Olympics Thread

[PShabi]

Kaman has never set foot in Germany. He doesn't speak the language. He's 3 generations removed. He said he won't play for Germany again unless Dirk does. He's treating it like Free Agency basically because "it beats summer league with the rookies."

I copy/pasted the follwing passage from a post on espn.com. It basically sums up my feelings and I didn't have to type it out:

1) Someone who was born and/or spent some/all childhood in one country, but has lived in another since. To me, these people deserve every right to choose which country to represent.

2) Someone like JR Holden or Hakeem Olajuwon or even Becky Hammond who has an established presence living and working in a country other than the one they were born and raised in. I've got no problem with this one either. In fact, Andrei Kirilenko made a good point - Holden has probably spent more time in Russia than he has over the last seven years.

3) Someone who emigrates from one country to another with one of the major motivators being the ability to represent the "new" country. This one is sort of questionable, but so long as that person is spending a good deal of time training/living there, I can be OK with that too.

4) Stuff like the Kaman deal. Come on, he had never been to Germany before joining the team - didn't really train there and definitely has never lived there, just sort of hitched to the wagon in time for the last-minute qualifier in Athens earlier in the summer. I don't see how being three generations removed from actual German citizens and never even visiting the country makes you immediately qualified to represent said country.

[MAYHEM45]

lots of anger itt.

[MAYHEM45]

[Robbr25]

If he wants to play for Germany, I don't have a problem with it.
How many athletes over the years have come to the US and played for us ? Many, Many, Many.
It is the same thing, just the other way.

[Invigilator]

The concept of dual citizenship is retarded. A number of nations don't allow for it. Play where you are. The idea of the Olympics is to represent your country.

Oh, what's that? You're second string and will never make it on the team in the land of the free? Then actually MOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How about temparary sex changes to compete against women?

[PShabi]

Right on, Invig.

Some douche on ESPN wrote something like: "I like the idea of not being confined to one's country. That way we see the best of the best competing and not the best of one country beating up on the inferior."

Fucking stupid that is.

[PShabi]

Really looking forward to Wednesday's USA vs. Australia hoops game. I know even Americans like to hate on our overpaid superstar hoopers, but I hope we kick the living shit out of them. They've played hard and some big egos have really showed me something by willingly stepping out of a personal spotlight to let the team shine. Time to bring this thing back home. This is still "our game."

USA!

[jillaj]

But the point is he never went to Germany. People that play for the US have lived here for years.

[Talking Poker]

Please name an Olympic athlete who played for the U.S. without having ever been to the U.S. prior to qualifying.

Mayhem wins this thread.

[Reel Deal]

Getting the thread back on the right track... ++rep fo shizzle!!!