An Olympics question - GoFuckYourself.com

tony286 · 08-24-2008, 05:16 PM

I thought to be in the olympics you had to be an amateur. In fact Jim Thorpe lost his gold medal because one summer he played minor league baseball for a couple of hundred dollars. When did this change and why?

Sly · 08-24-2008, 05:18 PM

Good question... I also want to know why if you get turned down from the Olympics from your country of choice you can go to another country to get in.

CDSmith · 08-24-2008, 05:25 PM

I think the change for certain sports started with hockey in the winter Olympics in the mid-80's. The Russians were sending their star russian league players and saying that because they are "unpaid" they qualify. So the best junior players from Can and US were basically going up against NHL-level players every time, and we got fed up with it... so the rule was changed.

Then later when basketball was included in the summer games they for some reason decided to keep the same rules as for hockey and allow every country to send their best players, not just amateurs. Funny they don't do it for baseball though, I doubt we'll ever see a MLB "dream team" anytime soon at the Olympics.

I guess in the end the world wants to see the world's best compete, and in sports like hockey and basketball you'll never see the worlds best unless you allow the pros to partake.

Most Olympic events don't even have any kind of pro level, for those athletes the Olymics ARE their one and only world series or superbowl, so those sports will always be amateur.

tony286 · 08-24-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDSmith

I think the change for certain sports started with hockey in the winter Olympics in the mid-80's. The Russians were sending their star russian league players and saying that because they are "unpaid" they qualify. So the best junior players from Can and US were basically going up against NHL-level players every time, and we got fed up with it... so the rule was changed.

Then later when basketball was included in the summer games they for some reason decided to keep the same rules as for hockey and allow every country to send their best players, not just amateurs. Funny they don't do it for baseball though, I doubt we'll ever see a MLB "dream team" anytime soon at the Olympics.

I guess in the end the world wants to see the world's best compete, and in sports like hockey and basketball you'll never see the worlds best unless you allow the pros to partake.

Most Olympic events don't even have any kind of pro level, for those athletes the Olymics ARE their one and only world series or superbowl, so those sports will always be amateur.

Ok I remember when the us hockey team beat the ussr. They said it was the equivalent of a high school baseball team beating the NY Yankees. After that the change must of happened, I havent followed an olympics since then.

mikeyddddd · 08-24-2008, 06:18 PM

The IOC allows each sport's governing body to define who can or can not compete.

Boxing is about the only sport that does not allow pros.

Kevin Marx · 08-24-2008, 06:21 PM

Baseball in the Olympics doesn't have pro's for a multitude of reasons, #1 being that the Olympics are during the season (near the end of the season), and the injury risk is too high to any team that has any chance whatsoever at the playoffs.

There was a good article about just this thing at cnnsi the other day.

Matt 26z · 08-24-2008, 08:39 PM

I wonder how recetly retired MLB players would do in the Olympics?

Sly · 08-24-2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt 26z

I wonder how recetly retired MLB players would do in the Olympics?

40-year-old white guy against the 20-year-old Cuban? I'll take the Cuban...

SilentKnight · 08-24-2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony404

Ok I remember when the us hockey team beat the ussr. They said it was the equivalent of a high school baseball team beating the NY Yankees. After that the change must of happened, I havent followed an olympics since then.

And before that - Canada beat the Russians in '72 during the first Summit series.

People still remember the famous goal by Paul Henderson in the final game to win the series.

mikeyddddd · 08-24-2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin-SFBucks

Baseball in the Olympics doesn't have pro's for a multitude of reasons, #1 being that the Olympics are during the season (near the end of the season), and the injury risk is too high to any team that has any chance whatsoever at the playoffs.

There was a good article about just this thing at cnnsi the other day.

There are minor leaguers in the Olympics.

But, you're right about the Olympics conflicting with the major league schedule.

L-Pink · 08-24-2008, 10:44 PM

Also ...... If you make your money as an NFL wide receiver how should that prevent you from competing in a track event?

mynameisjim · 08-24-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin-SFBucks

Baseball in the Olympics doesn't have pro's for a multitude of reasons, #1 being that the Olympics are during the season (near the end of the season), and the injury risk is too high to any team that has any chance whatsoever at the playoffs.

There was a good article about just this thing at cnnsi the other day.

Not to mention that MLB players would be subjected IOC drug testing if they played in the Olympics.

08-24-2008, 05:18 PM	#2
Sly Let's do some business! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 31,339	Good question... I also want to know why if you get turned down from the Olympics from your country of choice you can go to another country to get in. __________________ Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted Windows VPS now available Great for TSS, Nifty Stats, remote work, virtual assistants, etc. Click here for more details.

08-24-2008, 05:25 PM	#3
CDSmith Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: May 2001 Location: My network is hosted at TECHIEMEDIA.net ...Wait, you meant where am I located at? Oh... okay, I'm in Winnipeg, Canada. Oops. :) Posts: 51,460	I think the change for certain sports started with hockey in the winter Olympics in the mid-80's. The Russians were sending their star russian league players and saying that because they are "unpaid" they qualify. So the best junior players from Can and US were basically going up against NHL-level players every time, and we got fed up with it... so the rule was changed. Then later when basketball was included in the summer games they for some reason decided to keep the same rules as for hockey and allow every country to send their best players, not just amateurs. Funny they don't do it for baseball though, I doubt we'll ever see a MLB "dream team" anytime soon at the Olympics. I guess in the end the world wants to see the world's best compete, and in sports like hockey and basketball you'll never see the worlds best unless you allow the pros to partake. Most Olympic events don't even have any kind of pro level, for those athletes the Olymics ARE their one and only world series or superbowl, so those sports will always be amateur. __________________ *Promote Wildmatch, ImLive, Sexier.com, and more!!* ALWAYS THE HIGHEST PAYOUTS: Big Bux/ImLive SIGNUP ON NOW!!! Put some PUSSYCA$H in your pocket. ICQ me at: 31024634

08-24-2008, 06:18 PM	#5
mikeyddddd Viva la vulva! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself Posts: 16,557	The IOC allows each sport's governing body to define who can or can not compete. Boxing is about the only sport that does not allow pros. __________________ AdultStarProfits AmbyaCash AnilosCash AzianiGold ColdHardCash FlashTheMoney IdolBucks MediumPimpin NSCash Nubiles PussyCash ScoreCash Sextronix SpunkyCash TubeTitans Twistys

08-24-2008, 05:16 PM	#1
tony286 lurker Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: atlanta Posts: 57,021	An Olympics question I thought to be in the olympics you had to be an amateur. In fact Jim Thorpe lost his gold medal because one summer he played minor league baseball for a couple of hundred dollars. When did this change and why?

08-24-2008, 06:21 PM	#6
Kevin Marx Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,888	Baseball in the Olympics doesn't have pro's for a multitude of reasons, #1 being that the Olympics are during the season (near the end of the season), and the injury risk is too high to any team that has any chance whatsoever at the playoffs. There was a good article about just this thing at cnnsi the other day.

08-24-2008, 08:39 PM	#7
Matt 26z So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: ¤ª"˜¨๑۩۞۩๑¨˜"ª¤ Posts: 18,481	I wonder how recetly retired MLB players would do in the Olympics?

08-24-2008, 10:44 PM	#11
L-Pink working on my tan Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida/Kentucky Posts: 39,151	Also ...... If you make your money as an NFL wide receiver how should that prevent you from competing in a track event?