Re: OT: Favorite Olympic sport events?
sf
> OT: Favorite Olympic sport events?
>
> Ski jumping
> Slalom
> Hockey (team brutality!!!;)
>
> You?
>
Ok, you asked. Curling! For some reason, I love it. I remember
watching it as a kid when they still used real straw brooms instead of
that fancy Olympic equipment.
--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.
George Leppla
> On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 08:10:26 -0600, Andy <a@b.c> wrote:
>
>> OT: Favorite Olympic sport events?
>>
>> Ski jumping
>> Slalom
>> Hockey (team brutality!!!;)
>>
>> You?
>>
> Ok, you asked. Curling! For some reason, I love it. I remember
> watching it as a kid when they still used real straw brooms instead of
> that fancy Olympic equipment.
>
>
Then this one is for you!
http://www.broadbandsports.com/node/521&gvsm=1
(there is a 10 second commercial before the clip)
George L
sf
> sf,
>
> In all these years, I never (shouldn't say that;) figured out the sport
> of curling. Probably the slow pace of the game that bugged me most!?!
Nothing is slower than baseball, Andy. Curling is kinda like lawn
bowing/bocce ball/shuffleboard on ice.
sf
"Not in my house!" LOL
Dave Smith
> On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:38:00 -0600, Andy <a@b.c> wrote:
>
>> sf,
>>
>> In all these years, I never (shouldn't say that;) figured out the sport
>> of curling. Probably the slow pace of the game that bugged me most!?!
>
> Nothing is slower than baseball, Andy. Curling is kinda like lawn
> bowing/bocce ball/shuffleboard on ice.
Curling is a great recreational activity, but not, IMO, an Olympic
sport. It is one of those things that, like golf, bowling and darts that
you can do while drinking and smoking.
gloria.p
> OT: Favorite Olympic sport events?
>
> Ski jumping
> Slalom
> Hockey (team brutality!!!;)
>
> You?
>
Figure skating, singles, both men's and women's
Slalom
Snowboarding halfpipe
Speedskating
gloria p
James Silverton
>> sf,
>>
>> In all these years, I never (shouldn't say that;) figured out
>> the sport of curling. Probably the slow pace of the game that
>> bugged me most!?!
> Nothing is slower than baseball, Andy. Curling is kinda like
> lawn bowing/bocce ball/shuffleboard on ice.
I do remember a few winters as a child when the lochs froze sufficiently
to play curling. I sort of remember standing around freezing while the
other team had their turn and I don't think it is much to watch. I think
I prefer watching ski-jumping and downhill skiing on TV; probably some
figure skating too. By the way, is there a more ridiculous activity than
the two-man luge with two guys (they don't allow mixed or women's pairs)
lying on top of each other?
--
James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland
Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
Chemo the Clown
> OT: Favorite Olympic sport events?
>
> Ski jumping
> Slalom
> Hockey (team brutality!!!;)
>
> You?
>
> Andy
Gotta go with the luge and bob sleeding and giant slalom.
gloria.p
> On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:38:00 -0600, Andy <a@b.c> wrote:
>
>> sf,
>>
>> In all these years, I never (shouldn't say that;) figured out the sport
>> of curling. Probably the slow pace of the game that bugged me most!?!
>
> Nothing is slower than baseball, Andy.
Not even golf?
gloria p
Chemo the Clown
> sf <s...@geemail.com> wrote:
> > On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:38:00 -0600, Andy <a...@b.c> wrote:
>
> >> sf,
>
> >> In all these years, I never (shouldn't say that;) figured out the
> sport
> >> of curling. Probably the slow pace of the game that bugged me most!?!
>
> > Nothing is slower than baseball, Andy. Curling is kinda like lawn
> > bowing/bocce ball/shuffleboard on ice.
>
>
> There's no baseball grounders in winter!!!
>
> And good luck hitting out of a sand trap in winter!
>
> Let's play around somewhere else!!!
>
> Andy
Do you want to play around or..play a round?? Big difference!
sf
<not.jim....@verizon.net> wrote:
> I don't think it is much to watch.
It was a lot of fun to watch when they used straw brooms on a winter
lake and two men swept madly in front of the stone. Curling was truly
a team sport back then. Now they have itty bitty push brooms and the
curler bowls on perfectly even, slick ice but I still enjoy watching
it.
Dave Smith
Let's see..... just checked some online TV listings and it seems that
the tournament golf programs run for three hours. If you have four
players on a par 72 course, there are going to be about 290 strokes
taken. That's about a stroke and a half for each minute of play. The
actual stoke takes what.... a few seconds? I don't find it terribly
exciting to play. I cannot imagine getting much enjoyment just watching.
sf
wrote:
Ha! Golf is so slow, I completely forgot about it.
