The Olympic Games: Athens 2004 (17 Viewers)

[The Pado]

Many of the USA runners are based here in my town, Raleigh (NC), including the new "Fastest Man on Earth". Also, several of the Women's Soccer team (and the disgraced Marion Jones). Good old Raleigh!

 

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[Torkel]

That Gatling fella seems alright. Probably that Raleigh influence. Never heard of him before.

 

[The Pado]

I never heard of Gatling before he struck Gold, so it has to be the Raleigh factor. Actually, a lot of great track athletes train here because of Coach Williams. The Athletes themselves usually don't have any other ties to this city.

 

[Torkel]

++ [ originally posted by Padovano ] ++
I never heard of Gatling before he struck Gold, so it has to be the Raleigh factor. Actually, a lot of great track athletes train here because of Coach Williams. The Athletes themselves usually don't have any other ties to this city.

Does he coach Maurice Green? If so I've seen a documentary about him. And why are all the athletes in Raleigh? Coach Williams lives there and doesn't want to move, or you got some bad-ass track and field stadium?

 

[The Pado]

No go on Maurice Green, that big-mouthed mo-fo.

The track facilities here are nothing special. Coach Williams is the coach at Saint Augustine's College in Raleigh, so he lives here. The athletes train at N.C. State University's track which isn't that great. So, it must be the coach.

As for the women's soccer team. Most of them played at the University of North Carolina in nearby Chapel Hill.

 

[Zlatan]

++ [ originally posted by Andy ] ++
Its a shame to see all the hate towards Paul Hamm now, he didn't do anything wrong. :groan:

True, but he did get an undeserved gold medal, of course the people are gonna be pissed.

Just look at the other guy, the olympic comitee admitted that the judges made a misstake and that he should have won the gold, but all he gets is a "my bad" from the IOC.

hardly fair, is it?

 

[Bjerknes]

++ [ originally posted by Zlatan ] ++


True, but he did get an undeserved gold medal, of course the people are gonna be pissed.

Just look at the other guy, the olympic comitee admitted that the judges made a misstake and that he should have won the gold, but all he gets is a "my bad" from the IOC.

hardly fair, is it?

I guess it isn't fair, but this stuff happens in all sports. The same happens with refs in soccer, so what can you do? Its not the Athelete, its the judge, so blame the judge.

I guess the only way to resolve this is to give out two Gold Medals. :undecide:

 

[Torkel]

++ [ originally posted by Andy ] ++
I guess the only way to resolve this is to give out two Gold Medals. :undecide:

Couldn't he switch with the Korean?

And I don't think the comparison to football is valid, as the refs are obviously a lot more important in gymnastics.

 

[Zlatan]

Yeah, that would be the best option.

Anyways, this is going to keep happening in sports that are directly decided by judges. it's much easier in football, or basketball, or tennis, etc. the refs/judges can influence the result, but if you're the best guy/team, you'll most probably win. if there was only a way to eliminate the human error factor... Sadly, it's impossible.

 

[Zlatan]

++ [ originally posted by Torkel ] ++

Couldn't he switch with the Korean?

And I don't think the comparison to football is valid, as the refs are obviously a lot more important in gymnastics.

Yeah, IMO, if I were him I'd give my gold medal to the guy that deserved it.

Besides, it wouldnt be such a big deal for Hamm, he won one or two more, right? Plus, he would become a new fan favourite which would result in a better personal image, which would result in more sponsorship money for him.

 

[Bjerknes]

++ [ originally posted by Torkel ] ++

Couldn't he switch with the Korean?

And I don't think the comparison to football is valid, as the refs are obviously a lot more important in gymnastics.

Well obviously Torks. I'm just making sense of the fact that all sports are susceptible to this sort of "human judge error".

What do you mean by switch? Switch medals? How would you like to have won a Gold Medal, then get stripped of it because of a judge's mistake?

 

[Zlatan]

Yeah, but can you imagine deserving to win the gold and winning the silver instead, because of a judge's error? Every coin has two sides

 

[Torkel]

++ [ originally posted by Andy ] ++
What do you mean by switch? Switch medals? How would you like to have won a Gold Medal, then get stripped of it because of a judge's mistake?

But he got it because of a judge's mistake. My point is that if he makes the switch he'll be remembered as guy with great sportmanship, instead of the guy who falsely won the gold. He looked uncomfortable during the bars, if he had switched he would have been treated as a hero.

 

[Zlatan]

Am I in the room (thread)? Hellooooooooooo???

++ [ originally posted by Zlatan ] ++



Yeah, IMO, if I were him I'd give my gold medal to the guy that deserved it.

Besides, it wouldnt be such a big deal for Hamm, he won one or two more, right? Plus, he would become a new fan favourite which would result in a better personal image, which would result in more sponsorship money for him.

 

[Bjerknes]

++ [ originally posted by Torkel ] ++

But he got it because of a judge's mistake. My point is that if he makes the switch he'll be remembered as guy with great sportmanship, instead of the guy who falsely won the gold. He looked uncomfortable during the bars, if he had switched he would have been treated as a hero.

I guess so, but its easy for you to say. You're not in the same position.

 

[Torkel]

++ [ originally posted by Zlatan ] ++
Am I in the room (thread)? Hellooooooooooo???

Oh, didn't see that, you kinda squeezed that in there. I don't know if he got any more golds, I just know he got a silver yesterday, wich IMO (and a lot of others) also was wrong. But I agree, he'd have a lot to win if he switched.

 

[Zlatan]

Was it an undeserved silver?

 

[Torkel]

++ [ originally posted by Andy ] ++
I guess so, but its easy for you to say. You're not in the same position.

Yes, I'm not an olympic athlete for the US gymnast team. I'm also not an astronaut, world leader or movie star. Should we state more obvious stuff, or will this do for now?

My point is simply that this unfair situation is having positive and negative effects for Paul Hamm. I'm sure he atleast considers it.

 

[Torkel]

++ [ originally posted by Zlatan ] ++
Was it an undeserved silver?

IMO another guy (believe he was Bulgarian) deserved it more. Read at another messageboard that several people shared my opinion. But I'm sure others feel differentely also.

 

[The Pado]

Impossible for them to swap medals. Hamm won Gold, and the guy who supposedly got screwed won Bronze. How do they convince the Silver Medalist to now accept Bronze? No way in Hell.

The Italian who won Gold on High Bar was awesome, and he nearly got screwed by Hamm's over-inflated score. They tied but the Italian had the tie-breaker.