Olympics

[bsmooth]

Between the pollution, crime, and Zika, what are the odds this Olympics could end badly??

[Sunstroke]

Between the pollution, crime, and Zika, what are the odds this Olympics could end badly??

What is greater than 100%?

Seriously though...did anyone NOT expect this when they named Rio as the host city?

[CF DolFan]

The Zika virus is probably the worst thing as World Cup went of pretty well in South America. Unless they get a handle on it quickly I'm not sure how young couples take the chance.

[bsmooth]

The Zika virus is probably the worst thing as World Cup went of pretty well in South America. Unless they get a handle on it quickly I'm not sure how young couples take the chance.

The World Cup did not have to deal with the polluted water to compete in.

[DaLittle B]

For the life of me, I just don't get the appeal of the Olympics and Awards shows (sorry with the Oscars tonight,Just Shut the Eff up...I'm tired of hearing about them!).I don't get all the "ooh" and "aww" pageantry and talking about opening ceremony,and closing ceremonies.It's a whole lot of fake USA,USA,as we supposedly come together for the 10-14 days....(then tear each other part the rest of the time!)

Then after seeing the HBO real sports about the facilities,and lavish money thrown around to host the games....Then abandon the stuff afterwards.(I think they did one on the World cup too)

So It'a a whole lot of who-ha for nothing IMO...

(I do have respect for the athletes,and what they do.)

[CF DolFan]

For the life of me, I just don't get the appeal of the Olympics and Awards shows (sorry with the Oscars tonight,Just Shut the Eff up...I'm tired of hearing about them!).I don't get all the "ooh" and "aww" pageantry and talking about opening ceremony,and closing ceremonies.It's a whole lot of fake USA,USA,as we supposedly come together for the 10-14 days....(then tear each other part the rest of the time!)

Then after seeing the HBO real sports about the facilities,and lavish money thrown around to host the games....Then abandon the stuff afterwards.(I think they did one on the World cup too)

So It'a a whole lot of who-ha for nothing IMO...

(I do have respect for the athletes,and what they do.)

I love the Olympics and even enjoy some of the things you mentioned. I think many countries use it as a way to beef up their infrastructure although for many others it is a temporary upgrade that can't be maintained.

As well ... anything that can bring our country together ... for even a few weeks every 4 years is a positive thing to me. With so much emphasis on what separates us all the time I get really excited for the things that brings us back together. Go to any sports bar and most everyone is rooting for the USA. That doesn't happen very often. I remember Orlando City's first MLS game where they sold out over 62,000 seats. The team they were playing was another expansion team. I've never been in any arena where the fans were that one sided as there might have been 1000 fans for New York. It was pretty cool.

[Phishfan]

The Olympics are one of the greatest sports events in the world (Shame on you B). Every two years (Winter and summer games are staggered) I watch sports that I only watch about every four years and enjoy the shit out of them. I don't watch any of the opening or closing though but the events themselves are great.

[Dave Gray]

I like the Olympics.

I also like the pageantry that shows off the host city.  And I think that the local governments do whatever they can to sanitize these small pockets from crime and pollution.  They turned off the factories for a bit in China to improve air quality.  They'll probably heavily police the surrounding areas of Rio....just don't go outside of that.

[DaLittle B]

Ehh,If you like the the Olympics,and it makes you feel better to wave your flag,chant USA...Go ahead...It's like the World Cup,it's just not into it...I don't watch them,any of them.

I used like to watch certain things,but as I've gotten older...Less,and less,and now...Nadda...

I don't have the rosy colored glasses that it brings so many people together...I get the rednecks,that love to wave the American Flag,and chant.Then make racial comments,and all the women are dykes.

[CF DolFan]

Ehh,If you like the the Olympics,and it makes you feel better to wave your flag,chant USA...Go ahead...It's like the World Cup,it's just not into it...I don't watch them,any of them.

I used like to watch certain things,but as I've gotten older...Less,and less,and now...Nadda...

I don't have the rosy colored glasses that it brings so many people together...I get the rednecks,that love to wave the American Flag,and chant.Then make racial comments,and all the women are dykes.

US Women's soccer star and newly aquired Orlando City forward Alex Morgan is NOT a dyke!! 

[Fau Teixeira]

Oh .. she's wearing the hetero-kini .. obviously !

[CF DolFan]

Oh .. she's wearing the hetero-kini .. obviously !

LOl ... she's married. There are many lesbians on the team but the majority are hetro .... and yes I do know that for sure.

[Dave Gray]

I like the Olympics and to a lesser extent the World Cup specifically for the reasons that B is stating.  I don't care about soccer enough to follow a team, so I have no stake.  But nationalism gives me a temporary stake.  I can pull for the USA.  It gives me some skin in the game.  And the Olympics are just weird.  So many oddities, in terms of athletic events that I have zero exposure to. 

I would like it one bit if it was a long, dragged-out, ongoing season.  ...but for a couple of weeks every couple of years, it's fun.