2010 Winter Olympics (Official Thread?)

[Terjyn]

Koreans being unsportsmanlike is hard to blame on them, when they have had commercials broadcast in the past that translated said, literally, "Americans win medals because they HATE you".

With that level of national brainwashing, who can blame the athletes for not being friendly?

Well, it could be an urban legend, but I remember seeing mention of this on television news and the like, and ULs usually don't make it that far.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by silversnake

I don't really see it as being unsportsmanlike. When you are watching sports there's always an "enemy" and a hero. Depending on how the "enemy" is as a person you might react differently, but if them falling lets your team win a medal, than why wouldn't you be happy or cheer? The race isn't over until it's over so they were perfect until that moment.

Being happy because someone gets hurts and being happy because someone fell are too different things. In the case with the speed skating, I was happy they fell as well but it would have been different if it was a freak accident and they got injured.

I agree with John, yes if they got hurt it would be even worst form and yes during the competition you can almost hope for anything for the win, but if afterwards you relish in the misfortune of others (no matter how you try to justify it) is not right. Each of the athletes there worked hard to be there and there is something wrong with you when you can't feel even the slight bit of sympathy when something goes wrong.

They weren't supposed to race as a team, and in that race, they did and tried to get an unfair advantage and in the end Karma bit them in the arse.

can you show me where in the bylaws of the speed skating rules it says they are not allowed to skate as a team (what ever that means)? If there was anything wrong with what they did they would have been disqualified, it is not like drugs where someone could get away with it. All they had was bad luck.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

Koreans being unsportsmanlike is hard to blame on them, when they have had commercials broadcast in the past that translated said, literally, "Americans win medals because they HATE you".

With that level of national brainwashing, who can blame the athletes for not being friendly?

Well, it could be an urban legend, but I remember seeing mention of this on television news and the like, and ULs usually don't make it that far.

lol, your post is funny because it was not about the Koreans being un-sportsman like but moviefan taking glee in the Koreans falling which was called un-sportsman like. It is even funnier when you add that he actually said "Honestly if it had been anyone but the Koreans, I certainly wouldn't have reacted that way"

[silversnake]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

can you show me where in the bylaws of the speed skating rules it says they are not allowed to skate as a team (what ever that means)? If there was anything wrong with what they did they would have been disqualified, it is not like drugs where someone could get away with it. All they had was bad luck.

I'm only going with what the women on CTV was saying how they are not allowed to skate as a team, as in, try to bump the other competition, bother them, etc and that they were notorious for doing so. If there is no rules stating that, that I was mistaken but once again, just going with what I hear from the "experts".

I agree with John, yes if they got hurt it would be even worst form and yes during the competition you can almost hope for anything for the win, but if afterwards you relish in the misfortune of others (no matter how you try to justify it) is not right. Each of the athletes there worked hard to be there and there is something wrong with you when you can't feel even the slight bit of sympathy when something goes wrong.

I didn't say I didn't feel bad for them, I'm sure it must be devastating to come that close only to lose but you can't blame me for being happy if an error for them is a bonus for us. If you think I'm a bad person because I stated that I was happy to see them make a mistake, when their mistake is a gain for another athlete i was rooting for, than so be it.

This is sports people... always a winner and a loser and if you want your team to win, you want them to win no matter what (without cheating obviously)

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by silversnake

This is sports people... always a winner and a loser and if you want your team to win, you want them to win no matter what (without cheating obviously)

Very well said. With the exception of cheating/performance enhancing drugs, you celebrate winning by any means necessary in the Olympics. This is where one's nationalism/patriotism should come out. I'm very proud of America's athletes, and I cheer with my blood, sweat, and tears for them. I won't apologize for it, it was how I was raised. If I offend anyone with my vocal support for the athletes from my country, I do apologize. I sincerely and wholeheartedly do not mean it personally. I just take the Olympics very seriously.

[bageleaterkkjji]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Very well said. With the exception of cheating/performance enhancing drugs, you celebrate winning by any means necessary in the Olympics. This is where one's nationalism/patriotism should come out. I'm very proud of America's athletes, and I cheer with my blood, sweat, and tears for them. I won't apologize for it, it was how I was raised. If I offend anyone with my vocal support for the athletes from my country, I do apologize. I sincerely and wholeheartedly do not mean it personally. I just take the Olympics very seriously.

eat that cavic

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by silversnake

I'm only going with what the women on CTV was saying how they are not allowed to skate as a team, as in, try to bump the other competition, bother them, etc and that they were notorious for doing so. If there is no rules stating that, that I was mistaken but once again, just going with what I hear from the "experts".

don't know what the CTV woman said, but yes contact is not allowed, but then again I id not notice any of it.

I didn't say I didn't feel bad for them,

but you where not called un-sportsman-like, Moviefan was and in his own words "I don't feel bad for them one bit" it is not my fault you decided to defend him.

I'm sure it must be devastating to come that close only to lose but you can't blame me for being happy if an error for them is a bonus for us.

what bonus was it for us? And no, again, there is nothing wrong with being happy for what you or the people you support did even if it is based on the misfortune of the others, the issue and why he was called a bad sport was that he took glee in the misfortune of others.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by silversnake

I'm only going with what the women on CTV was saying how they are not allowed to skate as a team, as in, try to bump the other competition, bother them, etc and that they were notorious for doing so. If there is no rules stating that, that I was mistaken but once again, just going with what I hear from the "experts".

don't know what the CTV woman said, but yes contact is not allowed, but then again I id not notice any of it.

I didn't say I didn't feel bad for them,

but you where not called un-sportsman-like, Moviefan was and in his own words "I don't feel bad for them one bit" it is not my fault you decided to defend him.

