BS: The REAL Olympics start today

Subject: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: PoppaGator
Date: 20 Aug 04 - 04:28 PM

I call it Track and Field, you might call it Athletics, but we should all agree that it's the one truly international sport at the Olympics, the main reason they build a big new stadium in a new host city every four years.

Sure, there are other important sports, and we all have different favorites, but this is the real thing.

I sure hope we've seen the end of all those empty seats. The Athens organizers have been claiming that they have sold more tickets and generated more revenue than all previous Olympics, but so far the telecasts have shown us nothing but a whole lot of half-empty (and even 90% empty) venues.

Let's hope the Athenians and the international tourists have been saving their money and their enthusiasm for start of competition on the track. It won't be nearly so exciting without a full set of behinds in all the seats.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Blackcatter
Date: 21 Aug 04 - 04:39 PM

Define "truly international."

Does everyone run, jump, throw things? Sure. It's still the countries who make it either a national priority or have a few dedicated people woring in one or more of the events that win the medals.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Aug 04 - 07:10 PM

Blackcatter - I dont normally comment on typos in here . but with the current commercialism of international athletics , you left the 'H' out of Whoring !!

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Blackcatter
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 12:44 AM

Ha!

Actually it's a "k" that's missing. Feel free to stick it where ever you want.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Hrothgar
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 05:56 AM

Best example of stress:

The emotion felt by a patriotic Ku Klux Klansman when he sees the USA winning Olympic track medals.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Rasener
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 06:07 AM

LOL

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 06:27 AM

On Aussie TV, we have two characters called Roy * H.G. who have moved out of Commercial Radio to hosting a TV show called "The Dream". They cracked it for Sydney, and were such a rating success, that this year they are broadcasting (allegedly live!) from Athens.

They were making comments that Tennis should be given the elbow (sorry!) because there was almost nobody in the Tennis stadiums for the matches, as well as many other sports.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 06:30 AM

The basic division is between events where they have to have judges to decide who has won, and events where there's a finishing line or the equivalent.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: RangerSteve
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 12:13 PM

Watching people run around a track just seems boring to me. Now, if once in a while, one of the runners would veer off the track, hit the grandstands and explode, like they do in NASCAR, that would be interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Rasener
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 02:33 PM

Well I just had to give up watching Arsenal V Middlesborough, so the wife could watch Paula Radcliffe hopefully win the Marathon. She failed and I missed all the goals. I was not pleased, and to cap it all my missus is Dutch.
Unbeleivable :-)

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Blackcatter
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 03:03 PM

I feel your pain Villan.

Then again, it's nearly impossible to follow Arsenal here in Orlando, FL and to me, American Football is boring.

I've also never understood watching a marathon. Rarely is there ever a close finish, and even if that does happen there are hours of people jogging. Yea Gods!

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: GUEST,Jock MacTavish
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 03:44 PM

Radio Five Live in the UK had Paula Radcliffe home and dry this morning, unfortunately the race took place this evening and poor Paula retired before the finish, now thank God we can listen to the rest of the games without this chauvinistic crap.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: GUEST,Pele orange
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 03:57 PM

Please everyone do not let us overlook the amazing feat of the Iraq Soccer team who have just beaten the Australian team in the quarter finals.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: GUEST,Jock MacTavish
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 04:08 PM

George Bush tried to make capital out of the Iraqi teams sucess, he was told by the team members they didn`t need any support from a man who has been responsible for the terrible plight of their country.
Ahmed Manajid the Iraqi midfielder said, "if I were not playing football I would be at home fighting for the resistance".

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Blackcatter
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 10:18 AM

Amen

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 10:50 AM

PoppaGator, You are so right. If only the freebie champions, the IOC, would have the guts to reduce the Olympics to track and field and allow hosting countries to plan accordingly it would be so much more meaningful. There are ample venues and opportunities for all the other sports and activities to have their day: and some of the suggestions regarding additional competitions leave me speechless.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Bagpuss
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 10:57 AM

Am I going mad??

I was sure there was a post here complaining about the absence of hockey and curling, and that I replied that hockey was included, and that ice hockey and curling were in the winter olympics.

Am I hallucinating, or did I just confuse two threads, or have they been deleted for some reason????

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Bagpuss
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 10:59 AM

Nah, if we only had athletics, us Brits would have hardly any medals this year. We NEED equestrianism, yachting and rowing!

