Ten Things to Hate About Olympics

Real Clear Sports ^ | July 26, 2012 | Jeff Neuman

[C19fan]

The 2012 Olympics begin in London on Friday, though the Games have already begun with six women’s soccer matches on Wednesday and eight in men’s soccer on Thursday.

I’m already feeling the overkill.

I have loved the Olympics for a long time. The history, the parade of nations, the round-the-clock cavalcade of sports.

[C19fan]

Will not watch one minute. NBC's horrid coverage, the greed of the IOC, and the budget busting costs of hosting killed it for me.

[crusty old prospector]

I don’t watch any events with judges as they are all rigged. Give me a stop watch or a tape measure.

[Palmetto Patriot]

#1 thing I hate about London Olympics:

Absolutely no coverage of Beach Curling.

[Tallguy]

In ‘honor’ of the Olympics a little question:

Who’s birth certificates are more likely to be authentic? A female Chinese gymnast, or Barak Obama’s?

[Dr. Ursus]

I’m saving myself for Lolo Jones,Allyson Felix and female
vollyball!

[Michael.SF.]

I hate that we are not going to be allowed to watch this hottie:

[dfwgator]

I know one difference between now and then. Back in the day, I would be real pumped for basketball, if the US lost, I would have been devastated. Now I actually hope they lose. It was better when we had the amateurs, even if we didn’t always win.

[dfwgator]

Or this one.

[cripplecreek]

The curling conspiracy needs to be exposed!

[Michael.SF.]

Why are we not going to be able to see her? She wins the hotness contest!

[cubreporter]

Won’t be watching either. It’s like a three ring circus anymore and just plain boring. In fact, we quit watching Greta and Hannity and all those talk shows a LONG time ago. Same old stuff spewed out by different people is all. Life is so much more peaceful without all the yakking going on and the constant discussing of topics that go nowhere and...never solve anything anyway. So, when we normally would have been watching them...we are now outside on the deck enjoying the beauty of it all while enjoying a glass of wine. It’s GOOD to feel that serenity inside ones self. If the Americans win Gold... I will be happy for them and the work they put into their sport over the years but... if they don’t do well I will still be happy they had the opportunity to participate in something that in my mind USED to be Grand. Good luck to everyone.

[OrangeHoof]

What ruined the Olympics was the fall of the Soviet bloc. From the 50s-80s, the Olympics were the Free World versus the Communist World as to whose ideology was better and, while some like Nadia Comanesci and others were adored despite their horrid governments, it was IMPORTANT for the US to have a higher medal count than the USSR. It mattered, by gum.

Now, there’s no monolithic “bad guy” to root against and the world is more multi-cultural and politically correct so you can’t enjoy ethnic stereotyping as we used to.

The other thing that ruined the Olympics was the addition of so many garbage sports from the X Games and others. I was okay that baseball and American football were not included as long as things like beach volleyball and skateboarding weren’t either.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

No bikinis this time. Too cold.

[dfwgator]

She didn't qualify for Australia, maybe in 2016 though. But Leryn Franco will be there.

If you Google her, you can see a lot more of her.

[N. Theknow]

#1 - Bob Costas
#2 - Bob Costas
#3 - Bob Costas
#4 - Bob Costas
#5 - Bob Costas
#6 - Bob Costas
#7 - Bob Costas
#8 - Bob Costas
#9 - Bob Costas
#10 - Bob Costas interviewing athletes and showing videos of how much they have overcome to be an Olympian.

[dfwgator]

I would dare say that well over 50% of the “foreign” athletes actually live and train here in the US. The world is indeed much smaller today. People now root more for the individuals than the country.

[N. Theknow]

Back in the day, I would be real pumped for basketball, if the US lost, I would have been devastated. Now I actually hope they lose. It was better when we had the amateurs, even if we didn’t always win.

Amen to that Brother Gator!

Don't watch the tat-emblazoned, piercing-festooned, dunk-show-boating-like-they-just-saved-the-village-from-a-rogue-elephant NBA thugs any other time so why start now except to watch them crash and burn.

[dfwgator]

Costas had one good moment last time, when he mentioned the “always enjoyable inflatable beaver” at the Vancouver closing ceremonies.

[righttackle44]

One thing I hate about the Olympics committee demanding Americans not yell "USA! USA! USA!"

Another thing I hate about the Olympics is the refusal of Avery Brundage to restore Jim Thorpe's medals. There is no doubt in my mind that Brundage was such a jerk because Jim best him in two events. Throughout his life Brundage proved himself to be a man of no character or integrity.

Brundage's reasoning? Jim Thorpe played a little professional baseball for very little money. Jim Thorpe didn't even understand that was against the IOC's rules and opted for the Olympics tryouts for the 1912 games. But Jim was vindcated later when it was discovered that there had indeed been 30 days between his last professional earnings, and his participation in the tryouts, as required by the IOC. Brundage's retort was "Ignorance is no excuse."

The IOC eventually restored his medals.

No thanks to Brundage.

[dfwgator]

And BTW....Go Ryan Lochte!!!