OT : Two Takeaways From the Olympics

[mo_ntresor]

well, four ...

the us remains the best at almost everything.
the canadians cry the best about almost everything.

the mexicans are better at soccer than the brazilians.
the spanish are better at basketball than the americans.

mo_ntresor

[brattt]

I also learned 2 new sports - something with bikes riding around a little
indoor wooden track, and something called handball that is nothing like
handball.

Also, badminton is an Olympic sport?


---------------------------------------------------------------

Assistant Newsgroup Coordinator, rec.gambling.poker
Whose stated mission is to call out the Asses on RGP

[David Monaghan]

On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 09:33:10 -0700, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:


>Also, badminton is an Olympic sport?

Why the surprise?

DaveM

[BillB]

On 8/12/2012 9:33 AM, brattt wrote:

> Also, badminton is an Olympic sport?

susan, stop being an ignoramus. I grew up playing several racquet sports
at a fairly high club level, including tennis, squash, racquetball,
table tennis and badminton. Singles badminton is by far the most
athletically demanding of any of them. I'd come off the court drenched
like none of the others. Badminton is a hugely important sport in many
regions around the world.

[mo_ntresor]

On Aug 12 2012 3:40 PM, mo_ntresor wrote:

> > susan, stop being an ignoramus. I grew up playing several racquet sports
> > at a fairly high club level, including tennis, squash, racquetball,
> > table tennis and badminton. Singles badminton is by far the most
> > athletically demanding of any of them. I'd come off the court drenched
> > like none of the others. Badminton is a hugely important sport in many
> > regions around the world.
>

> when his kidneys weren't failing him, when he wasn't beating back the
> great white flash mobs of whistler bc, when he wasn't climbing a mountain
> or telemarking down an avalanche shoot, billb was competing at the highest
> levels in every racket sport known to man!
>
> LOL!! if you weren't such an abject economic idiot and obama fellator,
> i'd say you were victor niederhoffer .... but he's a "scrawny jew" who
> went to real schools!

.. you anonymous internet coward.

mo_ntresor

[mo_ntresor]

when his kidneys weren't failing him, when he wasn't beating back the
great white flash mobs of whistler bc, when he wasn't climbing a mountain
or telemarking down an avalanche shoot, billb was competing at the highest
levels in every racket sport known to man!

LOL!! if you weren't such an abject economic idiot and obama fellator,
i'd say you were victor niederhoffer .... but he's a "scrawny jew" who
went to real schools!

mo_ntresor

[brattt]

because even I can play badminton reasonably good.

are you saying the athleticism in playing badminton is on par with other
sports?

[brattt]

On Aug 12 2012 5:32 PM, brattt wrote:

> On Aug 12 2012 4:11 PM, David Monaghan wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 09:33:10 -0700, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid>
wrote:
> >
> >
> > >Also, badminton is an Olympic sport?
> >
> > Why the surprise?
> >
> > DaveM
>
> because even I can play badminton reasonably good.
>
> are you saying the athleticism in playing badminton is on par with other
> sports?

BTW, I would have added pingpong until I saw Forest Gump

[Will in New Haven]

On Aug 12, 6:32 pm, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:
> On Aug 12 2012 4:11 PM, David Monaghan wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 09:33:10 -0700, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:
>
> > >Also, badminton is an Olympic sport?
>
> > Why the surprise?
>
> > DaveM
>
> because even I can play badminton reasonably good.

No you can't. If you could, you would understand how the person who is
saying the stuff you are saying is wrong.

> are you saying the athleticism in playing badminton is on par with other
> sports?

What IS this generalized quality called athleticism? You do know that
almost no sprinter could win a long race against high-school kids who
ran those distances? Marathon runners give up so much of their muscle
mass that they cannot sprint. The amount of twisting and bending in
badminton, done in reaction to the movement of the bird, is something
big-time tennis players or basketball stars could not do.

I think that the best test of general athleticism, and it isn't a very
_good_ test, is probably rugby and they didn't play it in this
Olympics, although it will be back in 2016.

--
Willy "The Lamb" Reich

[brattt]

http://www.totalprosports.com/2012/08/06/the-11-dumbest-sports-at-the-summer-olympics/

[David Monaghan]

On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 15:32:27 -0700, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:

>On Aug 12 2012 4:11 PM, David Monaghan wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 09:33:10 -0700, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>
>> >Also, badminton is an Olympic sport?
>>
>> Why the surprise?
>>
>> DaveM
>
>because even I can play badminton reasonably good.
>
>are you saying the athleticism in playing badminton is on par with other
>sports?

