OT Olympics question.

[forty_three]

cricket is probably more popular on a global scale ... i think euros would probably want that in the games before baseball

Huge in Asia too. Which is probably a contributing factor in why Baseball is out. More of the world plays that game than baseball. If you aren't going to have that, you aren't going to have baseball.

I agree with taking Basketball out. Yeah, other countries play it but most don't have enough NBA all-stars to compete.

Of course, by the same token we could argue to take Hockey out too.

Things like Horse Dancing or whatever should go away too. Ooh, you groomed a horse and sat on it better than anyone else did. Gold for you.


All I care about is that BMX is in. I remember way back when in 1984 it was a Demo Sport at the LA games and three other times before they allowed it in. I just hope they keep the cycling events to definitive race type events and don't add subjective disciplines like they did with the snowboard half pipe. I hope they don't add a BMX half-pipe or dirt jumping competition. I love watching that stuff, and loved competing in it. But would not like the drama surrounding it like the drama that surrounds figure skating or gymnastics.

 

[awaz]

Huge in Asia too. Which is probably a contributing factor in why Baseball is out. More of the world plays that game than baseball. If you aren't going to have that, you aren't going to have baseball.

I agree with taking Basketball out. Yeah, other countries play it but most don't have enough NBA all-stars to compete.

Of course, by the same token we could argue to take Hockey out too.

Things like Horse Dancing or whatever should go away too. Ooh, you groomed a horse and sat on it better than anyone else did. Gold for you.


All I care about is that BMX is in. I remember way back when in 1984 it was a Demo Sport at the LA games and three other times before they allowed it in. I just hope they keep the cycling events to definitive race type events and don't add subjective disciplines like they did with the snowboard half pipe. I hope they don't add a BMX half-pipe or dirt jumping competition. I love watching that stuff, and loved competing in it. But would not like the drama surrounding it like the drama that surrounds figure skating or gymnastics.

hockey is a little different because canada, usa, sweden, finland, russia, czech republic, and slovakia can all ice a mostly NHL roster.. at least IMO that makes it different..

for entertainment and competitive value though, IMO they should be all amatuers, or similar to soccer with 2-3 professionals or whatever their rule is.. doesn't help grow the pro league as much, but i'd like to watch that

eff the NBA though, its a traveshamockery that the "Dream Team" can't beat everyone by 20+. If lebron was as good as he/espn thinks he is, he should be able to beat lithuania by 15 by himself.. i feel unamerican for saying this, but i hope those cocky assholes lose. maybe next time dwade can convince the IOC to pay the NBA players to come so they'll actually try

 

[jstewismybastardson]

hockey is a little different because canada, usa, sweden, finland, russia, czech republic, and slovakia can all ice a mostly NHL roster.. at least IMO that makes it different..

for entertainment and competitive value though, IMO they should be all amatuers, or similar to soccer with 2-3 professionals or whatever their rule is.. doesn't help grow the pro league as much, but i'd like to watch that

eff the NBA though, its a traveshamockery that the "Dream Team" can't beat everyone by 20+. If lebron was as good as he/espn thinks he is, he should be able to beat lithuania by 15 by himself.. i feel unamerican for saying this, but i hope those cocky assholes lose.

what exactly is an amateur these days?

and the olympic soccer tournament is under 23 (plus 3 overage players) BUT theyre not amateurs ... theyre pretty much all pro players

 

[awaz]

what exactly is an amateur these days?

and the olympic soccer tournament is under 23 (plus 3 overage players) BUT theyre not amateurs ... theyre pretty much all pro players

that rule works.. clearly i didn't know it haha

 

[jstewismybastardson]

that rule works.. clearly i didn't know it haha

and FIBA basketball wants to go to an under 23 mens olympic tournament too starting in 2016 ... does that even things up competitively? i doubt it

 

[forty_three]

what exactly is an amateur these days?

and the olympic soccer tournament is under 23 (plus 3 overage players) BUT theyre not amateurs ... theyre pretty much all pro players

I'd be okay with this rule applying to Hockey as well. College age or young pros. Fine with me.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Rugby and golf are in for 2016. Baseball was probably taken out because softball was, and softball was because it wasn't competitive.

The shooting sports, in my opinion, should stay. They're remarkable. Especially rapid fire pistol. Five targets twenty five meters away, and only eight, then six, then four seconds to shoot all of them.

I have a problem with Golf as an Olympic sport. Mainly because I see it as a leisure activity. You don't have to be a great athlete to be a great golfer.

Any sport in which winning the Gold Medal for your country isn't the biggest deal should be out of the Olympics. Tennis & Mens Basketball come to mind immediately. If they want to keep Mens Basketball they should put an age limit like they do with the Soccer Tournament, 23 years old & under with two players of any age added to each teams roster.

I think they should get rid of the Equestrian events. When Mitt Romney's wife owns a horse that's being ridden in the competition, the British & Dutch have members of their Royal family participating we know the little people will likely never have a chance to compete.

If Golf is an Olympic sport Pool & Darts should be as well. They could have a 9 ball tournament & a Snooker tourney for the Pool players.

 

[DChero]

I'd be okay with this rule applying to Hockey as well. College age or young pros. Fine with me.

