Would You Rather…?

[ChetlovesMer]

5 minutes ago, burr said:

Me thinks it was the politics of the matter of the easterns were wearing our asses out on the basketball court that started it all    

This is off-topic, but I don't think that's true. Before "The Dream Team" in 1992 the US had won every Olympic gold medal in Basketball save 2 years. 1988, when the (we didn't know they were crumbling, but they were crumbling) USSR won. And the famous 1972 Munich Games. … You can't count not winning in 1980 as the US didn't go. 

I've always been told that "The Dream Team" was started because the FIBA (basketball's international governing body) had been lobbying for a decade to allow the NBA players into the Olympics as they felt it would be good for the growth of the game. … I would argue it worked. 

[mcanadiens]

On 3/4/2020 at 6:06 AM, ChetlovesMer said:

Would you rather...? #20:

Win an Olympic Golf Medal in Golf this year or Win one of the majors this year (you can pick which one)? 

If I'm a professional golfer, winning a major is going to be far more important for me than winning an Olympic gold medal.  The money is obvious. If we aren't simply assuming that a guy who wins the Olympics is probably already set as a professional golfer, there is only one way to go here.

33 minutes ago, burr said:

Me thinks it was the politics of the matter of the easterns were wearing our asses out on the basketball court that started it all and it kinda snowballed

Lots better examples than basketball. The U.S. won plenty of golds in basketball before involving the professionals and it would have been more if not for the screw job in 1972. 

Many of the most over-the-top transgressions actually happened in the traditional track and field and swimming events. ... Of course, as a hockey guy, I know few teams were more professional that the old Soviet Red Army was.

Edited March 5, 2020 by mcanadiens

[burr]

1 hour ago, ChetlovesMer said:

This is off-topic, but I don't think that's true. Before "The Dream Team" in 1992 the US had won every Olympic gold medal in Basketball save 2 years. 1988, when the (we didn't know they were crumbling, but they were crumbling) USSR won. And the famous 1972 Munich Games. … You can't count not winning in 1980 as the US didn't go. 

I've always been told that "The Dream Team" was started because the FIBA (basketball's international governing body) had been lobbying for a decade to allow the NBA players into the Olympics as they felt it would be good for the growth of the game. … I would argue it worked. 

I understand off topic (and expected this), just keeping with the flow from previous several posts before answering the question.

49 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

 

Lots better examples than basketball. The U.S. won plenty of golds in basketball before involving the professionals and it would have been more if not for the screw job in 1972. 

Many of the most over-the-top transgressions actually happened in the traditional track and field and swimming events. ... Of course, as a hockey guy, I know few teams were more professional that the old Soviet Red Army was.

Yes, many more better examples, not much more $$ exampled though.  Basketball was rather over the top;  everybody knew what USA had and what USA could do with the NBA team. 

Edited March 5, 2020 by burr

[Buckeyebowman]

11 hours ago, ChetlovesMer said:

And I'm okay with that. 

Fair enough. I've never actually looked up the IOC's mission statement. I just remember the Olympics of the 70's and 80's. They felt really different back then. But, you are very right in one aspect. I probably need to drop my "back in my day" sort of thinking. Yes, back in the 70's and 80's you never saw any of the "Olympic" sports until the Olympics. You usually didn't know any of the athletes names who were competing, unless it was their second Olympiad (or if you followed college basketball). So, the Olympics back just felt different. Not to mention we had the cold war, so their was that. 

I think a lot of people, myself included, want things to be/stay the way they remember them when they were a kid. Of course, the world is totally different now. I guess I should allow the Olympics to be different too. 

Holy crap! I thought I was old! Yes, they "felt" different, but they really weren't. The IOC, along with Avery Brundage, were selling you a bill of goods! After Brundage retired, the office of IOC President went vacant for quite a few years before Lord Killanin took it over. He was a disaster and was replaced by Juan Antonio Samaranch. Samaranch was corrupt as hell, but he understood reality, and knew where the money was coming from!

11 hours ago, burr said:

at one time, the games were for the amatuer athlete.  Now I don't know about no Ruskies, Czecks, or anybody in a different society, but the USA teams were amatuers that made no $$ off the sport.  It was afterwards that they went on the Wheaties box and made the spoils. 

Me thinks it was the politics of the matter of the easterns were wearing our asses out on the basketball court that started it all and it kinda snowballed, with all these elites wanting a medal on their chest, like they didn't already have a mantel full (plus the multi-millions).  Some of these skipped the college work to make immediate $$ and although each had done some amatuer status of some sort at some point and each had 'paid the dues', I saw no right to play the games (in the original concepts).  If we picked the kids, the jrs, the amatuers, I would appreciate it.

As for the question, since these changes, the games make little difference to me;  I'll take the Masters Tournament.  and I've been attending since GeorgeArcher won it...

   

The US teams were amateurs as far as you know! 

10 hours ago, pg15 said:

Major no question, this is the ultimate in our sport, Olympics should be for Amateurs and almost a right of passage before going professional, a bit like a lot do in boxing where they turn pro after Olympics, only my opinion, although I do still like watching the golf in the Olympics

 

I'm amazed at those who think that amateur athletics has always been as pure as the driven snow! 

10 hours ago, ChetlovesMer said:

This is off-topic, but I don't think that's true. Before "The Dream Team" in 1992 the US had won every Olympic gold medal in Basketball save 2 years. 1988, when the (we didn't know they were crumbling, but they were crumbling) USSR won. And the famous 1972 Munich Games. … You can't count not winning in 1980 as the US didn't go. 

I've always been told that "The Dream Team" was started because the FIBA (basketball's international governing body) had been lobbying for a decade to allow the NBA players into the Olympics as they felt it would be good for the growth of the game. … I would argue it worked. 