Yes, of course: It's a competitive sport. If athleticism is your criterion
for Olympic suitability, it's the shooting disciplines I'd have queried.

DaveM

[Dutch]

David Monaghan wrote:
> On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 15:32:27 -0700, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On Aug 12 2012 4:11 PM, David Monaghan wrote:
>>
>>> On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 09:33:10 -0700, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Also, badminton is an Olympic sport?
>>>
>>> Why the surprise?
>>>
>>> DaveM
>>
>> because even I can play badminton reasonably good.
>>
>> are you saying the athleticism in playing badminton is on par with other
>> sports?
>
> Yes, of course: It's a competitive sport. If athleticism is your criterion
> for Olympic suitability, it's the shooting disciplines I'd have queried.
>
> DaveM
>

What about table tennis, you think that deserves to be in The Olympics?

[David Monaghan]

On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:51:35 -0700, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:


>http://www.totalprosports.com/2012/08/06/the-11-dumbest-sports-at-the-summer-olympics/

What a bizarre and lazy article. I don't disagree with some of the
conclusions, but mostly not for the reasons he gives.

I wouldn't include "major' sports, because they don't need the exposure, or
sports where the game is played professionally and to a high standard in
only a few countries. On that basis I wouldn't have football of pretty much
any kind in, nor tennis, cricket, baseball, or golf.

More controversially, I wouldn't have any sport that has marks for an
artistic component, and I have major reservations about any sport where the
winner is judged, rather than objectively wins. Granted, that might rule out
boxing, but after some of the controversies over the boxing medals this
year, I'm not sure that would be a bad decision.

DaveM

[David Monaghan]

On Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:02:31 -0700, Dutch <n...@email.com> wrote:


>What about table tennis, you think that deserves to be in The Olympics?

By the criteria I'd use - objective winner, physical activity, widely played
and not a major sport - yes, without a doubt. My only reservation would be
if it was major professional sport in China, with no top-ranked players
outside there. As far as I'm aware, that's not the case, so I'd include it
over quite a few other Olympic events.

DaveM

[Clave]

"David Monaghan" <monagha...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:a3ah28l624l16k2kq...@4ax.com...

Quite agree. Most people think it's something that's played in Gramdma's
basement on holidays.

I had the good fortune of being able to play at a low comepetitive level in
college.

It's a wonderful sport -- three stars, and it absolutely deserves to be in
the Olympics.

Likewise every other racquet sport INCLUDING the underrated handball, but
excluding tennis, which is overcommercialized and overprofessionalized
already.

Jim

[Dave the Clueless]

Oh, dear Jesus. Here we go:

Dr. BillBigot, the Pugilistic, Street-hardened Sociologist amateur
Olympian. Got anything else to add to this list of unverifiable claims to
greatness, you arrogant ass?

-------
"The people are sending a message, and elected officials would do well to
take heed: You aren't getting any more of our tax dollars until you can
show you're responsible and can be trusted with the money you have now."

- Debbie Dooley, state coordinator of the Georgia Tea Party Patriots

[Will in New Haven]

On Aug 13, 3:08 am, David Monaghan <monaghand.da...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:51:35 -0700, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:

> >http://www.totalprosports.com/2012/08/06/the-11-dumbest-sports-at-the...

>
> What a bizarre and lazy article. I don't disagree with some of the
> conclusions, but mostly not for the reasons he gives.
>
> I wouldn't include "major' sports,  because they don't need the exposure, or
> sports where the game is played professionally and to a high standard in
> only a few countries. On that basis I wouldn't have football of pretty much
> any kind in, nor tennis, cricket, baseball, or golf.

Not including major sports, whether one uses the scare quotes or not,
would remove much of the spectator interest and it is the spectators
who pay part of the way. Football is played "professionally and to a
high standard in only a few countries?" Where did you get that? I
assume that you mean soccer and it is played professionally and to a
high standard on only one planet but in many countries. That is also
true of rugby football, although there are three different standards
of rules. The idea that soccer used of having the countires send their
under-23 teams except for three older players allowed, was pretty cool
and might be used in some other big-time team sports.

>
> More controversially, I wouldn't have any sport that has marks for an
> artistic component, and I have major reservations about any sport where the
> winner is judged, rather than objectively wins. Granted, that might rule out
> boxing, but after some of the controversies over the boxing medals this
> year, I'm not sure that would be a bad decision.

I agree that sports where the judges say who won give me a problem.
But several of them are major spectator draws and fun to watch.

