Comments on: Welcome to the Stretchy Pants Olympics http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/08/14/welcome-to-the-stretchy-pants-olympics/ Giant on the move Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:16:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Kevin Fylan http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/08/14/welcome-to-the-stretchy-pants-olympics/#comment-1785 Kevin Fylan Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:23:02 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/08/14/welcome-to-the-stretchy-pants-olympics/#comment-1785 Hi Rami K. I wonder if this is going to the last Olympics with this problem. I wouldn't be surprised if in four years' time we are most of us watching the Olympics over the Internet, with full access to choose whichever of the sports we want to watch at any given time, with commentary in any language or country. Hi Rami K. I wonder if this is going to the last Olympics with this problem. I wouldn’t be surprised if in four years’ time we are most of us watching the Olympics over the Internet, with full access to choose whichever of the sports we want to watch at any given time, with commentary in any language or country.

]]> By: Max Y. http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/08/14/welcome-to-the-stretchy-pants-olympics/#comment-1770 Max Y. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:50:30 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/08/14/welcome-to-the-stretchy-pants-olympics/#comment-1770 Although there only "one" gold medal for the sports such as Basketball and baseball, but the number of gold medals to be handing out are as many as the team members such as 12 for all NBA stars. Although there only “one” gold medal for the sports such as Basketball and baseball, but the number of gold medals to be handing out are as many as the team members such as 12 for all NBA stars.

]]> By: Rami K http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/08/14/welcome-to-the-stretchy-pants-olympics/#comment-1760 Rami K Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:28:37 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/08/14/welcome-to-the-stretchy-pants-olympics/#comment-1760 I think this article is confused and misses the point. The allocation of golds is decided by the Olympic committee and not by NBC, and in any case it is irrelevant. I watch the Olympics to see people play, not just to find out who wins. I can read the newspaper or check the web to get a medal tally. This point NBC misses too. They skip all the heats just to show us the finals. It's all Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps. I don't give a crap about his personal quest. I want to see the one swimmer from Palestine who probably won't make it to the final but is a huge thing for him and his country to be in the Olympics. Where can I see that? NBC doesn't even have swimming or gymnastics online. You're forced to watch what they want you to see. They hardly showed the Russian gymnastics team, for example. I totally agree with Anette that the point of the Olympics is not to watch those massive team sports but to once every 4 years see those sports that we never see on TV, like Equestrian, or rowing, or archery, and see small countries compete that we never usually see in the news. As for team sports, I grieve when NBC shows a game of beach volleyball in prime time. For the 1 hour it takes I know I am missing a hundred other competitions in swimming, archery, equestrian, etc. By focusing more on team sports we're missing a huge percentage of the games played. Finally, while it is natural for a TV station to focus on its own country's athletes, the USA is perhaps the most multicultural place on earth and many Americans would love to follow athletes from other countries as well, if given a chance. Just show us the games. In any case, it seems like all problems can be solved if Olympic coverage was spread over several companies instead of being relegated to a monopoly. Then you can choose what you want to watch, but this is supposed to be a free country - free for NBC to grab all the gold. I think this article is confused and misses the point. The allocation of golds is decided by the Olympic committee and not by NBC, and in any case it is irrelevant. I watch the Olympics to see people play, not just to find out who wins. I can read the newspaper or check the web to get a medal tally. This point NBC misses too. They skip all the heats just to show us the finals. It’s all Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps. I don’t give a crap about his personal quest. I want to see the one swimmer from Palestine who probably won’t make it to the final but is a huge thing for him and his country to be in the Olympics. Where can I see that? NBC doesn’t even have swimming or gymnastics online. You’re forced to watch what they want you to see. They hardly showed the Russian gymnastics team, for example.

I totally agree with Anette that the point of the Olympics is not to watch those massive team sports but to once every 4 years see those sports that we never see on TV, like Equestrian, or rowing, or archery, and see small countries compete that we never usually see in the news. As for team sports, I grieve when NBC shows a game of beach volleyball in prime time. For the 1 hour it takes I know I am missing a hundred other competitions in swimming, archery, equestrian, etc. By focusing more on team sports we’re missing a huge percentage of the games played.

