08 Olypics... whos watching????

[mark.r]

The girl in the opening was a bad thing, but a great show otherwize. The "cheating"... no way are those Chinese gymnasts 16 years old. I'm talking about the girls. They say they leave home at 3 years old to start a life of training. I'm sure our athletes parents went way out of their way for a dream and for many it has paid off. However, how many of us would let a 3 year old go to a training camp with I think once a year visitation? Sorry but that isn't what the spirit of the games is about IMHO.

Breaking the rules is breaking rules, no way around it. And it looks like they broke them at least once from the evidence that came out today. I have my own opinion but it really makes no difference. With that out of the way. One thing that either some of you don't realize or have failed to include in your post is that there is a marked difference in our (yours and mine) cultures and that of the children born in China. Whether those cultural differences revolve around the ideals of communism, social class, etc. or whatever the reasons, you cannot compare how we as Americans raise our children in our society vs. how the Chinese raise their children. There are lots of reason why these children leave home at such young ages to be athletes, musicians, or even in the military. It may not have been their first choice or their choice at all but the alternative in most cases is far more dire.

I should disclose that my wife is chinese born and bred and my father in law still lives in Shanghai . . .

 

[myyaz33]

Not watching. NBC is not one of the three channels I get. Been without "real" tv for over six years and really don't miss it much. I get more done... Although my internet usage has probably increased and made up for it.

 

[rcowan]

What Olympics?
Is there a tractor event?

 

[pennwalk]

Is there a tractor event?

It's not in the olympics but that dancing back hoe thing blows my mind.

Chris

 

[dmccarty]

I have read several stories over the last year or so about Chinese kids leaving home at very young ages with very little contact with the parents afterwards. The parents don't like the situation but they figure its the best for thier child. In the last story I read a few weeks ago the parents said that they thought their daughter would have a better chance as an athlete than as a farmer. Maybe.

It is one heck of a choice to have to make.

I wonder if sending the kids off is just what happens in China in some areas and if that is one of the reasons for the large number of kids killed in the recent earthquake.

The reports I have heard and read about drug testing over the years just makes me even more cynical towards professional sports. Testing for the drugs is pretty much broken and easily circumvented. If you are taking a chemical that is normally in the human body how do you detect it? And how do you know WHICH chemicals that needed to be tested for use. People knew something was up with the East German swimmers years ago but I'm not sure we knew what was happening to them. I'm sure there are drugs being used today that for which tests are not being done.

I guess I'm just cynical about sports. It started in sixth grade when I played full contact football in LA. The team that won the league championship was buying the refs. The other team would face mask our center and guards play after play and no ref called them on it. Think how dangerous this is yet the refs had been paid off. A 12/13 year old could have been crippled for life or killed for a stupid game. We had one ref appoligize to use as a team after one game because he said we did not score a touchdown when it was obvious that we had. Everyone could see we crossed the line. It cost us the game.

If people will pay off refs for a stupid kids game what will they do when national prestige and big money is at stake?

Later,
Dan

 

[mark.r]

I have read several stories over the last year or so about Chinese kids leaving home at very young ages with very little contact with the parents afterwards. The parents don't like the situation but they figure its the best for thier child. In the last story I read a few weeks ago the parents said that they thought their daughter would have a better chance as an athlete than as a farmer. Maybe.

It is one heck of a choice to have to make.

I wonder if sending the kids off is just what happens in China in some areas and if that is one of the reasons for the large number of kids killed in the recent earthquake.

The reports I have heard and read about drug testing over the years just makes me even more cynical towards professional sports. Testing for the drugs is pretty much broken and easily circumvented. If you are taking a chemical that is normally in the human body how do you detect it? And how do you know WHICH chemicals that needed to be tested for use. People knew something was up with the East German swimmers years ago but I'm not sure we knew what was happening to them. I'm sure there are drugs being used today that for which tests are not being done.

I guess I'm just cynical about sports. It started in sixth grade when I played full contact football in LA. The team that won the league championship was buying the refs. The other team would face mask our center and guards play after play and no ref called them on it. Think how dangerous this is yet the refs had been paid off. A 12/13 year old could have been crippled for life or killed for a stupid game. We had one ref appoligize to use as a team after one game because he said we did not score a touchdown when it was obvious that we had. Everyone could see we crossed the line. It cost us the game.

