Olympics 2008

[Kevy Baby]

Okay, I am sure it is just another name in Isreal, but there is an athlete named Nimrod.

I'm sorry: I know it is juvenile, but I laughed when I saw that last night.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

To that end, it would be good for us to do pretty well, but also good for us to not totally dominate. Some close calls, some occasional very near losses, those are good for national goodwill. Though it's good to be victorious, we can't seem unbeatable either.

I'm sorry, but I find this ridiculous. Isn't the Olympics about bringing the best of the world together and seeing who wins? Honestly, if the french (just singling this out as one example) have bad will toward America because they lost the 4x100, that's their problem, not ours.

[Morrigoon]

I'm loving the Olympics this year

Enough so that I'd consider buying a DVD set of all the broadcast coverage, if such a thing were to be sold.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I'm sorry, but I find this ridiculous. Isn't the Olympics about bringing the best of the world together and seeing who wins? Honestly, if the french (just singling this out as one example) have bad will toward America because they lost the 4x100, that's their problem, not ours.

I'm not suggesting it as a strategy, but the reality of it is, such things DO have an impact on international relations and on the sentiment one country holds toward another. That's kind of the point. Using sports as a way to compete and yet cooperate with other countries and generate goodwill.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

That's kind of the point. Using sports as a way to compete and yet cooperate with other countries and generate goodwill.

Or perpetuate ill will

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

I'm not suggesting it as a strategy, but the reality of it is, such things DO have an impact on international relations and on the sentiment one country holds toward another. That's kind of the point. Using sports as a way to compete and yet cooperate with other countries and generate goodwill.

OK....makes more sense (and not ridiculous), but I suppose it is a sad thing that anyone would have to worry about someone disliking them because they win. I will always reagrd that as an issue of the loser having a problem, not the winner. Of course, there is such a thing as being a bad winner, though the initial exuberance of winning doesn't fall into that.

What makes one better in any competitive endeavor is going against those who are better than you and forcing you to find a better way to do things. I don't hate my main basketball rival, but I want to beat them desperately. A couple of years ago I lost to them by 23. Four days later we beat them in overtime because I was forced to try some different things to beat them. Made me a better coach, made my players better, too. And it was one of the most satisfying moments of any athletic moment of my life.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Okay, I am sure it is just another name in Isreal, but there is an athlete named Nimrod.

It's a biblical name (grandson of Noah and builder of the Tower of Babel per some stories). It's meaning of idiot is somewhat recent and generally credited to a Bugs Bunny cartoon (but such usage actually seems to predate the cartoon and it was probably an intentional combining of the Hebraic meaning of "hunter" with the existing slang meaning of dolt; very appropriate for Elmer Fudd).

The things I occasionally remember from various "Word of the Day" mailings.

[innerSpaceman]

Wow.


Well, except for that last bit of historical revelation ... I've decided to just say "ditto" to all of Alex's posts on the subject of the Olympics.

[cirquelover]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

As for who to root for, I'm a sucker for the underdogs and the people with amazing comeback stories or athletes with hard luck stories, triumph over adversity and all that. I don't always root for the American. ie. I remember rooting for Nadia Comăneci when I was 5. She was an amazing athlete. I was 5 and even then I could see that.

You know we have a lot in common! I've also been known to root for the one with the cute smile.

Also I always feel bad for the person in fourth place, they did just as well but get nothing to show for it. I think they are all winners just because they made it to the Olympics in the first place!

I had Gary bring up a list of the countries last night because I couldn't figure some of them out. Wow there are a lot of listed countries, a lot of which I have no idea where they are!

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

It's a competition, not an exhibition. What is to be admired is the ability of an individual to perform as well as they possibly can in a situation where one small mistake means they don't succeed.

And while such a small margin seems meaningless on the scale of an individual race, that gold medal race is not an isolated event. On top of all of the qualifying rounds are the years in between of world championships. And what you'll find is that the best in the world seem to more often than not end up on the plus side of those seemingly insignificant margins. So much so that it becomes clear that it's not a matter of luck, it's a matter of will. The best in the world will, when it matters most, find that extra step, have their timing down just that little bit better. And if they aren't able to do so in the most important race, they are not the best in the world.

I basically agree. However, as a kid, I used to think that it must be cool to get any kind of Olympic medal. It's sad to think that the reality of expectations means that someone would be disappointed with a bronze.