***Winter Olympics Thread***

[CanadaKC]

As I live in Vancouver...and we are hosting the world..let me say good luck to all the American athletes....I'll be cheering for Americans' Vonn and that red-headed snowboard dude...but Hockey...gotta be Canada. Enjoy!

[WoodDraw]

Originally Posted by Mastashake

Has anyone noticed in all of the interviews with the medal winners how FEW of them thank their country? I heard three so far, and not a single one said anything about their nation.

This is the Olympics. You are representing your country. You can at least mention them.

You're being too petty. Imagine being thrown in front of the cameras after having never experienced anything like that in your life. They are great athletes who every four years get a chance to be perfect. They have my respect whether they remember to say their country in a state of euphoria or not.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Mastashake

Has anyone noticed in all of the interviews with the medal winners how FEW of them thank their country? I heard three so far, and not a single one said anything about their nation.

This is the Olympics. You are representing your country. You can at least mention them.

I actually disagree. The olympics SHOULD be a pure competition where we all celebrate their hard-fought personal achievement and the advancement of the sport. Competing for country is this arbitrary thing we force on them to make it interesting for the audience.

Now, I'll continue to cheer for the clothing that has USA written on it out of patriotism, but thats not what this ideally should be about. Its also why I have no problem at all with athletes defecting to other countries to get into the olympics. We certainly didnt refuse the silver medal we got 4 years ago in ice dancing when that Canadian chick defected to the USA. We actually passed a special law to make it happen in time for the olympics.

(aside from all that, Hannah Kearney definitely spent a lot of time talking about cheering for team USA)

[Mastashake]

Originally Posted by WoodDraw

You're being too petty. Imagine being thrown in front of the cameras after having never experienced anything like that in your life. They are great athletes who every four years get a chance to be perfect. They have my respect whether they remember to say their country in a state of euphoria or not.

Its not petty at all. And I totally respect them. But its the Olympics.

There's an emphasis nowadays on player above nation, and I don't agree with it. That's all. You can be your own athlete for the other 206 weeks you compete, but for these two you are your nation. That's my take on it.

I wonder if (especially with larger nations like the US, France, Canada, etc.) the athletes even feel like they're wining the medal for their country, or themselves. I know that sounds outrageous but it used to be different. Like the 1980 US hockey team KNEW they won that medal for their country. Do they feel that way now?

But yeah, its no disrespect, its just something I wish they would do. :-)

Originally Posted by alnorth

I actually disagree. The olympics SHOULD be a pure competition where we all celebrate their hard-fought personal achievement and the advancement of the sport. Competing for country is this arbitrary thing we force on them to make it interesting for the audience.

Do you think when Estonia wins a gold medal, that guy on the podium did it for himself, or his motherland? Its one thing to be recognized as an athlete, but in the Olympics you should put yourself in second place.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Mastashake

Its not petty at all. And I totally respect them. But its the Olympics.

There's an emphasis nowadays on player above nation, and I don't agree with it. That's all. You can be your own athlete for the other 206 weeks you compete, but for these two you are your nation. That's my take on it.

I wonder if (especially with larger nations like the US, France, Canada, etc.) the athletes even feel like they're wining the medal for their country, or themselves. I know that sounds outrageous but it used to be different. Like the 1980 US hockey team KNEW they won that medal for their country. Do they feel that way now?

But yeah, its no disrespect, its just something I wish they would do. :-)

Honestly, what does the USA do for them, above and beyond what every citizen gets? I can imagine a Chinese athlete or Russian athlete being a little thankful, but the USA is one of the only major nations in the world that offers absolutely no financial support for the athletes whatsoever. They rely on corporate sponserships and charity, which really doesnt do much. I read a story the other day of a couple who were athletes for different teams, the girl was one of our qualified athletes, but she was hoping her boyfriend could make Canada's C-team as an alternate so they could qualify for some financial aid to help pay the bills.

These people have to train rediculous hours per week, often a couple hundred per month, AND work a part or full-time job just to live. A few high-profile athletes can score lucrative sponsership deals, but most of these US athletes basically take vows of poverty to pursue their sport. That doesnt really happen in most other countries.