Mark Thorson
>
> gloria.p wrote:
> > sf wrote:
> >>
> >> Nothing is slower than baseball, Andy.
> >
> > Not even golf?
>
> Let's see..... just checked some online TV listings and it seems that
> the tournament golf programs run for three hours. If you have four
> players on a par 72 course, there are going to be about 290 strokes
> taken. That's about a stroke and a half for each minute of play. The
> actual stoke takes what.... a few seconds? I don't find it terribly
> exciting to play. I cannot imagine getting much enjoyment just watching.
I used to wonder why golf was on TV. It was like
watching paint dry. Though it seems that they've
done something to make golf on TV a little more
snappy than it was 30 years ago. I think they're
using more cameras.
PeterL1
news:8ivdn59t0ha2671c9...@4ax.com:
> On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:53:16 -0700, "gloria.p" <gpue...@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>> sf wrote:
>> > On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:38:00 -0600, Andy <a@b.c> wrote:
>> >
>> >> sf,
>> >>
>> >> In all these years, I never (shouldn't say that;) figured out the
>> >> sport of curling. Probably the slow pace of the game that bugged me
>> >> most!?!
>> >
>> > Nothing is slower than baseball, Andy.
>>
>> Not even golf?
>>
> Ha! Golf is so slow, I completely forgot about it.
>
>
Don't forget Grid Iron!!
A 30min game gets turned into a 6 hour marathon!!
--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia
Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrites.
-- Albert Einstein --
James Silverton
I have spent some time watching speed skating this afternoon and,
despite the efforts of the commentators, it's got to be the most
unexciting sport to watch. It is not helped by the use of long lenses
that momentarily give the impression that one skater is right on the
heels of another when, actually they are seconds apart.
Jeßus
@home.upstairs.in.brissie.aus said...
:
:sf <s...@geemail.com> wrote in
:news:8ivdn59t0ha2671c9...@4ax.com:
:
:> On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:53:16 -0700, "gloria.p" <gpue...@comcast.net>
:> wrote:
:>
:>> sf wrote:
:>> > On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:38:00 -0600, Andy <a@b.c> wrote:
:>> >
:>> >> sf,
:>> >>
:>> >> In all these years, I never (shouldn't say that;) figured out the
:>> >> sport of curling. Probably the slow pace of the game that bugged me
:>> >> most!?!
:>> >
:>> > Nothing is slower than baseball, Andy.
:>>
:>> Not even golf?
:>>
:> Ha! Golf is so slow, I completely forgot about it.
:>
:>
:
:
:Don't forget Grid Iron!!
:
:
:A 30min game gets turned into a 6 hour marathon!!
Wonderful. Six hours of pituitary retards running back and forth,
surrounded by advertising. Sounds like riveting entertainment...
--
"There will never be uniform gun laws in Australia until we see a
massacre in Tasmania." - New South Wales Premier Barry Unsworth,
December 1987
Dave Smith
> I used to wonder why golf was on TV. It was like
> watching paint dry. Though it seems that they've
> done something to make golf on TV a little more
> snappy than it was 30 years ago. I think they're
> using more cameras.
I wonder why so many people watch sports events at all. It is a curious
phenomenon with all those people who seem to consider themselves to be
sports buffs, athletes or whatever the heck they are, sitting around
drinking, smoking and watching other people play rather than getting out
and participating in a sport or some other form of recreational activity.
I am Tosk
adavid...@sympatico.ca says...
>
>
> I wonder why so many people watch sports events at all. It is a curious
> phenomenon with all those people who seem to consider themselves to be
> sports buffs, athletes or whatever the heck they are, sitting around
> drinking, smoking and watching other people play rather than getting out
> and participating in a sport or some other form of recreational activity.
Wow, that's a pretty narrow view... Scotty
Steve Pope
>adavid...@sympatico.ca says...
>> I wonder why so many people watch sports events at all. It is a curious
>> phenomenon with all those people who seem to consider themselves to be
>> sports buffs, athletes or whatever the heck they are, sitting around
>> drinking, smoking and watching other people play rather than getting out
>> and participating in a sport or some other form of recreational activity.
>Wow, that's a pretty narrow view... Scotty
It was a question, not a viewpoint.
The answer, I think, is that sports (including spectator sports)
for some people resonates with some primitive tribal urge to
belong to a clan, and to see other tribes/clans as the opponent.
