2020 Summer Olympics / Tokyo

[stolitonic]

Going to be interesting if she comes back and competes in the individual events and says “I’m fine now”

She caved.

For the first time in probably her career someone (the Russkies) put pressure on her as the theoretical standard bearer for the US team.

I saw an interview on NBC before the Olympics started and she was point blank asked if anyone could beat her. She hemmed and hawed that anything could happen but in the end said no. Well, she got bested Sunday and had to live with it for two days.

Guess what sweetheart-if you're gonna talk the talk and fail to walk the walk this is what happens.

She proclaimed herself a champion and the goat. Guess what, champions rise to the occasion when the lights are bright.

On the bright side, perhaps now she will stop being in every commercial known to man for the past 6 months.

 

[VolnJC]

Everybody laughed at the Atlanta Olympics. I believe though that they were the last that at the end of the day turned a profit. Granted it was a small token amount left in the end when all the bills were paid which I believe was donated to charity.

These days, with the "arms race" of stadiums and billion dollar opening ceremonies, the event pretty much has to be state sponsored. That means China, Russia, and a few other countries with more oil revenue than they know what to do with (see Qatar and the world cup) are going to be left bidding against each other.

Other than the traffic I thought Atlanta did a good job

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Is this truly a "mental health" issue?

That quote where she says there’s more to life than gymnastics…She’s right, but at this particular point, is there though? I have no idea what Olympic athletes go through, but she’s pretty much the only thing good about our Olympians, Meaning she’s been marketed as our main individual star for a while now.

I saw where this is the first time her parents were not going to be in attendance and I’m trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I think she’s going to regret this. The timing is poor and if you guys want to throw me in VN jail for not being sensitive to the situation that’s fine, but doesn’t it just feel like this is something that would happen with athletes now?

 

[vollygirl]

Oh she’s screwed either way if she comes back to compete.

If she wins, she’s a selfish quitter who left her team hanging (even though her teammates didn’t appear to feel that way).

If she doesn’t win, she’s a washed up, spoiled millennial who choked (even thought she’s clearly the greatest female gymnast ever).

Have you actually followed any of this or are you just reacting to what you have seen and read today?

 

[Unimane]

It'll have to change it's format. The white elephant days have to be over, as does the greasy executives with their hands out. We live in a highly cynical age, where people are wont to disparage events like the Olympics, but it's still a great event, possibly the greatest sporting event in the world (Only the World Cup could compare). So, I have little doubt it will adapt as has been necessary over the time of its existence. At least we don't have the charade of "amateur athletes" paraded as some virtue anymore.

As far as Biles bowing out, I have no problem with her doing this. In fact, it's probably more selfless for her to sacrifice her ambition for the benefit of her team. Her score was by far the lowest in the first event. She was hurting her team because she got the yips or whatever it was, while knowing no one was going to sit her for the next few events, including coaches. Even the concern of getting hurt would be enough. If you are disoriented while doing flips and somersaults, then this can be exceedingly dangerous. Hopefully, she's overcome the issues and can be herself in the next session.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

Have you actually followed any of this or are you just reacting to what you have seen and read today?

To answer your question, I’ve followed it, and I’m reacting to what I’ve seen and read here, in addition to other places.

I offered no opinion personally on the situation, only commenting on the potential backlash based on comments I’ve read from those on either side of the issue.

I’ll do better next time and not trigger you when responding to someone else’s post.

 

[vollygirl]

To answer your question, I’ve followed it, and I’m reacting to what I’ve seen and read here, in addition to other places.

I offered no opinion personally on the situation, only commenting on the potential backlash based on comments I’ve read from those on either side of the issue.

I’ll do better next time and not trigger you when responding to someone else’s post.

I guess I read wrong. Sorry.

 

[stolitonic]

Other than the traffic I thought Atlanta did a good job

Honestly, living there both before and after the Olympics other than right downtown traffic was 10x better for those two weeks than on your average Atlanta day.

Even I will have to admit that the 96 games were far too commercial. I guess that was to be expected with Coke putting their name on everything Olympic related since they were right down the street.

In the end though, I guess no other options when you do not have a state sponsored games and the money has to come from somewhere. That is why I said that most future games-assuming they continue getting bigger and more elaborate are going to have a state sponsor with billions to throw around for PR or vanity purposes. No other way the model will work going forward.

 

[BreatheUT]

She caved.

For the first time in probably her career someone (the Russkies) put pressure on her as the theoretical standard bearer for the US team.

I saw an interview on NBC before the Olympics started and she was point blank asked if anyone could beat her. She hemmed and hawed that anything could happen but in the end said no. Well, she got bested Sunday and had to live with it for two days.

Guess what sweetheart-if you're gonna talk the talk and fail to walk the walk this is what happens.

She proclaimed herself a champion and the goat. Guess what, champions rise to the occasion when the lights are bright.

