Let's Face It: Olympics Don't Matter

by William Berry (Columnist)

313 reads

Opinion

August 30, 2008

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I'm not talking about things like this

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://mrbarlow.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/olympic_rings.png&imgrefurl=http://mrbarlow.wordpress.com/2008/06/&h=388&w=800&sz=38&tbnid=gDmntUKKRT4J::&tbnh=69&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dolympic%2Brings%2B%252B%2BImages&hl=en&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=1

I mean injuries if your country has a real sports league in an Olympic sport. 

Non-Americans think if your star soccer player was injured and your national team stunk at the world cup because they went for the Gold at the Olympics.  Maybe I'm wrong and soccer guys are more about the Olympics than the World Cup.

Lakers fans, if Kobe got hurt going for a loose ball would the Gold Medal replace the 2009 championship you hope for.

I'm an NFL fan.  I'm glad it is not an Olympic sport.  Tom Brady might play, be injured by a late hit of the Djibouti team, and the Patriots would suck.

Yes, it is good for sports I only care about every four years.  Seriously, any 100-meter dash fans that religiously go to meets reading this?  If so, I'm willing to bet you have a family member competing.

Ditto fencing, gymnastics, synchronized swimming, etc.

Oh, Bleacher Report, I would have cropped that photo differently.  I think you can guess how. I would have search for better photo, but it is only the Olympics.  (Note to potential editors:  The photo's bad cropping and this note, not including parenthesis, is part of the article)

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2 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

1. 

   

   Brian Sulpher 10 months ago

   Flag as Offensive

   While I do not attend any meets directly (due to my area not possessing the equipment necessary to host international events), I am one who watches swimming, athletics, speed skating, skiing, and whatever else my tv outs on (though judged sports I avoid with the exception of diving). I have no family members that compete in any of that btw.

   Now as for your statement of worry on people getting hurt... I can see why that could be a problem. So the solution needs to be that either a country can call on their best talent without interference from their club teams, OR the professional leagues should be barred from competition (as it used to be). That way everyone is at risk or no one is at risk.

   While I do not attend any meets directly (due to my area not possessing the equipment necessary to host international events), I am one who watches swimming, athletics, speed skating, skiing, and whatever else my tv outs on (though judged sports I avoid with the exception of diving). I have no family members that compete in any of that btw. Now as for your statement of worry on people getting hurt... I can see why that could be a problem. So the solution needs to be that either a country can call on their best talent without interference from their club teams, OR the professional leagues should be barred from competition (as it used to be). That way everyone is at risk or no one is at risk. Edit Comment Cancel

   

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     William Berry 10 months ago

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     I think the solution would be to ban "team" sports with a professional league anywhere on Earth.
     Why penalize the country that likes the sport so much it has pros. ("Sorry, Jamaica [or whomever], since you like Water Polo you have to send an inferior team.")

     Of course if swimmers start getting offered millions in the 2050 National swim league, same problem in an individual sport...

     I think the solution would be to ban "team" sports with a professional league anywhere on Earth. Why penalize the country that likes the sport so much it has pros. ("Sorry, Jamaica [or whomever], since you like Water Polo you have to send an inferior team.") Of course if swimmers start getting offered millions in the 2050 National swim league, same problem in an individual sport... Edit Comment Cancel

     

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About the Author William Berry (columnist)

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