True! In the 1972 games the refs, or the IOC, were bought off to hand the gold medal to the Soviets. It was an absolute travesty! In 1988 the Russkies had Arvidas Sabonis at his peak, and he was unstoppable! Yes, we had taught them well, and they were good students. Think about it, Sabonis came to the NBA long after his knees were shot, and he could still be a dominant player! Sabonis was damned good! 

[snapfade]

I'd take a green jacket over a gold medal. The Olympics just doesn't do it for me, other than women's beach volleyball. 

[ChetlovesMer]

7 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

Holy crap! I thought I was old! Yes, they "felt" different, but they really weren't. The IOC, along with Avery Brundage, were selling you a bill of goods! After Brundage retired, the office of IOC President went vacant for quite a few years before Lord Killanin took it over. He was a disaster and was replaced by Juan Antonio Samaranch. Samaranch was corrupt as hell, but he understood reality, and knew where the money was coming from!

Of course, you are right. But I was a kid back then. So, I was buying. 

 

7 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

I'm amazed at those who think that amateur athletics has always been as pure as the driven snow! 

And next you are going to tell me Santa Claus isn't real...………...

[Buckeyebowman]

16 hours ago, ChetlovesMer said:

Of course, you are right. But I was a kid back then. So, I was buying. 

 

And next you are going to tell me Santa Claus isn't real...………...

I did too, but after a while you start learning things, picking up on other stuff, and modifying your opinions. 

About Santa Claus, I had a manager years ago who had two young Sons. The older Son was starting to figure it out, and was about to blow it for the younger one. So, my manager took his older Son out to breakfast on a Saturday morning, and explained things to him. He told him, when we get older we get to BE Santa Claus! The boy was all about that.

And I'd still want to win a gold medal. Once in a lifetime deal!

Edited March 7, 2020 by Buckeyebowman

[nevets88]

You Would You Rather… #21: Shoot 74 85 65 83 or shoot four rounds of 77? 

This is not a question I came up with but asked by Kirk Oguri on Twitter. I figured it was worth asking here. Me, I’d rather know I have a 65 in me. The first option averages to 76.75. I think I’m missing on the subtext though the question probably has something to do with Matt Every missing the cut. 

[phillyk]

On 3/7/2020 at 5:50 PM, nevets88 said:

You Would You Rather… #21: Shoot 74 85 65 83 or shoot four rounds of 77? 

Good one.  I like the first one because of the 65, but I hate inconsistency more and shooting a 85 sounds terrible.. So I'll go with #2.

[Double Mocha Man]

You Would You Rather… #21: Shoot 74 85 65 83 or shoot four rounds of 77? 

My lowest round is 68 (4 under).  So I opt for the round with a 65 in it.  I'll suffer the other lesser rounds.  As it's happening it would be fun to realize and feel shooting a 65, savoring every good shot and every made putt.

[Double Mocha Man]

11 minutes ago, phillyk said:

Good one.  I like the first one because of the 65, but I hate inconsistency more and shooting a 85 sounds terrible.. So I'll go with #2.

Phil, just consider that those scores are on a tricked-up U.S. Open course... that'll make you feel better.

[David in FL]

On 3/7/2020 at 5:50 PM, nevets88 said:

You Would You Rather… #21: Shoot 74 85 65 83 or shoot four rounds of 77? 

 

I shoot 77 often enough.  I’ve never been in the 60’s, let alone 65.  I’ll take #1 all day long!

[iacas]

On 3/7/2020 at 5:50 PM, nevets88 said:

You Would You Rather… #21: Shoot 74 85 65 83 or shoot four rounds of 77? 

The former.

I'll just assume the 85 and the 83 were me playing lefty. 😉

[dennyjones]

1 hour ago, nevets88 said:

You Would You Rather… #1: Shoot 74 85 65 83 or #2: Shoot four rounds of 77? 

 There is definitely room for improvement in the first option.     The idea that there is a real low score in the bag is really exciting.   That cycle looks like my game plus a few (or more).    😏.     

Specifically at my age, I'll the the second option and shoot four rounds of 77.   I like the consistency.     I may never get to the 65 but shooting 77 each time means there are probably very few mistakes.  

[Buckeyebowman]

On 3/7/2020 at 5:50 PM, nevets88 said:

You Would You Rather… #21: Shoot 74 85 65 83 or shoot four rounds of 77? 

 

This is a tough one! That range of scores indicates a horrible inconsistency, or someone with a nervous affliction who forgot to take their meds on a couple of days! I hate inconsistency in my game, even though I probably have no logical reason to. If I went from 85 to 65, and then back to 83, I'd probably want to put a bullet in my head! Give me the second choice. 77's every day! 

[Patch]

You Would You Rather… #21: Shoot 74 85 65 83 or shoot four rounds of 77?

I'd take #2. Shoot the four rounds of 77. Consistency in golf is a great thing. 

[billchao]

On 3/7/2020 at 5:50 PM, nevets88 said:

You Would You Rather… #21: Shoot 74 85 65 83 or shoot four rounds of 77? 

#1 definitely. That 65 is going to feel a lot better than the 85 will feel bad.

On 3/8/2020 at 10:54 AM, Patch said:

I'd take #2. Shoot the four rounds of 77. Consistency in golf is a great thing. 

Consistency in score != consistency of play. You can score 77 hitting 12 GIR one day, 8 another, etc.

[bkuehn1952]

On 3/7/2020 at 5:50 PM, nevets88 said:

You Would You Rather… #21: Shoot 74 85 65 83 or shoot four rounds of 77? 

Take #1 as it offers more potential to shoot similar low scores.