I thought the crowd's treatment of Paul Hamm in the uneven bars final was disgraceful, but the Greeks should really be ashamed of the crowd's behavior at the 200M final yesterday.
Unbelievably poor sportsmanship. If that happened in Atlanta or Salt Lake City and been directed at a non-US athelete, the entire world would be up-in-arms. But because it was directed at us dastardly Americans, it's apparently OK.
Nobody in the American press seems to be condemning the Greeks. Most journalists seem content to just mention it in passing or state that the furor wasn't directed solely at the Americans, which it clearly was. Michael Johnson seems to be the only figure in the American track scene to speak out against the crowd which shows how cowed the USOC has been after the Sydney games. Some people in the UK press even seem to be sympathetic to these assholes:
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/olympics2004/athletics/story/0,14782,1292026,00.html
http://sport.independent.co.uk/olympics/story.jsp?story=555516
I don't think I've ever been happier to see the US sweep any event.
Red Dog
08-27-04, 10:11 AM
Not something I get upset about. If anything, take it as a form of flattery.
Pharoh
08-27-04, 10:12 AM
Yeah, even though Paul Hamm isn't the most likeable guy in the world, (to me at least, based on his interviews), I am now overjoyed that he won all the medals he has. On a related note, I rewatched his Silver medal routine and two things came to my mind. First, he deserved that silver. His routine was excellent. Secondly, what was the star of twikoff: the movie doing there attempting to quiet the crowd?
Back on topic, the 200m final was disgusting. It was the damn Greek sprinters own fault, not America's, nor the American athletes. They should be irate over his doping, not at some imaginary pro-US conspiracy. Our runners performed magnificently and handled themselves with quiet grace and extreme class.
A very big :up: to them!
willpos
08-27-04, 10:22 AM
So many sore losers in the this Olympics.
raven56706
08-27-04, 10:28 AM
Exactly.......after all the doping thats happening..... all the pointing at the americans..... geez...... what is their problem..... do we complain about water polo, or hockey..... no...... its dominated by the other countries... geez
the big train
08-27-04, 11:20 AM
It was pretty bad, but they're just spectators.
What outraged me was that the international press corps gave that wanker Mario Pesquera a standing ovation after he had his little cry baby tantrum disparaging one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball.
I don't care what anyone thinks about the state of the NBA, the crap that these guys have had to put up with is a disgrace.
Deftones
08-27-04, 11:49 AM
I like it when the spectators boo us. It just means they want to be us.
kneijst1
08-27-04, 01:09 PM
Originally posted by the big train
I don't care what anyone thinks about the state of the NBA, the crap that these guys have had to put up with is a disgrace.
ditto. I'm really hoping the Men's team takes the gold, just to rub in everyone else's face.
Turd Ferguson
08-27-04, 01:32 PM
I'm sorry Greece, I can't hear you. You see, I've got so many FUCKING MEDALS around my neck, my ears are covered up.
Sincerely,
America
eXcentris
08-27-04, 01:34 PM
Originally posted by Hiro11
Most journalists seem content to just mention it in passing or state that the furor wasn't directed solely at the Americans, which it clearly was.
No it wasn't. They were shouting "Helas! Helas!" which means "Greece", not "Boooo USA". As was mentionned before they were mostly pissed about the Thanou/Kenteris scandal which of course had nothing to do with the athletes on the track.
Mordred
08-27-04, 01:37 PM
Originally posted by Turd Ferguson
I'm sorry Greece, I can't hear you. You see, I've got so many FUCKING MEDALS around my neck, my ears are covered up.
Sincererly,
America :lol:
Corleone
08-27-04, 01:42 PM
Originally posted by eXcentris
No it wasn't. They were shouting "Helas! Helas!" which means "Greece", not "Boooo USA". As was mentionned before they were mostly pissed about the Thanou/Kenteris scandal which of course had nothing to do with the athletes on the track.
Plus the fact that they paid good coin in advance expecting Kenteris to be running.
Mordred
08-27-04, 01:43 PM
Originally posted by eXcentris
No it wasn't. They were shouting "Helas! Helas!" which means "Greece", not "Boooo USA". As was mentionned before they were mostly pissed about the Thanou/Kenteris scandal which of course had nothing to do with the athletes on the track. Which some Greek papers have insuinated is an American conspiracy as the announcers pointed out last night. I did think it was directed against us somewhat. To say it wasn't is silly because we were the favorites and if they're runner had been racing he might have been a favorite.
What upset me most about it was that it wasn't that they were just mad at the US or that their runner wasn't going to compete, but that they were actively attempting to disrupt the 200m final. The crowd knew what was going on and were trying to get people disqualified. Would the US have swept if there hadn't already been a false start and several minutes delay while the athletes cooled down, all caused by the crowd noise? Who knows, but it might have made a difference. I'm very happy we won, but I feel sorry for all the athletes who had to compete under those conditions.
eXcentris
08-27-04, 01:48 PM
Originally posted by Mordred
Which some Greek papers have insuinated is an American conspiracy as the announcers pointed out last night. I did think it was directed against us somewhat. To say it wasn't is silly because we were the favorites and if they're runner had been racing he might have been a favorite.
I don't disagree, just pointing out that there was more to that behavior than simply anti-Americanism.
Jericho
08-27-04, 01:52 PM
Well the Hamm fiasco was obviously displeasure at the judging of Nemov's routine and not anything specificly amed towards Hamm or America. Hamm of course got the crappy end of things by being forced to wait as he was next and had to endure the booing. But it was not anything anti-american.
As for the 200 m, I'm not sure what the exact deal was. Yes, I get that the Greek runner, Kostas Kederis, was supposed to run this event. Of course he pulled out when he faced a suspension from his own nation and the sport's governing body for missing a second drug test. But does anyone really believe the U.S. had anything to do with it? It did seem like the crowd whistled louder during the U.S. introductions, but for what reason? Obvioulsy most were pissed to pay all that money and not see a Greek athlete. But did they really single out the U.S. athletes? And if so, why?
eXcentris
08-27-04, 01:56 PM
Crowd expected Kenteris to win gold, crowd now sees Americans expected to win gold instead. Crowd had too much uzo the night before and dreams of conspiracy theories. Crowd gets pissed at Americans.
Sorry, that's the best I can do. :)
brizz
08-27-04, 03:26 PM
Originally posted by eXcentris
No it wasn't. They were shouting "Helas! Helas!" which means "Greece", not "Boooo USA". As was mentionned before they were mostly pissed about the Thanou/Kenteris scandal which of course had nothing to do with the athletes on the track.
Uhm...yeah....they weren't booing the Americans, they were pissed because this was supposed to be the shining moment and their runner screwed up...but they still wanted him to be able to run because they paid for these, the most expensive tickets of the games, seats. The Americans even said they knew it was going to happen beforehand....they were booing the Olympic officials....
This thread seems strangely like the "you just said that because i'm black" thread in Other.....our OP and others seem a tad hyper-sensitive, not too mention self-indulgent. It's not ALWAYS about America :lol: ;)
brizz
08-27-04, 03:28 PM
[obligatory post]They weren't saying boo, they were saying "Boo-urns!"
Originally posted by Turd Ferguson
I'm sorry Greece, I can't hear you. You see, I've got so many FUCKING MEDALS around my neck, my ears are covered up.
Sincerely,
America
:lol:
WillieTheShakes
08-27-04, 05:02 PM
Originally posted by Turd Ferguson
I'm sorry Greece, I can't hear you. You see, I've got so many FUCKING MEDALS around my neck, my ears are covered up. Maybe one of the men's basketball players can hear you...
Buy: