Summer Olympics thread

[Trim]

USA gymnast just had a good performance, they showed clip of her dad standing up all excited when she flipped good and some old tuck behind him got mad and was gesturing for him to sit down.

http://deadspin.com/5932770/it-seems-everybody-loves-aly-raismans-parents-except-the-guy-who-had-to-sit-behind-them

[mancattanite]

Cats at the olympics:

Erik Kynard, USA - Silver Medal, high jump, senior next year @ KSU
Jeffrey Julmis, Haiti - Prelims in 110 hurdles, 38th, did not qualify for semis, senior this past year @ KSU
Beverly Ramos, Puerto Rico - Prelims in 3000 meter steeplechase, 35th, did not qualify for finals, class of 2010
Korene Hinds, Jamaica - Prelims in 3000 meter steeplechase, 24th, did not qualify for finals, class of 2001
Austra Skujyte, Lithuania - Heptathlon, 5th, class of 2002

Yet to compete is Darius Draudvila of Lithuania in the decathlon the next two days.

Also something worth mentioning: all 3 USA high jumpers are coached by KSU's head coach Cliff Rovelto. Not too shabby for recruiting I would guess.

Proud of these Wildcats

[Stevesie60]

Also something worth mentioning: all 3 USA high jumpers are coached by KSU's head coach Cliff Rovelto. Not too shabby for recruiting I would guess.

Apparently it doesn't help recruiting football players who also want to be high jumpers.

[mancattanite]

Also something worth mentioning: all 3 USA high jumpers are coached by KSU's head coach Cliff Rovelto. Not too shabby for recruiting I would guess.

Apparently it doesn't help recruiting football players who also want to be high jumpers.

Unfortunately... no    Maybe it will help recruit some football player sprinters? Some future Terence Newmans??? (Who I think has the 100 meter school record)
Eh? Maybe? One can hope.

[salcat]

Tyson Gay and Veronica Campbell-Brown went to Barton CC...did not know that.

[Cire]

What is up with the US gymnasts in Costas interviews.  I've only noticed this with gymnasts.  Most of the other athletes seem natural and candid.  The gymnasts almost seem to be reading off a teleprompter.  (im pretty sure they arent)

They are little tiny robots

[kstate16]

What is up with the US gymnasts in Costas interviews.  I've only noticed this with gymnasts.  Most of the other athletes seem natural and candid.  The gymnasts almost seem to be reading off a teleprompter.  (im pretty sure they arent)

They are little tiny robots

They're like 15-17 yrs old, giv'em a break.  I probably would have crap myself at 16 talking in front of millions.

[chum1]

USA Gymnast:  Yeah, getting the gold medal was, like, soooo exciting. It is, like, such an honor and soooo amazing to do it for your country.

Bob Costas:  What was it like?

USA Gymnast:  Oh my, umm, it was soooo amazing to win the gold medal and do it for your country.

[hemmy]

USA Gymnast:  Yeah, getting the gold medal was, like, soooo exciting. It is, like, such an honor and soooo amazing to do it for your country.

Bob Costas:  What was it like?

USA Gymnast:  Oh my, umm, it was soooo amazing to win the gold medal and do it for your country.

Maybe Bob Costas shouldn't be such a dumbass.

[420seriouscat69]

USA Gymnast:  Yeah, getting the gold medal was, like, soooo exciting. It is, like, such an honor and soooo amazing to do it for your country.

Bob Costas:  What was it like?

USA Gymnast:  Oh my, umm, it was soooo amazing to win the gold medal and do it for your country.

Maybe Bob Costas shouldn't be such a dumbass.

Should he ask them about their my little pony collection?

[EllToPay]

USA Gymnast:  Yeah, getting the gold medal was, like, soooo exciting. It is, like, such an honor and soooo amazing to do it for your country.

Bob Costas:  What was it like?

USA Gymnast:  Oh my, umm, it was soooo amazing to win the gold medal and do it for your country.

Maybe Bob Costas shouldn't be such a dumbass.

Should he ask them about their my little pony collection?

[420seriouscat69]

It's like you guys are all professional interviewers. 

[chum1]

I'm sort of conflicted over some of our men's volleyball players.  The ones that act like badasses.  It's like, yeah, you're kicking ass out there, but it's rough ridin' volleyball.

[8manpick]

I'm sort of conflicted over some of our men's volleyball players.  The ones that act like badasses.  It's like, yeah, you're kicking ass out there, but it's rough ridin' volleyball.

Meh, get over it.  They're world class athletes, and among the best in the world at their sport.

