Comments on: Cancelled Olympic Events http://stephenskory.com/2008/08/14/cancelled-olympic-events Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:09:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Stephen Skory http://stephenskory.com/2008/08/14/cancelled-olympic-events/comment-page-1#comment-3939 Stephen Skory Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:27:28 +0000 http://stephenskory.com/?p=230#comment-3939 Mine is slightly different that this one: <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/The-REAL-Olympic-medal-count?urn=oly,101537" rel="nofollow">Real medal count</a> Mine is slightly different that this one:

Real medal count

]]> By: Der Bruder http://stephenskory.com/2008/08/14/cancelled-olympic-events/comment-page-1#comment-3936 Der Bruder Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:53:16 +0000 http://stephenskory.com/?p=230#comment-3936 Some points of contention from someone who hasn't had to watch the Olympics through NBC's all-ruining lense: -Judged sports are ridiculous, but lots of fun to watch. What those athletes can do is just as spectacular as running really fast. Arbitrary judging and opaque scoring systems are unfortunate, but I like that different kinds of athletes can still get recognition. I like the idea of objective computerized scoring systems, but people would bitch about those just as much. -Taekwondo is only awesome when the referees get kicked in the face. Unfortunately I left early that day because it was by far and wide the most boring event I attended and so I missed that sole instant of awesomeness. -Beach volleyball was the most fun event I attended. It's a fast-paced and wickedly hard sport, though I can't say how it looks when broadcast by NBC. And all swimming events are hardly less skimpy than beach volleyball, in fact the male swimmers wear less then male beach volleyball players. -It's impossible to look at the Olympics as a fair test of any individual athlete's talents. It's all about time, money, training, and circumstances. All a medal means is that one person or team happened on that day to win according to this year's Olympics' particular set of rules. Judged sports may seem unfair, but they're all unfair. -I've actually been, so obviously, my opinions are waaaay better than yours. Some points of contention from someone who hasn’t had to watch the Olympics through NBC’s all-ruining lense:

-Judged sports are ridiculous, but lots of fun to watch. What those athletes can do is just as spectacular as running really fast. Arbitrary judging and opaque scoring systems are unfortunate, but I like that different kinds of athletes can still get recognition. I like the idea of objective computerized scoring systems, but people would bitch about those just as much.

-Taekwondo is only awesome when the referees get kicked in the face. Unfortunately I left early that day because it was by far and wide the most boring event I attended and so I missed that sole instant of awesomeness.

-Beach volleyball was the most fun event I attended. It’s a fast-paced and wickedly hard sport, though I can’t say how it looks when broadcast by NBC. And all swimming events are hardly less skimpy than beach volleyball, in fact the male swimmers wear less then male beach volleyball players.

-It’s impossible to look at the Olympics as a fair test of any individual athlete’s talents. It’s all about time, money, training, and circumstances. All a medal means is that one person or team happened on that day to win according to this year’s Olympics’ particular set of rules. Judged sports may seem unfair, but they’re all unfair.

-I’ve actually been, so obviously, my opinions are waaaay better than yours.

]]> By: Mike T http://stephenskory.com/2008/08/14/cancelled-olympic-events/comment-page-1#comment-3861 Mike T Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:28:28 +0000 http://stephenskory.com/?p=230#comment-3861 I say, away with the interminable boring Beach Blanket Babylon Volleyball too. Any sport where skimpy clothing is mandatory is out. I say, away with the interminable boring Beach Blanket Babylon Volleyball too. Any sport where skimpy clothing is mandatory is out.

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