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Lots of people are chatting about the olympics on various channels, so I thought a thread on the forums would be good.
I haven't been watching any of the games, but looking at the medal count the US seems to be doing pretty well. I'm sure we'll pull ahead once all the snowboarding events are done. It's great inventing a sport and then getting it to be part of the Olympics. Though lately that's not helping us out in baskeball...
Kildow planning to ski
After a pretty serious crash and spending a little time in the hospital she might still ski. That's one tough chick! If I hit the hard packed snow at 50 mph I'd be watching the games on the hospital TV and checking out the nurses ass.
Man.... Winter Olympics.....
Boring... :headbang
2 more years until the real Olympics. :Olympics
You mean you're not feeling the excitement of curling?!?! You better get on the train now, it's leaving the station. Curling is going to be the next NASCAR.
You laugh now, but I saw a news story on how curling tickets are one of the hot items in Torino. Might just be because of the hotties on the U.S. women's team, but that's a good enough reason, right?Quote:
Originally posted by Gadiantor
You mean you're not feeling the excitement of curling?!?! You better get on the train now, it's leaving the station. Curling is going to be the next NASCAR.
That's true. Handball, archery, field hockey, sailing, rowing, badminton, weightlifting, shooting, equestrian, wrestling, table tennis and the pentathalon are WAAAAY more exciting than the luge and curling. Maybe you just need to move to the West Coast where there are real mountains and real ski slopes, then you'd understand why these games are great. :pQuote:
Originally posted by Aristotle
Man.... Winter Olympics.....
Boring...
2 more years until the real Olympics.
Anyway, despite the armchair critics, I've always been a fan of the Winter Olympics. I can relate to slopeside sports a little more than most of the Summer Games, even if there are less events. Now when takraw becomes a Summer Olympic game (which it should, but won't)...then maybe that'll change.
But for now - Hooray for curling!
Well, I don't live out where there are real mountains and such, but I still think the Winter Olympics trump the Summer ones. I guess it's really a question of hockey vs. basketball, and secondarily skiing vs. swimming. The choice is easy for me! I do find track events to be roughly equivalent to figure skating... events that are televised like hell that I have 0 interest in. Ah well, can't please everyone ;).Quote:
Originally posted by Yatar
That's true. Handball, archery, field hockey, sailing, rowing, badminton, weightlifting, shooting, equestrian, wrestling, table tennis and the pentathalon are WAAAAY more exciting than the luge and curling. Maybe you just need to move to the West Coast where there are real mountains and real ski slopes, then you'd understand why these games are great. :p
Have you seen the skip for the russian team?Quote:
Originally posted by Yatar
You laugh now, but I saw a news story on how curling tickets are one of the hot items in Torino. Might just be because of the hotties on the U.S. women's team, but that's a good enough reason, right?
Ermm...yes, umm, well...Quote:
Originally posted by Elvion
Have you seen the skip for the russian team?
Perhaps we won't go so far to say "all curlers are gorgeous" quite yet. But hey, who am I to judge?
Firstly, I went to college on a rowing scholarship so you better check yo' self! (I admit though it isn't that exciting to watch on tv).Quote:
Originally posted by Yatar
That's true. Handball, archery, field hockey, sailing, rowing, badminton, weightlifting, shooting, equestrian, wrestling, table tennis and the pentathalon are WAAAAY more exciting than the luge and curling. Maybe you just need to move to the West Coast where there are real mountains and real ski slopes, then you'd understand why these games are great. :p
Secondly, field hockey, weight lifting, and wrestling are actually awesome to watch on tv. The other ones you mention barely get any tv. Both types of olympics have some suck sports. But the problem is the winter olympics has barely ANY good ones, and it definitely cannot compare to the enormity of the awesome summer sports.
Thirdly, luge is fucking worthless. So is bobsled. Wow. I get to watch someone lay down on a sled and make totally imperceptible adjustments that somehow affect the speed. Wheeee. And curling??? Give me a break. Curling makes table tennis look like the Ultimate Fighting Championships.
Fourthly, all you have to mention are swimming and track & field and you've already utterly obliterated everything the winter olympics has to offer. Then you throw in gymnastics and a host of other kick ass summer olympics sports and it is easy to see why the summer olympics is the real olympics. :Olympics
You know, they could easily balance out the olympics by moving a lot of the indoor sports from the summer games to the winter games. There really isn't any reason that weightlifting, wrestling, basketball, and the like couldn't be moved to the winter games. There could be a serious balancing, and then winter olympics would hold a more universal appeal, and the summer games would be more focussed.
