Worst Summer Olympic Sport

[Chicat]

What do you guys think? I'm not huge into the Olympics, and some of these sports are the reason why . . .

[GlobalCat]

Ballroom dancing... it was a trial sport a few years back. Not a sport. Period.

[Officer Craig]

http://img58.exs.cx/img58/459/olympicsport.jpg

[UofAcat23]

badmitton and power-walking are two of the most boring sports to watch in the entire world.

[auti]

Equestrian because I don't have a clue as to what it is.

[UofAcat23]

Equestrian because I don't have a clue as to what it is.


hooooooorsieeees
http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/studentaffairs/studentactivities/images/imr/clubsports/equestrian.JPG

[Class of 1990]

Is unnecessary poll posts one ? :)
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[Chicat]

badmitton and power-walking are two of the most boring sports to watch in the entire world.
Power-walking is a sport? The IOC must have been too embarrassed to even list it on their site because I didn't see that anywhere. :rolleyes:

[Chicat]

Is unnecessary poll posts one ? :)

This from the guy who created a "St. Louis Cardinals equal France" thread on the Politics Board. :rolleyes:

I don't remember Occifer Craig posting a pic of some pole vaulter's (Amy Acuff?) fine ass in that thread . . .

[Merkin]

Power-walking is a sport? The IOC must have been too embarrassed to even list it on their site because I didn't see that anywhere. :rolleyes:

http://walking.about.com/library/walk/blolyrespect.htm
No Respect For Olympic Racewalking

Walking is a noble sport that has been a part of the Olympic Games since 1906. Nevertheless, broadcasters and sports pundits cannot resist taking a jab at racewalking. Bob Costas of NBC was heard insulting the sport on the September 24 Olympics broadcast, saying ""What's up with the racewalkers? I mean I respect them as athletes but come on......a contest to see who can walk the fastest is like having a contest to see who can whisper the loudest." This follows on the heels of a Time Magazine insult and a humorous open letter to the Olympic Committee from Gary Linnell in the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Good Old Days
What is a sport with no respect to do? It didn't used to be this way. In the Pedestrian Age in the 1800's, walking was the biggest-money spectator sport in the world. Top walkers walked in match races that earned them the equivalent of millions of dollars a year - same as today's NBA players.

But walking fell on harder times as running changed from short sprints to the longer races originally pioneered by the walkers.

Setting New Records
The Olympic racewalkers of today deserve respect. The winner of the 20K, Robert Korzeniowski, set a new Olympic Record in his race. Not only that, but he is the 1996 gold medal winner for the 50K walk and has a good chance of being the 2000 gold medalist at 50K again. It takes a superior athlete to make double gold in two very different events while setting records.

Racewalking form and technique have not been static - great strides have been made in just the past 20 years, and today's walkers could easily best those of past years.

The Seeds of Disrespect
Lack of respect also likely comes from the top competitors being non-Anglo. Russia, Mexico, Ecuador and Poland are fielding the best - and thus the sport is bound to get less press as the USA, Canada, and Britain finish out of the medals.

Detractors say walking that fast is unnatural and "looks funny." But then what is natural about pole vaulting? The parallel bars? Plenty of sports look silly if you don't appreciate the skill and technique they take to do well. The late disqualification of Bernardo Segura in the 20K Walk after he had finished and done his victory lap make some lament a sport that relies on judging. But racewalking judges are similar to referrees and umpires - they call the "fouls" when a walker "goes over the line," it's not a matter of style points.

The Olympics are a time to celebrate going higher, faster, stronger in a large variety of human physical endeavors. I spent hours this past week watching rowing - a sport I will never participate in and had no real interest in - but I found it thrilling to see Redgrave take a medal in his fifth Olympics. We need to all celebrate the Olympic spirit, not belittle any athlete who carries his/her country's flag and hopes.

Costas, Stein, Linnell - take a hike yourself. That's no insult - walking is one of the best things you can do for your body and spirit. Maybe it will help you regain some respect for a noble sport.

