'Politics of the Games beyond Americans' ken' (Irish Times, Oct 5)

[Jackeens]

FUN IT was to be in Copenhagen last Friday evening. Fun, even for those of us who had been rooting for the great and fair city of Chicago to be awarded the Olympic Games of 2016. I’ve never met anybody who has spent anytime in Chicago who didn’t love the place. The possibility of an Olympic Games being held there, knowing how brilliantly and with what pride the city can run big events, was mouthwatering.

And yet, when it was announced to huge gasps in the massive press centre that Chicago had been bumped out in the first round of voting, the entertainment was so good it made Brazilians of us all. People from Rio and Madrid high-fived. The Japanese looked at each other earnestly. But every American in the place jumped to their feet and formed a righteous posse charged with finding out who was to blame and hanging them from a rafter.

Now I love and slavishly imitate the writing style of American sports hacks and I envy them their admiring sense of their own worth, this picture they have of themselves of being important players in the scheme of things.....

.....Anyway on Friday afternoon Chicago was eliminated straight off and suddenly it was Pearl Harbour. The shouting reached the sort of levels prone to cause tinnitus in the rest of us and there was a stampede of loud self- righteousness straight out the door and towards the hall in which the IOC were in session. Thinking the Americans were definitely going to invade the place and napalm the poor old dudes, a large number of us who had better things to be doing followed along for the entertainment.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/1005/1224255888905.html

[msongs]

1. except for US republicans who wet the pants with glee/ delight claiming the black prez "failed" lol

in their minds at least.

Msongs

[Clio the Leo]

2. Who says we wont?

We're plotting our revenge ......... hey Jackeens ...... have you seen Pele LATELY? ;)

[Jackeens]

3. Pele has, allegedly, a highly active nocturnal life, so he's disappeared in to the Copenhagen night

When - if - he finally emerges I will generously congratulate him, but because he helped defeat my Barack I will now declare that the greatest footballer in history is his sworn enemy, Argentina's Diego Armando Maradona, subject of my favourite sporting photo of all time:



Not even six Belgian men - one heavily bearded - could subdue him.

:-)

[Clio the Leo]

5. Yes! Diego is THE MAN!!!!

(I have no idea who Diego is)

trust me .... your Pele is fine ........ and he will be returned safely back to Brazil just as soon as they give us our Olympics back! :evilgrin:

Oh he's fine ......... stayin' down the street from me .......... have you ever seen the movie "Deliverance"?



Now, while we wait, let me introduce you to Terrell Owens......





he's an American by the way ..... ya know ...... that place that was supposed to be hosting the Olympics in 2016. And who knows, maybe by this time next week, he'll be playing for the Bears. :)

[Jackeens]

6. Oh. My. Sweet. Jesus.

Terrell Owens?



(That's me).

The phrase, I think, is 'Drop Dead Gorgeous'.



I wouldn't apply it to these guys, though. They just bring out the scissor-wielding aunty in me. The guy third from the left? I can't tell you how much I want to snip his spikey bits.

But Terrell Owens?



That's not a body, that's a work of art.

[Clio the Leo]

7. Yeah, he's awesome.............

..... as long as he keeps his mouth shut ..... which never happens. lol

*** Warning: The following contains footage of ACTUAL football!!! Those accustomed to "football" being a sport involving a bunch of whimpy boys running around in short pants are advised to view with caution.*** :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIsUOce_81g

[Beacool]

4. Well, "humility" has never been our middle name...............

"American hacks are fine but as a herd they are a pain in the ass. The males of the species are all neat and dapper like the Mormon missionaries you have to shoo away from your door occasionally. The females are very intimidating and speak very loudly even by American standards. You may as well have a tour bus full of plaid-slacked, early bird-eating, Bob and Wilma-type American tourists disgorged into a press centre as let three American sports hacks in. The volume is the same and the depressing effect on the rest of the room is the same.

Usually they come in to a large press hall and spread out strategically. They are adept at separating themselves with precisely the amount of distance at which they can still hear each other when shouting at the top of their voices.

“BOB, ANY THOUGHTS ON DINNER TONIGHT?” “I’LL SPEAK TO STACEY ABOUT IT. SHE’S BEEN TO YURP BEFORE. STACE?” “NEAT. THANKS BOB.” “STACE??? STACE???”! “STACEY’S GONE TO THE BATHROOM, BOB. LOCAL FOOD ISSUE.” “YEAH, BOB IT’S STACEY. I’M IN THE BATHROOM BUT I CAN HEAR YOU. WHAT IS IT? YOU GUYS NEED DIRECTIONS TO MICKEY D’S?”

Yep, sounds about right........

:rofl:

[rebel with a cause]

8. You know I didn't really care who got the Olympics last week..

but now (after reading this article) I feel a little pissed off for some reason. :shrug: