My Rant About Olympic "Achievement"

[ulysses5019]

This is some thread. I have been around team sports for the better part of my life. No one feels worse than the athlete who screws up. But his or her teammates know that it could just have well been them. I cannot recall ever seeing someone at SC berate a teammate because they missed a free throw or threw an interception to end a game and a chance to win. People have lousy swims or a bad day on the golf course. It happens. If the athlete didn't try or spent the night partying then that's a different matter. But teammates always support one another. that is the essence of a team.

[TheConfessor]

We were doing GREAT! If he had done an "average" routine, that would have been the 2 points that would have brought us into silver medal position. THEN, the next performer might have done a LITTLE better too (clearly he was a little unnerved). We could have won the silver.

"We?" "Us?" I had no idea you were on the U.S. men's gymnastics team. Congratulations! Sorry about your teammate who let you down.

[BackInTex]

The US swim team relay was also four guys swimming individually, but the team spirit and emotion that was there was a key to their big win Sunday night.

You know, I was going to say something about this earlier. If the US had come in second, would Cullen Jones have been the goat because he was overtaken on his leg, no matter his split time? Would he have been castigated as the 'weak link' even though he had a superb effort?

Besides the French trash talk and the old guy taking the lead at the last split second, one of the things that made that such a great event was that is was a team doing it.

One thing about the swim relays that many may not be aware of is that the swimmers in the final medal winning race aren't the same ones that got the team there in the first place.

In the preliminary heats it was (Adrian, Jones, Wildman-Tobriner, & Grevers) coming in first.
In the finals it was (Phelps, Weber-Gale, Jones, & Lezak)

So the contribution of Adrian, Wildman-Tobriner, & Grevers gets somewhat lost even though their performance was just as important. Had one of them left early or missed the wall on the turn, there would have been no attempt at a medal.

I'm not sure if those three get medals, but they were just important.

[Here's Fanny!]

The US swim team relay was also four guys swimming individually, but the team spirit and emotion that was there was a key to their big win Sunday night.

You know, I was going to say something about this earlier. If the US had come in second, would Cullen Jones have been the goat because he was overtaken on his leg, no matter his split time? Would he have been castigated as the 'weak link' even though he had a superb effort?

Besides the French trash talk and the old guy taking the lead at the last split second, one of the things that made that such a great event was that is was a team doing it.

One thing about the swim relays that many may not be aware of is that the swimmers in the final medal winning race aren't the same ones that got the team there in the first place.

In the preliminary heats it was (Adrian, Jones, Wildman-Tobriner, & Grevers) coming in first.
In the finals it was (Phelps, Weber-Gale, Jones, & Lezak)

So the contribution of Adrian, Wildman-Tobriner, & Grevers gets somewhat lost even though their performance was just as important. Had one of them left early or missed the wall on the turn, there would have been no attempt at a medal.

I'm not sure if those three get medals, but they were just important.

I said something about that in the relay thread. They get medals, but they don't get to be in the ceremony.

[BackInTex]

I said something about that in the relay thread. They get medals, but they don't get to be in the ceremony.

I missed that.

Its good that they get medals.

[Here's Fanny!]

We were doing GREAT! If he had done an "average" routine, that would have been the 2 points that would have brought us into silver medal position. THEN, the next performer might have done a LITTLE better too (clearly he was a little unnerved). We could have won the silver.

"We?" "Us?" I had no idea you were on the U.S. men's gymnastics team. Congratulations! Sorry about your teammate who let you down.

Ha! I love this. But not here specifically. I have always thought it highlarious when people refer to "we" or "us" when they are talking about sports teams (usually football). As if they were suiting up and taking the field.

[Here's Fanny!]

I said something about that in the relay thread. They get medals, but they don't get to be in the ceremony.

I missed that.

Its good that they get medals.

You probably missed it in between all the David lines talk. Ha!

[mellytu74]

I wondered if anyone else noticed the new attitude towards "winning" and "achievement" in the Olympics.