A secondary answer is that some people simply admire the technique
and achievement attained by world-class athletes. However, given
modern commercialism, this aspect is so buried in hype (and hypos) I
do not see how one anyone is supposed to appreciate it for what it is.
Steve
Mort
I agree. I have little interest in watching other people
do something fun. I'd rather spend that time actually doing
it myself. The idea of watching other people at play, of
whatever type, just seems weird.
What's even stranger is to hear people exclaim "We're number
one" when their favorite team wins. Makes you want to say,
"No... they're number one. You're a fat guy on a couch
munching potato chips".
--
Mort
Dave Smith
>
> I agree. I have little interest in watching other people
> do something fun. I'd rather spend that time actually doing
> it myself. The idea of watching other people at play, of
> whatever type, just seems weird.
>
> What's even stranger is to hear people exclaim "We're number
> one" when their favorite team wins. Makes you want to say,
> "No... they're number one. You're a fat guy on a couch
> munching potato chips".
That about sums it up. Watching sports on television does not make you
one of the team or even one of the fans who is there cheering the team on.
Cindy Hamilton
> OT: Favorite Olympic sport events?
>
> Ski jumping
> Slalom
> Hockey (team brutality!!!;)
>
> You?
>
> Andy
Curling
We can get Canadian TV here, and I'm accustomed
to watching curling on a quiet Sunday afternoon.
Gotta love a sport that you can do with a beer in
your hand.
Cindy Hamiton
I am Tosk
>
> I am Tosk <justwaitafr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >adavid...@sympatico.ca says...
>
> >> I wonder why so many people watch sports events at all. It is a curious
> >> phenomenon with all those people who seem to consider themselves to be
> >> sports buffs, athletes or whatever the heck they are, sitting around
> >> drinking, smoking and watching other people play rather than getting out
> >> and participating in a sport or some other form of recreational activity.
>
> >Wow, that's a pretty narrow view... Scotty
>
> It was a question, not a viewpoint.
With all due respect, I disagree. You made a clear assertion that folks like
myself who watch sports are in your own words, "people who seem to consider
themselves to be sports buffs, athletes or whatever the heck they are, sitting
around drinking, smoking and watching other people play rather than getting out
and participating in a sport or some other form of recreational activity". That
is an opinion, not a question.
By the way, I watched the Daytona 500 yesterday on the wide screen at the gym
with my daughter while we did a monster circuit train followed by a spin class
of cardio. Just for the record, I didn't drink any booze or smoke anything at
all while I watched the race...
>
> The answer, I think, is that sports (including spectator sports)
> for some people resonates with some primitive tribal urge to
> belong to a clan, and to see other tribes/clans as the opponent.
Really, do you ever listen to music? Ever catch yourself dancing or tapping
your foot? Do you not think in some way you are not, in some deep way,
making/imagining yourself playing along or being "part of the clan"? Have you
ever watched a cooking competition on the food network. How would you feel if I
asked "I wonder if folks who watch cooking shows are fat slobs waiting around
for someone to show them how to eat more bacon fat"?
You like to cook, it probably gives you some sort of rush so you watch these
shows and in some manner insert yourself into the situation. Maybe it's "aw, I
would have done it that way", why, because you can, and have, not on that level
maybe, but with just as much vigor. It's the same with sports, many of us have
been there and really just appreciate seeing somebody else doing what we might
not quite have aspired to. We understand the pain and sacrifice of the
athletes, we appreciate the skill, so we watch and dream.
>
> A secondary answer is that some people simply admire the technique
> and achievement attained by world-class athletes. However, given
> modern commercialism, this aspect is so buried in hype (and hypos) I
> do not see how one anyone is supposed to appreciate it for what it is.
That is a bit closer to the truth. There are studies that say 50-60% of viewers
of the NFL now are women, do you really think they are trying to "join the
clan" of a bunch of fat sweaty guys? LOL
> Steve
If you are the Steve I think you are, you are well aware of the level at which
my daughter and I compete... And I am 50 years old, with a sketchy ticker;)
Scotty
Steve Pope
>In article <hl9vli$9v7$2...@blue.rahul.net>, spo...@speedymail.org says...
>> I am Tosk <justwaitafr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> adavid...@sympatico.ca says...
>>>> I wonder why so many people watch sports events at all.
>>>> It is a curious phenomenon with all those people who seem to
>>>> consider themselves to be sports buffs, athletes or whatever
>>>> the heck they are, sitting around drinking, smoking and watching
>>>> other people play rather than getting out and participating in
>>>> a sport or some other form of recreational activity.
