The Olympics

[Duct Tape]

18 hours ago, mshills said:

Agree 100%! 
 

What I find silly is the addition of sports for which an Olympic medal is not the pinnacle of the sport AND there is already robust international competition. Golf, tennis, soccer (I love all three sports and played them at a reasonable level earlier in life) are the most obvious ones that don’t fit. Basketball I’m fine with because the international team competition is distinct enough from the NBA that the Olympics are still interesting. 
 

Wrestling, track & field, swimming, weight lifting, gymnastics, water polo….that’s where it’s at! Team USA could have an historic Olympics in wrestling!

The reason I’ve loved the Olympics since Frank Klammer’s gold in 1976 was exactly that. It was the sports we rarely saw on TV with the athletes who toiled in obscurity for 4 or 8 years, for all too brief national glory. For example winter sports such as the biathlon, ski jumping, and alpine skiing. Bobsled and luge are great even if the margins are in thousandths of a second.  And summer sports including whitewater slalom kayak (one of my former sports). 
 

Having said that, if I never see another gymnastics or figure skating event (so overhyped by the US media) I’ll be happy. To each his own.   And rhythm gymnastics ???  🤓
Mrs Tape decidedly disagrees here. 
 

Team sports such as basketball which have regular seasons and high media exposure leave me fairly uninterested. I am looking forward to seeing the 3 on 3 basketball since a local young man and friend of one of my sons is on the team. And 7’s rugby will be cool primarily as a test of great athletes, although I still vastly prefer the regular 15’s union game I once played. 
 

Finally, it would be great if the media could drop the nationalistic medal count, does it really equate to any greatness?  But not going to happen. 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2024 by Duct Tape

[Tpfol]

Summer Olympics are awesome and I am glad golf is included. Its pretty cool to see some cats representing their country who you likely wouldnt see in any other tournament. I also feel its a great opportunity for the Women to get additional exposure as they play the same course, during the same time frame.

 

[rule_6]

A mixed team format would be a good way to get more interest. Problem is the weaker countries who have qualifiers probably wouldnt have a chance. 

[Titleist99]

LOL!...... wasn't golf in the Summer Olympics before a lot of sports were invented 1904?

 

So, why is it silly to have golf in the Olympic games now?

[Hawkeye77]

8 minutes ago, Titleist99 said:

LOL!...... wasn't golf in the Summer Olympics before a lot of sports were invented 1904?

 

So, why is it silly to have golf in the Olympic games now?

The 112 year gap might support the notion of silly along with the fact it was played only twice and abandoned.

 

So bring back Tug Of War, lol - actually I’d watch that. 

Edited July 23, 2024 by Hawkeye77

[Dave230]

4 hours ago, mshills said:

Agree 100%! 
 

What I find silly is the addition of sports for which an Olympic medal is not the pinnacle of the sport AND there is already robust international competition. Golf, tennis, soccer (I love all three sports and played them at a reasonable level earlier in life) are the most obvious ones that don’t fit. Basketball I’m fine with because the international team competition is distinct enough from the NBA that the Olympics are still interesting. 
 

Wrestling, track & field, swimming, weight lifting, gymnastics, water polo….that’s where it’s at! Team USA could have an historic Olympics in wrestling!

I disagree, I think the point should be that it's a festival of sports. Omitting various popular sports just because they aren't the pinnacle doesn't mean they aren't valid.

 

Tennis in the Olympics has progressed to be the 5th biggest tournament in the game. And soccer is under 23s rule plus 3 overage players. It's kinda odd but it's the only tournament that uses those rules and allows some unheralded players to shine.

[Titleist99]

11 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

The 112 year gap might support the notion of silly along with the fact it was played only twice and abandoned.

 

So bring back Tug Of War, lol - actually I’d watch that. 

I figure if they can have synchronized swimming as an Olympic sport, they can have golf ..... 🤣

[Hawkeye77]

8 minutes ago, Titleist99 said:

I figure if they can have synchronized swimming as an Olympic sport, they can have golf ..... 🤣

My favorite SNL bit!

[bcjim]

The notion that break dancers are going to be handed the same gold medals that will be given to the actual athletes is just offensive. 

Makes golf seem entirely reasonable though. 

[SGAgolfer]

11 hours ago, Dave230 said:

It means quite a bit more to smaller countries, it doesn't matter that much if an American golfer wins one of America's 100 medals at the Games.

 

It does matter if Rory McIlroy or Shane Lowry win Ireland's 12th gold medal in their history.

 

If Joaquin Niemann wins for Chile, that's the 3rd gold medal in their history.

Agree. The Olympics also mean a lot to the South Koreans. An Olympic medal exempts them from pausing their career for mandatory military service. As far as I can tell, neither Tom Kim or Byeong Hun An are exempt. This is practically a major for them.

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/sungjae-im-si-woo-kim-asian-games-military-exemption/amp

 

Edited July 24, 2024 by SGAgolfer
Spelling

[Archimedes65]

7 hours ago, Tpfol said:

Summer Olympics are awesome and I am glad golf is included. Its pretty cool to see some cats representing their country who you likely wouldnt see in any other tournament.

