics, what you'd see is the USSR/China dominate those fields. It's somewhat difficult to go for world championship when you aren't paid by the government to train, and have to work a 9 to 5 job.

I know. It's still that way with some sports. Cuban baseball, for example, dominates because MLB players from the US don't compete (probably wouldn't pass the drug tests). Many of the top players from every country have sponsors and endorsement contracts that subsidized their athletic training. In some sports in the US, it is the rich peoples kids that get the opportunity because its their parents who have the means to get them up through the lower levels of training.

My wife spends at least $100/week on skating pros and ice time. Not to mention the additional costs for foot doctors and minor surgery. She has been doing that since she was 13 and could get money working a regime of babysitting gigs. She is a semi-casual skater too, only training 2-3 times per week. If she had ever wanted to be an Olympic ice skater she would have needed to begin daily training 5 or 6 years earlier. Most of the people you find in the rinks have parents who can afford an additional $1000/month(per child) at least for sports training. Once you get good enough, a corporation might step in to sponsor your training.

[kandrathe]

...
And of course I'm amazed just by the effort Phelps puts into training. He has been eating a 12,000 calorie a day diet for months and he burns all that off or converts it more muscle as he still sits at only 4% body fat. Burning that many calories every day for months. All that nutrition data that is reported on the food we buy here in the US is based on 2000 calorie diet. I did some calorie watching last week for myself, I only took in 10,000 over 7 days (but then again I don't do a hell of a lot some weeks). It's crazy the work he puts in to be that fast, even if he is using drugs, he is still putting in crazy amounts of work to be that good.

Phelps is built perfectly for swimming. He is double jointed which allows him to push his stroke through more radians, he is over 6 feet tall adding lots of kick power, his body shape is tear drop shaped making him more aqualine, and he has 14 inch <strike>flippers</strike> feet. And, he trains his butt off.

[Occhidiangela]

Phelps is built perfectly for swimming. He is double jointed which allows him to push his stroke through more radians, he is over 6 feet tall adding lots of kick power, his body shape is tear drop shaped making him more aqualine, and he has 14 inch <strike>flippers</strike> feet. And, he trains his butt off.

How about the crew/rowing race?

I meandered through the living room and lucked on the eights, in the medal round, at the start. The Canadians got off to an excellent start, and never lost the lead. The Americans slowly crept back into it, an were hammer and tong with the Brits for the last 700 meters. Awesome race. Brits got the silver by slim margin.

Well done, lads, all of ye.

Canada: gold
Brit: silver
US: bronze

In an outstanding race.

Occhi

[gojukaine]

I generally don't care much for the Olympics myself, but with all the hype from the media machine I found myself watching all of Phelps races. I found myself entranced watching him swim. Poetry in motion and all that. But on the whole there are very few "sports" that interest me.

Badmitton (spelling may be off) on the other hand, when elevated to Olympic-caliber athletes is completely bad-ass. To see the competitors all but flipping in mid air as they beat the holy hell out of the birdie is the most amazing thing ever. I was watching 4 years ago and I saw a man, a full grown rather buff asian dude, get a freaking bloody nose from getting hit in the face with the birdie so hard. From that point to the present I'll gladly call myself a fan of the 'mitton as it has to be about the most violent sport at that level of competition short of boxing or hockey. Also of note is that it is a sport almost completely dominated by Asian's.

[Icebird]

Badminton is definitely one of those sports thats amazingly cool to watch if you're lucky enough to find some television coverage of it. I saw some highlights of the women's gold medal match (I think), and you're right, they hit the ever-living daylights out of the shuttlecock - and yet you *still* get some amazing rallies.

New Zealand finally got on the medal table over the weekend, thanks to our rowers, cyclists and shotputter Valerie Vili. The Women's Double Sculls was the closest finish you could imagine in a rowing race (officially same margin of victory as Phelps' last-gasp 100m Butterfly win for comparison purposes). Vili was completely dominant in the shotput, but until the last throw I was scared one of the Belarussians would pull out one massive throw to steal the gold medal.

More random thoughts: How can anyone possibly follow what goes on in the Cycling points race? Is there some sort of requirement that interviewers choose the most inane questions possible to ask athletes after events? Will commentators realise they don't *have* to be saying something all the time? One of the cycling commentators I listened to here in NZ seemed intent on burying the viewers under a non-stop barrage of trivia and information. There's more than enough time to educate non-specialists on the finer parts of the sport, without going overboard.

(As an aside, I saw some brief Synchronized Swimming coverage with, I think, Canadian commentators, who were able to quite calmly and clearly explain why the NZ competitors' routine was good, but not as good as the top performers in the sport).

Chris

[--Pete]

Hi,

I'll gladly call myself a fan of the 'mitton as it has to be about the most violent sport at that level of competition short of boxing or hockey.

One of my committee professors had asthma as a kid. When he went to college, his mom didn't want him to play in sports. But he talked her into letting him play badminton, since it "wasn't that strenuous." Of course, he never invited her to any of the competitions;)

He is one of two people that would regularly destroy me in racquetball -- the other turned pro:)

--Pete

[DeeBye]

How about the crew/rowing race?

I spent a summer or two doing some rowing in the Thousand Islands in my youth, and I really have to say that it was by far the most physically demanding sport I have ever done. We would wake up at sunrise, run a few miles, do an hour or two of work in the gym, row for a few hours, and return to the gym for another workout. I ate a huge dinner and went to bed early - only to wake up the next day and do it all over again.

It was all worth it. Rowing in arguably the most scenic freshwater area in the world was awesome.

My favourite memory was when we were swapping out rowers in the middle of the St. Lawrence River with the help of an aluminum motorboat. Someone slipped on the wet varnished frame of the racing scull. His foot went through the thin shell of the boat and a huge 8' long gap opened up. The boat filled with water and we all had to swim to shore. It was about a 1/2 mile swim and we had to pause and tread water for a bit to allow a cargo ship to pass by.

Those Olympic rowers are hardcore.

[shoju]

I was with gojukaine when he watched that game, and we were enthralled. I joke that he and I could be a team for the U.S. We look like jay and silent bob. I'm bob, he's jay. I could stand at the net and get the bejeezus beat out of me while he did the ninja flips.

I so wish we could be a team...