On the bright side, perhaps now she will stop being in every commercial known to man for the past 6 months.

I'm telling you I think all the outside forces got into her head since 2016. Maybe she had the same personality before 2016 but I think we are living in a different world space today.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

I guess I read wrong. Sorry.

Your overreactions are part of your charm.

Don’t you ever change.

 

[KoachKrab127]

I know GIFs are so 5 years ago, but this should be a legendary celebration GIF for decades to come.

(The Australian swimming coach celebrating his swimmer winning the 400 Free).

 

[vollygirl]

Your overreactions are part of your charm.

Don’t you ever change.

I have a hard time seeing the disrespect she's getting. It makes me sick.

 

[05_never_again]

She caved.

For the first time in probably her career someone (the Russkies) put pressure on her as the theoretical standard bearer for the US team.

I saw an interview on NBC before the Olympics started and she was point blank asked if anyone could beat her. She hemmed and hawed that anything could happen but in the end said no. Well, she got bested Sunday and had to live with it for two days.

Guess what sweetheart-if you're gonna talk the talk and fail to walk the walk this is what happens.

She proclaimed herself a champion and the goat. Guess what, champions rise to the occasion when the lights are bright.

On the bright side, perhaps now she will stop being in every commercial known to man for the past 6 months.

I want to be careful about how I say this, because Biles really is an incredible gymnast and not overrated. But this kind of has a Ronda Rousey feel to it.

 

[05_never_again]

I have a hard time seeing the disrespect she's getting. It makes me sick.

I only really see her getting disrespect from Twitter trolls and people in comment sections. The response from the Twitter blue check brigade, opinion columnists, and the media at large is one of unqualified support, and ripping people who question in the slightest way what happened. Some are even calling her a hero.

None of us know her, so I don't really have any reason to question what she says happened and I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. But you do have to admit that very few and possibly no other athlete would receive that same benefit of the doubt. If Tom Brady took himself out of a Super Bowl at halftime, citing that he wasn't in the right headspace, he'd be ripped into a million pieces. He wouldn't get pats on the back for "prioritizing his mental health," rightly or wrongly.

 

[VolnJC]

I know GIFs are so 5 years ago, but this should be a legendary celebration GIF for decades to come.

(The Australian swimming coach celebrating his swimmer winning the 400 Free).

Wait GIFs were 5 years ago? That's my go to in life

 

[BreatheUT]

I only really see her getting disrespect from Twitter trolls and people in comment sections. The response from the Twitter blue check brigade, opinion columnists, and the media at large is one of unqualified support, and ripping people who question in the slightest way what happened. Some are even calling her a hero.

None of us know her, so I don't really have any reason to question what she says happened and I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. But you do have to admit that very few and possibly no other athlete would receive that same benefit of the doubt. If Tom Brady took himself out of a Super Bowl at halftime, citing that he wasn't in the right headspace, he'd be ripped into a million pieces. He wouldn't get pats on the back for "prioritizing his mental health," rightly or wrongly.

I think this group of people are a big part of the problem. Very big part! They ruin lives and don't see it. They are leaders in creating false narratives.

 

[Velo Vol]

I only really see her getting disrespect from Twitter trolls and people in comment sections. The response from the Twitter blue check brigade, opinion columnists, and the media at large is one of unqualified support, and ripping people who question in the slightest way what happened. Some are even calling her a hero.

None of us know her, so I don't really have any reason to question what she says happened and I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. But you do have to admit that very few and possibly no other athlete would receive that same benefit of the doubt. If Tom Brady took himself out of a Super Bowl at halftime, citing that he wasn't in the right headspace, he'd be ripped into a million pieces. He wouldn't get pats on the back for "prioritizing his mental health," rightly or wrongly.

Completely different cultures. A football QB has a stadium of 70,000 people cheering when he gets slammed to the turf. A gymnast never faces anything of the sort.

 

[05_never_again]

Completely different cultures. A football QB has a stadium of 70,000 people cheering when he gets slammed to the turf. A gymnast never faces anything of the sort.

Ok - say LeBron James did it, or (to pick a sport that is totally non-physical) Tiger Woods did it in the middle of a team competition like the Ryder Cup. They'd undoubtedly get ripped, no?

I very, very seriously doubt they'd get unanimous support from the media and praised for focusing on their mental health. The reaction would initially be one of shock, but then you'd immediately get into questions about whether or not they "choked" or "quit" and what it does to their legacy. In this case with Biles, merely wondering about those kinds of things is totally off limits.

 

[stolitonic]

Ok - say LeBron James did it, or (to pick a sport that is totally non-physical) Tiger Woods did it in the middle of a team competition like the Ryder Cup. They'd undoubtedly get ripped, no?