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Blackcatter
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 11:03 AM

It really is silly to have so many sports (and really - non-sports) happen within 2 weeks. It's all the fault of the Western Civilization's concept that bigger is always better.

If a sports event with 25 events is wonderful - think how much better one with 100 would be! Problem is, that is simply not true.

Most team sports should be dropped - soccer, baseball, etc. Having to jam all those games into the 2 weeks is just silly.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Bagpuss
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 11:25 AM

Ignore me (as usual) I just confiused this thread with another one.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 11:25 AM

Bagpuss, I remember that conversation too, so I went looking, as I suspected it was on another thread about the Olympics, and sure enough, it was. But the post was by GUEST - must have been you without your cookie? Here it is:

What's Missing from the Athens Games?

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: fat B****rd
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 03:05 PM

Amyhow Kelly Holmes just won a Gold , so good for her.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 03:16 PM

Another victory the BNP wont cheer.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: GUEST,Lucia
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 10:14 PM

Jogging Blackcatter? Yea gods yourself.The men's winner will run,not jog, at about a five minute per mile pace. If you or anybody else on Mudcat can run a mile in five minutes flat, my hats off to you. If you can run 26 of them back to back without stopping you sure as hell ain't JOGGING!

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 10:43 PM

well,some events don't lend themselves to easy watching...but for my money, the marathon has been the scene for some of the most dramatic and poignant stories since Philippides did the first one a couple of milleneia ago.

Remember Abebe Bikila? who won a marathon barefooted? and won two in a row?

and Spyridon Louis?

It is not the same sort of excitement as a 100 yard dash, but I guess attention spans ain't what they used to be.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Blackcatter
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 01:18 AM

Whatever Lucia - it's still boring and stupid. People do it to a point where they've ruined their knees, hips, and feet for the rest of their lives.

Talk about addiction. Doing some sport or activity to such an extreme that they have chronic pain and limited mobility for the next 40-60 years of their lives.

Most hard core athletes should be pitied for their addictions.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 08:20 AM

PoppaGator – the real Olympics start today? Just what were they doing in the ancient stadium at Olympia on the 18th – tiddleywinks?

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 08:28 AM

"Nah, if we only had athletics, us Brits would have hardly any medals this year. We NEED equestrianism, yachting and rowing!"

C'mon Bagpuss – get your facts right – we NEED CYCLING! The 'invisible' sport of Britain gets the lions share of our medals these days. 2 golds and a silver so far, and it's not over yet. With the points race, madison and keirin still to come there's a good chance there will be even more.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 09:52 AM

"...since Philippides did the first one a couple of milleneia ago"

And you'll remember he died at the end of his Marathon run. It's rather surprising that didn't happen this time. Marathon running in Athens in mid-August is not a very good idea.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: belter
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 01:46 PM

I have to say that there's nothing boring about the marathon. Its when the athleats push themselves to the limit that there heart really shows. It's a great tribute to the indomitable human spirit that anyone ever finishes a marathon. (at the risk of sounding melodramatic)

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: PoppaGator
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 03:18 PM

If I hadn't been a middling-quality distance runner as a teenager, I probably wouldn't enjoy watching these events as much as I do. I certainly understand that not everyone shares my enthusiasm.

BUT: track/athletics must certainly be considered one of the core events of the Olympics, if not the number-one one. Certainly the focus of more worldwide attention than, say, team handball or men's field hockey. Or trampoline, table tennis, badminton, etc. (I know that there are some who would put beach volletball in this "non-sports" category, but I like it; I even enjoy watching the men!)

Kevin McGrath mentioned something much earlier (way up the thread there) with which I've always agreed: there's a significant difference between sports where competitors vie for a clearly-established goal, like a finish line, as opposed to those rated by subjective judging.

The gymnastics controversies of the last few days show just how ridiculous it is to decide a championship in such activities. I'm not denigrating the gymnasts themselves, who are amazing to watch and so obviously athletic -- I just think it's impossible to certify one as "better" than another, and sadly laughable to try.

Oh -- one more thing. I stand corrected insofar as the "real" track-and-field events had begun a day earlier at Olympia, with the women's, and then the men's, shotput competition. Interesting point some might not know: the original idea was the stage the (much more "classical") discus competition there in Olympia, at the original site of the ancient games. However, modern athletes throw the discus so far that their heaves would not be contained within the valley!

