Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games

[TruffleShuffle]

It's a couple of months away, but I am excited. Mostly about swimming. The American team is very good and very deep this year. At Olympic Trials next week, Michael Phelps is entered in the 100, 200 and 400 meter freestyle, 100 and 200 backstroke, 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 and 400 IM, which is a ridiculous load of events. I suspect that he'll drop one or two events. He should win gold in 200/400 IM and 200 butterfly, which leaves two more individual events to choose. I don't think he can win the 100 free; he's the world record holder in the 200 free, and there isn't a 200 freestyler the caliber of Ian Thorpe right now. It will be interesting to see what events he chooses. Hopefully he will break a world record or two along the way, but he set the bar very high for himself in Melbourne last year.

[Andy]

This should be an exciting Olympics.

 

My cousin will be competing in the men's eight rowing event, which should be fun.

[Derwood]

i try to enjoy the olympics, but my interest has waned to almost zero once they opened the floodgates to pro athletes. It's gotten to the point where I actively root against the US in Olympic Basketball.

[jersey cubs fan]

i try to enjoy the olympics, but my interest has waned to almost zero once they opened the floodgates to pro athletes. It's gotten to the point where I actively root against the US in Olympic Basketball.

 

other countries always allowed their pros. I don't watch the basketball but I would find it difficult to actually root against them.

[Derwood]

i try to enjoy the olympics, but my interest has waned to almost zero once they opened the floodgates to pro athletes. It's gotten to the point where I actively root against the US in Olympic Basketball.

 

other countries always allowed their pros. I don't watch the basketball but I would find it difficult to actually root against them.

 

I know it's not unique to the U.S., but that doesn't change my opinion about it. And no, it's not hard to root for Lithuania or Argentina to upset a team of multi-millionaire NBA hot-shots

[TruffleShuffle]

i try to enjoy the olympics, but my interest has waned to almost zero once they opened the floodgates to pro athletes. It's gotten to the point where I actively root against the US in Olympic Basketball.

 

other countries always allowed their pros. I don't watch the basketball but I would find it difficult to actually root against them.

 

I know it's not unique to the U.S., but that doesn't change my opinion about it. And no, it's not hard to root for Lithuania or Argentina to upset a team of multi-millionaire NBA hot-shots

 

yeah because those other teams are only half multi-millionaire NBA hot shots

[snoodmonger]

Count me as another one who hates the Olympics. There are always a few moments that are great, no question. But on the whole, I'm usually pretty bored. Of course, it doesn't help that they were eternally tainted by tommie smith and co, amirite?

[Derwood]

i try to enjoy the olympics, but my interest has waned to almost zero once they opened the floodgates to pro athletes. It's gotten to the point where I actively root against the US in Olympic Basketball.

 

other countries always allowed their pros. I don't watch the basketball but I would find it difficult to actually root against them.

 

I know it's not unique to the U.S., but that doesn't change my opinion about it. And no, it's not hard to root for Lithuania or Argentina to upset a team of multi-millionaire NBA hot-shots

 

yeah because those other teams are only half multi-millionaire NBA hot shots

 

well the influx of Europeans into the NBA happened well after the 1992 "Dream Team"

[sweetpeteman]

There are a couple sports in the summer Olympics that I like, but without baseball I don't really care.

 

 

Now the Winter Olympics I love.

[tfarks]

I'm also a Winter Olympics fan...Summer doesn't do much for me, I rarely pay attention. I might try to watch a little more this year but it won't be 1/10 of the Winter Olympics I watch.

[jaydee]

i try to enjoy the olympics, but my interest has waned to almost zero once they opened the floodgates to pro athletes. It's gotten to the point where I actively root against the US in Olympic Basketball.

 

other countries always allowed their pros. I don't watch the basketball but I would find it difficult to actually root against them.

 

I know it's not unique to the U.S., but that doesn't change my opinion about it. And no, it's not hard to root for Lithuania or Argentina to upset a team of multi-millionaire NBA hot-shots

 

yeah because those other teams are only half multi-millionaire NBA hot shots

 

and the other half multimillionaires from leagues in europe. no difference.

[hardcorecubfan]

I can't wait for the Olympics. It is the most entertaining sports on TV these days (exception of our Cubs)

 

I am just disappointed in the all or nothing qualifying standard they impose in the Olympic trials.

[Vanilla Ice]

how can you root against your own country?

[Flames24Rulz]

I'm ready for another U.S. basketball letdown.

[rawaction]

A kid I used to play pickup basketball and football with in my old neighborhood is on the men's 4 X 100 meter team. The funny thing is that he wasn't even the fastest kid I knew back in the day.

[Derwood]

how can you root against your own country?

 

because I feel like the NBA guys are representing themselves (and their shoe sponsorships) more than the country

[Derwood]

I can't wait for the Olympics. It is the most entertaining sports on TV these days (exception of our Cubs)

 

I am just disappointed in the all or nothing qualifying standard they impose in the Olympic trials.

