DVD Collection Inventory: TV Episodes - 14,957. Movies - 1,362. Serial Chapters 437
DVD Collection Inventory: TV Episodes - 14,957. Movies - 1,362. Serial Chapters 437
Lay down your law books now, they're no damned good -- The Eagles
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Originally Posted by KurtEP
I'm far more concerned with the history of really shoddy coverage of the games. I'd really like to see something more than women's gymnastics and swimming for the summer games, and ice dancing for the winter. Unfortunately, as someone who enjoys sports like boxing, weightlifting and wrestling (all obviously very popular and mainstream these days), I'm usually frustrated with the coverage.
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Originally Posted by Jason Seaver
One thing that's really frustrating to hear every Olympic year is that the CBC does a pretty good job of showing events live and uncut, even when the games are in a far-off time zone (as is the case here), whereas NBC shows a lot of (American) athlete profiles, tape-delays everything, and basically does everything they can to make it into a pre-scripted program.
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Uncle Joe: I'll never marry you, Selma Plout! You may as well take off that wedding dress and put it back in your Hopeless Chest!
--Petticoat Junction--
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Originally Posted by Jason Seaver
One thing that's really frustrating to hear every Olympic year is that the CBC does a pretty good job of showing events live and uncut, even when the games are in a far-off time zone (as is the case here), whereas NBC shows a lot of (American) athlete profiles, tape-delays everything, and basically does everything they can to make it into a pre-scripted program.
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Originally Posted by Kevin Hewell
I don't have a problem with professional athletes in the Games. They competed in the ancient games.
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Originally Posted by Jerome Grate
True..., I guess for me it's the whole commerical aspect of using professional athletes in an area that use to be dedicated to hard working individuals who worked regular jobs and trained for the Olympics. I even recall some of the athletes receiving funds from local businesses so that they wouldn't have to work and spend time training. Too me that's true competition. Professional sport is competitive also but not the same for me.
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Lay down your law books now, they're no damned good -- The Eagles
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Originally Posted by KurtEP
I could be wrong, but it's always been my understanding that the amateur aspect of the Olympics had a quite different goal in mind. Essentially, they wanted to keep the unwashed masses from competing, so they limited it to amateurs, assuming that only the wealthy would have the money to train and forgo work while doing it.
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Originally Posted by KurtEP
I could be wrong, but it's always been my understanding that the amateur aspect of the Olympics had a quite different goal in mind. Essentially, they wanted to keep the unwashed masses from competing, so they limited it to amateurs, assuming that only the wealthy would have the money to train and forgo work while doing it.
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Originally Posted by KurtEP
The other downside was that the US always ended up competing against the Soviet system, whose athletes were definitely professional in everything but name. That was never especially fair. At least now the best can get out there and do their thing in most sports.
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Always Tim's (and Dennis's, Hannah's, and Oksana's) loving dad
Please consider supporting Voice of an Angel, The Tim Jackes Scholarship Foundation:
www.voiceofanangel.org
___________________I have learned that some pain cannot be healed, but must be endured. I believe our Higher Power will help us...
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Originally Posted by Jerome Grate
That's exactly what I meant those people who had regular jobs who trained as amateurs for the olympics.
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Lay down your law books now, they're no damned good -- The Eagles
| Unfortunately, as someone who enjoys sports like boxing, weightlifting and wrestling (all obviously very popular and mainstream these days), I'm usually frustrated with the coverage. |
| Where I do think the Games fall into farce is where there are clear and unambiguous amateur and pro faces to a particular sport and the pros are allowed in. E.g. tennis since it's been reintroduced has been a complete joke [though IMHO it's a joke anyway - can anyone think of another game where you're allowed a little sit down every couple of minutes?]. |
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Originally Posted by andrew markworthy
E.g. tennis since it's been reintroduced has been a complete joke [though IMHO it's a joke anyway - can anyone think of another game where you're allowed a little sit down every couple of minutes?].
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Originally Posted by andrew markworthy
I think it's worth noting that the number of professional athletes is less than you might think. The big name athletes may get paid ludicrous amounts of money, but they're a minority of the total competitors. If you're a competitor in one of the less glamorous athletic events, and certainly if you're doing a more obscure sport like shooting, archery, etc, prize and appearance money won't pay the bills.
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Lay down your law books now, they're no damned good -- The Eagles
| However, the amateur system led to absurdities like Jim Thorpe losing his medals because he played a few seasons of minor league ball. |
