Author |
Message |
Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Friday, August 15, 2008 - 9:58 am
I'm not going to pass judgement. Even though I had a hard enough time sending my kids to summer camp for 2 weeks, I was not raised the way they are. I'm not going to say that they don't love their children. they may love their children so much that they are willing to sacrifice to give them the best. Their elite athletes, etc, are so revered over there that the parents may feel it's the best thing for their kid to have that opportunity. Not saying it's right, or that I agree cuz I don't, but that may be their reasoning ...
|
Allietex
Member
08-16-2002
| Friday, August 15, 2008 - 10:16 am
I just read this article about the age controversy. You know, I could buy that a mistake was made about the age of one of them, but apparently all three of the girls that competed in the team event have been listed as 1993 birthdays in earlier events. and these are Chinese publications. This really stretches belief. Sports Yahoo <fixed link -jr>
|
Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Friday, August 15, 2008 - 10:22 am
I would never send my children away but I try to make a conscious effort to understand how people in other parts of the world feel about many things. They are different than us. For example, people in other countries eat many things that we might find disgusting. But then they may not like what we eat or think that we are wasteful. Who is right? It's tempting to say that we are but .... LOL – We have enough trouble understanding each other in Canada and the U.S. ------------------- With respect to the ages, if they are too young then that is cheating.
|
Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Friday, August 15, 2008 - 10:35 am
I think by the time all is said and done, that these Olympics will have a permanent dark cloud over them. It started with the opening ceremony (big deal IMO except for the attempt at a cover-up), then the under-age competitors (who doesn't believe they are too young besides the IOC?) and just today I was reading something about another American death that the Chinese media was trying to suppress. (and again it seems to be no issue except for the Chinese trying to control the information the public gets) Something that has been bugging me is what was posted here about the depth of the pools being deeper than standard and therefore allowing for less drag and faster speeds. It doesn't take anything away from the winners, faster is faster, but IMO it makes all the broken records pointless. Pretty much every heat/race has broken a record of some sort and I am sure the Chinese planners think this will look good in the history books but for me... it's the opposite. It's just one more attempt at manipulation. I feel bad for the swimmers who have broken records but can't feel as proud of that as they should because it was under different circumstances then the previous record-holders and I feel bad for the athletes whose records were broken but again with different conditions.
|
Holly
Member
07-22-2001
| Friday, August 15, 2008 - 10:53 am
And what about the exorbitantly priced scalped tickets when events are not even half full but are being advertised as sold out? I have to laugh at how China really must think the west is just stupid. Then again, for buying all their toxic crap maybe we are.
|
Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Friday, August 15, 2008 - 12:15 pm
The changes made in the pool don't favor one athlete over another. Records are broken regularly in every sport, so I'm not sure why it wouldn't be expected at such an adrenaline filled event like the Olympics. Track and field athletes are always getting new and improved outfits, sneakers, and equipment (along with the newest type of track itself), so if they break records, are they not as important either? I'm not seeing anything strange about the conditions, especially since all of the athletes are competing with the same conditions.
|
Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Friday, August 15, 2008 - 12:55 pm
I see your point Huk and for the most part I can agree . Just seems to me it is another political style manuever. I probably wouldn't feel that way if it wasn't for the other things that have (and I am sure will) come up. My sister holds a record at her University that has stood unchallenged since 1990. Its unbelievable to me that no-one has broken it yet (my sister would mutter *thanks for the support* if she read that LOL) but when they do I hope they don't do it on a track that has a 10 degree downward slant.
|
Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Friday, August 15, 2008 - 1:03 pm
Since tracks are oval, the 10 degree downward slant would be made up on the other side, lol! It's funny to watch old videos of athletic things. omg, Dick Button (annoying figure skating announcer who was a champion when Moby Dick was still a minnow), could only do a single axel or some such jump. Women today are doing quads! When Hank Aaron smashed the all time home run record, he didn't tarnish the reputation of Babe Ruth. Sooner or later, Michael Phelps will be surpassed just like he surpassed Mark Spitz' record. I don't honestly think China has anything to do with these records being broken.
|
Stormie
Member
03-01-2007
| Friday, August 15, 2008 - 9:47 pm
Here are some pics from last week (if you roll your mouse over the pic it shows the name).
 
|
Chaplin
Member
01-08-2006
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 3:39 am
All Olympic sports are continuously evolving with new equipment, new materials being used etc. Remember when the Clap Skate was almost kept out of the games and considered controversial in the sport of speed skating and now the skates are all worn by every speed skater. Same with their suits. You have to remember the Olympic motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius." These three Latin words mean "Swifter, Higher, Stronger". In keeping with this motto the Scientists are always working with the athletes and also the IOC harder and harder to come up with ways to make athletes more aerodynamic and be the fastest and strongest. Would we be watching the Olympics today if Michael Phelps was swimming like they did back in the 1930's? I think the Olympics would be boring. So that is why I feel that comparing Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps is sort of like comparing apples and oranges I also feel both athletes competed to the best of their abilities with every bit of technology that was available to them and both should be counted amongst the greatest Olympians of all time.
|
Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 4:53 am
I am watching them interview Donavan Bailey right now and he has this huge smile of his face when asked if he expects his record to be broken this Olympics. He gave a quick laugh and said "I expect it to be broken in the next 20 minutes". Nope.... not yet but that Usain Bolt is incredible and this was just the semi-final. Can't help but think about Spitz when I see that. Our media has been saying that they have no clue WHO Spitz thinks should have invited him. The only past Olympians who go on the public/private dime are those working as commentators, the others go on their own and if seen will probably be asked for an interview. Is that the same in the USA?
|
Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 10:01 am
Yay! Finally a gold medal for Canada! "27-year-old wrestler Carol Huynh won Canada’s first gold medal with a crushing win in the 48 kg category." She was so happy and proud. Nice to see.
Gold, silver, bronze medals for Canada
|
Chaplin
Member
01-08-2006
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 10:39 am
Yay Canada!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
Ketchuplover
Member
08-30-2000
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 3:47 pm
hmmmmmm are we sure she's canadian? 
|
Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-31-2000
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 3:56 pm
I've heard Mark Spitz twice now - once on the Today show and once after Phelps tied his record - and there is simply no trace of bitterness or arrogance in those interviews. He was kind, respectful and articulate.
|
Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 4:07 pm
I have nothing against Mark Spitz or his accomplishments. His swimming and medal wins were wonderful. The only thing I didn't care for was his, (pp)"if they had 8 events when I was in the Olympics, I would have won 8 events", and his attitude that he should have been INVITED by someone. It is my understanding that the previous olympians that are there now, are employed as commentators, or just went to the olympics. I don't understand why he feels that he should have been invited.
|
Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 4:27 pm
Well she spoke "Canadian", Ketchup, so I'm pretty sure! Seriously, she was great. We haven't had a lot of medals this games and it was nice to see someone so enthused and with a great attitude be one of the few to win one.
|
Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 4:31 pm
Hap hap happy for the Canadian wins! She looks SO happy! I had only heard of Mark Spitz' comments as hearsay, not directly from him. Personally, I do think he should have been extended the invitation. My gosh, his record was absolutely incredible and stood for so many years. Would it have killed the olympic committee to extend an invitation? They've sure used his name enough...seems only right, IMO
|
Landileigh
Member
07-29-2002
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 4:41 pm
also, the way that mark spitz was swimming in 1972, it there had been the events, HE WOULD have won them! same goes with Michael Phelps, if he could enter other events, good chance he'd win them. it's just their time when it's their time.
|
Kearie
Member
07-21-2005
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 5:45 pm
Any east coaster know what's happening in prime time tonight? What events will be on NBC
|
Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 5:48 pm
Just going from memory, I think that Phelps goes for his final gold at 10:50 PM Eastern. The Women's Marathon is on right now.
|
Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 5:50 pm
Heard a rumor that someone named Michael Phelps might be swimming. lol
|
Kearie
Member
07-21-2005
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 5:52 pm
Thanks...guess it's another "can't miss" night.
|
Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 5:53 pm
Between the olympics and today's Daily Poll question, I am worn out.
|
Mak1
Member
08-12-2002
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 6:05 pm
From the Today Show: "Spitz, now a motivational speaker and a stockbroker, spoke to Lauer from Los Angeles. There had been reports that Spitz was unhappy about not being invited to Beijing by the International Olympics Committee; AFP in Hong Kong quoting him as saying, “You don't go to the Olympics just to say, ‘I am going to go.’ Especially because of who I am … I am going to sit there and watch Michael Phelps break my record anonymously? That's almost demeaning to me. It is not almost — it is.” But Spitz clarified his statements with Lauer, saying that he was working for a corporate sponsor who elected not to bring its U.S. contingent over to China. “[Some reporters] thought that I was supposed to be invited by some entity, and I told them that wasn’t really the case, that doesn’t happen that way,” Spitz explained. " today.msnbc.msn.com Yay for Carol Huynh! She was delightful in her interview. Holy cow! Michael Phelps won that race last night by a fingernail. We were surprised he had actually won, as were so many others, including his mom.
|