olympic medals - does anyone else finding it embarassing to take so many

we walk in with a 'crowd' and then seem surprised to get so many - it would be nice if some of the other 240 counties that are smaller got some - it always seems like a gang shows up when we walk in and then so many have to say USA USA - I mean - I just find it like the 'gang' is here and we are taking over - what are your thoughts? I know republics like the gangs and bullies to take over everything so they like being king of the mountain all the time - I just feel like others should get a turn more often

They eliminated my wrestling weight class so I had no choice but to retire.

I almost went to a school in Australia too. Could've been a dual citizen, lol. I would have made their Olympic team.

Like Mark Spitz, if you're old enough to remember him!

:hi:

I don't find it to be like a gang showing up and just taking medals. They must still be won through a lot of hard work and dedication by the athletes. We are a populus nation and it is not surprising. If the total population was the sole factor then China and India would dominate the medal rounds. That obviously does not occur.

I never really follow the Olympics that closely so I don't know how good China's been in the recent past, but I do know that they are the favorite to win the most medals this year. I guess i could just use wikipedia to check the history but, ehhh, just don't feel like it. Americans like me would dominate the metal round for laziness if that were a category. Fingers crossed for that event in 2016 Chicago!

swim slower, not jump as high or far, row slower, etc. out of a sense of giving others a "turn more often"?

...and this is why I always supported the idea of sending ONLY collegiate competitors from the U.S. to participate. We try to turn it into a celebration of U.S. dominance in the world and we are rightly resented for it. I find it hard to root for the U.S. in any olympic competition.

The US produces some truly exceptional atheletes. There is no shame in that. And Sport is competition. May the best win.

...a celebration of good clean spirited international competition and camaraderie. Not an effort on the part of the U.S. to take advantage of its relative size and dominance in so many sports to carry off a gargantuan medal haul every four years. This could be achieved by sending collegiate athletes instead of professionals.

and if you haven't noticed the NBA has been globalized with players from all over world who are playing for their home countrys. Not to mention that Basketball is just one metal. What other sports do we have pros in? Football, nope. Baseball, nope. Guess what, that it. Those are the pro sports. Take your head out of your ass.

And what kind of belligerent jackass gets worked up over a topic like this?

The American empire is dying in case you hadn't noticed, genius. Don't guess that matters though -- as long as we can stomp Panama in thumb wrestling and pull down the gold. USA NUMBER ONE!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!

...to pull from for most events from our colleges and universities.

Not all other countries do. I think this would set a good example for other countries with lot's of collegiate talent.

For example, once a swimmer graduates from college, he or she should just give up their Olympic dream and quit swimming and join the work force of the (as you put it) dying American Empire. They should just give up their dreams and any money from sponserships earned from all their hard work and sacrifices put in as they went through high school and college. Money that would set them up for life in this dying American Empire. Now tell me this Jefferson, what the fuck is wrong with you?

and where they actually have pros in those sports, yes they do. Why should we, or any nation, artificially handicap themselves by not competing on the same level. It's not as though our pro athletes are unbeatable compared to theirs; watch the soccer games to see that.

Are you bothered by countries, such as China, who enroll young athletes in total immersion programs and build their entire lives around a sport in order to win medals? If not, then why should the fact that we send pro basketball players to compete with other pro basketball players bother you?

...they break high schools up into different athletic conferences based on enrollment size -- levels the playing field.

The U.S. is a very large country of some 260 million plus people, with sophisticated athletic training facilities in all kinds of sports at colleges and universities all over the country.

Where did I say our sending pro basketball playeres bothers me? I'm just saying I think we could be respectable and plenty competitive with our collegiate athletes and I'd prefer to have them representing us. Why does my expressing this opinion bother you?

Why does my disagreeing with that opinion bother you? That's the essence of communication and exchange of thought.

hugely endorsed should also stop running because they have the wide open African Savannah's to train on? Give me a break. It an athletic competition. The best athletes should compete against one another. Many of the athletes from less affluent countries actually train in countries that do have the facilities. It is a level playing field. In fact it's only been in the last 10-20 years that the US Olympic committee allowed our athletes to get endorsements. So many of the other countries either allowed endorsements, or the athletes were state financed. So our athletes were actually at a disadvantage.

