Olympics are a little depressing.

[True Grit Farms]

At one time not long ago communist USSR would always win the most metals at the Olympics. I can remember all the negative propaganda our government would tell us like it was yesterday. And now the USA is winning the most metals. Why is this? Could it be because we pay our amateur athletes more? Or pay higher bribes to the judges? Or are we following the same steps as the USSR did? Or maybe just all of the above, I don't know the answers but I'm a little embarrassed myself.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Most of the Russian team was disqualified and in the good old days the Soviet Union had all the athletes from their block countries to draw from. Times they are a changing. Go China!

 

[greybeard]

they don't have as many russian judges as they used to.

 

[lavacarancher]

Back when, Russian athletes were professional and paid a salary while most of the rest of the world athletes were amateur and not paid. Most of the US athletes were pulled from colleges (NCAA). In fact, it is against the NCAA rules for athletes to receive compensation of any kind (cars, money, girls/boys, etc). You may remember the basketball team from the US kicked azz and I believe that was the first time we used pros.

 

[Bestoutwest]

I'm finding the women's volleyball and beach volleyball rather entertaining.

 

[greybeard]

The Russian athletes HAD to win--or be sent to Siberia.
North Korea athletes better get on the stick--fat boy Kim Jung told them he wanted at least 5 gold medals. They only have 1.

 

[boondocks]

Watched a great show on PBS' Independent Lens last week, about the phenomenal young boxer Claressa Shields. It's called T-Rex or something like that. Her life story is fascinating. She won the first gold in 2012 for women's boxing (middleweight I think), and is trying to repeat this time. She was only 17 and from real poverty. I hope her story ends well (ie, that she gets another gold medal in Rio, but more importantly in the larger sense).

 

[JWBrahman]

Some of our female swimmers couldn't pass a chromosome test...

 

[Son of Butch]

I'm finding the women's volleyball and beach volleyball rather entertaining.

:nod:
I watched several matches before I realized they keep score during women's beach volleyball!

 

[TexasBred]

At one time not long ago communist USSR would always win the most metals at the Olympics. I can remember all the negative propaganda our government would tell us like it was yesterday. And now the USA is winning the most metals. Why is this? Could it be because we pay our amateur athletes more? Or pay higher bribes to the judges? Or are we following the same steps as the USSR did? Or maybe just all of the above, I don't know the answers but I'm a little embarrassed myself.

The USSR was made up of what is now 15 countries so their athletic pool has been greated diluted. China did not compete as fully as it now does either. The American Olympic Committee is a federally chartered nonprofit corporation and does not receive federal financial support (other than for select paralympic military programs. And don't forget our team is made up of over 500 athletes. Some have very few......Perhaps our kids are simply more prepared and made of "better stuff" to begin with. There were many years when the US won more medals than the Soviets as well.

Now I guess you're gonna tell me they'll be worthless when they leave athletics. :dunce:

 

[Bestoutwest]

I'm finding the women's volleyball and beach volleyball rather entertaining.

:nod:
I watched several matches before I realized they keep score during women's beach volleyball!

You mean they keep score!!! What are you going to tell me next, that there's a winner?

 

[Bestoutwest]

At one time not long ago communist USSR would always win the most metals at the Olympics. I can remember all the negative propaganda our government would tell us like it was yesterday. And now the USA is winning the most metals. Why is this? Could it be because we pay our amateur athletes more? Or pay higher bribes to the judges? Or are we following the same steps as the USSR did? Or maybe just all of the above, I don't know the answers but I'm a little embarrassed myself.

Most of the athletes are unpaid amateurs, but there are a some pros. Basketball, golf, tennis and I think soccer are some. I personally hate that they allow pros to play these days. I remember when the Olympics were the showcase for what was a showcase for the next big superstars.

The Soviets were all pros. Watch ESPN's 30 for 30 "Of Miracles and Men." It chronicles the USA defeating the Soviet team in 1980 (which is in my opinion the greatest sports moment in history). All the Soviets were in their late 20's early 30's, and were 'generals' in the army. They played hockey all year. This is a great documentary that showed how the Soviet sports system worked. And yes, the judging is scrutinized more now days. There's a ton of factors.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Just found out this morning that a guy I played ball with in the early eighties has a daughter who won gold in the women's shot put. He won silver himself in the same event in the '84 games in LA.

I was happy for both of them.

 

[TexasBred]

Just found out this morning that a guy I played ball with in the early eighties has a daughter who won gold in the women's shot put. He won silver himself in the same event in the '84 games in LA.

I was happy for both of them.

TT I've been trying to connect the dots on that one. I knew that name was familar.

 

[Alan]

Just found out this morning that a guy I played ball with in the early eighties has a daughter who won gold in the women's shot put. He won silver himself in the same event in the '84 games in LA.

I was happy for both of them.

TT I've been trying to connect the dots on that one. I knew that name was familar.

I saw her toss on nbc, I think they said dad played a couple of years in the NFL also.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

7 or 8 years I believe. San Francisco.

 

[dun]

 

[Alan]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :clap:

 

[bball]

I'm finding the women's volleyball and beach volleyball rather entertaining.

:nod:
I watched several matches before I realized they keep score during women's beach volleyball!

You mean they keep score!!! What are you going to tell me next, that there's a winner?

Nope. They have faces too!

 

[Rafter S]

I'm finding the women's volleyball and beach volleyball rather entertaining.

:nod:
I watched several matches before I realized they keep score during women's beach volleyball!

You mean they keep score!!! What are you going to tell me next, that there's a winner?

Everyone is a winner with women's beach volleyball. :banana: :banana: :banana: