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OLYMPICS. MEH.
Powerline ^ | 25 July 2021 | John Hinderaker

Posted on 07/26/2021 8:52:30 AM PDT by Rummyfan

I have always been a fan of the Olympics, ever since the first games that I remember, 1960 in Rome. I still remember some of the stars of those games, like Wilma Rudolph and Rafer Johnson. I have followed all of the Olympics since, with varying degrees of interest, and I attended the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid for a few days. But this year, my interest approaches zero. I have watched none of the games so far, and probably won’t from now on.

To some extent this reflects my disaffection from sports in general and the fact that there are no fans in the stands. But it is mostly the result of wokism that has infected the U.S. sports world. Many athletes, selected to represent the United States, instead see the Games as an opportunity to launch attacks against their own country, despite the fact that they are among the most privileged people on the planet–and would be, even if they were not blessed with exceptional athletic talent.

Does a focus on politics detract from the quality of athletic achievement? A friend emailed me today:

Do you suppose that wokeness has anything to do with losses by USA basketball and soccer? Lack of attention to the sport itself?

(Excerpt) Read more at powerlineblog.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Politics; Society; Sports
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To: Rummyfan
I watched the Olympics from 1972 (Munich and Sapporo were the locations) to well into the 2000s when I cut my cable TV once and for all. But I also started losing interest when they started letting professional players (like from the NBA and NHL) compete.

I don't miss them.

This year would have been tough to watch because so many of our athletes are on this "hate-America" crusade. Glad I don't have the capability to watch them even if I was tempted to.

21 posted on 07/26/2021 9:27:26 AM PDT by SamAdams76 (Give me a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer)
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To: Rummyfan

REASONS TO NOT WATCH THE OLYMPICS:

1. Woke athletes and sponsors
2. Forced Covid-19 vaccinations for participants
3. Creepy robotic voice doing a play-by-play of individual Olympic events

ADD TO THE LIST...


22 posted on 07/26/2021 9:30:16 AM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. (Psalm 33:12))
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To: Rummyfan

I miss the good old days when boxers used bronze “gloves” and everybody was naked. Kids these days...


23 posted on 07/26/2021 9:30:47 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Leaning Right
I prefer the original Olympic games, just as they were in ancient time...


24 posted on 07/26/2021 9:31:08 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic...)
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To: Bonemaker

I like track and field...I’d like to watch it....but that would require turning the tv on and finding the schedule.....


25 posted on 07/26/2021 9:35:16 AM PDT by cherry
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To: Rummyfan
I might have tuned into the Olympics this year if Japan had been able to get sumo wrestling into it. Especially since Olympics rules state that any new sport added must have both a male version and a female version. Thus women sumo wrestlers had been taking off in Japan in hopes of one day have a Japanese traditional sport in the Olympics.

LOL! LOL!


26 posted on 07/26/2021 9:40:57 AM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: dfwgator

No need. It’s required.


27 posted on 07/26/2021 9:44:38 AM PDT by Seruzawa (The political Left is the Garden of Eden of Incompetence - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
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To: Rummyfan

I’m sad to see that Taiwan must be called “Chinese-Taipei” when 80% of the people of Taiwan identify as Taiwanese instead of Chinese and almost all athletes are not from the city of Taipei.

Also, Taiwan cannot show their flag at the Olympics.

Taiwan is as wealthy as many European countries.

Even Palestine has a flag at the Olympics and they cannot even support themselves.


28 posted on 07/26/2021 9:44:44 AM PDT by Tai_Chung
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To: Rummyfan

I want Megan Rapinoe to lose at everything she does!!!!

But I won’t watch the games until it’s reported that she lost big!!!!


29 posted on 07/26/2021 9:44:51 AM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: T.B. Yoits

How about bar sports? There actually has been talk of making billiards and darts Olympic competitions, so why not air hockey, foosball, table shuffleboard, and so on?

After that, Olympic bingo...


30 posted on 07/26/2021 9:46:56 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: Rummyfan

I think there may have been some rather shady scoring last night which kept Jade Carey out of the Women’s Gymnastics Individuals...


31 posted on 07/26/2021 9:50:40 AM PDT by Mathews (It's all gravy, baby!)
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To: Rummyfan

Used to like watching the Olympians compete.

As with just about every other sport, TV has made them unwatchable. Constant claustrophobic closeups, backstories up the wazoo, full-of-themselves commentators, woke commercials even more up the wazoo, etc.

Just set up a full-field camera (or pool, or whatever), and let me watch as if I was actually there, and I’d be happy.

It would be a lot cheaper, too. Wouldn’t need all those ads to pay for it.

But I suppose now it’s such big business, there’s no turning back - so I’m turning off.


32 posted on 07/26/2021 9:52:13 AM PDT by P.O.E. (Pray for America)
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To: cdcdawg

“No, the athletic achievements are what they have always been” -

I read last night that the gymnastics scoring rules have been changed specifically to decreased the possible scores of Simone Biles. Because other athletes are getting hurt trying to duplicate her moves. Unbelievable.


33 posted on 07/26/2021 9:59:31 AM PDT by jagusafr ( )
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To: Tai_Chung
Also, Taiwan cannot show their flag at the Olympics. Taiwan is as wealthy as many European countries.

Another reason not to watch.

34 posted on 07/26/2021 10:00:17 AM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.d)
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To: Honorary Serb
I want Megan Rapinoe to lose at everything she does!!!!

Me too. I haven't seen her in any more Subway commercials so I think that avenue has closed.

35 posted on 07/26/2021 10:01:30 AM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.d)
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To: Rummyfan
I am watching some of the Games. It's sad to see how badly Japan has botched them with those huge empty buildings. They don't even allow families to attend.

However, aside from the woke prima donnas in basketball and womens soccer, most of the athletes are grateful and proud to be representing the USA.

36 posted on 07/26/2021 10:02:18 AM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: Rummyfan
I haven't seen her in any more Subway commercials

What's with Subway hiring a child molester and now her?

37 posted on 07/26/2021 10:02:32 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (Let's make crime illegal again!)
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To: Rummyfan

Once pro athletes were allowed to attend, the Olympics lost their appeal.


38 posted on 07/26/2021 10:05:50 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to says it.)
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To: dfwgator
They obviously don't test for Marijuana usage for that event.

Speaking of marijuana, or not, heard anything about Metheny's new album SIDE-EYE NYC (V1.IV)?. I just bought some tickets for November.

39 posted on 07/26/2021 10:06:56 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (Let's make crime illegal again!)
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To: Rummyfan

I’m watching and enjoying it, I’m going to pull for USA to beat China in overall medals.And I like the traditional stuff like track and swimming, and the odd random sports you don’t see often elsewhere

I don’t like to let politics ruin everything for me, it’s unfortunate people do. And I don’t see being careful about covid as “politics”

I will say I’m a traditionalist, no pros only amatures and no skateboarding or other Xgames sports to clean it up a little


40 posted on 07/26/2021 10:08:40 AM PDT by Nomad577
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