 

 

People you wouldn’t see in any other tournament?  Who are you talking about?  Pretty much every one of the sixty guys playing in the Olympics play on the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour, with a couple Asian Tour players and LIV players thrown in for good measure.  We see them all the time.  The majority of them played in the Open Championship this past weekend.

[NevinW]

Golf is probably the only part of the Olympics that I will actually watch.

[Duct Tape]

10 hours ago, SGAgolfer said:

Agree. The Olympics also mean a lot to the South Koreans. An Olympic medal exempts them from pausing their career for mandatory military service. As far as I can tell, neither Tom Kim or Byeong Hun An are exempt. This is practically a major for them.

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/sungjae-im-si-woo-kim-asian-games-military-exemption/amp

 

Good stuff. Interesting post. 
 

Kinda puts a whole new spin on that 3 foot putt on 18   😳🫣

[DoughBack18]

Can’t say its much watch tv for me, but the Olympics in general have seemed to have lost their lustre a bit (for me at least). The hype I can remember around ‘96 feels like its more contrived or manufactured than it was then when it felt like we rallied around these games as a country for few weeks. But thats a whole ‘nother story…

 

As far as amateurs vs. pros are concerned, are there really any amateurs any more? There are high school kids getting NIL money, so are we going to have middle schoolers playing to keep it clean? (Sorry, thats just never going to sit right with me, no offense to those whom it does). Athletics have been so warped over time with the amateur vs pro ranks in the olympics I thinks it all but impossible to put that genie back in the bottle. 
 

If I were a pro, I would absolutely be amped up about this and would bust my butt for an opportunity to win a medal. Thats an incredible accomplishment. But  I also don’t feel like the addition of golf is some huge gain for the olympics either. 


Basically, I feel like this about them… 😂

[Mr.Cleeks]

I’m coming around to it. I loved Kasumigaseki Country Club in 2021 and looking forward to how Le Golf National plays. I heard the IOC might be adding a mixed competition in 2028 which will be fun.

[jdl]

23 hours ago, Ferguson said:

I do not support sending professionals.

 

Send the best college players and provide them a life experience.   

College athletes are now pros anyway. And with the recent settlement agreement allowing revenue sharing, even more so.

[Ferguson]

9 minutes ago, jdl said:

College athletes are now pros anyway. And with the recent settlement agreement allowing revenue sharing, even more so.

 

 

Let me clarify. 

 

I don't support PGA tour professionals In the Olympics.

 

 

 

 

 

[gvogel]

16 hours ago, rule_6 said:

A mixed team format would be a good way to get more interest. Problem is the weaker countries who have qualifiers probably wouldnt have a chance. 

They don't have a chance anyway. 

 

By the way, one of the reasons that I don't like golf in the Olympics is the fact that the field is weak.

[BombinJim]

I tend to agree with the OP. As a lifelong and collegiate swimmer I have and always will love watching Olympic swimming. It is the only time anyone in the world outside of swimmers care about our sport. But golf, it’s not close to the pinnacle of the sport; but I’ll probably still watch some of it.

[Titleist99]

16 minutes ago, BombinJim said:

I tend to agree with the OP. As a lifelong and collegiate swimmer I have and always will love watching Olympic swimming. It is the only time anyone in the world outside of swimmers care about our sport. But golf, it’s not close to the pinnacle of the sport; but I’ll probably still watch some of it.

The Olympics is not the pinnacle of basketball....an NBA title is. Opponents in the Olympic basketball event is some of the weakest in the games. IMO

[bscinstnct]

18 hours ago, bcjim said:

The notion that break dancers are going to be handed the same gold medals that will be given to the actual athletes is just offensive. 

Makes golf seem entirely reasonable though. 

 

I be Olympics breakdance like

 

 

 

 

I think it’s great, is all about people training hard and competing to be the best! They all go from the four corners of the globe, rare opportunity for so much cultural interaction and athletes from so many different sports to meet and celebrate 

[Archimedes65]

26 minutes ago, Titleist99 said:

The Olympics is not the pinnacle of basketball....an NBA title is. Opponents in the Olympic basketball event is some of the weakest in the games. IMO

 

The roster of the US team in the Olympics is way better than any NBA title winning team ever was.  And the international teams have absolutely caught up to the U.S. in basketball, as evidenced by the fact that we haven’t won a FIBA World Cup in over 20 years.  The US Olympic basketball team is insanely talented, probably the best roster we’ve ever fielded, and they will absolutely be challenged by Canada and Germany for the gold.  The talent level on the top 3-4 Olympic basketball rosters is way, way better than either of the teams that played in the NBA finals in the last 20 years.

 

The only problem with Olympic basketball is that damn goofy international ball.  Weird to play with and awful to look at.  Feels like you’re watching a Globetrotters game.

[mosesgolf]

The Olympics is the only time I watch track & field, gymnastics, rowing, and women’s archery among others. 

 

Olympics Gold is so sacred for some countries that if you win a gold you can be exempt from mandatory military service and get lifetime pensions.