Like Marion jones, floyd landis, roger clemens, etc. Yes, let's send the best althletes money can buy, all 'roided up for years, so that they have every advantage.

Collegiate: hah. Most money in collegiate sports go to basketball and football. Hell they sometimes have budgets bigger than the rest of the university, and university degrees just for players.

And the players, well they just want to be in the pro's, to the point of 'roid use in highschool. And let's not forget the frankenfood we all eat to make us all bigger than when everyone was au naturale.

just to get your numbers right

Is that what you're suggesting? Yao Ming of the NBA played for the Chinese basketball team, and that's OK. But you're saying Kobe, Lebron, and Duane shouldn't play for our team. That's bullshit.

Why SHOULDN'T we win in events we dominate? We don't dominate in everything. I know; let's bar the Russians and Canadians from winning the gold in hockey in the winter games. Just because.

Bake

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Beach volleyball.

Tennis.

I don't know about others.

Anyway, I try to watch Olympic events that aren't full of professionals. I just don't care to see the same old names. I liked it better when the Olympics pretended to be amateur competition. At least we saw new faces in b'ball and tennis.

Ha! Ok. What do you think their Super Bowl is? How often do you watch it on a non Olympic year? Not to mention that it wasn't an Olympic sport until 4 years ago.

Since when has this been an amateur competition? I want to see the best in the world compete against each other, otherwise when will we see that? Isn't there an Junior Olympics specifically for the athletes that aren't yet at the top of their respective sports? Please, spare everyone this crap about amateurs, that's not at all what the Olympics are about. It's about the best in the world competing against each other.

Instead of them having to join a professional circuit like they used to which was ignored.
Even the top gymnasts earn money on the Grand Priz circuit, money that helps them raise children and
pay for university, etc.

Why shouldn't we? The young pros in the soccer tournament are often far better than the young men we can send, for example.

of dominance - I do root for the people and yes I like to see how someone acts when they win - some are more gracious than others - I am not saying we should run slower, etc as someone else mentioned but we seem to have the funds to send more - some of these countries have good athletes but not the training facilities or opportunities - doing their best is nice - but it is that American arrogance - I remember when I traveled in europe I stayed away from some Americans because it was embarrassing the way they acted - that holier than thou stuff - I find that same thing with republics - they act like they are holy and great and yet so many are in the closet or infidelity but you would think the dems were the only ones when in actuality - those most against something are usually guilty -

anyway - thanks for putting your finger on it - it is the attitude that SOME display and when anyone is in a group they seem to have more of that 'swagger' than when they are a small group or an individual - so it plays out

...could probably get a scholarship to attend a college or university somewhere.

That said, I don't necessarily think we couldn't have any exceptions. I just think we have enough talent at the collegiate level to pull from and still be plenty respectable enough competing in the Olympics.

That's what created this whole mess to begin with.

Post #66:

"That said, I don't necessarily think we couldn't have any exceptions."

...I want exceptions?

Seriously?

If

"That said, I don't necessarily think we couldn't have any exceptions."

doesn't mean that you are willing to make exceptions, then what DOES it mean? :shrug:

You made an unsupportable assertion and now you're backing down. That's fine.

I didn't say nuthin, man, I didn't say nuthin.

Isn't it odd/ironic that we are in such a position of dominance in "athletics" given that fact?

Wonder what THAT means....

where we swept, second time in a hundred years,

We got a gold in Athens for the first time in a hundred years

And if you did not see it much on the teevee don't be too shocked, fencing is not sexy enough I guess

basketball. What a joke.

I remember back in the 80 winter games when our scrappy amateur hockey team beat the USSR in the finals. That was thrilling and really what the Olympics should be about. Watching a bunch of professionals inevitably win their medals diminishes it for me.

they lost in two sets, but by just 2 points in each set. Not really an ass kicking.

it's our job to go to China and bring home as many gold medals as we can get - so we can then melt them down and pay back our debt to China

Less than 1/5 of an ounce. Worth about $160 at today's prices (which are falling).

I liked carter but that I did not like

a different boycott would have been better - this was an example of shooting yourself in the foot or the other saying - cutting off your nose to spite your face

but what's the solution other than the US handicapping itself. If I were an athlete, I wouldn't want to win against a diluted field.