CHL versus the KHL youngsters then?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I'd be okay with this rule applying to Hockey as well. College age or young pros. Fine with me.

and I think the NHL is probably ok with it too ... seems like ioc is hesitant to change ONLY this sports tournament participation rules ... because it has become the winter games marquee cash cow

and like awaz said ... its probably the most competitive of all the olympics sports tournies with pro athletes

 

[awaz]

and FIBA basketball wants to go to an under 23 mens olympic tournament too starting in 2016 ... does that even things up competitively? i doubt it

probably not, but at least i can stomach most sub-23 NBA players..

 

[jstewismybastardson]

CHL versus the KHL youngsters then?

i think that would kill the world juniors cache ... and a steady annual revenue source for the iihf ... they wouldnt want any part of that either

 

[Vadered]

I have a problem with Golf as an Olympic sport. Mainly because I see it as a leisure activity. You don't have to be a great athlete to be a great golfer.

Any sport in which winning the Gold Medal for your country isn't the biggest deal should be out of the Olympics. Tennis & Mens Basketball come to mind immediately. If they want to keep Mens Basketball they should put an age limit like they do with the Soccer Tournament, 23 years old & under with two players of any age added to each teams roster.

I think they should get rid of the Equestrian events. When Mitt Romney's wife owns a horse that's being ridden in the competition, the British & Dutch have members of their Royal family participating we know the little people will likely never have a chance to compete.

If Golf is an Olympic sport Pool & Darts should be as well. They could have a 9 ball tournament & a Snooker tourney for the Pool players.

HAVE YOU EVER:

Galloped around a tiny barrel?

 

[awaz]

I have a problem with Golf as an Olympic sport. Mainly because I see it as a leisure activity. You don't have to be a great athlete to be a great golfer.

Any sport in which winning the Gold Medal for your country isn't the biggest deal should be out of the Olympics. Tennis & Mens Basketball come to mind immediately. If they want to keep Mens Basketball they should put an age limit like they do with the Soccer Tournament, 23 years old & under with two players of any age added to each teams roster.

I think they should get rid of the Equestrian events. When Mitt Romney's wife owns a horse that's being ridden in the competition, the British & Dutch have members of their Royal family participating we know the little people will likely never have a chance to compete.

If Golf is an Olympic sport Pool & Darts should be as well. They could have a 9 ball tournament & a Snooker tourney for the Pool players.

there's quite a few olympic events then that you want to get rid of.. equestrian, shooting (bow, rifle, pistol, etc), curling

i'd take golf over those

not sure why you blasted tennis, or basketball (in that capacity) for that matter really.. you could make the argument that the stanley cup is more important to canadians/americans than a gold medal? soccer would be out under that decree as well, i bet most consider the world cup to be the mecca of the soccer world

 

[dare2be]

I have a problem with Golf as an Olympic sport. Mainly because I see it as a leisure activity. You don't have to be a great athlete to be a great golfer.

If Golf is an Olympic sport Pool & Darts should be as well. They could have a 9 ball tournament & a Snooker tourney for the Pool players.

Um, archery?

 

[BOSSMANPC]

what exactly is an amateur these days?

and the olympic soccer tournament is under 23 (plus 3 overage players) BUT theyre not amateurs ... theyre pretty much all pro players

I'd be okay with this rule applying to Hockey as well. College age or young pros. Fine with me.

I like this idea for all of the sports I think it would level the playing field.

 

[awaz]

Um, archery?

athlete.

 

[dare2be]

So, would bowling be a summer or winter sport? :confused2:

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

there's quite a few olympic events then that you want to get rid of.. equestrian, shooting (bow, rifle, pistol, etc), curling

i'd take golf over those

not sure why you blasted tennis, or basketball (in that capacity) for that matter really.. you could make the argument that the stanley cup is more important to canadians/americans than a gold medal? soccer would be out under that decree as well, i bet most consider the world cup to be the mecca of the soccer world

Tennis & Golf are individual sports. Hockey is a team game as is Basketball, Soccer, Rugby & others. The Stanley Cup might mean the most to Canada, but does it mean the most to players in Europe & their governing bodies? I don't think so.

Curling isn't any different from Golf in terms of athletic ability. I've never played the game, but I imagine it's a beer drinkers dream, maybe some of the hard stuff too.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

HAVE YOU EVER:

Galloped around a tiny barrel?

That's rodeo, not equestrian. I realize how difficult it is to do dressage & for the horses to jump the fences, but the sport is as elitist as it gets.

 

[awaz]

Tennis & Golf are individual sports. Hockey is a team game as is Basketball, Soccer, Rugby & others. The Stanley Cup might mean the most to Canada, but does it mean the most to players in Europe & their governing bodies? I don't think so.

Curling isn't any different from Golf in terms of athletic ability. I've never played the game, but I imagine it's a beer drinkers dream, maybe some of the hard stuff too.

so are most of the running events? i'm not sure i understand. individual sports where the olympic medal isn't the crowning achievement should be out?

also, for tennis, just cause i like tennis and want to defend it.. which would you label as the crowning achievement? wimbledon? probably not the case for americans, frenchies, or australians.. and a gold medal might be the crowning achievement for anyone not from any of those 4 countries

(i do think it would be way cooler if they did team tennis in the olympics though instead of individual. have like 4 singles players, and 3 doubles teams, or something. and play a team tournament where its a best of the 7 matches)

(frenchies not meant to be mean, not exactly sure what to call someone from france in that sentence haha)