The spirit of the Olympics

[GGGG]

Golden Goal will never be back. There isn't enough of a world desire for the sudden death. That said, I chuckle at wades' typical American comment. Sounds like someone who watches the NFL, a sport where literally only 94% of the time people spend watching the game is actual live action.

Short bursts of intense action.  Not better or worse.  Just different.

[brandx]

People, get a grip.

It's only soccer.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Solo is right, cowardly strategy by Pia. It worked but it reminded me of those Mourhino coached Chelsea teams. (which is why I'm not a Chelsea fan anymore) She's a good manager but that's the reason people don't like soccer when you park the bus like that.

[MUfan12]

It wasn't a state secret that Pia was going to have them sit deep and hit on the counter. Why Ellis had the US set up the way she did to start was beyond me. Very short on pace and creativity.

Also, Hope Solo is past it. Then she runs her mouth after the game. So tired of her.

[MU82]

"I'm very proud of this team. And I also think we played a bunch of cowards. The best team did not win today; I strongly, firmly believe that."

And I strongly, firmly believe that Hope Solo saying that makes her look far worse than Cam Newton did for his reaction in the aftermath of Super Bowl 50. To me, it's not even close.

I guess there's the "spirit of the Olympics" the OP was referring to!

Grow up, Hope, you whiny, spoiled, little shyte. You should be embarrassed, but I'm guessing you're too self-absorbed to be embarrassed.

[MU82]

I was pleased to hear Julie Foudy go on ESPN and call Solo "classless" and "wrong." She said Sweden played smart and disciplined -- "it wasn't cowardly at all," she said -- and they played a style that MANY soccer teams do when they believe they are outmanned.

"It doesn't represent the house that we built," Foudy said, referring to the tradition of being outstanding representatives of the United States and women's soccer. So at least somebody was embarrassed on Solo's behalf.

Hope Solo is in the running for Sports Jerk of the Year.

Classless, spineless, clueless.

[forgetful]

Elite athlete who's been competing in international events - including the Olympics -   and under international doping regulations since she was 16 years old just saunters into a GNC at the age of 21, pulls some random supplement off the shelves and begins taking it without bothering to find out what it contained?
That's a totally credible story.
Like, "Ryan Braun was set up by an anti-Semitic urine collector" kind of credible.

I teach a lot of 21 year olds.  That is totally in the wheel house of things they would do. 

But that isn't the point.  She admitted she made a mistake, owned it and served a 16 month suspension for something that probably gives you less of an advantage than a healthy diet.

I can guarantee you there are dozens of American's taking PEDs that aren't even known about yet (we invented them).  Making a girl out to be the devil for taking a supplement 3 years ago and serving the penalty is just absurd.

[WarriorInNYC]

Most soccer fans believe the Golden Goal rule made the game even more cautious and defensive.

Yep, it kind of did.

I heard a great idea on how to "fix" extra time in tournament games for soccer, and its very interesting.  Can't remember exactly where I heard it from though.

Basically, do the penalty kick exercise at the end of regulation if its tied.  Then, after penalty kicks are decided, play the two extra time periods. 

[Benny B]

I teach a lot of 21 year olds.  That is totally in the wheel house of things they would do. 

Students at DeVry do a lot of stupid things.  So what?

[forgetful]

Students at DeVry do a lot of stupid things.  So what?

I've moved on to the University of Phoenix.

[MU82]

MU alum Nancy Armour, now USA Today columnist, took Hope Solo to task as "an embarrassment." I haven't seen any other national name do so. Maybe some have; I just haven't seen it.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/nancy-armour/2016/08/12/armour-hope-solo-sweden-bunch-of-cowards/88639092/

Good for you, Nancy!

[tower912]

MU alum Nancy Armour, now USA Today columnist, took Hope Solo to task as "an embarrassment." I haven't seen any other national name do so. Maybe some have; I just haven't seen it.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/nancy-armour/2016/08/12/armour-hope-solo-sweden-bunch-of-cowards/88639092/

Good for you, Nancy!

(see tagline)

[brewcity77]

Maybe it's near blasphemy, but am I the only one that thinks it seems Katie Ledecky has to be dosing? When you see how close the rest of the world is, it's bewildering how she alone can be that much better than the other elite, world class athletes. I sincerely hope it's not the case, but that divide just seems inhuman.

[warriorchick]

Maybe it's near blasphemy, but am I the only one that thinks it seems Katie Ledecky has to be dosing? When you see how close the rest of the I wouworld is, it's bewildering how she alone can be that much better than the other elite, world class athletes. I sincerely hope it's not the case, but that divide just seems inhuman.

I am not seeing it. 

First of all, she got her first world record when she was 15.  Do you really think she would be dosing that young?  And if she wasn't dosing at that time, why would she feel the need to start once she was already the dominant athlete in her events, with no one else coming close to threaten her? 

Also, she is still considered an amateur, and  plans to remain so for the next four years so that she can swim for Stanford when she enrolls this fall.  Taking out the financial angle certainly eliminates a lot of the incentive to juice.

