No matter what your political opinions are, the Olympics should be out of bounds for protests.

"the disobedient ones"

Anarchists, it figures.

Typical temper tantrum behavior for those who believe in nothing and respect nothing.

I hope they get prosecuted for this, but you know, in that liberal society, it will be chalked up to "them expressing themselves". People like this respect nothing, because they feel respect should be given away freely and not earned. Leave the torch alone...

Once the Olympics were opened to pro athletes I lost all respect for them.

Add to that the forced relocation of up to 400,000 people in China from their homes to create Olympic venues, and it is clear that money and advertising has pre empted the Olympic spirit. But yet everyone screams when one person's home is seized in the US for a shopping mall.

I for one will not be watching.

They have become a joke.

Determine America's direction with " VOTES not POLLS ! " .

I have to agree with Jimmy.

The Olympics have lost ALL that they once stood for. Everything about it from beginning to end is corrupt and does not even closely resemble the ideals for which their founders stood.

Ship em to a Turkish prison.
Let em learn nut to "screw"
with the torch.

Once the Olympics were opened to pro athletes I lost all respect for them.

Once the Olympics were opened to pro athletes I lost all respect for them.

Posted by jimmywallback at 2006-01-24 08:16 AM

I couldn't disagree more. The Olympics is supposed to be about the best athletes in the world competing against each other. The whole reason for the "amateur" status being there is because of social elitism, where rich white fellows back in the day didn't want to have to compete with professional "working class" guys.

The Olympics is about being the best in the world, not the best "amateur", who the hell cares about being "amateur", what does that even mean?

So when do they return to competing nude?

Who wants to watch a bunch of overpaid pro's act like cry babies and turn in a half-assed attempt at winning.

You only hve to look to the last basketball team. A bunch of friggin whiners. I

say return the games t0 what they used to be, when kids busted thier ass to make the team and played with heart. Anyone remember the 1980 USA Hockey Team? You'll never see that kind of heart again.

The problem with the Olympics is that hosting them has become such a point of National pride, that the host country has to put on the best show possible.
Every Olympics has to be bigger and better than the one before. The amount of money becomes stagering and corruption is unavoidable.

The result is a 180. No amazing new venues, no spectacular opening cerimonies, no top of the line equipment, no CGI mascot, no perks.

But then people will accuse the country of being cheap.

How many people would just LOVE to see the Beijing Olympic venues look like something out of 1984?

This doesnt make sense: "Among the protests along the torch's route so far was one in Venice against a plan to save the sinking city from high waters".

Why on earth would anyone protest against saving a city? That would be like people being happy that New Orleans was wiped out. Oh, that's right, the Republifundies fit that shoe.

"Once the Olympics were opened to pro athletes I lost all respect for them."

why? If a pro player happens to be the best one for the position, why should it matter that they get paid to do it outside the olympics? If the Olympics are about watching premier athletes compete, then what should their background have to do with it?

In a way, I have to agree with that sentiment. It was kind of nice watching non-professionals compete.

However, if you listen to the things they have to do in order to remain a non-pro, it's really difficult. Not that it's all that different, but essentially you will never go to the Olympics unless your family is wealthy, or you have some heavy backing behind you. Talent alone does not get you there, unfortunately.

I think having professionals there is kind of a mixed bag. Some of them care and want to win, but some of them don't care since they aren't being paid.

This doesnt make sense: "Among the protests along the torch's route so far was one in Venice against a plan to save the sinking city from high waters".

Why on earth would anyone protest against saving a city? That would be like people being happy that New Orleans was wiped out. Oh, that's right, the Republifundies fit that shoe.

Posted by justsomeguy at 2006-01-24 02:26 PM | Reply

Even more bizarre why are they protesting the olympics for that goal??? And why does stealing a torch have to do with anything beyond just getting attention ?!?!?!

Terribly flawed protesting. Many of you are biggots. Why did it take justsomeguy to bring this up? The rest of you just espouse hate... as usual....

Why do righties worship and revere the oddest things, like torches?

Kill thousands of Iraqi people and call them collateral damage, but nobody better touch that torch!

I grow so weary of self-righteous bigots turning this world topsy-turvy.

Why do righties worship and revere the oddest things, like torches?

Kill thousands of Iraqi people and call them collateral damage, but nobody better touch that torch!

I grow so weary of self-righteous bigots turning this world topsy-turvy.

Posted by Mr. Peanut at 2006-01-24 06:20 PM | Reply

I often find it amazing, that the people whom the bible warned me about, turned out to be the same people who are supposedly all about the teachings of the bible, have a shrewd mind indeed.

I think having professionals there is kind of a mixed bag. Some of them care and want to win, but some of them don't care since they aren't being paid.

Posted by justsomeguy at 2006-01-24 02:47 PM

I have to disagree again; you question the heart of someone who has an obvious love for the game they play as a career? If they didn't want to represent their country at the Olympics they wouldn't. We shouldn't "dumb down" the Olympics so that younger, not as good athletes can compete. That's what the Special Olympics are for.