Yesterday the US mens gymnastics team had a real chance to win the silver medal. Instead, one gymnast TOTALLY CHOKED. We won the bronze instead.

In Olympics past, any gymnast who had blown a routine that badly would have been greeted with an uncomfortable silence by his teammates. Instead, everyone said GREAT JOB and gave him BIG hugs. Great job? Uh, NO ...

When Andrea Joyce interviewed them afterwards, he said, "We all performed." Uh, no. SHE DIDN'T EVEN ASK HIM HOW HE FELT ABOUT ALMOST BLOWING IT ALTOGETHER. Nothing to hurt the "mood."

Well, folks, this is why a "C" is as good as an "A" in our schools.

China won the gold.

Wait a minute.

As I said, I didn't see the interview, but, going by what you wrote here, HE said...., meaning the "guy who blew the routine."

But, you said later in the thread that you hadn't seen Kevin Tan interviewed at all. BUT, if Tan's the guy who you think screwed up, then who said "We all performed," which got your panties all twisted?

As far as "hurting anyone's feelings," I wrote it partially in jest. I guess I should have put Appa's little winking emoticon so everyone would have gotten that it was said tongue in cheek.

As I'm sure your comment about Penn State's assistant coach being named team captan because of his ethnic background was intended.

Edited because, frankly, I'm with Fanny, JBG, uly and SSS on this as far as "screwing up" and "not screwing up."

So I'm a Pollyanna. So sue me.

[silverscreenselect]

One thing about the swim relays that many may not be aware of is that the swimmers in the final medal winning race aren't the same ones that got the team there in the first place.

So the contribution of Adrian, Wildman-Tobriner, & Grevers gets somewhat lost even though their performance was just as important. Had one of them left early or missed the wall on the turn, there would have been no attempt at a medal.

I'm not sure if those three get medals, but they were just important.

In track, the US has lost several Olympic relay competitions over the years due to botched handoffs or other similar snafus. And just like in swimming, they sometimes run different athletes than in the finals (as do other countries who have a good bit of depth on their team).

In some of these "team" events, the difference between winning and losing is not allowing bad things to compound by pointing fingers and allowing petty emotions to enter into it. The guy who botched the pommel horse routine knew he'd messed up. Cheering him up helped put the others who still had to compete in a better frame of mind. Since at this level the athletes all have the physical skills to do the routines, it's usually a matter of who is more focused and in a better frame of mind.

[earendel]

But you do keep each other's emotions and spirits up and encourage each other, which is the difference between a successful team and a group of individuals wearing the same uniform.

"Without discipline an army is no more than a bunch of guys all wearing the same color clothes." MAJ Frank Burns

[Thousandaire]

I wondered if anyone else noticed the new attitude towards "winning" and "achievement" in the Olympics.

Yesterday the US mens gymnastics team had a real chance to win the silver medal. Instead, one gymnast TOTALLY CHOKED. We won the bronze instead.

In Olympics past, any gymnast who had blown a routine that badly would have been greeted with an uncomfortable silence by his teammates. Instead, everyone said GREAT JOB and gave him BIG hugs. Great job? Uh, NO ...

When Andrea Joyce interviewed them afterwards, he said, "We all performed." Uh, no. SHE DIDN'T EVEN ASK HIM HOW HE FELT ABOUT ALMOST BLOWING IT ALTOGETHER. Nothing to hurt the "mood."

Well, folks, this is why a "C" is as good as an "A" in our schools.

China won the gold.

I guess they should have had you on the team instead.

[silvercamaro]

Does the Dimzy approach mean that everyone who ever sat in the Millionaire hot seat but did NOT win a million dollars should throw themselves off the top of a tall building?

Clearly, all the non-millionaires didn't train hard enough, or didn't come in with the natural gifts to win the big prize, or else they permitted nerves, pressure, or personal financial considerations get in the way of their prospective best performances. Shame on them! How dare they feel happy about just getting there? How dare they take pleasure or pride in whatever they did win?

