The Draw of the Beijing Olympics

[StateSpeech97]

It seems that in recent olympics, the amount of tv viewers much less the amount of people who even care has dropped significantly. But I think there are a few unique draws this year.

1) American Jeremy Wariner goes for world record in 400m which is currently held by his coach Michael Johnson.

2) Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell, and Usain Bolt in the 100 meter....nuff said.

3) US Men's Basketball team will win gold and quiet all the insults that the world gives us...(i.e. the cab driver from rush hour 3)

4) it will be interesting to see how visiting countries will respond (or if they'll even compete) to the horrible pollution in Beijing

[Firebird]

This will be the most-watched Olympics in history, and it has nothng to do with what our athletes are going to be doing.

[twcpfan1]

Like in every other Olympics, it will be the usual suspects: (in order)

Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Women's Gymnastics
Swimming (The Aussies and the Americans continue their rivalry)
Track and Field

[Firebird]

Like in every other Olympics, it will be the usual suspects: (in order)

Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Women's Gymnastics
Swimming (The Aussies and the Americans continue their rivalry)
Track and Field

Ping-pong
rhythmic gymnastics
diving...

thats what most people will be watching.

[ktCarl]

I'll watch as long as the Chinese vendors don't serve dog and also China leaves Tibet alone and they also dismantle all of their nuclear weapons.

[tayb]

I'll watch because I like to watch the worlds greatest athletes competing against one another.

[twcpfan1]

Ping-pong
rhythmic gymnastics
diving...

thats what most people will be watching.

I'm pretty sure those billion odd Chinese will be glued to their sets for the Artistic Gymnastics too. They have become one of the powerhouses in recent Olympic games.

[jtk1519]

It will be a miracle if the damn I give is big enough to watch the opening ceremonies, much less any of the games. I care more about the freakin' stadium and aquatic center than I do the games themselves.

[Firebird]

The games, or at least select sports, are sport in its purest form. If you can't muster a give a damn to watch the world's fastest, strongest, and highest strut their stuff, there is something wrong with you and not the games.

[EagleDude73]

I'll watch as long as the Chinese vendors don't serve dog

As a former Marine, dog, cat, and lizards are pretty good.

[twcpfan1]

It will be a miracle if the damn I give is big enough to watch the opening ceremonies, much less any of the games. I care more about the freakin' stadium and aquatic center than I do the games themselves.

Americans are usually behind the rest of the developed world when it comes to supporting their athletes who compete internationally. So I'm pretty sure you're not alone.

[DrEdward]

As a former Marine, dog, cat, and lizards are pretty good.

"former" Marine?? I'm afraid I just don't understand that concept. :confused:

[EagleDude73]

"former" Marine?? I'm afraid I just don't understand that concept. :confused:


Once a Marine, always a Marine. All Marines always refer to themselves as former never ex.

[jtk1519]

The games, or at least select sports, are sport in its purest form.

Yeah, that's what it is...

The owner of three Olympic golds and two bronze medals, Jones came clean Friday and admitted she used steroids. She pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators when she denied using performance-enhancing drugs, then announced her retirement in a tearful apology outside the U.S. District Court.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21138883/

[Firebird]

Yeah, that's what it is...



http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21138883/

You watch the NFL? You watch soccer with it's match fixing....

Yeah, there's some bad apples. But it's the absolute and beautiful simplicity of the best Olympic sports. Who's faster. Who's stronger. Who jumps higher.

It's been great theater since Ancient Greece and it still is...and cheating has been a part of it since that time as well.

[ktCarl]

As a former Marine, dog, cat, and lizards are pretty good.


Semper gag!!! :D

The runners were concerned about the air pollution. If you think the U.S. has dirty air read about the air in China's big cities.

I LOVE the Summer Olympics. I like the track and field plus the boxing. Three rounds of all out action.

[EagleDude73]

they apparrantly are going to ban the consumption of dog during the olympics

[DrEdward]

Once a Marine, always a Marine. All Marines always refer to themselves as former never ex.

I don't even refer to myself as "former." Semper Fi.

[jtk1519]

You watch the NFL? You watch soccer with it's match fixing....

And I would never dream of calling those events "sport in its purest form". They are what they are... entertainment. The Olympics are not entertaining. They are pretentious and too often politically driven.

[twcpfan1]

And I would never dream of calling those events "sport in its purest form". They are what they are... entertainment. The Olympics are not entertaining. They are pretentious and too often politically driven.

But there is still a large element of purity and amateurism that is totally non existent in American pro sports, particularly when you talk about athletes who are not from the top 5 or 10 nations in medal count.

After the 2000 Sydney Olympics, a lot of Australians had to go into therapy because they could not handle the emptiness of having the event end. That's how passionate some countries are about it. Personally, I love the national pride that is felt by so many countries. Much like the Europeans when it comes to the Euro and the World Cup. I don't see anything even remotely pretentious about it.

As far as politics go, you'll have to talk to your boy Carter about that and ask him why he decided to yank the lifelong dream of so many athletes to compete in the 80 Olympics.