I very, very seriously doubt they'd get unanimous support from the media and praised for focusing on their mental health. The reaction would initially be one of shock, but then you'd immediately get into questions about whether or not they "quit" and what it does to their legacy. In this case with Biles, merely wondering about those kinds of things is totally off limits.

And therein lies the issue.

How many commercials/interviews/etc have you seen for years with Biles being compared to Jordan, etc as the goat of her sport?

To follow your Brady analogy, can you ever see Michael Jordan pulling himself from game 7 of the NBA finals for a "mental health day". Naw. Just naw. If at halftime, somebody cut off Jordans legs-he would be out there in the 3q in a wheelchair.

Going back to the commercials/fame-she ate it up. Got a bad feeling a great deal of those commercials will be gone now.

 

[n_huffhines]

She caved.

For the first time in probably her career someone (the Russkies) put pressure on her as the theoretical standard bearer for the US team.

I saw an interview on NBC before the Olympics started and she was point blank asked if anyone could beat her. She hemmed and hawed that anything could happen but in the end said no. Well, she got bested Sunday and had to live with it for two days.

Guess what sweetheart-if you're gonna talk the talk and fail to walk the walk this is what happens.

She proclaimed herself a champion and the goat. Guess what, champions rise to the occasion when the lights are bright.

On the bright side, perhaps now she will stop being in every commercial known to man for the past 6 months.

She's still the GOAT. Why do you dislike her?

 

[05_never_again]

And therein lies the issue.

How many commercials/interviews/etc have you seen for years with Biles being compared to Jordan, etc as the goat of her sport?

To follow your Brady analogy, can you ever see Michael Jordan pulling himself from game 7 of the NBA finals for a "mental health day". Naw. Just naw. If at halftime, somebody cut off Jordans legs-he would be out there in the 3q in a wheelchair.

Going back to the commercials/fame-she ate it up. Got a bad feeling a great deal of those commercials will be gone now.

Biles, like other Olympians and people like Ronda Rousey and Lance Armstrong, are a very peculiar kind of sports celebrity in that they have to strike when the iron is hot. They play sports that, quite frankly, nobody gives a s**t about except once a year or once every 4 years. When the sun is shining on them, they feel like they have to say "yes" to every opportunity that comes their way because their time in the sun is not going to last very long. I see how that can overwhelm a person at best and let a lot of crap go to their head at worst. Joe Rogan has talked many times on his podcast about how he thinks that happened to Rousey, in addition to her simply being incredibly overhyped and nowhere near as good as people said she was. She drank her own Kool-Aid and became way more preoccupied with doing interviews, being in movies, etc. instead of becoming a better fighter; she lost sight of why she was famous in the first place.

That kind of celebrity seems much different from being a star NFLer for example...instead of playing an obscure sport they play a really popular one, and play at least 16 times per year, every year. They don't necessarily feel like they have to say "yes" to every single opportunity that comes their way. Although it still happens...IMO look at Odell Beckham Jr, for example.

 

[n_huffhines]

And therein lies the issue.

How many commercials/interviews/etc have you seen for years with Biles being compared to Jordan, etc as the goat of her sport?

To follow your Brady analogy, can you ever see Michael Jordan pulling himself from game 7 of the NBA finals for a "mental health day". Naw. Just naw. If at halftime, somebody cut off Jordans legs-he would be out there in the 3q in a wheelchair.

Going back to the commercials/fame-she ate it up. Got a bad feeling a great deal of those commercials will be gone now.

Jordan quit prematurely 2x, once in part because pre-social media pressure was too much for him, so....

She's 24 and older than everybody she competes against...but she's still just badically a kid and you can you look at her like someone who has accomplished more than anybody in her sport while fighting these mental battles.

 

[golfballs]

Oh she’s screwed either way if she comes back to compete.

If she wins, she’s a selfish quitter who left her team hanging (even though her teammates didn’t appear to feel that way).

If she doesn’t win, she’s a washed up, spoiled millennial who choked (even thought she’s clearly the greatest female gymnast ever).

Its possible to be both

 

[golfballs]

Jordan quit prematurely 2x, once in part because pre-social media pressure was too much for him, so....

She's 24 and older than everybody she competes against.

Quit prematurely, like in the 4th quarter of the nba finals, because his “headspace” wasn’t right? Lmao

 

[golfballs]

That quote where she says there’s more to life than gymnastics…She’s right, but at this particular point, is there though? I have no idea what Olympic athletes go through, but she’s pretty much the only thing good about our Olympians, Meaning she’s been marketed as our main individual star for a while now.

I saw where this is the first time her parents were not going to be in attendance and I’m trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I think she’s going to regret this. The timing is poor and if you guys want to throw me in VN jail for not being sensitive to the situation that’s fine, but doesn’t it just feel like this is something that would happen with athletes now?

There’s more to life than gymnastics. I mean we’re all human. We all die, and heck, what’s even the point of all this…