>>> Wow, that's a pretty narrow view... Scotty
>> It was a question, not a viewpoint.
> With all due respect, I disagree. You made a clear assertion
> that folks like myself who watch sports are in your own words,
> "people who seem to consider themselves to be sports buffs,
> athletes or whatever the heck they are, sitting around drinking,
> smoking and watching other people play rather than getting out
> and participating in a sport or some other form of recreational
> activity".
Possibly in your posts you should use the word "you" only
to refer to the poster to whom you are immediately responding
to. Otherwise it makes for confusing reading.
Steve
Nancy2
> On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:38:00 -0600, Andy <a...@b.c> wrote:
> > sf,
>
> > In all these years, I never (shouldn't say that;) figured out the sport
> > of curling. Probably the slow pace of the game that bugged me most!?!
>
> bowing/bocce ball/shuffleboard on ice.
>
> I love cooking with wine.
> Sometimes I even put it in the food.
I thought I said this once - golf is slower than baseball.
N.
sf
<nancy-...@uiowa.edu> wrote:
> On Feb 13, 11:25�am, sf <s...@geemail.com> wrote:
> > On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:38:00 -0600, Andy <a...@b.c> wrote:
> > > sf,
> >
> > > In all these years, I never (shouldn't say that;) figured out the sport
> > > of curling. Probably the slow pace of the game that bugged me most!?!
> >
> > Nothing is slower than baseball, Andy. �Curling is kinda like lawn
> > bowing/bocce ball/shuffleboard on ice.
> >
>
> I thought I said this once - golf is slower than baseball.
>
Check it out Nancy. I wrote what I wrote *before* you mentioned golf.
I've already acknowledged you're right and I'm wrong. Of course
watching grass grow is even slower, but I won't go there.
Dan Abel
<f9bdb87e-449e-4594...@f8g2000yqn.googlegroups.com>,
Nancy2 <nancy-...@uiowa.edu> wrote:
Depends. I go to baseball games to watch the scenery, if you know what
I mean:
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/index.jsp
--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA
da...@sonic.net
Cindy Hamilton
>
> >> OT: Favorite Olympic sport events?
>
> >> Ski jumping
> >> Slalom
> >> Hockey (team brutality!!!;)
>
> >> You?
>
> > watching it as a kid when they still used real straw brooms instead of
> > that fancy Olympic equipment.
>
> sf,
>
> In all these years, I never (shouldn't say that;) figured out the sport
> of curling. Probably the slow pace of the game that bugged me most!?!
There's a movie called Men with Brooms. It's a quirky little comedy
about
curling, directed by and starring Paul Gross, who was in that old
program
Due South, and more recently in Eastwick.
I learned a ton about curling from watching it. I highly recommend
it, not
because it's a good curling tutorial, but because it's funny as hell.
Might
be a little hard to come by at someplace like Blockbuster, but Netflix
probably has it. It was even on some cable channel like WGN once or
twice.
Cindy Hamilton
I am Tosk
>
>
> sf and Cindy,
>
> I read up on curling over at wikipedia and got a good idea of how the
> game is played.
>
> I watched a couple Olympic matches and was pleasantly surprised. Sure I
> didn't get all the terms right but it was fairly straightforward.
>
> There's some finesse about it but lots of luck. My jury is still out if
> it should be an Olympic sport, not being a true athletic sport.
>
> I had to wonder if the Scots were as "civilized" (good sportsmanship) as
> modern day curlers, what, with playing outside on the rough ice. That
> would've easily pissed me off! :D
>
> Best,
>
> Andy
Yeah, Curling is an Olympic sport, but Womens Ski Jumping isn't, what?
Scotty
--
Can I haz Cheezeburger?
Nancy2
wrote:
It's not a "sport" in spite of the Olympics ... anyone who can do an
athletic event of Olympic caliber while 5 months pregnant, is not
participating in a "sport."
I love all the Olympics EXCEPT curling. It's like watching paint dry.
N.
Dave Smith
I think that they should be considering how widespread a sport is before
it should be included in the Olympic. There just aren't many women ski
jumpers, so anyone who tries out for the team is going to make it, and
if there is no competition they are going to win by just showing up.
I heard an interesting commentary on women's hockey that claimed there
is no parity. All you have to do is to look at the results to date.
Canada and the US are the only women's teams that stand a chance. Canada
has beaten Sweden 13-1, Slovakia 18-0. Switzerland 10-1. The US beat
China 12-1, Russia 13-0. While the European teams have had closer
scores between each other, they are being whomped by the North
Americans. There are only 8 countries that are even fielding teams.