--
Will in New Haven

[phlash74]

On Aug 13 2012 12:08 AM, David Monaghan wrote:

> On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:51:35 -0700, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:
>
>
>
>http://www.totalprosports.com/2012/08/06/the-11-dumbest-sports-at-the-summer-olympics/
>
> What a bizarre and lazy article. I don't disagree with some of the
> conclusions, but mostly not for the reasons he gives.
>
> I wouldn't include "major' sports, because they don't need the exposure, or
> sports where the game is played professionally and to a high standard in
> only a few countries. On that basis I wouldn't have football of pretty much
> any kind in, nor tennis, cricket, baseball, or golf.

Golf, cricket, and baseball aren't in. Soccer is fine with the U-23 rule,
it's a decent preview of the players who will form the majority of the
World Cup teams two years from now (I'm guessing that Brazil's coach won't
make it to Rio after his heavily favored team lost the final to Mexico).
Tennis is OK, though the top players generally transcend mere nationalism.

>
> More controversially, I wouldn't have any sport that has marks for an
> artistic component, and I have major reservations about any sport where the
> winner is judged, rather than objectively wins. Granted, that might rule out
> boxing, but after some of the controversies over the boxing medals this
> year, I'm not sure that would be a bad decision.
>
> DaveM

Olympic boxing (along with boxing in general) has always had problems with
judging. It may have peaked this year, with strong evidence that
Azerbaijan was attempting to literally buy medals for their boxers.
Personally, I think the headgear has created lots of problems, by making
it more difficult for the superior fighter to knock his opponent out and
take it out of the judges' hands. Things like synchronized swimming and
dressage could go by the wayside for all I care, but you'll never get rid
of gymnastics at the Olympics, nor should you.

Michael

-----------------
"> phlash
On your circle jerk k00l kidz email list. Should be disqualified for
that, but I'll give him a pass because he is smart." - ramashiva,
8/22/2010

"Hitler has already been forgiven, but you have not." - Reptillian AKA
Igotskillz, 4/6/2011

[WrongWayWade]

Will in New Haven wrote:

> On Aug 13, 3:08 am, David Monaghan <monaghand.da...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:51:35 -0700, "brattt"
>> <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:
>>> http://www.totalprosports.com/2012/08/06/the-11-dumbest-sports-at-the...
>>
>> What a bizarre and lazy article. I don't disagree with some of the
>> conclusions, but mostly not for the reasons he gives.
>>
>> I wouldn't include "major' sports, because they don't need the
>> exposure, or sports where the game is played professionally and to a
>> high standard in only a few countries. On that basis I wouldn't have
>> football of pretty much any kind in, nor tennis, cricket, baseball,
>> or golf.
>
> Not including major sports, whether one uses the scare quotes or not,
> would remove much of the spectator interest and it is the spectators
> who pay part of the way. Football is played "professionally and to a
> high standard in only a few countries?" Where did you get that? I
> assume that you mean soccer and it is played professionally and to a
> high standard on only one planet but in many countries. That is also
> true of rugby football, although there are three different standards
> of rules. The idea that soccer used of having the countires send their
> under-23 teams except for three older players allowed, was pretty cool
> and might be used in some other big-time team sports.

The under-23 thing in soccer (for men only, btw, women get to send their
best) makes it pretty lame, but I guess they don't want to just run a
World-Cup every two years.

Rugby-7s has been added for 2016. And golf. But they completely screwed up
the golf. It shouldn't be 72 hole stroke play, which really, anyone
qualified can win on any weekened. Winning the gold medal in golf won't mean
much. They should have made it 4-player country teams only, with a Ryder
Cup format. That could have been cool. Fiji wins the Gold!

[David Monaghan]

On Mon, 13 Aug 2012 08:05:36 -0700 (PDT), Will in New Haven
<bill....@taylorandfrancis.com> wrote:

>On Aug 13, 3:08�am, David Monaghan <monaghand.da...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:51:35 -0700, "brattt" <af3...@webnntp.invalid> wrote:
>> >http://www.totalprosports.com/2012/08/06/the-11-dumbest-sports-at-the...
>>
>> What a bizarre and lazy article. I don't disagree with some of the
>> conclusions, but mostly not for the reasons he gives.
>>
>> I wouldn't include "major' sports, �because they don't need the exposure, or
>> sports where the game is played professionally and to a high standard in
>> only a few countries. On that basis I wouldn't have football of pretty much
>> any kind in, nor tennis, cricket, baseball, or golf.
>
>Not including major sports, whether one uses the scare quotes or not,
>would remove much of the spectator interest and it is the spectators
>who pay part of the way. Football is played "professionally and to a
>high standard in only a few countries?" Where did you get that? I
>assume that you mean soccer and it is played professionally and to a
>high standard on only one planet but in many countries. That is also
>true of rugby football, although there are three different standards
>of rules. The idea that soccer used of having the countires send their
>under-23 teams except for three older players allowed, was pretty cool
>and might be used in some other big-time team sports.