If people will pay off refs for a stupid kids game what will they do when national prestige and big money is at stake?

Later,
Dan

I'm not sure what to tell you Dan. There are many "broken" systems in society and we all know that. On the other hand there are many people who are doing their best to fix them and bring out the positives in all situations. I think this sums up the my feelings of the games best . . .

It's nice to watch regular people who don't have bloated bank accounts, sports agents, promoters, etc. hawking every move the athlete makes, perform in a sport that they LOVE! You can see the love of sport in their eyes and not the love of money. good stuff!!

I think the fact that you have to go back to an experience that you had in 6th grade and have that ruin your love for something that can truly bring people together is disappointing. Understand, I am no sports fanactic. I'll watch the Redskins game if it's on. I don't do baseball, don't watch basketball but I do love soccer. I played, baseball, football, soccer, and have blackbelt in Taekwondo. My point is sports is international and its something we all understand. For the most part these atheletes put in years of effort to at many times only have 2 or 3 minutes to perform. I RESPECT THAT. Yes, there are going to be bad apples just like in every other facet of life, everyone understands that. But all I hear on just about everyone forum or discussion board are people complaining about TV coverage, communism, politics, blah, blah, blah. It's all just a bunch of negativity. Take the three weeks and either watch the games or not. But just let the athletes have their time.

Personally I love it for all the different international aspects.

 

[kidr]

I find it illuminating that the games with the most coverage on tv, is of the athletes with the least coverage.IE beach volley ball?????Would it be on TV if the girls had clothes on?

 

[mark.r]

I find it illuminating that the games with the most coverage on tv, is of the athletes with the least coverage.IE beach volley ball?????Would it be on TV if the girls had clothes on?

Did you ever give any thought that it just may be because Misty and Kerri are the defending gold medalists and have not lost in over 105 matches (which equates to over one year) as of last night. I mean lets be honest the divers/swimmers/water polo are wearing less but I don't hear you complaining about them. Keep on with the conspiracy theories . . .

 

[Wombat125]

Well stated Mark.

We just got back from Beijing yesterday. We saw the men's archery medal round and women's team handball prelims. There were a few touching moments, like when the Czech women's 10m air rifle shooter gave her gold medal flowers to the Chinese shooter.

I feel really bad for Du Li, and I'd like to give these flowers to her because she can shoot way better than she did today, Emmons said, holding the flowers she was given at the medal ceremony led by IOC president Jacque Rogge.

Of course there are some bad apples, and the Chinese still need to learn a few things about hosting logistics that TV viewers never saw, but I guess I still believe that the Olympics are a good thing. I don't think that they will solve all of the world's problems, but they are a positive influence. Even the Russian and Georgian beach volleyball women hugged before their match.

Now I have to go to work in my jetlag induced coma...

 

[mark.r]

Well stated Mark.

We just got back from Beijing yesterday. We saw the men's archery medal round and women's team handball prelims. There were a few touching moments, like when the Czech women's 10m air rifle shooter gave her gold medal flowers to the Chinese shooter.

I feel really bad for Du Li, and I'd like to give these flowers to her because she can shoot way better than she did today, Emmons said, holding the flowers she was given at the medal ceremony led by IOC president Jacque Rogge.

Of course there are some bad apples, and the Chinese still need to learn a few things about hosting logistics that TV viewers never saw, but I guess I still believe that the Olympics are a good thing. I don't think that they will solve all of the world's problems, but they are a positive influence. Even the Russian and Georgian beach volleyball women hugged before their match.

Now I have to go to work in my jetlag induced coma...

This EXACTLY the points that I think everyone needs to keep in mind rather than blasting the TV coverage, and the ages of certain athletes. I don't know if anyone saw the piece they did on Kirsty Coventry. After she won the first gold medal for Zimbabwe a in Athens the whole country stood still from the civil war and racial strife, if only for a few days to give her a hereos welcome. There were numerous newborns named Kirsty during this 3 or 4 day period of peace. She said, it was one of the greatest times of her lifes and wished it could have lasted for ever.

YouTube - kirsty coventry 2004