I'm sure it must be devastating to come that close only to lose but you can't blame me for being happy if an error for them is a bonus for us.

what bonus was it for us? And no, again, there is nothing wrong with being happy for what you or the people you support did even if it is based on the misfortune of the others, the issue and why he was called a bad sport was that he took glee in the misfortune of others.

This is sports people... always a winner and a loser and if you want your team to win, you want them to win no matter what (without cheating obviously)

so do you think there would not be anything wrong or it be in bad taste for anyone that went higher in the standings in Luge (or any of their fans) to be happy for the death of the Georgian athlete? it would not be cheating, right? no matter what, right?

[silversnake]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

so do you think there would not be anything wrong or it be in bad taste for anyone that went higher in the standings in Luge (or any of their fans) to be happy for the death of the Georgian athlete? it would not be cheating, right? no matter what, right?

You're going way out of left field. I only specified cheating as one way that I would not be happy, but you're really trying to win an argument by saying / thinking that a death of an athlete is okay to win a medal? You're comparing me saying a guy that falls in a race to a man who died during the olympics to prove that you are somehow right in all this? Are you serious?

wow...

[Sabotage]

so do you think there would not be anything wrong or it be in bad taste for anyone that went higher in the standings in Luge (or any of their fans) to be happy for the death of the Georgian athlete? it would not be cheating, right? no matter what, right?

I think he was expecting people to think logically when he posted that.

[silversnake]

Originally Posted by Sabotage

I think he was expecting people to think logically when he posted that.

Pretty much

With all this, we didn't even mention that Canada won their first gold medal on home soil. It was pretty exciting and Alexandre's run was very impressive but that whole event was crazy.

To think that they practice 4 years and it's over in 23 secs.. madness!

[Sabotage]

Originally Posted by silversnake

Pretty much

With all this, we didn't even mention that Canada won their first gold medal on home soil. It was pretty exciting and Alexandre's run was very impressive but that whole event was crazy.

To think that they practice 4 years and it's over in 23 secs.. madness!

Begg-Smith was NOT pleased at the end of the compotition. Reminded me a lot of the night prior with Heil at the end of her event. But yes I have to agree with you, very good day for Team Canada. The Olympics have been pretty good to Canada this year as many Canadian atheletes have placed high in their respective sports.

[silversnake]

Originally Posted by Sabotage

Begg-Smith was NOT pleased at the end of the compotition.

For sure, he wasn't even looking at the cameras for the pictures, he was definitely disappointed which is only normal.

It was so tiresome to hear about how he was born Canadian and than left to essentially compete for Australia. Sounded like they were incredibly sour about it but it's his choice.

The women speed skating was interesting as well!

[Sabotage]

Originally Posted by silversnake

For sure, he wasn't even looking at the cameras for the pictures, he was definitely disappointed which is only normal.

It was so tiresome to hear about how he was born Canadian and than left to essentially compete for Australia. Sounded like they were incredibly sour about it but it's his choice.

The women speed skating was interesting as well!

I know right. You'd have thought he'd murdered a baby then joined Team Australia judging by the way they sounded when addressing him.

I'm personally excited for Men's Hockey. I want to say if Jagr and Palffy still can still play at the NHL level. Will be interesting indeed to see who takes gold for men's as there are so many powerhouse teams unlike in womens.Not to say I don;t find women's hockey interesting but when you really think about it Canada and the United States are the only teams with a hope at gold. I mean with scores like 18-0 and 12-1 it can get pretty uninteresting to watch at times.

[Jellybeans]

Canada won it's first gold medal on canadian soil, a first!

Keep them coming!

[bandit29]

Originally Posted by Sabotage

I know right. You'd have thought he'd murdered a baby then joined Team Australia judging by the way they sounded when addressing him.

I'm personally excited for Men's Hockey. I want to say if Jagr and Palffy still can still play at the NHL level. Will be interesting indeed to see who takes gold for men's as there are so many powerhouse teams unlike in womens.Not to say I don;t find women's hockey interesting but when you really think about it Canada and the United States are the only teams with a hope at gold. I mean with scores like 18-0 and 12-1 it can get pretty uninteresting to watch at times.

There's talk of no more Women's hockey due to lack of competition. I agree..it's a joke to watch.

[Sabotage]

Originally Posted by bandit29

There's talk of no more Women's hockey due to lack of competition. I agree..it's a joke to watch.

What's even funnier is that in a tournament to qualify for the Olympics, Slovakia beat Bulgaria 82-0.

[Navster]

whats with the NBC tv schedule? why is there a tape delay? shouldnt these evets be aired live?????????

It sucks that I already know who won what medal and it hasent even aired on tv yet

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by bandit29

There's talk of no more Women's hockey due to lack of competition. I agree..it's a joke to watch.

Unless powerhouses are involved in head-to-head competition, everyone else is cannon fodder during the preliminary rounds; it's almost tantamount to bullying, and it's not entertaining. Even as I watched yesterday's drubbing of the Chinese women's team by the US squad, based on what I saw when I tuned in, it was evident that the US women's team was more talented and better coached than their competitor. I don't think the talent margin will be bridged anytime soon, and it should be dropped from the schedule, as well as medal consideration.

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by NavsterKing

whats with the NBC tv schedule? why is there a tape delay? shouldnt these evets be aired live?????????

It sucks that I already know who won what medal and it hasent even aired on tv yet

.....because it's NBC and their track record with Olympic coverage has always been poor. In all of their years of broadcasting, they haven't learned a damn thing, and they wonder why they fail to increase viewership. If you're going to do a three-hour tape delay, then why not offer a live streaming option on your website for those of us who want to view the events in real time? If you can't afford the bandwidth, then you have no business covering this in the first place.

= Nothing But Complaints