Collegiate competition has its own unfairness built in. I think the best solution is prosperity and equality for the rest of the world.

that gives out university scholarships just for being good at a sport. Of course you'd get a lot of medals.

the stupidest fucking thing I've read all day, and there are about 600 Edwards threads competing for that title.

Every country is free to send athletes. We just have a lot of people who do well at sports.

of medals are awarded. Now THAT is lame, and sooo reminiscent of eastern Europe.

and has them do nothing but Ping Pong for the next decade... :rofl:

at all times. i want to HEAR other anthems. i want to see different sports and PLEASE can the bios. the chick olypics just pissed me off. I MISS JIM MCKAY and ABC olympics.

that are there - it would be nice to get more information on other countries and see them win and on the podiums

whose sone has leukemia (nowe in remission). She was born in one of the Balkan states, and previously competed for the USSR. She moved to Germany so her son could get treatment. Oh, and she's 33. That's like ancient in gymnast years.

Bake

She was able to pay for the treatment because of her earnings on the Grand Priz and because she has always been a top gymnast won World Championships on floor and bars in 1991 and she just made the Olympic final for vault in 2008.

Winner takes all.

To the victor go the spoils.

I don't see anybody crying when Norway wins all the winter game medals.

map of Olymic medals. Interactive map from 1896 to present.

300 million plus. Most of the competing countries are a lot smaller - some of them would have problems filling that stadium! Proportionally, the US should get a lot, as should China, and India if they competed in more events.

we have a rainbow of people here in this country .
Each ethnicity brings it's own talents . I'm a firm believer
in the rainbow bringing strength to our country . Especially
when it comes to competition sports ..

:patriot:

just look at the flag bearer Lopez Lomong. He's a one of the 'Lost Boys' of Sudan and came to the US when he was 16. Now he's living a dream competing in the Olympics. I watched a good feature on ESPN's E:60 about what he went through as child and his journey to the US, his success as a track athlete and then his his emotional trip home to his family years later. It was really good stuff. I couldn't find the video but did find this story on him.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/trackandfield/columns/sto...

Thanks for the Smiley face.

Those kids have worked their whole lives for this and in many cases sacrificed much of their childhood to stand on that podium.

I'm also not the one to be chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!"

THAT is an incredibly asinine thing to do.

Come to think of it, everyone who participates should get a gold medal.

And a cupcake!

And a pony!

Why even have an Olympiad, then?

It's the whole corporate love-fest that gets me! :mad:

Nobody complains because it can't be laid at the feet of the US.

everyone can feel good about themselves because everyone gets the same number of medals? Perhaps stop keeping score at Little League baseball games or no more Tag games so that Johnny won't feel left out - that sort of thing? Oh, and stop grading papers in school with red ink.

I wasn't born yet... :yoiks:

steroid scandal btw, that's why i'm asking, look at the women's medals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming_at_the_1976_Summe...

Some of the female Chinese swimmers lately have looked the same way.

Check the winners' rosters AFTER the fall of the Wall: most of the East German swimmers and track athletes no longer appear.

Our athletes train (often from a very young age) hard. If they're the best in their competitions, they deserve the medals they bring home.

we enter most if not all the events- many countries don't. and many times more than one of our athletes qualify for each event.

and- many of our athletes are immigrants themselves or children of immigrants- and they are proud to compete under our flag.

I am just glad all these countries show up or we would have no one to beat - they are pretty good sports to allow us to continue to trounce them and spend the money to come back and get beat over and over

Believe it or not the rest of the world does fairly well against us in most events.

we tend to get "trounced" ourselves just as much as we "trounce" the others.

I prefer NOT to have to compete against pros, but I often do anyway--and go home empty-handed as a result.

knowing you are outnumbered and still just do their best - takes a lot more courage and teanacity, I would think, to show up knowing you do not have a chance but just want to do it - to do it

But it takes just plain being better to win a medal.

hahaha, just kidding :hi:

which have either large population or are wealthy enough that many in their nation have a chance at it.

the nations with few people are either small or either odn't have or put much into athletics.

i see nothing wrong with it. i remember during Greece when it was time for their own member to play they got a huge response also.

but the politicians are too corrupt and only care about themselves.

And they have a couple of tennis players around like Sania Mirza.

Australia are hugely into their sports though, they have a national sports centre in Brisbane which is where their great
swimmers are trained.