[Mastashake]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Honestly, what does the USA do for them, above and beyond what every citizen gets? I can imagine a Chinese athlete or Russian athlete being a little thankful, but the USA is one of the only major nations in the world that offers absolutely no financial support for the athletes whatsoever. They rely on corporate sponserships and charity, which really doesnt do much. I read a story the other day of a couple who were athletes for different teams, the girl was one of our qualified athletes, but she was hoping her boyfriend could make Canada's C-team as an alternate so they could qualify for some financial aid to help pay the bills.

These people have to train rediculous hours per week, often a couple hundred per month, AND work a part or full-time job just to live. A few high-profile athletes can score lucrative sponsership deals, but most of these US athletes basically take vows of poverty to pursue their sport. That doesnt really happen in most other countries.

This actually is going with how I feel. Its like the US doesn't care anymore. The individual athletes want to win, but very few people would care if the US doesn't win in Short Track speed skating or downhill. Other places aren't like that. That's probably why the athletes don't thank the US, is because the US (as a whole) doesn't appreciate them.

[KC_Connection]

They ARE winning the medal for themselves. In a few weeks, the majority of people in this country aren't going to care or even remember them. But they will remember that moment for their entire lives, long after their athletic careers are over.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Mastashake

This actually is going with how I feel. Its like the US doesn't care anymore. The individual athletes want to win, but very few people would care if the US doesn't win in Short Track speed skating or downhill. Other places aren't like that. That's probably why the athletes don't thank the US, is because the US (as a whole) doesn't appreciate them.

If anything, they ought to be thanking McDonald's and Visa in the interviews, and the other few sponsers who havent bailed out because of the recession. They help pay for travel to world cup events and some of their training expenses, but they still usually have to work for a living on top of that.

[Mastashake]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

They ARE winning the medal for themselves. In a few weeks, the majority of people in this country aren't going to care or even remember them. But they will remember that moment for their entire lives, long after their athletic careers are over.

That's what I dislike. I guess there's to many superstars in the US for us to care about them.

Other countries treat their Olympians like we do Michael Jordan or Peyton Manning. They talk about the former greats like we do Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. I think that'd be cool.

Seriously, though, its not THAT big of a deal. Just a slight observation. I'm really not that patriotic, I just think the US watches the games with a lot less enthusiasm than pretty much any other nation. I think its because we invented Basketball, Football and Baseball. We kind of follow our own drummer.

[KC_Connection]

Canada isn't very different from the US in that respect. Nobody cares about the amateurs outside of these few weeks, either.

[Mastashake]

Originally Posted by alnorth

If anything, they ought to be thanking McDonald's and Visa in the interviews, and the other few sponsers who havent bailed out because of the recession. They help pay for travel to world cup events and some of their training expenses, but they still usually have to work for a living on top of that.

I JUST heard a figure skating duo saying they're glad to have to have such nice costumes made by Nike and Ralph Lauren...lol. Once again, I really don't care, but its funny we were just talking about it and it happened. I wasn't meaning to be critical at all before. Just would like to see some props for your mother (or father) land.

I just freaking love the games. I love it when these small countries win one of the few medals they usually win, bringing home a gold when some years they don't get one. You know they know (and their country knows) it is a huge deal. And you can just feel the pride radiating off of them when they're standing on the podium listening to their national anthem, tears streaming down their cheeks while singing their country's song. THAT is what the Olympics are about. And like I said before, that is IMO the most perfect point in all of sports. Forget the Super Bowl, game 7 of the World Series, World Cup, etc. The Olympics are the PUREST form of sports, and I can't get enough. :-)

Its absolutely positively beautiful in every way.

[The_Doctor10]

Snowboard cross may be the best spectator sport nobody's ever seen... Canada with the silver in the men's event today, look for it tonight, they were amazing races.

[CanadianChief]

Originally Posted by CanadaKC

As I live in Vancouver...and we are hosting the world..let me say good luck to all the American athletes....I'll be cheering for Americans' Vonn and that red-headed snowboard dude...but Hockey...gotta be Canada. Enjoy!

I agree...that Vonn chick is smokin' hot. Those SI pics were yummy.

[KChiefs1]

Snowboard Cross is now one of my favorite spectator sports. Amazing!

[CanadianChief]

That relay speed skating event is nuts too. Lots of crashes.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by CanadianChief

I agree...that Vonn chick is smokin' hot. Those SI pics were yummy.

Those weather-driven extra days of rest have apparently served her well. Vonn completely destroyed the rest of the field in a training run today.