Naturally, this kind of debate is very subjective, but hey...arguing's fun! So I'll act like I feel strongly about this (which I don't) and take the argument further:Quote:
Originally posted by Aristotle
Firstly...
Secondly...
Thirdly...
Fourthly...
Swimming and athletics hardly "obliterate" winter sports. I'm sorry, but a whole line of people running/swimming doesn't make for instant excitement. Sure, this kind of racing might be more "pure" (without equipment) than skiing or skating, but that alone doesn't make it exciting. I find ski racing and speedskating more fun to watch, if nothing else because they're going so freaking fast. What Summer Olympic sport has people going even NEAR the speeds winter racers go at?
Then there's gymnastics, for which ice skating is basically equivalent - even if gymnastics has more variance, they're both pretty popular. I like watching them both...gymnastics has really cool events like the rings and the vault, but ice skating is more smooth and flowing than the floor exercise. A triple axle or 10 revolution spin is WAY neater to watch than a backflip with a hard landing.
Otherwise, a lot of the Summer Games do not represent the pinnacle of their respective sports. Soccer's better at the World Cup. Basketball's better in the NBA Finals (don't even start with NCAA being better...I'll argue that another time). Cycling's better with the Tour de France. Tennis has tons of more impressive competitions. Triathlon is better at various Iron Men comps.
What exactly are the other "kick ass" sports? Sure, volleyball is great, diving's cool and the martial arts are nice, but most of the other ones are not that exciting. Like you said, there are a lot of boring sports in both Olympics, but if you look at the respective lists, there is way more boringness in the summertime.
If you look specifically at the Winter Olympics, most of the TV time goes to the skiing events, like downhill (holy CRAP they go fast!), ski jumping (the very concept of which boggles my mind), moguls (niiiiiice), and aerials (you can't TELL me this is boring). Snowboarding's also pretty sweet, and the biathlon is an *insane* idea. Then there's the speedskating and ice skating which I already mentioned, and ice hockey, which is the hockey that more people actually play in the real world.
So, that leaves curling (hey, it's better than archery), bobsled/luge (no arguments there), and cross-country skiing. You canfreakingNOT crap on the winter olympics solely based on these.
In conclusion, I like both the olympics. They're both great, and I even like to watch the unexciting sports. But it boggles my mind how the Winter Olympics could be thought of as "boring." Unaccessible to a lot of the world, sure. Smaller, absolutely. But boring, no way.
:clap
Bravo, Yatar. That was great.
But I still think Winter Olympics is boring (and yes, Ski Jumping does boggle the mind).
Hehehehe. I think I've taken up an impossible task to convince the world to love the Winter Olympics. I'm doooooooomed. There just aren't enough mountains and snow in most the world for people to understand.Quote:
Originally posted by Jidoe
:clap
Bravo, Yatar. That was great.
But I still think Winter Olympics is boring (and yes, Ski Jumping does boggle the mind).
(Then again, that never stopped Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Thailand from sending athletes. Maybe there's hope yet...)
Hey, we (Israel) sent 5 athletes. That's really something...Quote:
Originally posted by Yatar
(Then again, that never stopped Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Thailand from sending athletes. Maybe there's hope yet...)
When you have to fall down a hill in order to go fast, that's pretty lame.Quote:
What Summer Olympic sport has people going even NEAR the speeds winter racers go at?
In swimming and track and field, the actual ATHLETES are the source of the propulsion.
Except for the fact that gymnastics is about 10000 times more badass. Can you seriously tell me there is an equivalent in ice skating to, for example, the rings? My god - those guys doing an Iron Cross on the rings are uber.Quote:
Then there's gymnastics, for which ice skating is basically equivalent
Ice skating is, at best, equivalent to the floor exercise for gymnastics. Then gymnastics has all the other events that result in it utterly destroying ice skating. Plus, no frilly, stupid costumes and occasional people in poop-brown shoes.
Huh? Probably the only winter sport worth anything is speed skating (and not that worthless short track).Quote:
What exactly are the other "kick ass" sports? Sure, volleyball is great, diving's cool and the martial arts are nice, but most of the other ones are not that exciting. Like you said, there are a lot of boring sports in both Olympics, but if you look at the respective lists, there is way more boringness in the summertime.
