Comments on: How I would imrove the Olympics http://www.smoothharold.com/how-i-would-imrove-the-olympics/ Husband, father, writer, and proprietor. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:33:23 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Russell Page http://www.smoothharold.com/how-i-would-imrove-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-1845 Russell Page Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:47:44 +0000 http://www.smoothharold.com/how-i-would-imrove-the-olympics/#comment-1845 @ David Baseball now has the WBC as well, and I don't see the MLB halting the season any time soon to send players to the Olympics. Basketball is nothing more than a showcase of the NBA talent, no matter what country they are playing for. Soccer. Agreed. @ David

Baseball now has the WBC as well, and I don’t see the MLB halting the season any time soon to send players to the Olympics.

Basketball is nothing more than a showcase of the NBA talent, no matter what country they are playing for.

Soccer. Agreed.

]]> By: David http://www.smoothharold.com/how-i-would-imrove-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-1844 David Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:23:18 +0000 http://www.smoothharold.com/how-i-would-imrove-the-olympics/#comment-1844 If you want to talk about dropping events, get rid of tournament style sports like soccer, basketball, or baseball. At least for soccer there's already World Cup in which the whole world plays in a tournament every four years. I like to watch the more unique sports, meaning the ones you don't see almost every night on TV (baseball or basketball for example). Table tennis was freaking crazy and awesome! If you want to talk about dropping events, get rid of tournament style sports like soccer, basketball, or baseball. At least for soccer there’s already World Cup in which the whole world plays in a tournament every four years.

I like to watch the more unique sports, meaning the ones you don’t see almost every night on TV (baseball or basketball for example). Table tennis was freaking crazy and awesome!

]]> By: Russell Page http://www.smoothharold.com/how-i-would-imrove-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-1841 Russell Page Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:37:10 +0000 http://www.smoothharold.com/how-i-would-imrove-the-olympics/#comment-1841 I'm in disagreement with most on this list as well... - The great thing about the Gold medal is that is seeks the best in the world. Limiting the contestants from a country minimizes that immensely. - Gymnastic scoring changed from the old way because it was even more unfair and overly subjective. The new scoring way is more subjective and minimizes biased judging. The tie breaker makes no sense though. - There's way more to the story of Becky Hammon. She's one of the best players in the WNBA, but isn't making the Olympic team? Also, the rules in Russia (where she plays in the off season) dictate that teams can only have two U.S. WNBA players. This rule doesn't apply if you have Russian citizenship. Hammon was able to up her contract value immensely by getting double citizenship and now makes $1 million a year playing basketball in Russia simply because she doesn't count as one of the 2 limited players. She is one of the highest paid female basketball player now. She wants to play in the Olympics, and she's Russian. Do you blame her? The U.S. women's coach was pissed. Why? Don't want to have to face such a great player? Your loss. - The country representation thing does become a little odd. BYU had a guy who threw discus for Sweden, and he's only got Swedish relatives. German has a player who had German grandparents. He was born and raised in the U.S. The coaching thing I don't have as much of a problem with ... - Usain bolt broke two world records and won the gold, became the fastest man on earth, etc... I'd be jumping for joy if that were me. Now if we're just talking about his showboating before he even won the race, it seems a little arrogant. But, I think he'll stop that on his own. - Some sports are boring to us, and a very big deal to other nations. Table tennis is huge in China and in Europe. China is 1/5 of the world. I’m in disagreement with most on this list as well…
- The great thing about the Gold medal is that is seeks the best in the world. Limiting the contestants from a country minimizes that immensely.

- Gymnastic scoring changed from the old way because it was even more unfair and overly subjective. The new scoring way is more subjective and minimizes biased judging. The tie breaker makes no sense though.

- There’s way more to the story of Becky Hammon. She’s one of the best players in the WNBA, but isn’t making the Olympic team? Also, the rules in Russia (where she plays in the off season) dictate that teams can only have two U.S. WNBA players. This rule doesn’t apply if you have Russian citizenship. Hammon was able to up her contract value immensely by getting double citizenship and now makes $1 million a year playing basketball in Russia simply because she doesn’t count as one of the 2 limited players. She is one of the highest paid female basketball player now. She wants to play in the Olympics, and she’s Russian. Do you blame her? The U.S. women’s coach was pissed. Why? Don’t want to have to face such a great player? Your loss.

- The country representation thing does become a little odd. BYU had a guy who threw discus for Sweden, and he’s only got Swedish relatives. German has a player who had German grandparents. He was born and raised in the U.S. The coaching thing I don’t have as much of a problem with …

- Usain bolt broke two world records and won the gold, became the fastest man on earth, etc… I’d be jumping for joy if that were me. Now if we’re just talking about his showboating before he even won the race, it seems a little arrogant. But, I think he’ll stop that on his own.

- Some sports are boring to us, and a very big deal to other nations. Table tennis is huge in China and in Europe. China is 1/5 of the world.

]]> By: cort http://www.smoothharold.com/how-i-would-imrove-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-1837 cort Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:02:57 +0000 http://www.smoothharold.com/how-i-would-imrove-the-olympics/#comment-1837 #1 I would need more convincing. Has it been a problem? #2 We'll have to see how this unfolds over the years. Gymnastic scoring has always seemed subjective to me anyway. #3 Having some residency at some point in one's life seems important. #4 Do coaches get medals? Nope, so who cares? #5 I highly agree #6 I disagree. I think it is more important the sport has a sports following in multiple countries for it to be considered. Otherwise the cards will be heavily stacked in one country's favor. That is why the future of softball as an Olympic sport is in jeopardy. #1 I would need more convincing. Has it been a problem?
#2 We’ll have to see how this unfolds over the years. Gymnastic scoring has always seemed subjective to me anyway.
#3 Having some residency at some point in one’s life seems important.
#4 Do coaches get medals? Nope, so who cares?
#5 I highly agree
#6 I disagree. I think it is more important the sport has a sports following in multiple countries for it to be considered. Otherwise the cards will be heavily stacked in one country’s favor. That is why the future of softball as an Olympic sport is in jeopardy.

]]> By: Mark http://www.smoothharold.com/how-i-would-imrove-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-1833 Mark Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:18:50 +0000 http://www.smoothharold.com/how-i-would-imrove-the-olympics/#comment-1833 I disagree with a lot on your list. Especially number 6. The Olympics is the only time you get to see all sorts of crappy sports and be entertained by them. Sport is sport. You're looking at it from an American perspective. Ping Pong is huge in some countries. If anything, I think they need to add more sports. Golf, bowling, billiards, football, fishing, etc. It's the place to show off who is the best of the best and if you happen to be the best damn trampolinist then more power to you and you deserve a gold medal to prove it. I disagree with a lot on your list. Especially number 6. The Olympics is the only time you get to see all sorts of crappy sports and be entertained by them. Sport is sport. You’re looking at it from an American perspective. Ping Pong is huge in some countries. If anything, I think they need to add more sports. Golf, bowling, billiards, football, fishing, etc. It’s the place to show off who is the best of the best and if you happen to be the best damn trampolinist then more power to you and you deserve a gold medal to prove it.

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