Olympic Games Beijing 2008

[Help?]

No no no sorry you misunderstand. English is my second language so if something doesn't come across right I apologize. I'm saying that higher profile athletes get more scrutiny. We are not ones to judge what is wrong and what is right. In MY opinion, her decision was selfish, but justified. Bobby asked why Becky was crucified while the baseball team was given a free pass. I tried to explain that it's because one sport is huge and in the spotlight, and the other is being kicked out of the olympics. Guess which one people will pay more attention to. I don't agree with it by any means, I just tried to explain why the situation turned out like it did. I hope this clears it up a bit.

Yeah, so you believe it's because Becky Hammond was much more well-known than the baseball team and she actually could have helped the team win a medal. That's a valid point definietly. And it did factor into the issue, without doubt. I believe that the fact that it was Russia however factored into the situation as well as the skill level of the athletes. I guess we both have valid points.

 

[Bobby]

Mike Piazza played for Italy in 2000, so there have been big time players who did it.

Piazza has an Italian name, but he and his parents are Pennsylvania stock. Just like Becky is a South Dakotan.

What really makes me angry about it is that people who have never watched a women's sporting event outside of gymnastics every four years are calling Hammon a "bitch" and a "whore" who "sold herself". For anyone who knows anything about that girl's personality, that's obscene. By most accounts, she's an incredibly caring human being, she doesn't deserve that.

It should also be said, she's 31 now. This was her last chance to live her dream.

And between she and Sue Bird, Hammon is the better player.

 

[twigsanberries]

Mike Piazza played for Italy in 2000, so there have been big time players who did it.

Piazza has an Italian name, but he and his parents are Pennsylvania stock. Just like Becky is a South Dakotan.

What really makes me angry about it is that people who have never watched a women's sporting event outside of gymnastics every four years are calling Hammon a "bitch" and a "whore" who "sold herself". For anyone who knows anything about that girl's personality, that's obscene. By most accounts, she's an incredibly caring human being, she doesn't deserve that.

It should also be said, she's 31 now. This was her last chance to live her dream.

And between she and Sue Bird, Hammon is the better player.

I remember watching a story on her on Sportscenter, and she basically said that she wanted to play in the Olympics very badly, and that this was a valid option since she plays basketball in Russia. All of a sudden, she started getting phone calls and being told that the US Women's Basketball team called her a traitor and a sell out (even the coach - honestly) It was disgusting. She has her reasons. The team didn't even pay attention to her until she decided to play for someone else. That's why I said it had to do more with how high profile an athlete she was than the principle of the thing. I wish the baseball team got the scrutiny she did. I'm not saying what she did was wrong or right, but she sure as hell didn't deserve the treatment.

 

[Yossarian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB5mJ8_9vcc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4pXWPMfLyo


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7oteRTA6qY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fpKo32WlcY


when you set aside the political and humanitarianism issues, this was easily the best Olympics that I could ever remember, man.....now my recall only goes back as far as the '96 one, but there's no way that this one can be topped from an organizing and hosting perspective...it was just maniacally impeccable and flawless, man.

 

[Yossarian]

I wish i did, but i live in a country far far away from China.

oh, my bad, bro. I've always had this inexplicable notion that you were in Hong Kong or something