It depends on the national importance. In Australia, sporting success in hugely important...They have top swimmers, rugby players, tennis players, cricket players, divers, track and field, cyclists etc, they always get a good place on the medals tables at the Summer Olympics and normally win the Commonwealth Games medal tally. Unlike America they don't do well at the Winter Games.

It's the competition. Competing against the best make some people dig down and reach the pinacle of what they are capable of. That's the beauty. Humans doing better than they have done before. Remember Olga and Nadia?

what's wrong with supporting the best athletes in the world?

This isn't the Kumbayalympics. It is an athletic competition meant to pit the best athletes in the world against one another. It isn't our fault that we have so many talented athletes in this country or that we support athletics. "other should get a turn more often"-- what complete bullshit. Why not just have a lottery to decide to contestants? fucking ridiculous.

everyone can get a gold medal! :sarcasm:

Special Olympics is already taken....

If you're the better team why shouldn't you be taking home as many medals as you're capable of winning?

165 athletes. I don't see a problem with the number of athletes we send, if they are the worlds best they deserve to be there.

Anything else is weakness. This country wasn't built on wimpy ideas like "cooperation" and "compromise".

Hit 'em hard.

It's the only language they understand.

will be donating it's medals this time?

We've got a major push to be rated #16 or better. I just heard it on the news today.

I couldn't be prouder.