I clearly didn't communicate that well. "Major" was in quotation marks
because I suspect not everyone's list would tally, but we all think we know
what it means. The sports I was considering as been played to a high
standard in very few countries a reference to games like, say, Australian
rules football or baseball. and " football of pretty much any kind" meant,
well, football of pretty much any kind - association, rugby, American,
Australian rules, and any other you can think of (not all excluded for the
same reasons) - and the connection between "major" and "played
professionally and to a high standard in only a few countries" was an "or",
not an "and".

As for the under-23's - if they're good enough, they play for the national
side, not the under 23's. I imagine an Olympics where every sport was teamed
by players not quite good enough, wouldn't be seen as pretty cool by anyone.

>I agree that sports where the judges say who won give me a problem.
>But several of them are major spectator draws and fun to watch.

Maybe, but as I recall, it was only the football (soccer) match tickets that
were slow to shift. Seems there isn't any sport, that people won't pay to
watch if it's packaged in the Olympics.

DaveM

[David Monaghan]

On Mon, 13 Aug 2012 09:16:34 -0700, "phlash74" <a10...@webnntp.invalid>
wrote:

>Things like synchronized swimming and
>dressage could go by the wayside for all I care, but you'll never get rid
>of gymnastics at the Olympics, nor should you.

Fair enough, but I prefer to watch that sort of stuff at the circus.

DaveM

[Clave]

"David Monaghan" <monagha...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:t5uj281p5jekfh57u...@4ax.com...

The Circ maybe, but not your average circus.

Jim

[Will in New Haven]

I see no reason for those rules and I vote "no" on your application to
be the commissioner :-,) I would like to see baseball but I agree it's
international appeal is too limited, although it is growing.

>
> As for the under-23's - if they're good enough, they play for the national
> side, not the under 23's. I imagine an Olympics where every sport was teamed
> by players not quite good enough, wouldn't be seen as pretty cool by anyone.

They weren't restricted to the under-23 _team_ Under-23s who played
for the national teams were playing. So the games were a preview, of
sorts, of a WC a few cycles away. A preview that probably alarmed the
Brazilian football establishment more than it should have.

>
> >I agree that sports where the judges say who won give me a problem.
> >But several of them are major spectator draws and fun to watch.
>
> Maybe, but as I recall, it was only the football (soccer) match tickets that
> were slow to shift. Seems there isn't any sport, that people won't pay to
> watch if it's packaged in the Olympics.

And if someone across town or watching on a different channel is
watching a sport you don't think deserves to be there, why do you
care?

[Will in New Haven]

On Aug 12, 11:33 am, "mo_ntresor" <amontilladofortun...@gmail.com>
wrote:

And you can win a point in volleyball when you weren't the ones
serving. That was a 1999 rules change and I don't watch enough
volleyball to notice.

--
Willy "The Lamb" Reich

BillB is an asshole

[David Monaghan]

On Tue, 14 Aug 2012 06:49:12 -0700 (PDT), Will in New Haven
<bill....@taylorandfrancis.com> wrote:

>On Aug 14, 2:58�am, David Monaghan <monaghand.da...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Mon, 13 Aug 2012 08:05:36 -0700 (PDT), Will in New Haven

>I see no reason for those rules and I vote "no" on your application to
>be the commissioner :-,) I would like to see baseball but I agree it's
>international appeal is too limited, although it is growing.

Fair enough. I couldn't deal with all that touring and hospitality looking
at possible venues anyway.

>And if someone across town or watching on a different channel is
>watching a sport you don't think deserves to be there, why do you
>care?

I got on my soap box a bit, didn't I? I'm starting to wonder if Susan's a
troll of rare talent - her initial posts aren't obvious fuses, but after
she's quoted her source she leaves the developing inferno. I'm starting to
gain a new sense of respect for her.

DaveM

[Will in New Haven]

On Aug 14, 5:38 pm, David Monaghan <monaghand.da...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Aug 2012 06:49:12 -0700 (PDT), Will in New Haven
>

Perhaps I should pay more attention to her, without letting lust
overcome my good judgement. What good judgement, one might ask.