Be honest

[Redmt]

Ain't no way that any hemales are playing women's beach volleyball.

 

[Irrelevant]

No, but the financial incentive over-takes the purity of the sport. Going pro means you're at the apex, the pinnacle of your skill. You've hit a level above. The Olympics were never about professional athletes competing until the US brought in the Dream Team.

So it's not about who's the best at something, but who's the best while selfishly ignoring their family to pursue their own aspirations? Got it

Long before the US had professional athletes competing you had State sponsored programs not just paying people to train and compete and calling it waiting tables, but drugging with them too.

 

[Tradewind]

mixing drug regulation with other issues rarely adds up to simple and less political

correct

 

[BigHornRam]

I'm gonna get fried for this one, but here it goes.......


It's an interesting question. You could take it a step further and ask why not use performance enhancing drugs. I feel that at the professional level they should be allowed to do whatever it takes to get to peak performance. It would truly uncomplicate things in a way. Also, get rid of men's and women's divisions. Put your best athlete forward, period.

It would make things much simpler and possibly less political and contreversial. Anything goes, as long as it is confined to the rules of the game.

Some of this is already happening. Allowing it would just level the playing field for those willing to suffer the long term potential consequences.

 

[BrentD]

No, but the financial incentive over-takes the purity of the sport. Going pro means you're at the apex, the pinnacle of your skill. You've hit a level above. The Olympics were never about professional athletes competing until the US brought in the Dream Team.

It means we have to see the same players at tennis, golf, basketball, etc that we can see every single weekend of the year. Nadal plays Djokovic. Again. Who cares? Not me. Summer Olympics lost me about 1972. Winter Olympics are a touch more interesting so long as we stay away from ice skating and a few other things.

 

[Dubz337]

Better living through chemistry.

Best QOTSA song

 

[Treeshark]

First time in my life I had even heard of the Queens was seeing them live (opening for RHCP). They were awesome!

 

[VikingsGuy]

Summer Olympics lost me about 1972.

Renato’s phony 3 seconds upset you that much?

 

[BrentD]

Renato’s phony 3 seconds upset you that much?

Nope. Who is
Renato?

 

[ForkieShooter]

Did I miss something?

I had a think about this and am guessing he was addressing the vocal minority of people here in the US who expressed outrage over a foreign nation failing to tailor the opening ceremony to their desired level of cultural exclusivity?

 

[cgasner1]

This lady beat khelif in the ring. I’m still on the fence just because a solid punch got landed doesn’t mean she needs thrown out.

 

[VikingsGuy]

Nope. Who is
Renato?

The IAB president who ordered giving the Russians 3 extra seconds (twice) to beat USA in basketball gold medal game. Was offered tongue in cheek.

 

[Treeshark]

I hate that it came at the US’s expense, but Femke Bol’s closing speed in the 4x400 mixed relay was insane.

Hope Sydney McLaughlin is in top shape, she’s going to need it in the 400 hurdles after seeing that.

US men absolutely crapping the bed in the pool, ZERO golds so far. Hope the track team can stack some gold, hasn’t been a great Team USA Olympics thus far.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

The anti professional athlete takes are funny.. “I want to see the best of the athletes who aren’t good enough to make a living off it”.. are college athletes making millions on NIL deals amateurs or do we need to keep it to high school kids?

 

[MThuntr]

TLDR...I assume we're talking about the star of the shooting sports

 

[VikingsGuy]

The anti professional athlete takes are funny.. “I want to see the best of the athletes who aren’t good enough to make a living off it”.. are college athletes making millions on NIL deals amateurs or do we need to keep it to high school kids?

Top seniors getting support from boosters too. So, middle school?

 

[Treeshark]

Top seniors getting support from boosters too.

Yep. Not like it hasn’t been happening under the table for a while (IMG Academy, etc), but NIL in high school is becoming an issue states are being forced to deal with. SMDH.

 

[Treeshark]

So, middle school?

A girl that my middle daughter played volleyball with was getting DI verbal offers as an 8th grader (for other sports as well as Vball). No doubt in my mind money is changing hands at that level.

 

[BrentD]

The anti professional athlete takes are funny.. “I want to see the best of the athletes who aren’t good enough to make a living off it”.. are college athletes making millions on NIL deals amateurs or do we need to keep it to high school kids?

l didn't realize you thought I was a comedian, but yeah, I would rather watch amateurs. Real ones. But that's not happening in the Olympics ever again.

No, college football/basketball players are not amateurs. Not even kinda sorta maybe. Pretty much sucks but college sports are dead to me. If you want to suck into it, go ahead.

 

[ForkieShooter]

US men absolutely crapping the bed in the pool, ZERO golds so far. Hope the track team can stack some gold, hasn’t been a great Team USA Olympics thus far.

Guess crapping the bed is better than crapping in the pool.