Run from Racewalking E.M. Swift of CNN/Sports Ilustrated calls racewalking a sport fit only for the Fourth of July picnic and calls for it to be eliminated from the Olympics.

A Brief History of Walking A look back.

Walking in the 1800's The good old days for walking

[Chicat]

Sorry, but Costas had it right. Racewalking is just like seeing who can whisper the loudest . . . and they look so ***gy with their little behinds twitching back and forth for three miles.

Uh, not that I'm looking. ;)

[Bison79]

Archery...just plain and simple, a snoozefest, that's just me of course, but I've never seen power walking, I'm sure I'd be great for that sport though!

[Chicat]

I went with Rhythmic Gymnastics. Anything involving judges and a ribbon automatically goes to the bottom of the list in my book.

[Merkin]

I went with Rhythmic Gymnastics. Anything involving judges and a ribbon automatically goes to the bottom of the list in my book.

Femcat may not be pleased, these girls/women are incredible:
<img src="http://www.russiancentersf.com/nino.gif">
<img src="http://www.british-gymnastics.org/cms/uploads/elainekibble_web.jpg">
<img src="http://www.gymuniverse.com/berlin03/AnnaSatRib3.jpg">
<img src="http://www.rgc.ca/juliana.jpg">
<img src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/olympics/graphics/gym-hoop.jpg">
http://img28.exs.cx/img28/8738/Aeon99_Elena_VitrichenkoB1.jpg

[WilmasPimp]

There is nothing wrong with racewalking, I actually dig watching that crap. Those guys are pretty solid athletes, a lot of strategy (basically trying to cheat as much as possible without getting caught) and controversy.

Most boring sport has got to be the pistol shooting. That new trampoline crap (for the Men) was pretty awful too.

[Merkin]

Team handball would be my vote.

[Chicat]

Femcat may not be pleased, these girls/women are incredible:


You're right, Femcat would not be pleased. But she can just add that to her list of 1232 things that piss her off about me.

I already have a problem with sports that rely on judging because I just think they are way too subjective. I like sports with finish lines, goals, and other tangible things that determine the outcome. When I've had this conversation with Fem she has correctly pointed out that all sports have some kind of subjective nature to them (like, why is it that different umpires have different strike zones, and what is the definition of Pass Interference anyway?). I guess I just value sports that have as little subjectivity as possible. Rhythmic Gymnastics is not one of them. That isn't to say anything bad about the people who do it. Those women are amazing athletes (as are synchronized swimmers, but they made the list too), and knowing what Fem had to go through to be a gymnast I have the utmost respect for them. I just think it should not be an olympic sport. Just my two cents . . .

[Bison79]

[QUOTE=Chicat]You're right, Femcat would not be pleased. But she can just add that to her list of 1232 things that piss her off about me.QUOTE]

Can ya elaborate on all 1232? :-D

[Chicat]

Sure Bison. Got a couple of months? :D

Luckily she likes me enough to keep me around . . . even with my anti-Rhythmic Gymnastics rants.

[Bison79]

Just put it in your book, the third part of the series Chi :D

I need some reading material to go along with Dark Tower :)

[Bison79]

Sure Bison. Got a couple of months? :D

Luckily she likes me enough to keep me around . . . even with my anti-Rhythmic Gymnastics rants.

On another note, Chi...

You're responsible for more than half my rep points..You've two-boxed me...You sent me from 72 to 114 in one fell swoop....Ya also sent me from 49 to 72....

Just an interesting tidbit, Chi likes me! (nope not that way, avoiding remarks)

[Chicat]

I just enjoy reading a good post now and again . . . :D

[Class of 1990]

From ChiCat
This from the guy who created a "St. Louis Cardinals equal France" thread on the Politics Board. :rolleyes:

I wrote unnecessary poll not post.

Lets link it baby. St. Louis Cardinals equal France - a sports thread (http://forum.goazcats.com/showthread.php?t=21738)
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