For exciting sports, summer has: swimming, track and field (with a TON of awesome events), gymnastics, diving, volleyball, weight lifting, boxing, martial arts, wrestling, and even fencing is pretty cool. Heck, I even like archery and rowing although I wouldn't argue that those two are "exciting"
Skiing could not be more boring to watch. Oh boy, they are falling down a hill. Big deal. I would rather watch archery than skiing of ANY type. The only thing cool about ski jumping is when people wipe out, but that's the only cool thing about NASCAR, and NASCAR sucks too so that is BAD company to be in.Quote:
If you look specifically at the Winter Olympics, most of the TV time goes to the skiing events, like downhill (holy CRAP they go fast!), ski jumping (the very concept of which boggles my mind), moguls (niiiiiice), and aerials (you can't TELL me this is boring). Snowboarding's also pretty sweet, and the biathlon is an *insane* idea. Then there's the speedskating and ice skating which I already mentioned, and ice hockey, which is the hockey that more people actually play in the real world.
As long as snowboarding continues to be nothing more than a pot-smoking X-games retrofit, it does not even deserve to be in ANY olympics.
So basically, the winter olympics is one sport shy of being utterly worthless, whereas half (or more) of the summer olympic sports rock.
Checkmate!
Please shoot me, I've been watching curling....
I figured you'd say this. But I still fail to see how this makes it exciting. It's still just a bunch of people lined up in a row trying to beat each other. That's all. Maybe more pure, but not necessarily more enjoyable. It's like watching NASCAR *without* the crashes. Same concept. It gets real boring, real fast.Quote:
Originally posted by Aristotle
In swimming and track and field, the actual ATHLETES are the source of the propulsion.
Like I said, gymnastics has pretty cool things (like the rings), but also some annoying things (like how uncomfortable the balance beam and floor exercise often look). Ice skating gets rid of the sucky parts of gymnastics while adding some cool things of its own, like ridiculous spins and amazing doubles maneuvers. You can't really compare the two.Quote:
Except for the fact that gymnastics is about 10000 times more badass. Can you seriously tell me there is an equivalent in ice skating to, for example, the rings? My god - those guys doing an Iron Cross on the rings are uber.
Ice skating is, at best, equivalent to the floor exercise for gymnastics. Then gymnastics has all the other events that result in it utterly destroying ice skating.
Well, well...myyyyy daddy says gymnastics is stupid because of the anorexic twelve year olds pushed to exhaustion. Pblblblblbp. ;)Quote:
Plus, no frilly, stupid costumes and occasional people in poop-brown shoes.
Again, it's a matter of opinion. I find track & field, swimming, weightlifting, boxing, wrestling, fencing, archery and rowing more on the boring side. I like watching curling and more finesse-based sports over brute strength sports. I'm sure you find rowing more interesting because of your experience in it, but a lot of the rest of the world thinks it sucks. Likewise, people that ski, snowboard or do other winter sports realize the challenge, skill and danger involved and tend to like it.Quote:
For exciting sports, summer has: swimming, track and field (with a TON of awesome events), gymnastics, diving, volleyball, weight lifting, boxing, martial arts, wrestling, and even fencing is pretty cool. Heck, I even like archery and rowing although I wouldn't argue that those two are "exciting"
That's true. And if you have to use a boat to go fast, that's lame. If you have to use bouncy mats to do flips, that's pretty lame. If you box with gloves on, that's pretty lame. Ummm...different sports are different, man. Do you have any CLUE about the skill needed for skiing? That's not to mention the competition, given the huge amount of people that ski. This is no niche sport.Quote:
When you have to fall down a hill in order to go fast, that's pretty lame.
C'mon now. Have you even watched aerials or mogul skiing? Most people are impressed by twists, turns, flips, and ridiculous speeds. And most people think flying RIDICULOUSLY far into the air on your own is pretty cool.Quote:
Skiing could not be more boring to watch. Oh boy, they are falling down a hill. Big deal. I would rather watch archery than skiing of ANY type. The only thing cool about ski jumping is when people wipe out, but that's the only cool thing about NASCAR, and NASCAR sucks too so that is BAD company to be in.
Have you any experience in winter sports at all? It sure doesn't sound like it. It sounds like you are just saying, "Well, I think it sucks therefore it does." Brilliant. Just brilliant. I'm sorry, but if that's your main argument...that reflects really poorly.
Wow. That's like me saying, "Rowing is a stupid sport for uppity Ivy Leaguers with no social skills; it doesn't deserve to be in the Olympics." Huge stereotype, and pretty baseless. How many snowboarders do you actually know? I'm always shocked and amazed when people spout poop like this. You should be better than this.Quote:
As long as snowboarding continues to be nothing more than a pot-smoking X-games retrofit, it does not even deserve to be in ANY olympics.
In your mind. I find aquatics, archery, athletics, badmintion, baseball, boxing, equestrian, fencing, handball, shooting, sailing, softball, pentathalon, weightlifting and wrestling boring at times. That's WELL over half of the sports, and just my opinion. It's all a difference of opinion.Quote:
So basically, the winter olympics is one sport shy of being utterly worthless, whereas half (or more) of the summer olympic sports rock.