[brandx]

Maybe it's near blasphemy, but am I the only one that thinks it seems Katie Ledecky has to be dosing? When you see how close the rest of the world is, it's bewildering how she alone can be that much better than the other elite, world class athletes. I sincerely hope it's not the case, but that divide just seems inhuman.

Was Michael Jordan dosing?  It's bewildering how he alone could be that much better than the other elite, world class athletes.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

What an unreal comeback. US men's volleyball down 17-10 and came back to win it 25-21.

[forgetful]

Maybe it's near blasphemy, but am I the only one that thinks it seems Katie Ledecky has to be dosing? When you see how close the rest of the world is, it's bewildering how she alone can be that much better than the other elite, world class athletes. I sincerely hope it's not the case, but that divide just seems inhuman.

Sadly, I think that is a logical first thought in todays sports world.  But, they were talking about the sophisticated imaging systems and calculations they have to analyze swim strokes.  They said Ledecky has the most efficient form in the history of swimming. 

That's a pretty strong advantage.  Perfect form in swimming gives you a huge edge in distance events like she dominates.

Also, genetics, both her parents were world class swimmers.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Friend who was down there doing some writing just said that the Brazilian fans are some of the most disrespectful sports fans he's ever been around.

Edit: He's just kinda salty that no matter the sport the Brazil fans actively cheer against the US no matter what the sport and who they're playing.

[warriorchick]

Sadly, I think that is a logical first thought in todays sports world.  But, they were talking about the sophisticated imaging systems and calculations they have to analyze swim strokes.  They said Ledecky has the most efficient form in the history of swimming. 

Appropriately, I have heard several comparisons to Secretariat today.   

[brewcity77]

Sadly, I think that is a logical first thought in todays sports world.  But, they were talking about the sophisticated imaging systems and calculations they have to analyze swim strokes.  They said Ledecky has the most efficient form in the history of swimming.

Thanks for the measured response. Figured there'd be some outrage, but these days, any time you see this level of dominance, it feels natural to suspect dosing.

I want to believe in Ledecky, but if she were Russian, everyone would happily suspect her of cheating, even since she was 15. And let's not pretend the country that produced Marion Jones, Justin Gatlin, and Tyson Gay is immune to drug cheating.

I hope she's clean and no scandal comes out, but after years of watching drug cheating, my natural thought when there's that big a difference between #1 and the world it's hard not to be suspicious, even when it's a fellow American.

[Mutaman]

Appropriately, I have heard several comparisons to Secretariat today.

43 years ago Secretariat lost to some guy named Onion. Good old Saratoga. 

https://youtu.be/ik9U4JVrr_Q

[wadesworld]

What an unreal comeback. US men's volleyball down 17-10 and came back to win it 25-21.

Wow.  I was at a wedding ceremony for the first 2 sets.  Had some texts saying we made a big comeback to win set 1 and "blocked everything" but weren't looking as good in transition as we did on Thursday.  Didn't realize it was THAT big of a comeback.  I'll have to try to find a video of the match to see that comeback.

I am surprised we've been able to turn the corner after the Italy game.  I thought we played well in that match after playing very bad against Canada, but I didn't think we'd beat Brazil and worried about the mental part of a young team being 0-3 in the group going into France.  I am also surprised that after getting smoked in set 3 we were able to get out to a 3-0 start in set 4, and then after giving up a pretty big lead were able to stop the momentum and close out the match in 4.

JUST DON'T ROYALLY SCREW UP MONDAY NOW!

[GGGG]

Was Michael Jordan dosing?  It's bewildering how he alone could be that much better than the other elite, world class athletes.

Michael Jordan wasn't as dominant as Ledecky.  That being said, I think they should be given the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

[Pakuni]

Thanks for the measured response. Figured there'd be some outrage, but these days, any time you see this level of dominance, it feels natural to suspect dosing.

I want to believe in Ledecky, but if she were Russian, everyone would happily suspect her of cheating, even since she was 15. And let's not pretend the country that produced Marion Jones, Justin Gatlin, and Tyson Gay is immune to drug cheating.

I hope she's clean and no scandal comes out, but after years of watching drug cheating, my natural thought when there's that big a difference between #1 and the world it's hard not to be suspicious, even when it's a fellow American.

I think anytime someone is so dominant, especially in an Olympic sport, doping questions are reasonable.

That said, the reason "if she were Russian" is different is because that country (and its former Soviet bloc nations) has a very long, very well-documented history of doping its athletes that continues to this day. Yes, a handful of American (and Canadian, and German, and French, etc.) athletes have been caught as well, but there's been nothing so systemic, widespread or state-sponsored, as has been the case in Russia and the other Eastern Euro countries.
So, that's why Katie Ledecky is being given the benefit of the doubt that Katanya Ledkovsky would not receive. It has far less to do with jingoism and favoritism as it does history.

[Pakuni]

Making a girl out to be the devil for taking a supplement 3 years ago and serving the penalty is just absurd.

Questioning whether a repeat offender should be allowed to compete in the Olympics = making a girl out to be the devil?
Now who's the one being absurd?

Also, Yulia Efimova was a 21-year-old woman who'd been competing at the Olympic level for more than 5 years when she took a banned substance. Not some poor little girl who - oopsie - took a supplement.