[barmar]

ASkolnick, on Aug 18 2008, 02:46 PM, said:

As for the age requirement for gymnasts, I believe that was a recent addition. I believe it started after Bella Lugosi had Kerri Shrugg doing gymnastics on a sprained ankle.

Did he use his vampire powers to dull the pain?

[barmar]

Al_U_Card, on Aug 18 2008, 10:18 AM, said:

So, they won't let the guy with the artificial legs race...but the guy with the 4 legged support they do?

Only against other guys with 4-legged support.

Quote

Seems to harken back to the days of cavalry and archery and other olden time stuff. So when will they have video-game categories?

Archery is still an olympic sport. TV/movie star Geena Davis almost made it onto the US women's archery team a couple of Olympics ago.

[the hog]

Gerben42, on Aug 18 2008, 08:21 PM, said:

Quote

Heh. You ever ridden, Gerben?

Not on a big horse. I am sure there is also lots of skill required from the rider. I'm also sure it can be tiring (cross country and jumping and all). But the whole point is to train the animals, so as such that makes it really an animal sport, and not a human sport.

No Gerben, this is totally incorrect. The object is to create a team between horse and rider. It is very difficult and indeed a real sport.

[matmat]

The_Hog, on Aug 18 2008, 09:04 PM, said:

Gerben42, on Aug 18 2008, 08:21 PM, said:

Quote

Heh. You ever ridden, Gerben?

Not on a big horse. I am sure there is also lots of skill required from the rider. I'm also sure it can be tiring (cross country and jumping and all). But the whole point is to train the animals, so as such that makes it really an animal sport, and not a human sport.

No Gerben, this is totally incorrect. The object is to create a team between horse and rider. It is very difficult and indeed a real sport.

why not have sheep-herding be an olympic sport? it's a team of a shepherd and their dog?

why not horse racing? of all the equestrian sports, that one actually has a measurable outcome, as opposed to all the judged crap?
I understand dressage is pretty to look at, and i guess the obstacle course is a reasonable event, but all of these depend more on the athleticism and coordination of the horse more so than the rider.

should just be higher, faster, longer stronger. I really don't understand why judged events are at all allowed. in addition to being subjective, they are ripe for bribery, corruption and exploitation.

[jkdood]

Just watching some 3:30 AM (EDT) table-tennis from Olympics (USA channel)
Late event match between a guy from Spain and one from Indonesia,
showed the stands at times, all of maybe 6 specs there (I guess the PRC kids with their yellow plastic wands were all at dinner) anyway maybe thats why not televised much, although I wish it were,

[jkdood]

Hmmn, IND is INDIA not Indonesia.
(Not that in itself explains the poor audience. The commentators did in fact just remark on the poor attendance, saying it's not always "this poor".)

[Gerben42]

Perhaps the Chinese are only interested in ping-pong if world class players are at the table. Otherwise they prefer playing themselves?

[jkdood]

You mean World-Class as on BBO, or??
LOL.
Anyway Guy from India is ranked Nbr 1 in India.
I guess that is sort of world class, maybe?

Oh Its only a first round match, was wrong about that also, sorry.

[Gerben42]

Quote

No Gerben, this is totally incorrect. The object is to create a team between horse and rider. It is very difficult and indeed a real sport.

I wrote before that I think there is lots of skill required to do this. I know that these people train a lot with the horses, because the horses require lots of training to learn these tricks and require time to trust their rider blindly. But in the end, the final result will be determined by the trainability and physical characteristics of the horse.

Just my personal preference I guess, but I prefer watching human sport.

[Gerben42]

Quote

You mean World-Class as on BBO, or??

World Class in the opinion of the spectators. Anyway, I think that if the venue is so empty, they should make sure to fill it up by selling cheap last-minute tickets. Whoever is playing, it's their biggest tournament and they deserve attention.

[jkdood]

You sometimes see these rows and rows of polite but applauding kids with yellow rubber balloon things being waved at somewhat obscure events like rowing, Belarus vs. Samoa, or such. I figured they were given free tickets as a state-sponsored field trip, and think it may be done more than we know (but obviously not ping pong India vs Spain (guy is Nbr 2 from spain btw).

[brianshark]

I think a lot of sports should be dropped from the olympics. There are way too many. I agree with Gerben that horse-riding shouldn't be there, in my opinion. I'm not sure I agree that all judged sports should be gone, but maybe that's because Gymnastics seem as core to the olympics as track and field. But sometimes they seem pretty silly. Like the way the women dance around on the floor and do the odd jump. At least in the men's event, it's all about the spins and jumps and handstands and stuff. I'm glad to hear that baseball is being dropped. I wouldn't mind ditching synchronized swimming either.

[the hog]

matmat, on Aug 19 2008, 01:59 PM, said:

why not have sheep-herding be an olympic sport? it's a team of a shepherd and their dog?

Or why not stupid posting as a sport? I think this one would win the gold medal.

[TimG]

The_Hog, on Aug 19 2008, 04:49 AM, said:

matmat, on Aug 19 2008, 01:59 PM, said:

why not have sheep-herding be an olympic sport?  it's a team of a shepherd and their dog?

Or why not stupid posting as a sport? I think this one would win the gold medal.

I think matmat was spot on.

[matmat]

The_Hog, on Aug 19 2008, 04:49 AM, said:

matmat, on Aug 19 2008, 01:59 PM, said:

why not have sheep-herding be an olympic sport?  it's a team of a shepherd and their dog?

Or why not stupid posting as a sport? I think this one would win the gold medal.

oh, i dunno,i think it would have a tough time beating most of yours.

[Al_U_Card]

How about "real-life" olympics? They would likely require judges, but we would all be better able to appreciate the prowess of the competitors....

First dates.

Dealing with the M-I-L at family gatherings.

Getting a raise from your boss.

Explaining why you didn't call even tho you have a cell phone....etc. etc.

[jdonn]

The_Hog, on Aug 19 2008, 04:49 AM, said:

matmat, on Aug 19 2008, 01:59 PM, said:

why not have sheep-herding be an olympic sport?  it's a team of a shepherd and their dog?

Or why not stupid posting as a sport? I think this one would win the gold medal.

LOL I totally agree with matmat's post, but yours was still pretty funny.

[Walddk]

I think they should add yawning for people in other time zones. I am a serious contender for the gold medal

The other night I yawned 27 times inside 5 minutes without falling asleep. Take that!

Yawwwwwn ....

Roland

[jdonn]

Walddk, on Aug 19 2008, 11:20 AM, said:

I think they should add yawning for people in other time zones. I am a serious contender for the gold medal

The other night I yawned 27 times inside 5 minutes without falling asleep. Take that!

Yawwwwwn ....

Roland

It only becomes an olympic sport if you bring your cat along and he yawns with you.

[grrigg]

Do I dare suggest that having 4 different styles of swimming (as well as medley) is as ridiculous as some of the sports that people make fun of? After all, shouldnt only freestyle matter, if you are concerned about swimming somewhere fast. Nope, too busy celebrating the 8 gold medals!