I know I got sick of winning all of mine that's for sure.	Wetzelbill	Aug-09-08 04:57 PM	#1
lol	28erl	Aug-09-08 04:58 PM	#2
funny thing, I once had aspirations to compete	Wetzelbill	Aug-09-08 05:40 PM	#17
And they are heavy if you wear them all at once	treestar	Aug-11-08 12:04 PM	#160
no. i like winning. and i like winning in olypmics. sorry. n/t	seabeyond	Aug-09-08 04:58 PM	#3
No	DU9598	Aug-09-08 04:58 PM	#4
Actually China is supposed to be pretty good this year	Sidney J Mussburger	Aug-09-08 06:59 PM	#31
So the American athletes should run slower...	A HERETIC I AM	Aug-09-08 04:58 PM	#5
I agree...	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 04:59 PM	#6
Bah we should celebrate one of the few things we're still good at	Indenturedebtor	Aug-09-08 05:04 PM	#8
Yes, the Olympics should be a celebration...	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 05:13 PM	#12
What professionals do we send besides Basketball	Sidney J Mussburger	Aug-09-08 07:08 PM	#33
What part of "collegiate athletes" do you not understand, Sidney?	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 07:34 PM	#41
But everybody sends pros.	Codeine	Aug-09-08 07:36 PM	#45
I think we have a sufficiently large pool of good talent...	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 07:42 PM	#50
Think this over Jefferson	Sidney J Mussburger	Aug-09-08 07:56 PM	#60
In the sports where they can send pros	Codeine	Aug-09-08 08:04 PM	#62
For the same reason ...	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 08:27 PM	#69
It doesn't bother me.	Codeine	Aug-09-08 08:52 PM	#75
Doesn't bother me at all.	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 09:07 PM	#78
So all those Kenyans that win all the marathons and are	Fla Dem	Aug-10-08 04:01 PM	#124
lets show them what american sports are all about	sentelle	Aug-11-08 11:33 AM	#156
305-310 million	snooper2	Aug-11-08 12:19 PM	#163
So we just send collegiate amateurs, but everyone else can send pros, right?	dbaker41	Aug-11-08 02:44 PM	#177
Deleted message	Name removed	Aug-09-08 07:47 PM	#53
What other sports?	JustABozoOnThisBus	Aug-09-08 08:30 PM	#71
Beach Volleyball?	Sidney J Mussburger	Aug-09-08 10:51 PM	#100
Yeah, beside the U.S. women's beach volleyball players are...	RNdaSilva	Aug-10-08 12:47 AM	#115
That's just it ... the Games only PRETENDED to be amateur.	dbaker41	Aug-11-08 02:47 PM	#178
I prefer that people can honestly earn money and compete...	MillieJo	Aug-11-08 03:32 PM	#181
Other countries send professionals.	Codeine	Aug-09-08 07:17 PM	#36
I guess that is the part I feel - it isn't just a competition of athletes but the attitude	28erl	Aug-09-08 05:06 PM	#9
What if I only graduated high school but ran a 9.0 100 meters? n/t	cherokeeprogressive	Aug-09-08 06:43 PM	#27
I think someone who runs 100 meters in 9.0 flat...	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 08:15 PM	#66
So now you want exceptions?	Codeine	Aug-09-08 08:18 PM	#67
I didn't say I wanted exceptions.	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 08:29 PM	#70
You most certainly did.	Codeine	Aug-09-08 08:51 PM	#74
And you're using this quote to support your claim that I said...	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 09:06 PM	#76
Yes.	Codeine	Aug-09-08 09:21 PM	#82
So you're not serious -- that's what I thought.	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 09:42 PM	#83
Now hold on a sec.	Codeine	Aug-09-08 09:46 PM	#85
Hey, you said you weren't serious.	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 09:48 PM	#86
Ah, I see we've descended to non-sequiters now.	Codeine	Aug-09-08 09:53 PM	#89
You said you weren't serious -- you just want to joke around. That's fine.	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 09:54 PM	#91
When did I say I wasn't serious?	Codeine	Aug-09-08 09:55 PM	#92
When did I say you said I said you weren't serious?	Mr_Jefferson_24	Aug-09-08 09:57 PM	#94
Actually you said he wasn't serious.	Fire_Medic_Dave	Aug-11-08 05:06 PM	#191
Yes, and we are one of the most unfit and obese countries in the world.	Bonobo	Aug-10-08 04:04 PM	#126
What you me "we", kemosabe?	deaniac21	Aug-11-08 02:26 PM	#176