In my town, the tallest building is on the university campus, and the windows don't open, and it's always a near-impossibility to find a parking place over there, anyway, so I won't volunteer to start off this movement to express great shame. Sorry about that.

[JBillyGirl]

Ha! I love this. But not here specifically. I have always thought it highlarious when people refer to "we" or "us" when they are talking about sports teams (usually football). As if they were suiting up and taking the field.

Kinda like "someone" saying, "Bring it on!"?

[TheConfessor]

In my town, the tallest building is on the university campus, and the windows don't open, and it's always a near-impossibility to find a parking place over there, anyway, so I won't volunteer to start off this movement to express great shame. Sorry about that.

This source says Norman's tallest building is a sports bar, so it might be appropriate to jump off the top of that after watching the olympics and having a few margaritas. (And no, I don't believe everything I read on the internet.)

http://local.yahoo.com/info-18461323-the-vista-norman
Horrible Food. Tastes like everything is microwaved. Too expensive and just plain horrible. Never eat here. It is a good place to go and have some drinks out on the town. It's the tallest building around at 6 stories. And it has a great view. The drinks are good. Just don't eat there.

[DevilKitty100]

Does the Dimzy approach mean that everyone who ever sat in the Millionaire hot seat but did NOT win a million dollars should throw themselves off the top of a tall building?

Clearly, all the non-millionaires didn't train hard enough, or didn't come in with the natural gifts to win the big prize, or else they permitted nerves, pressure, or personal financial considerations get in the way of their prospective best performances. Shame on them! How dare they feel happy about just getting there? How dare they take pleasure or pride in whatever they did win?

In my town, the tallest building is on the university campus, and the windows don't open, and it's always a near-impossibility to find a parking place over there, anyway, so I won't volunteer to start off this movement to express great shame. Sorry about that.

And the above, my friends, is a gold medal post.

DK

-------thinking Dimzy needs to cut back on her caffeine.

[gsn309]

Don't have time to read the whole thread (saw it earlier tho!), so apologies if this link already has been posted, but this article offers some good perspective on the competition and why the Bronze really isn't something considered a disappointment.
I watched and the commentators clearly pointed out he screwed up (badly) on the pummel horse routine, but that -- versus the medal they got -- are the proverbial apple and orange. I think if he had screwed up on his strongest routine, it would be a lot different.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/o ... ml?eref=T1

[silvercamaro]

This source says Norman's tallest building is a sports bar, so it might be appropriate to jump off the top of that after watching the olympics and having a few margaritas. (And no, I don't believe everything I read on the internet.)

http://local.yahoo.com/info-18461323-the-vista-norman
Horrible Food. Tastes like everything is microwaved. Too expensive and just plain horrible. Never eat here. It is a good place to go and have some drinks out on the town. It's the tallest building around at 6 stories. And it has a great view. The drinks are good. Just don't eat there.

Nope. In this case, "around" means 6 stories is the tallest building in downtown Norman. On campus, the Energy Center has 12 stories above ground, I think.

http://www.ou.edu/sec/sarkeys/sec-info.html

The restaurant review is dead on.

[sunflower]

This is some thread. I have been around team sports for the better part of my life. No one feels worse than the athlete who screws up. But his or her teammates know that it could just have well been them. I cannot recall ever seeing someone at SC berate a teammate because they missed a free throw or threw an interception to end a game and a chance to win. People have lousy swims or a bad day on the golf course. It happens. If the athlete didn't try or spent the night partying then that's a different matter. But teammates always support one another. that is the essence of a team.

I'm not picking on Uly specifically by using this quote to respond to. I just wanted to respond to this type of message, and I was too lazy to go back to other pages! (At least I'm honest)

I have to say to everyone who gave other examples, this is the Olympics. It's not a little league game or a college basketball game or even a major league football game. It is a (potentially) once in a lifetime opportunity, where you have one chance (in most sports) to compete and show your stuff. One chance to represent your country and try to win a medal. It's not a season where one game or one shot or one whatever is not the end all be all. In the Olympics, it is just that. These are supposed to be the most elite athletes in the world!! It's not your local "everyone plays" little league team where it's all about having fun and doing your best, then eating orange slices.