Finally, while it is natural for a TV station to focus on its own country’s athletes, the USA is perhaps the most multicultural place on earth and many Americans would love to follow athletes from other countries as well, if given a chance. Just show us the games. In any case, it seems like all problems can be solved if Olympic coverage was spread over several companies instead of being relegated to a monopoly. Then you can choose what you want to watch, but this is supposed to be a free country - free for NBC to grab all the gold.

]]> By: Kevin Fylan http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/08/14/welcome-to-the-stretchy-pants-olympics/#comment-1755 Kevin Fylan Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:48:00 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/08/14/welcome-to-the-stretchy-pants-olympics/#comment-1755 Hi Annette. I thought this was a very funny piece but deep down i agree with you. It's a shame they're not showing more of the smaller sports because they are the most fun. I love the wrestling especially. It looks absolutely brutal. Hi Annette. I thought this was a very funny piece but deep down i agree with you. It’s a shame they’re not showing more of the smaller sports because they are the most fun. I love the wrestling especially. It looks absolutely brutal.

]]> By: Annette Baesel http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/08/14/welcome-to-the-stretchy-pants-olympics/#comment-1749 Annette Baesel Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:59:52 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/08/14/welcome-to-the-stretchy-pants-olympics/#comment-1749 Call me old fashioned but a big part of the allure of the Olympics for me is that it isn't the world series, the NBA championship, the World Cup, or a grandslam tennis tournament. i get to see those sports all the time...ALL the time. I get to see the elite well-paid athletes of the world compete in the "top ten most popular sports" ALL the time. I get to see personal "me me me" competition ALL the time. I love watching the Olympics and all the "little" sports because it is a breath of fresh air watching people who will NEVER EVER make significant money off their sport (nor have any illusions they will) and they compete for the pure simple passion of loving their sport and competing for themselves and their country. If we just stuck to the "big sports" we'd probably only see about....what...10 to 15 countries compete. I like the inclusiveness of the Olympics even if that does mean I watch sports that mystify me as to why people want to do them in the first place. They do and I respect them and I'll watch them in their endeavours...it IS only once every 4 years. And frankly...we don't see ALOT of the "little sports" unless we stay up until 3 AM and watch it online. ( I will admit there was a bit too much synchronized diving for me...one of those sports that I scratch my head over...but I just fast forwarded through it when I got bored) Also...the reason for so many medals in judo and rowing is the same for wrestling and track and field...different weight classes and different specialities. Last time I looked there was only one way to play basketball (5 tall men or women)...there isn't an "under 6 feet" basketball playing anywhere that I can see. And while we're on the subject of basketball. I STILL think having professional athletes play in the Olympics in BIG sports like Basketball and Tennis...well it is just wrong...and I suspect is driven only by TV ratings...sadly Call me old fashioned but a big part of the allure of the Olympics for me is that it isn’t the world series, the NBA championship, the World Cup, or a grandslam tennis tournament. i get to see those sports all the time…ALL the time. I get to see the elite well-paid athletes of the world compete in the “top ten most popular sports” ALL the time. I get to see personal “me me me” competition ALL the time. I love watching the Olympics and all the “little” sports because it is a breath of fresh air watching people who will NEVER EVER make significant money off their sport (nor have any illusions they will) and they compete for the pure simple passion of loving their sport and competing for themselves and their country. If we just stuck to the “big sports” we’d probably only see about….what…10 to 15 countries compete. I like the inclusiveness of the Olympics even if that does mean I watch sports that mystify me as to why people want to do them in the first place. They do and I respect them and I’ll watch them in their endeavours…it IS only once every 4 years. And frankly…we don’t see ALOT of the “little sports” unless we stay up until 3 AM and watch it online. ( I will admit there was a bit too much synchronized diving for me…one of those sports that I scratch my head over…but I just fast forwarded through it when I got bored)

Also…the reason for so many medals in judo and rowing is the same for wrestling and track and field…different weight classes and different specialities. Last time I looked there was only one way to play basketball (5 tall men or women)…there isn’t an “under 6 feet” basketball playing anywhere that I can see. And while we’re on the subject of basketball. I STILL think having professional athletes play in the Olympics in BIG sports like Basketball and Tennis…well it is just wrong…and I suspect is driven only by TV ratings…sadly

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