You should root in things like fencing	nadinbrzezinski	Aug-10-08 04:14 PM	#128
We now send a bunch of NBA stars to compete in	LibDemAlways	Aug-11-08 12:43 PM	#169
Latvia just kicked the US's ass in Men's Beach Volleyball. n/t	renie408	Aug-09-08 05:01 PM	#7
I wouldn't call it an ass kicking	Sidney J Mussburger	Aug-09-08 07:12 PM	#34
No, be the best athlete you can be for goodness sake.	Fuzz	Aug-09-08 05:08 PM	#10
I don't care who wins. I just want a good show nt	conspirator	Aug-09-08 05:09 PM	#11
As Stephen Colbert said...	lame54	Aug-09-08 05:21 PM	#13
haha I love Colbert.	JNelson6563	Aug-09-08 07:31 PM	#40
An olympic gold medal contains 6 grams of gold	Art_from_Ark	Aug-15-08 03:53 AM	#200
In 1980 we won zero	sniffa	Aug-09-08 05:21 PM	#14
that was really too bad for the athletes - used politics in the wrong way	28erl	Aug-09-08 05:46 PM	#18
Jimmy Carter made them wear sweaters to save energy and they were slowed down by it!	JVS	Aug-09-08 06:22 PM	#23
the boycott was tough on the athletes who were aged especiatlly	28erl	Aug-09-08 07:55 PM	#59
yes we did...I along with 1000's of competitors were dropped in the grease	ZenKitty	Aug-09-08 11:12 PM	#107
I Know What You Mean,	ribofunk	Aug-09-08 05:24 PM	#15
I don't know why any American whould be surprised - it's a big sports-obsessed country	muriel_volestrangler	Aug-09-08 05:27 PM	#16
I am not embarassed when our athletes do well.	aikoaiko	Aug-09-08 05:53 PM	#19
That is literally	Codeine	Aug-09-08 05:57 PM	#20
LOL!	JVS	Aug-09-08 06:22 PM	#24
China has a national strategy to compete in sports wherea a lot	Sulawesi	Aug-09-08 06:20 PM	#21
China finds somebody who's good at Ping Pong at 10	snooper2	Aug-11-08 12:24 PM	#164
i'm certainly sick of the america america	pansypoo53219	Aug-09-08 06:21 PM	#22
that is so true - we get very little information about all the others	28erl	Aug-09-08 07:41 PM	#49
Hmmm. You must've missed the piece about the German gymnast	dbaker41	Aug-11-08 02:55 PM	#179
She's from Uzebeckistan	MillieJo	Aug-11-08 03:39 PM	#183
No - this isn't pre-school games where the little fat kids get ribbons too	Baclava	Aug-09-08 06:31 PM	#25
Thank you	snooper2	Aug-11-08 12:25 PM	#165
Yeah, but Norway isn't the US, so that's OK	IAmJacksSmirkingRevenge	Aug-11-08 02:05 PM	#175
No	tammywammy	Aug-09-08 06:32 PM	#26
The New York Times	Wilber_Stool	Aug-09-08 06:46 PM	#28
thanks for that link - that is nice to be able to see each year and who	28erl	Aug-09-08 07:49 PM	#55
Good idea...we should give half of all the medals back that's won...	cynatnite	Aug-09-08 06:50 PM	#29
we're one of the more populous countries	Retrograde	Aug-09-08 06:57 PM	#30
Nope ..not in any way	proud patriot	Aug-09-08 07:00 PM	#32
Well said	Sidney J Mussburger	Aug-09-08 07:29 PM	#39
Thanks for the link	proud patriot	Aug-09-08 07:35 PM	#44
You're quite welcome	Sidney J Mussburger	Aug-09-08 08:01 PM	#61
Why the fuck should I be embarrassed?	alphafemale	Aug-10-08 08:25 PM	#134
Every country should get the SAME number of medals.	antfarm	Aug-09-08 07:13 PM	#35
Cup cakes? I want in.	chimpsrsmarter	Aug-09-08 07:34 PM	#42
i like that idea	28erl	Aug-09-08 07:43 PM	#51
Good lord I do believe you're serious.	Codeine	Aug-09-08 08:05 PM	#63
The haul of medals don't bother me so much...	Wednesdays	Aug-09-08 07:26 PM	#37
That's universal, however.	Codeine	Aug-09-08 07:35 PM	#43
You mean some sort of "medal redistribution" plan so that	usnret88	Aug-09-08 07:28 PM	#38
Yes. What the fuck kind of living Rush strawman feels guilty about Americans winning gold medals?	Occam Bandage	Aug-11-08 10:54 AM	#153
No. How did you feel about the 1976 East German Olympic Swim team?	chimpsrsmarter	Aug-09-08 07:38 PM	#46
How many did they win?	bicentennial_baby	Aug-09-08 07:40 PM	#47
hmmmmm. Ok here's the link	chimpsrsmarter	Aug-09-08 07:44 PM	#52
Some of the East German female athletes were literally turned into males	LostinVA	Aug-10-08 07:58 PM	#132
Nope, I like it That we Win	NeedleCast	Aug-09-08 07:40 PM	#48
which of our athletes would you like to see lose...?	QuestionAll	Aug-09-08 07:48 PM	#54
you miss my point - that is ok - some people don't look at lots of views	28erl	Aug-09-08 07:52 PM	#57