[Belvis Noland]

I'm sort of conflicted over some of our men's volleyball players.  The ones that act like badasses.  It's like, yeah, you're kicking ass out there, but it's rough ridin' volleyball.

+1.  Congrats, you're great at Volleyball.  In other words, you weren't great at basketball.  On the other hand, I love the crap out of men's volleyball when we're spiking balls off other countries' faces. 

[Belvis Noland]

Meh, get over it.  They're world class athletes, and among the best in the world at their sport.

Define world class athlete.  I mean, they're the best in the world at their sport, no question.  But, does that make them a world class athlete?  Are the volleyball guys as "athletic" as the gymnasts, the sprinters, etc? 

Are team handballers world class athletes because they're in the olympics?

[8manpick]

Meh, get over it.  They're world class athletes, and among the best in the world at their sport.

Define world class athlete.  I mean, they're the best in the world at their sport, no question.  But, does that make them a world class athlete?  Are the volleyball guys as "athletic" as the gymnasts, the sprinters, etc? 

Are team handballers world class athletes because they're in the olympics?

I would argue that, yes, volleyballers are world-class athletes.  Requires incredibly quick reactions, quick bursts of speed, leaping ability, and hand-eye coordination.  It is a different type of athleticism than the sprinters / gymnasts / shot putters / etc. but I think it qualifies. 

I dunno about handball, but I hope not because I would really like to play for the 2016 team in Rio because handball looks incredibly fun.

[chum1]

I'm sort of conflicted over some of our men's volleyball players.  The ones that act like badasses.  It's like, yeah, you're kicking ass out there, but it's rough ridin' volleyball.

Meh, get over it.  They're world class athletes, and among the best in the world at their sport.

No.  Playing volleyball is not a badass activity no matter what.

[nicname]

What is up with the US gymnasts in Costas interviews.  I've only noticed this with gymnasts.  Most of the other athletes seem natural and candid.  The gymnasts almost seem to be reading off a teleprompter.  (im pretty sure they arent)

They are little tiny robots

They're like 15-17 yrs old, giv'em a break.  I probably would have crap myself at 16 talking in front of millions.

It wasn't their fault.  They were coached/ reading.  Just let the kids be themselves.

[Dr Rick Daris]

I'm sort of conflicted over some of our men's volleyball players.  The ones that act like badasses.  It's like, yeah, you're kicking ass out there, but it's rough ridin' volleyball.

Meh, get over it.  They're world class athletes, and among the best in the world at their sport.

No.  Playing volleyball is not a badass activity no matter what.

there seems to be two separate arguments. 1- are they badasses? 2-are they atheletes?

no to the first and yes to the second

[Dugout DickStone]

Meh, get over it.  They're world class athletes, and among the best in the world at their sport.

Define world class athlete.  I mean, they're the best in the world at their sport, no question.  But, does that make them a world class athlete?  Are the volleyball guys as "athletic" as the gymnasts, the sprinters, etc? 

Are team handballers world class athletes because they're in the olympics?

You bet your ass they are, bruh.

[Belvis Noland]

not saying they're not athletes.  just not sure about "world class." 

For instance, I think Lebron James could practice Volleyball in a gym for 1 year and, arguably, he would be a dominant volleyball player.  The reverse is not true.  Hence, Lebron James is world class athlete and our volleyballers are very good athletes. 

[nicname]

What sports constitute being a badass?  I do agree that the US men's gymnasts and volleyball players seem less "badass" than those of other countries.  Soccer is similar as well.  I think it is just perception.  If you don't play Football, baseball, basketball or Hockey in the US you're pretty much though of as some sort of also-ran.  That isn't the case for gymnasts from Germany or Volleyball players from Brasil or Russia. 

[nicname]

I'm sort of conflicted over some of our men's volleyball players.  The ones that act like badasses.  It's like, yeah, you're kicking ass out there, but it's rough ridin' volleyball.

Meh, get over it.  They're world class athletes, and among the best in the world at their sport.

No.  Playing volleyball is not a badass activity no matter what.

It could be argued that volleyball is more badass than two of the Big 4 American sports. 

[Dr Rick Daris]

not saying they're not athletes.  just not sure about "world class." 

For instance, I think Lebron James could practice Volleyball in a gym for 1 year and, arguably, he would be a dominant volleyball player.  The reverse is not true.  Hence, Lebron James is world class athlete and our volleyballers are very good athletes.

i think you're opening up a can of worms. are golfers world class atheletes? because i'm pretty sure lebron couldn't practice golf for a year and be a dominant golfer. what about divers? i mean they just climb up a ladder and jump into a pool. are they world class atheletes? could lebron practice their sport for a year and be one of the best?