I wonder what the ratings will be, I don't sense much eager anticipation for these games. 1. Zika 2. No Ruskie Track team to hate 3. Basketball will send a B Team 4. After Euro 16 and Copa 100 is there anybody looking forward to Olympic Soccer which limits players to under 23? 5. Crime, polluted water, Golf (really??? ) 6. Gymnastics, Biles is a star for sure, but again I don't sense any big anticipation of competition with the Eastern Block countries or Russia. 7. Will we win a medal in Sync Swimming? Maybe some story lines will develop that will make them compelling, I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Terry, I agree but swimming may have some good competition and there is usually some fun stuff to come out of wrestling or fencing or one of those sports. Golf should not be an Olympic sport anyway.
Golf Calendar is too crowded as it is, there is no need for Olympic Golf. With the Majors, the Ryder and Presidents Cup along with the FEDEX Cup really don't need the Olympics. Same is true for Tennis IMHO. It would be different if these sports had long histories with the Olympics like Track and Field, Gymnastics, Swimming. For those sports the Olympics is the premier event. Golf and Tennis had long history's of not being Olympic sports. Baseball and Softball are in the same boat, not played at a high level in very many countries and no need for Olympics.
I'll be keeping an eye on Molly Huddle of ND in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. She came in first in both events at our Olympic Trials. Tennis has been a part of the Olympics for 12 or so years and no one has been complaining like they do about golf. There's something different about competing for your country. Ask the Euros who kick our ass every Ryder Cup.
:roll: Don't worry...none of the stadiums and gyms will be finished anyway. It really doesn't matter that they haven't sold any tickets. Even the pick-pockets are disappointed...
Full list of ND alums in the Olympics: Rowing - Amanda Polk (2008) – USA (women’s eight) Soccer - Melissa Tancredi (‘05) – Canada Track & Field - Margaret Bamgbose (‘16) – Nigeria (400 meters) Molly Huddle (’06) – USA (5,000 meters & 10,000 meters) Coaching - Angie (Harris) Akers (’98, volleyball) – Netherlands beach volleyball Broadcasting - Kate (Sobrero) Markgraf (’98, soccer) announcing soccer Angie Harris is originally from Fort Wayne. My youngest daughter played against her in CYO basketball and volleyball. Needless to say, she was dominant at the grade school level.
Purdue list (not that anyone cares 8) ) Paula Reto - South Africa - Women's Golf Carmeisha Cox - Bahamas - 4x400 relay Kara (Patterson) Winger - USA - Javelin (Third straight Olympics) Amanda Elmore - USA - Rowing (women's eight) Jing En Phee - Malaysia - 100 meter Breast Stroke David Boudia - USA - Diving (Former Gold Medal) Steele Johnson - USA - Diving Christel Boeljon - Netherlands - Women's Golf
Lady Boilers must have had a pretty good golf team! Is Indiana still a swimming power? I haven't looked but with the Track and Swimming teams we usually have at Texas I'm sure we have a couple of kids going.
Has anyone been reading about the IOC and the Russian team? According to a recent report they cheated at past Olympiads especially Sochi. Apparently it went high up in their government. The US and other countries are supporting a ban of the Soviet team from Rio. The question is, does the IOC have the balls to do it.
The entire Soviet...er....Russian government has been helping ALL of their Olympic athletes cheat for years. Even going so far as to switch urine/blood samples in the middle of the night after sneaking into the labs... The Taiwanese Little League was run more honestly than this...
Former Wazzu distance runner Bernard Lagat will be competing in his FIFTH Olympiad (previously won bronze in Sydney and Silver in Athens in the 1500m). He is 41 right now. Last week, he won the 5000m US finals, coming from fifth in the last 300m, including a final lap time of 52 seconds.
Former Wazzu hurdler may be competing in the Olympics for the first time after coming up short the last two times. One story says he qualified in the 400m hurdles. Another says he came up short. EDIT: The official results show he was disqualified for a lane violation. :cry:
Former Wazzu hoopsters Brock Motum and Aron Baynes will be playing basketball in the Olympics on the Australia team. A third Wazzu basketballer, Klay Thompson, will be playing for the US team.