We don't "trounce" them.	Codeine	Aug-09-08 08:07 PM	#64
you must not view much in the way of olympic results, either.	QuestionAll	Aug-09-08 11:01 PM	#103
As an AMATEUR figure skater....	danagsk8	Aug-09-08 07:50 PM	#56
I was thinking it takes more courage to show up time and time again	28erl	Aug-09-08 07:53 PM	#58
It sure does.	Codeine	Aug-09-08 08:07 PM	#65
Maybe you shouldn't suck so much	Sidney J Mussburger	Aug-09-08 11:01 PM	#102
it's not just the United States, it's true of many other nations also	JI7	Aug-09-08 08:21 PM	#68
It's relative to populaiton - that's just the facts	HEyHEY	Aug-09-08 08:34 PM	#72
Tell that to India, Malaysia, etc. n/t	India3	Aug-09-08 09:55 PM	#93
Not our fault they suck!	HEyHEY	Aug-09-08 10:06 PM	#96
India doesn't invest in sports for the country , they could if they wanted to	JI7	Aug-10-08 12:21 AM	#112
They have great Cricket teams though.....	MillieJo	Aug-11-08 03:50 PM	#185
good to see you and your bears around again lately n/t	28erl	Aug-09-08 10:31 PM	#99
Australia has a small population and look at their team...	MillieJo	Aug-11-08 03:56 PM	#186
medal schmedal... country schmountry	World Citizen	Aug-09-08 08:37 PM	#73
call the wahhhhbulance....	crimsonblue	Aug-09-08 09:07 PM	#77
Another thing...	crimsonblue	Aug-09-08 09:09 PM	#79
A lottery for contestants? Hell, let's get rid of the contest and	NYC Liberal	Aug-09-08 09:17 PM	#80
But what would we call it?	crimsonblue	Aug-09-08 09:18 PM	#81
Well...I like your "Kumbayalympics"!	NYC Liberal	Aug-09-08 11:32 PM	#109
Not at all	Mike Daniels	Aug-09-08 09:45 PM	#84
The United States has 636 Athletes at the Olympics and the little island of Cuba has...	MiltonF	Aug-09-08 09:49 PM	#87
No. You must CRUSH your opponent. No mercy.	Canuckistanian	Aug-09-08 09:50 PM	#88
I'm assuming Canada	Codeine	Aug-09-08 09:53 PM	#90
Might as well	Canuckistanian	Aug-09-08 10:05 PM	#95
We're Number 1. . . 6! nt	Codeine	Aug-09-08 10:08 PM	#97
I have a friend through work who has a won a bronze in Hockey for Canada	Marrah_G	Aug-10-08 07:11 PM	#130
roflmao n/t	28erl	Aug-09-08 10:24 PM	#98
You don't go to the Olympics to give other teams a sporting chance	Mike Daniels	Aug-09-08 11:02 PM	#104
Damn straight, amigo	Canuckistanian	Aug-09-08 11:07 PM	#105
Yeah, because every other team ramps down their competitive spirit at the Olympics	Mike Daniels	Aug-11-08 01:02 PM	#170
Hey, a South Korean just won the men's 400 freestyle	Lydia Leftcoast	Aug-09-08 10:52 PM	#101
Are you nuts?	ZenKitty	Aug-09-08 11:09 PM	#106
Ok:	NYC Liberal	Aug-09-08 11:35 PM	#110
This is not "Fun Fair Positive Olympics"	ZenKitty	Aug-11-08 12:14 AM	#144
If there was ever a post that validates the RW stereotype of liberals, this is it	Dreamer Tatum	Aug-09-08 11:17 PM	#108
yes I am a liberal and no I am not insulting other countries by	28erl	Aug-10-08 12:58 AM	#117
Is there any representation of this country which doesn't	pipoman	Aug-10-08 12:15 AM	#111
a few of the posters here have embarassed themselves n/t	28erl	Aug-10-08 12:48 AM	#116
It's sport, it's not a singalong.	Indenturedebtor	Aug-10-08 03:31 PM	#120
Amen n/t	Fountain79	Aug-10-08 03:39 PM	#121
Speaking of yourself?	Mike Daniels	Aug-10-08 09:12 PM	#136
They are to a degree supposed to be a singalong	treestar	Aug-11-08 12:39 PM	#168
The medal haul should be between the U.S. and China...	RNdaSilva	Aug-10-08 12:34 AM	#113
Don't be surprised if the USA is not king of the mountain this time.....	marmar	Aug-10-08 12:38 AM	#114
No. This is competition, fuck em.	MrSlayer	Aug-10-08 01:04 AM	#118
By your logic.....	Fountain79	Aug-10-08 03:20 PM	#119
I have gotten a laugh out of the silly comments here - thanks for your part n/t	28erl	Aug-10-08 03:54 PM	#123
Well....start a stupid thread....and you get...	Fountain79	Aug-10-08 04:02 PM	#125
Just admit	Codeine	Aug-10-08 10:20 PM	#143
I agree with this post. n/t	distantearlywarning	Aug-11-08 12:17 PM	#162
If American athletes are the best, they deserve to win medals.	gmudem	Aug-10-08 03:47 PM	#122
I'm sorry, this is the stupidest thing I've read all day nt	MellowDem	Aug-10-08 04:11 PM	#127