 

 

[Ferguson]

1 hour ago, mosesgolf said:

The Olympics is the only time I watch track & field, gymnastics, rowing, and women’s archery among others. 

 

Olympics Gold is so sacred for some countries that if you win a gold you can be exempt from mandatory military service and get lifetime pensions.

 

 

 

You must watch women's volleyball too, correct?   

 

[mosesgolf]

5 minutes ago, Ferguson said:

 

You must watch women's volleyball too, correct?   

 

One of the Olympics sports I've never watched is Women's Basketball.  I would've though if they put in Caitlin Clark.  Biggest clown mistake ever to exclude her.   

Yes women's volleyball I will watch.  Men's too.

[Titleist99]

2 hours ago, Archimedes65 said:

 

The roster of the US team in the Olympics is way better than any NBA title winning team ever was.  And the international teams have absolutely caught up to the U.S. in basketball, as evidenced by the fact that we haven’t won a FIBA World Cup in over 20 years.  The US Olympic basketball team is insanely talented, probably the best roster we’ve ever fielded, and they will absolutely be challenged by Canada and Germany for the gold.  The talent level on the top 3-4 Olympic basketball rosters is way, way better than either of the teams that played in the NBA finals in the last 20 years.

 

The only problem with Olympic basketball is that damn goofy international ball.  Weird to play with and awful to look at.  Feels like you’re watching a Globetrotters game.

 

"The roster of the US team in the Olympics is way better than any NBA title winning team ever was."

 

I'd put Magic and Kareem's Showtime Lakers team up against the current team any day. 

 

"Olympic basketball team is insanely talented, probably the best roster we’ve ever fielded,"

 

The 1992 Dream team would slaughter the 2024 team.

 

~If any think that the NBA title is not the pinnacle of basketball ask Stockton, Malone, and Ewing if they'd trade their gold medal for an NBA ring.

 

IMO

 

Edited July 24, 2024 by Titleist99

[Ferguson]

2 hours ago, mosesgolf said:

Delete

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2024 by Ferguson

[mosesgolf]

30 minutes ago, Titleist99 said:

 

"The roster of the US team in the Olympics is way better than any NBA title winning team ever was."

 

I'd put Magic and Kareem's Showtime Lakers team up against the current team any day. 

 

"Olympic basketball team is insanely talented, probably the best roster we’ve ever fielded,"

 

The 1992 Dream team would slaughter the 2024 team.

 

~If any think that the NBA title is not the pinnacle of basketball ask Stockton, Malone, and Ewing if they'd trade their gold medal for an NBA ring.

 

IMO

 

I don't think that 1992 will ever be bested.  The 2024 team beat SOUTH SUDAN 101 to 100 (only winning because of a last second layup by Lebron)  and beat Germany by only 4.  My 3 favorite players of all time and imo the 3 best and the 3 that changed basketball forever were Magic, Bird, & Michael.

Edited July 24, 2024 by mosesgolf

[Archimedes65]

1 hour ago, Titleist99 said:

 

"The roster of the US team in the Olympics is way better than any NBA title winning team ever was."

 

I'd put Magic and Kareem's Showtime Lakers team up against the current team any day. 

 

"Olympic basketball team is insanely talented, probably the best roster we’ve ever fielded,"

 

The 1992 Dream team would slaughter the 2024 team.

 

~If any think that the NBA title is not the pinnacle of basketball ask Stockton, Malone, and Ewing if they'd trade their gold medal for an NBA ring.

 

IMO

 

 

The Showtime Lakers would get killed by this team. This team has three of the best players to ever play the game on it, and the supporting cast alone on this team could beat that Lakers team.  “Entering the game now for the Lakers, Kurt Rambis.  And for the USA, Anthony Davis…” 🤣

 

And the ‘92 dream team (you mean the team that lost their first tune up game to a team of college all stars), which again was an Olympic team, would be competitive, but not dominant by any stretch.  The athleticism on this team would be very difficult for that contingent of mostly big slow guys under today’s rules.  The Dream Team was awesome, but they looked so dominant because they played nobodies at a time when international basketball was largely a joke.  Different world now.

 

As far as rings, I imagine they don’t see value in their gold medals because it was a joke at the time, that team of superstars playing other countries with mostly amateurs.  I remember that nail biter against Angola…

 

BTW, I wasn’t insinuating that an Olympic medal was better than a Championship.  Not at all.  Just that the talent level is higher in the Olympics than it ever is in an NBA game, including the Finals.  These are the very best players in the world playing against each other, not a few of them and a supporting cast of role players.

Edited July 24, 2024 by Archimedes65

[Archimedes65]

1 hour ago, mosesgolf said:

I don't think that 1992 will ever be bested.  The 2024 team beat SOUTH SUDAN 101 to 100 (only winning because of a last second layup by Lebron)  and beat Germany by only 4.  My 3 favorite players of all time and imo the 3 best and the 3 that changed basketball forever were Magic, Bird, & Michael.

 

The current team is playing teams stacked with professional and elite amateur players, in an era where international basketball has evolved light years beyond what it was 32 years ago.  The Dream Team played a Croatian team in the finals with two players with NBA experience.