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!Quote:
Checkmate!
Anyway, you're point is now clear. We know you hate the Winter Olympics. Now can we please stop trolling this hijacked thread and let people that actually like the Winter Olympics chat about it?
The Summer Olympics has nothing to rival the insanity of Skeleton. In fact short of riding a rocket, test piloting experimental planes and hand-to-hand combat to the death, nothing on this planet has anything on Skeleton.
I'm not going to bother with any analysis of the skills required or not, but will just say that anybody who has the balls to race with their face inches above the ground at speeds of 120 Kph gets a thumbs up.
They need an international football to add to the Winter Olympics!
I'm for either olympics. If someone has trained hard to do a sport then kudos to them!
Yeah, that's all. That and about 5000+ years of history of people competing in those events and fans loving it.Quote:
I figured you'd say this. But I still fail to see how this makes it exciting. It's still just a bunch of people lined up in a row trying to beat each other. That's all.
Just as ONE example: There is NOTHING in the winter olympics that can compare with the awesomeness of the history behind the marathon.
If by "adding" things you mean less dramatic spins, or flips that require LESS skill (no twists, no layed out position, etc), then maybe you would have a point. But doing less is not better.Quote:
Ice skating gets rid of the sucky parts of gymnastics while adding some cool things of its own, like ridiculous spins and amazing doubles maneuvers. You can't really compare the two.
You are right that you can't compare the two. Ice skating is crap compared to gymnastics. All I have to say is: Tonya Harding.
Summer Olympics has both types. Winter just has a bunch of Europeans falling down a hill.Quote:
I like watching curling and more finesse-based sports over brute strength sports.
Regarding Snowboarders:
Oh really?Quote:
Huge stereotype, and pretty baseless.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter...ory?id=2334018
Stupid pot-head X-game losers.Quote:
Jacobellis had a 50-yard lead in the first women's Olympic snowboardcross final Friday in a dandy of a race. She had looked over her shoulder several times in the bottom section of the run to see where her opponents were on the course. Obviously, she could already feel the weight of that gold medal around her neck. She was excited. She was confident of her victory. And she tried to show off a bit, throwing a back-side method over the second-to-last jump. But she held the grab too long, lost her edge and tumbled to the snow.
We never every medal we can get! Argh.
Btw, I don't mention basketball, hockey, or tennis as points for either side. All 3 of those "Olympic" *cough* events are utterly ruined by the presence of prima donna professionals.
Bleah, I feel like I'm in high school again. I'm sure glad I don't do this for a living.
You're right. ALL snowboarders and ice skaters can be judged by a few bad apples, just like ALL swimmers can be judged by the American arrogant trash talkers of years yore, and ALL runners and ALL weightlifters can be judged by their hordes of steroid-users. Good point. What crappy sports.
And gymnastics has more dramatic spins and flips that require more skill (twists, layed out positions, etc)? That sounds like skiing events! Whoa! Cool!
Otherwise, I'm content with my points, and won't drag everyone else down with more. I think my arguing's gone well beyond how strongly I actually feel, anyway. Isaviel's pretty much dead on.
That said, I still think you should move to the nicer part of the country and actually try some of these sports you're trying to trash. Even if it's curling. :)
Then there is the issue of ratings. Summer Olympics ratings slaughter Winter Olympics ratings for a reason!
Better, more exciting sports!
I'd be curious to see the breakdown is on those ratings. I mean, it's always been plainly obvious that the Winter Olympics are less popular than the Summer Olympics. But do more people watch the Winter Games in, say, Colorado or the better parts of the country (why the Pacific Northwest, of course!)? Are the numbers thrown off by those poor, deluded east coasters that just don't know any better? :rolleyes
Womens beach volleyball. Do you need anything else? Summer Olympics wins!
Nonono, women's beach volleyball in the winter! Use your head ;)Quote:
Originally posted by vin
Womens beach volleyball. Do you need anything else? Summer Olympics wins!
I guess people will mostly fall to one side or the other if they even care about sports or the oylmpics. I'm a winter sports person myself. Most people I know don't care one way or the other.
Watching curling is a strange thing. It's almost as hypnotic as watching lawn bowls. Same thing I suppose. Anyway, this from a man who can watch people play chess. Which brings me onto my next point.
Attention span. Summer olympics has lots of sports that are explosive and over in a moment, or are so repetetive you only really need to watch the start and very finish (great for lots of ad breaks). Winter has its fair share of these too, but has more races and events that are more involved and not just one jump, one throw, or one whatever. (ski jumping the notable exception which brings me onto my next point)
I just dont get ski jumping though.