I know what you mean.	sammythecat	Aug-10-08 06:42 PM	#129
perhaps we should add a "living beyond national life expectancy" event. nt	delaware97	Aug-10-08 08:52 PM	#135
This is the dumbest post I've read in 2008	EvolveOrConvolve	Aug-10-08 07:52 PM	#131
I'm not 100% sure	Mr. Blonde	Aug-10-08 09:37 PM	#139
LMAO. They don't "take" medals. They win competitions.	hiaasenrocks	Aug-10-08 08:00 PM	#133
I disagree	llort51ra	Aug-10-08 09:21 PM	#137
Playing by the rules, unlike other countries....	ZenKitty	Aug-11-08 12:16 AM	#145
The more the merrier.	RNdaSilva	Aug-10-08 09:31 PM	#138
Its a sporting competition and we have alot of athletes	Jake3463	Aug-10-08 09:50 PM	#140
It's a competition. The winner gets the medal and there is honor in playing fairly even if you don't	kwenu	Aug-10-08 09:52 PM	#141
I think the idea that in an international competition you don't want the best to win is embarassing	onenote	Aug-10-08 10:18 PM	#142
Not to mention patronizing. "Oh, it's okay, lesser peoples of the Earth.	Occam Bandage	Aug-11-08 10:56 AM	#154
Please, I just suffered Bush's "interview" during the women's gymnastics	silverojo	Aug-11-08 02:36 AM	#146
It's no fun winning if your getting a handicap.	Evoman	Aug-11-08 03:15 AM	#147
Ask the Norweigians. They own the winter games in overall medal count. n/t	ourbluenation	Aug-11-08 03:32 AM	#148
Yeah	brettdale	Aug-11-08 03:34 AM	#149
It seems reasonable that a large, affluent country could produce winning athletes in some sports	slackmaster	Aug-11-08 10:50 AM	#150
No. Countries don't win them; athletes do. This isn't an ego-boost carnival,	Occam Bandage	Aug-11-08 10:51 AM	#151
To the victor go the spoils.	madeline_con	Aug-11-08 10:54 AM	#152
The OP says more about your self-esteem	supernova	Aug-11-08 10:58 AM	#155
I Love When We Win Them. You're Embarrassed? Too Bad.	OPERATIONMINDCRIME	Aug-11-08 11:50 AM	#157
The Olympics are inherently unfair that way	treestar	Aug-11-08 11:52 AM	#158
right. its just a matter of population. Which is why U of Minnesota kicks Duke's ass in BBall	onenote	Aug-11-08 05:00 PM	#190
I noticed that too in the last Olympics, that many of the athletes	treestar	Aug-12-08 08:22 AM	#193
Years ago, I felt rather offended when a friend called them the "White Olympics"	entanglement	Aug-15-08 03:43 AM	#199
When the games are over, add all the medals won by Russia and the other 14	LeftinOH	Aug-11-08 11:56 AM	#159
Um, no.	distantearlywarning	Aug-11-08 12:15 PM	#161
Not in the slightest.	jakefrep	Aug-11-08 12:28 PM	#166
I don't find it embarrassing for any athlete to take an Olympic medal. I have several friends who	jody	Aug-11-08 12:32 PM	#167
You are discounting what competing in the Olympics means; it's a TREMENDOUS honor even for those	blondeatlast	Aug-11-08 01:04 PM	#171
You and I have similar memories. It was still better to have tried and lost than never to have tried	jody	Aug-11-08 01:21 PM	#172
No one takes medals. The athletes earn them	Freddie Stubbs	Aug-11-08 01:27 PM	#173
I agree, give all the medals to Andorra	Throd	Aug-11-08 01:57 PM	#174
How about the French relay swimmers who trash-talked our guys?	dbaker41	Aug-11-08 03:01 PM	#180
It should also be embarrassing for the students who earn all A's.	usnret88	Aug-11-08 03:33 PM	#182
Then you too must be pleased for Rebecca Adlington	MillieJo	Aug-11-08 03:42 PM	#184
Kudos to Rebecca and Joanne (nm)	Xenocrates	Aug-11-08 04:09 PM	#188
That was cool ... She was so excited. And Jackson got bronze.	Oregonian	Aug-11-08 07:36 PM	#192
NBCs coverage is embarrasing...	Xenocrates	Aug-11-08 04:06 PM	#187
NBC bought the schedule for US primetime so	MillieJo	Aug-12-08 11:08 AM	#196
they are? I haven't watched in a long time	Neo	Aug-11-08 04:20 PM	#189
Why be embarrassed by America?	DangerDave921	Aug-12-08 08:29 AM	#194
Nope not a bit..We are a populous country	peacetrain	Aug-12-08 08:33 AM	#195
When told this thread existed	muryan	Aug-15-08 12:11 AM	#197
I really admire athletes from impoverished nations; that they even make it to the Olympics	entanglement	Aug-15-08 03:35 AM	#198
They should had a fourth medal category and limit each country to two	grantcart	Aug-15-08 03:55 AM	#201