 

here's hoping no uppity minorities show solidarity this year

[dew1679666265]

It's a couple of months away, but I am excited. Mostly about swimming. The American team is very good and very deep this year. At Olympic Trials next week, Michael Phelps is entered in the 100, 200 and 400 meter freestyle, 100 and 200 backstroke, 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 and 400 IM, which is a ridiculous load of events. I suspect that he'll drop one or two events. He should win gold in 200/400 IM and 200 butterfly, which leaves two more individual events to choose. I don't think he can win the 100 free; he's the world record holder in the 200 free, and there isn't a 200 freestyler the caliber of Ian Thorpe right now. It will be interesting to see what events he chooses. Hopefully he will break a world record or two along the way, but he set the bar very high for himself in Melbourne last year.

 

A girl I covered last year is competing next Sunday in the 100-meter Butterfly at the Trials. I think she might be the only person ever from my county to compete for a spot, so it's a pretty huge deal for us.

 

If, by some very outside shot, she makes it, I doubt I'll get to go over there in person, though.

[TruffleShuffle]

It's a couple of months away, but I am excited. Mostly about swimming. The American team is very good and very deep this year. At Olympic Trials next week, Michael Phelps is entered in the 100, 200 and 400 meter freestyle, 100 and 200 backstroke, 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 and 400 IM, which is a ridiculous load of events. I suspect that he'll drop one or two events. He should win gold in 200/400 IM and 200 butterfly, which leaves two more individual events to choose. I don't think he can win the 100 free; he's the world record holder in the 200 free, and there isn't a 200 freestyler the caliber of Ian Thorpe right now. It will be interesting to see what events he chooses. Hopefully he will break a world record or two along the way, but he set the bar very high for himself in Melbourne last year.

 

A girl I covered last year is competing next Sunday in the 100-meter Butterfly at the Trials. I think she might be the only person ever from my county to compete for a spot, so it's a pretty huge deal for us.

 

If, by some very outside shot, she makes it, I doubt I'll get to go over there in person, though.

 

yeah, it's not especially hard to make olympic trials (relatively speaking, of course) but it's extremely hard to make the olympic team. i know a girl who made OTs in 200 backstroke, but she finished like 40th or something, and only the top two (i believe) make the olympic squad. in reality, only a very small handful of the competitors at swimming/diving OTs have a legitimate chance of making the u.s. team.

 

i don't really understand why some people have lost interest in the olympics since it stopped being an amateur competition. i understand basketball i suppose, since their loyalty to their professional clubs is more important than their loyalty to the national team, but what about sports like swimming, track, gymnastics, etc? yeah, a handful of swimmers make a career in that sport, but the olympic games are easily the biggest stage for those athletes. the fact that michael phelps, natalie coughlin, katie hoff and others have taken award money and endorsement money doesn't make the event any less meaningful, IMO.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I'm mostly just looking forward to wrestling. I can't wait to see Ben Askren compete.

 

I'll also pay attention to swimming and diving since I'm Mizzou's SID for the sport this year. We've got 3 people who are competing in the trials at the end of the month, but it'd be a miracle if any of them made the team.

[dew1679666265]

It's a couple of months away, but I am excited. Mostly about swimming. The American team is very good and very deep this year. At Olympic Trials next week, Michael Phelps is entered in the 100, 200 and 400 meter freestyle, 100 and 200 backstroke, 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 and 400 IM, which is a ridiculous load of events. I suspect that he'll drop one or two events. He should win gold in 200/400 IM and 200 butterfly, which leaves two more individual events to choose. I don't think he can win the 100 free; he's the world record holder in the 200 free, and there isn't a 200 freestyler the caliber of Ian Thorpe right now. It will be interesting to see what events he chooses. Hopefully he will break a world record or two along the way, but he set the bar very high for himself in Melbourne last year.

 

A girl I covered last year is competing next Sunday in the 100-meter Butterfly at the Trials. I think she might be the only person ever from my county to compete for a spot, so it's a pretty huge deal for us.

 

If, by some very outside shot, she makes it, I doubt I'll get to go over there in person, though.

 

yeah, it's not especially hard to make olympic trials (relatively speaking, of course) but it's extremely hard to make the olympic team. i know a girl who made OTs in 200 backstroke, but she finished like 40th or something, and only the top two (i believe) make the olympic squad. in reality, only a very small handful of the competitors at swimming/diving OTs have a legitimate chance of making the u.s. team.

 

Oh, I - and she and her parents - fully realize she has next to no chance. Her mom told me while she's certainly trying to win this year, this is moreso experience for another run in 2012. And you're right, only the top two make it.

[Vanilla Ice]

One of my brothers close friends has an outside chance of making the women's soccer national team. She has been selected to the pool to be chosen from.

 

we'll see

[Derwood]

all these stories are much cooler than NBA players getting a free vacation to China

[B]

If you don't have Curling, you don't have anything.

[Rob]

If you don't have Curling, you don't have anything.

 

I was just getting ready to post something in that exact vein.