Too bad the first gold medal winner to be stripped of her title for doping was the Russian woman who won that first event at Olympus...

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Wolfgang
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 04:52 PM

Since for reasons difficult to guess this seems to be the thread to discuss football teams from usually not successful countries: Iraq's team has been beaten easily by Paraguay's in the semi-final. I think each sports fan is glad about that with me, for Paraguay has never yet got any Olympic medal and Iraq has already got one bronze in 1960. Go, Paraguay.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Wolfgang
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 05:09 PM

And you'll remember he died at the end of his Marathon run. It's rather surprising that didn't happen this time.

You'll remember too that he was runnning in full military gear which makes it a bit more difficult than today.

What is less known about that first Marathon is that the runner was the first ever athlete of the world who was advertising for the sports industry. For before he died at arrival he screamed at the top of his lungs the words: "Nike, Nike"

I wonder what they have paid him.

Wolfgang (who also dislikes all subjectively evaluated sports)

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: GUEST,Jock McTavish
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 05:45 PM

I disagree with you Wolfgang, I would have preferred to see the Iraq team win, after all they arose like the Phoenix from the ashes, well done Iraq and I hope you win the bronze.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Blackcatter
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 06:57 PM

Gee, I'd rather see them stay home and get rid of the agressors who have overthrown their country and installed a puppet government.

Then again, after the Olympics maybe they could come to the U.S. and overthrow our puppet government too.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: PoppaGator
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 03:57 PM

The Iraqi soccer players have got to be better off now than when they were subject to the whims of Ooo-day or Coo-say (sorry -- can't remember the correct spellings, nor which brother was in charge of "disciplining" the national athletic epresentatives).

I am not now and have never been a supporter of Bush's ill-considered invasion -- mostly because it's been disasterous for America, not primarily out of sympathy for the Iraqi people.

Nevertheless, I do recognize that life under Sadaam and the Bath party had to have been pretty awful. The current occupation by the US is probably humiliating to many, and the prospects of real "democracy" may be pretty slim, but most Iraquis are undoubtedly politically "freer" today than before the war began.

Of course, many still don't have electricity, maybe not even running water, but philosophically, they are less oppressed...

And, oh yeah -- I love to see them win that bronze medal game! Considering their original prospects, a medal of any kind will be a huge victory -- they don't *have* to take the gold to feel that they've accomplished something.

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 03:53 AM

PoppaGator – interesting to hear about the discus. Although the stadium at Olympia is long it is narrow compared with modern stadiums. Perhaps the organisers were afraid a discus might veer off into the crowd and decapitate someone!

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Wolfgang
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 05:18 AM

Who was amazed last year when a Swiss yacht did win the America cup for Switzerland being completely landlocked and alpine can be amazed once more:

A Swiss team has won a medal in beach volleyball.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: Blackcatter
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 12:21 PM

Wolfgang - aren't theose types of boats in the America's Cup underwritten by millionaires or corporations? If so, why the surprise. The more money, the more likely you're going to succeed - better technology and the best athletes money can buy.

As for beach vollyball - all you need is sand.

Subject: this site just seems to be alode o'garbage
From: GUEST,Jock McTavish
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 08:44 AM

i disagree with everything since this site just seems to be alode o' garbage! ah donnae know wha' it is aboot, it just seems to be bordoms ville to me! soo theyere ye fat farty fucked up sterio fucker! och, ye should take this trash off the internet, it's just fucked up! ye fucked up bastards

Subject: RE: BS: The REAL Olympics start today
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 09:40 AM

I `ad that Jock McTavish in my cab the other day. `e was cussing and swearing all the way to his destination. I said , what`s got into you Jock? Bad `air day? `e said, nah I done all me dosh on Iraq winning the clay pigeon shooting but they were disqualified for shooting all the opponents!
What am I like?

Subject: wha' alode o' garbage ye said
From: GUEST,Jock McTavish
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 04:07 PM

ye'ad what Jock McTavish in ye cab the other day? what the heck does all that mean? well what ever happend ah wasnae oot the other day, who do ye think ye are talk'n' too? the other Jock McTavish on one of the comments somewhere???? well i am not he, i am Jock horasial roofus McTavish not from iraq at all and never will be