PeterL1.
70572a...@v25g2000yqk.googlegroups.com:
>
> It's not a "sport" in spite of the Olympics ... anyone who can do an
> athletic event of Olympic caliber while 5 months pregnant, is not
> participating in a "sport."
So what you're saying , effectively, is that any woman, no matter how
pregnant she is, is not allowed to participate in the 'Limpics.
Because if she can compete, being X months pregnant, the sport she's in is
not an Olympic sport....... or shouldn't be.
Right??
>
> I love all the Olympics EXCEPT curling. It's like watching paint dry.
>
You have no patients. Probably very impulsive, and aggressive.
I happen to like Curling......... the same as I like watching Lawn Bowls.
It's the skill involved that I like watching.
Seems all you see on the TV screen is someone pushing a rock on some ice.
You don't/can't see what has gone on beforehand.
Argus Tuft
"Andy" <a@b.c> wrote in message news:Xns9D1E5D5...@216.196.97.131...
> OT: Favorite Olympic sport events?
>
> Ski jumping
> Slalom
> Hockey (team brutality!!!;)
>
> You?
>
The closing ceremonies!!
Argus
James Silverton
> "Andy" <a@b.c> wrote in message
> news:Xns9D1E5D5...@216.196.97.131...
>> OT: Favorite Olympic sport events?
>>
>> Ski jumping
>> Slalom
>> Hockey (team brutality!!!;)
>>
>> You?
>>
Watching the Olympics makes simultaneously using a stationary bike just
tolerable. Unlike Vancouver, we've got snow and walking outside is not
very safe. The trouble is that I have to keep the remote in my pocket to
cut the commercials.
Nancy2
>
Well, didn't there used to be female jumpers? There probably have
been enough years gone by now, that there aren't any training because
there's no ultimate competition like the Olympics.
N.
Dave Smith
>> I heard an interesting commentary on women's hockey that claimed there
>> is no parity. All you have to do is to look at the results to date.
>> Canada and the US are the only women's teams that stand a chance. Canada
>> has beaten Sweden 13-1, Slovakia 18-0. Switzerland 10-1. The US beat
>> China 12-1, Russia 13-0. While the European teams have had closer
>> scores between each other, they are being whomped by the North
>> Americans. There are only 8 countries that are even fielding teams.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>
> Well, didn't there used to be female jumpers? There probably have
> been enough years gone by now, that there aren't any training because
> there's no ultimate competition like the Olympics.
Not in the Olympics. It has always been male only. It took a bit of
searching to find the reasons for IOC not including it because most
articles just indicated that they had not met "technical requirments". I
finally found one that clarified that point. Among other arguments, it
said female ski jumping had not reached a high enough technical standard
or level of development, and that there were not enough qualified women
in the sport worldwide.
blake murphy
<snort>
your pal,
blake
Nancy2
> Not in the Olympics. It has always been male only. It took a bit of
> searching to find the reasons for IOC not including it because most
> articles just indicated that they had not met "technical requirments". I
> finally found one that clarified that point. Among other arguments, it
> said female ski jumping had not reached a high enough technical standard
> or level of development, and that there were not enough qualified women
> in the sport worldwide.
Interesting, thanks.
What did you think of the first-time-out ski cross? I think it's a
terrible accident waiting to happen. I don't think it should be in
competition - too easy to mix up all 8 poles, skis, arms and legs....
N.
I am Tosk
nancy-...@uiowa.edu says...
>
> What did you think of the first-time-out ski cross? I think it's a
> terrible accident waiting to happen. I don't think it should be in
> competition - too easy to mix up all 8 poles, skis, arms and legs....
>
> N.
Looks to me like the essence of the original Olympics. Nothing says competition
like rubbin' and racin'... head to head;)
Nancy2
wrote:
> In article <f8b0521d-21a8-461e-8f4d-4e7647275...@b2g2000yqi.googlegroups.com>,
> nancy-doo...@uiowa.edu says...
>
>
>
> > What did you think of the first-time-out ski cross? I think it's a
> > terrible accident waiting to happen. I don't think it should be in
> > competition - too easy to mix up all 8 poles, skis, arms and legs....
>
> > N.
>
> Looks to me like the essence of the original Olympics. Nothing says competition
> like rubbin' and racin'... head to head;)
>
> Scotty
>
> --
> Can I haz Cheezeburger?
...and breaking bones? LOL. Some critic said it was roller-blading
on skis ... that's about it, only with more height.
N.