I agree that the screw up should've been called out. I also agree that they did well in spite of losing their two stars. But the guy who screwed up didn't do a good job, so I don't think anyone needed to say he did!

[TheConfessor]

This is some thread. I have been around team sports for the better part of my life. No one feels worse than the athlete who screws up. But his or her teammates know that it could just have well been them. I cannot recall ever seeing someone at SC berate a teammate because they missed a free throw or threw an interception to end a game and a chance to win. People have lousy swims or a bad day on the golf course. It happens. If the athlete didn't try or spent the night partying then that's a different matter. But teammates always support one another. that is the essence of a team.

I'm not picking on Uly specifically by using this quote to respond to. I just wanted to respond to this type of message, and I was too lazy to go back to other pages! (At least I'm honest)

I have to say to everyone who gave other examples, this is the Olympics. It's not a little league game or a college basketball game or even a major league football game. It is a (potentially) once in a lifetime opportunity, where you have one chance (in most sports) to compete and show your stuff. One chance to represent your country and try to win a medal. It's not a season where one game or one shot or one whatever is not the end all be all. In the Olympics, it is just that. These are supposed to be the most elite athletes in the world!! It's not your local "everyone plays" little league team where it's all about having fun and doing your best, then eating orange slices.

I agree that the screw up should've been called out. I also agree that they did well in spite of losing their two stars. But the guy who screwed up didn't do a good job, so I don't think anyone needed to say he did!

Everything you wrote above about this being a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity applies even more so to WWTBAM. So I guess if you were producing the show, you would insist that Meredith Vieira "call out" every stupid answer given by a contestant and not allow them to leave the hot seat until they are thoroughly berated and have no shred of dignity intact. She should tell them how badly they messed up their one chance at glory, and how ashamed of themselves they should be. I'd probably still watch, but it would be a different show. Maybe the Olympics should take a cue from Jeff Foxworthy. Before any bronze and silver medalists would be presented their medals on the awards platform, they each must say "I am not as good as the Chinese gymnasts."

[silverscreenselect]

I agree that the screw up should've been called out. I also agree that they did well in spite of losing their two stars. But the guy who screwed up didn't do a good job, so I don't think anyone needed to say he did!

There is a difference between the commentators describing his performance to the TV audience and his teammates trying to console/cheer him and themselves up while the competition is going on.

He knew he screwed up; his teammates knew he screwed up. Making him feel better might have been part of the mindset that helped the last guy come up with a very solid routine. If he'd gone into it with the attitude, "I've got to pull this other bozo's weight plus my own," there well could have been no medal for the US team at all.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Kevin Tan is my best friend's uncle's granddaughter's brother-in-law.

Really!

[MarleysGh0st]

Kevin Tan is my best friend's uncle's granddaughter's brother-in-law.

Really!

Even BobJuch couldn't trace that relationship on a family tree!

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Kevin Tan is my best friend's uncle's granddaughter's brother-in-law.

Really!

Even BobJuch couldn't trace that relationship on a family tree!

I wonder if he is realted to Kevin or Sylvia.

[gsn309]

Oh, one more thing-- (with apologies to the lovely Silvercamaro):
from a Not-seater's perspective, I fail to see how this has anything remotely to do with sitting in the BAM hotseat.

These athletes have trained much of their lives for these competitions.

A BAM hot-seater could literally be called in off the streets from a chance audition the day before-- AND... ALL hot-seaters are subjected to the randomness of their particular stack, versus their knowledge base.

It's another apple vs. an orange.

[dimmzy]

As I'm sure your comment about Penn State's assistant coach being named team captan because of his ethnic background was intended.

Yikes, I don't want to go into troll land or to make statements that will be misinterpreted!

Since Kevin had NOT been a visible leader on the US Men's Team in the past, it seemed they voted him captain BECAUSE he was Chinese and would be returning to his homeland... It was a nice thing to do.