I'm soaking in the Olympics at the moment, trying to catch history in the making. It also buys me time untill the arrival of the NFL preseason. Watching and cheering for the red, white and blue.

Although, I get the feeling most Americans take our wonderful US athletes in the Olympics for granted. Is this a sign of our overconfidence? Was this overconfidence initially brewed by our military superiority following World War 2? I have a feeling this overconfidence is gonna bite us in the butt really soon.

Originally Posted By mastercommander (29 JUL 2012 3:10pm)

I'm soaking in the Olympics at the moment, trying to catch history in the making. It also buys me time untill the arrival of the NFL preseason. Watching and cheering for the red, white and blue.

 

Although, I get the feeling most Americans take our wonderful US athletes in the Olympics for granted. Is this a sign of our overconfidence? Was this overconfidence initially brewed by our military superiority following World War 2? I have a feeling this overconfidence is gonna bite us in the butt really soon.

Not sure where that overconfidence would have come from in the Olympics as the USSR always beat the US in medal counts in the Winter games and usually did so in the Summer games as well...

More like a post-Cold War triumphalism, but it looks like the PRC is going to give the USA a run for its money this year...

Originally Posted By medck (29 JUL 2012 4:37pm)

Originally Posted By mastercommander (29 JUL 2012 3:10pm)

I'm soaking in the Olympics at the moment, trying to catch history in the making. It also buys me time untill the arrival of the NFL preseason. Watching and cheering for the red, white and blue.

 

Although, I get the feeling most Americans take our wonderful US athletes in the Olympics for granted. Is this a sign of our overconfidence? Was this overconfidence initially brewed by our military superiority following World War 2? I have a feeling this overconfidence is gonna bite us in the butt really soon.

 

Not sure where that overconfidence would have come from in the Olympics as the USSR always beat the US in medal counts in the Winter games and usually did so in the Summer games as well...

 

More like a post-Cold War triumphalism, but it looks like the PRC is going to give the USA a run for its money this year...

Yep, they fielded the best professionals while the U.S. sent amateurs, and next to the East Germans, they had the best doping that state sponsored research could offer.

Originally Posted By ActionJack (29 JUL 2012 8:54pm)

Originally Posted By medck (29 JUL 2012 4:37pm)

Not sure where that overconfidence would have come from in the Olympics as the USSR always beat the US in medal counts in the Winter games and usually did so in the Summer games as well...

 

More like a post-Cold War triumphalism, but it looks like the PRC is going to give the USA a run for its money this year...

Yep, they fielded the best professionals while the U.S. sent amateurs, and next to the East Germans, they had the best doping that state sponsored research could offer.

I wouldn't dispute that, especially the state-sponsored doping, but I think the ongoing doping arms race indicates that "feature" is not solely a fixture of of statist regimes, although the USSR and GDR were is a class by themselves.  The 2008 Games had 20 cases of doping (8 were horses).  So far, I think there have been two (Uzbek gymnast and an Albanian weightlifter).  In any event, the age of the amatuer died long ago, in the countries that win medals, they are all pretty much professionals now (Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, etc).

No brainer - the Chinese will win again - sport following on from "reality" ...

It is a great spectacle - I live nearby & have seen the torch relay & one of the cycle races, both passing near to where I work or live. The opening ceremony was excellent - just demonstrating bigger & more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better - the olympic flame, and the people who lit it emphasising this point - I doubt anyone will beat those for symbolism & mirroring the Olympic ideal.

Originally Posted By medck (30 JUL 2012 5:22am)

Originally Posted By ActionJack (29 JUL 2012 8:54pm)

Originally Posted By medck (29 JUL 2012 4:37pm)

Not sure where that overconfidence would have come from in the Olympics as the USSR always beat the US in medal counts in the Winter games and usually did so in the Summer games as well...

 

More like a post-Cold War triumphalism, but it looks like the PRC is going to give the USA a run for its money this year...

Yep, they fielded the best professionals while the U.S. sent amateurs, and next to the East Germans, they had the best doping that state sponsored research could offer.

 

I wouldn't dispute that, especially the state-sponsored doping, but I think the ongoing doping arms race indicates that "feature" is not solely a fixture of of statist regimes, although the USSR and GDR were is a class by themselves.  The 2008 Games had 20 cases of doping (8 were horses).  So far, I think there have been two (Uzbek gymnast and an Albanian weightlifter).  In any event, the age of the amatuer died long ago, in the countries that win medals, they are all pretty much professionals now (Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, etc).

I have to admit I lament that change even though others used professionals.  Winning was so much sweeter when we beat them.  Did I hear right that a Chinese swimmer won by 5 seconds?