So I'll ask again - given your stance, I assume you would have preferred it if that list of 35 athletes had not been allowed to participate in these games, as well as everyone signed with Nike, etc?

[This message has been edited by Bob the Enzyte Guy (edited 8/18/2008 12:50p).]

That link that you gave me was to the "Speedo" website...........all it shows is their profile. I did not find anywhere where it said that those 35 were sponsored by speedo................more like these Olympians use "speedo" suits, etc...........I could be wrong.

Look, I understand were the sport is going towrads (= good atheltes finally getting paid via sponsorship, endorsements, etc.......). Do I like it?

Yes and no............I'll leave it at that.

fair enough. i'll just say that it certainly appears that the only ones not getting paid are (1) not good enough to warrant getting paid or (2) preserving college/HS eligibility.

That is exactly right!!

and I guess the last point would be that i'm not necessarily interested in seeing a competition comprised only of those in category #1 - or even #2 considering several swimmers have bypassed #2 due to being so good (and far removed from categaory 1).

Not getting paid doesn't mean it's some noble competition.

[This message has been edited by Bob the Enzyte Guy (edited 8/18/2008 1:48p).]

You can call me crazy for saying this but most sports have two majors events, Olympics and World Championships.

To me, it would be great to see the Olympics be kept to non-professional athletes (and you as an athlete make the choice of going to the Olympics or choosing the cash.........like it used to be not too long ago in most"non-professional sports" as a matter of fact, I made that exact decision while being in the sport)

Have the World Championships be open to anybody and everybody.

That is JUST me and MY opinion. I understand that it will never be like that because there is just too much money to be made by sponsors, athletes, etc...........

The problem for 50 years has been all of the countries that make their athletes amateurs in name only. So all you end up with in your dream scenario is a b*st*rdized olympics that favors dickwad countries like China and Russia and handicaps the good guys that only send true amateurs.

[This message has been edited by Bob the Enzyte Guy (edited 8/18/2008 2:25p).]

I understand that, I actually competed against athletes like that (mostly communist countries, like, Russia, East Germany, Cuba, etc...........). I said in a perfect world, that is what I would love to see........

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Good 'ol day syndrome. Makes perfect sense.

World Championships and the Olympics?

I hope your not referring to the World Series,and NBA Championships? If so that is a joke too. The only REAL world championships would be to take all of the greatest athletes from each country and have them play against one another.

Disregard age and all the other bull crap like money that is preventing this from happening

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I hope your not referring to the World Series,and NBA Championships? If so that is a joke too. The only REAL world championships would be to take all of the greatest athletes from each country and have them play against one another.

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What???Ofcourse I am not refering to the NBA or world series..........what the hell are you talking about?

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The current rules and format for Olympic boxing is a complete joke! Even IF a professional boxer wanted to participate, there is no way they would in it's current state.

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I agree.

What they did to olympic boxing as a result of the Seoul judging controversy is a complete travesty. The rules are ridiculous, encourage a horrendously unentertaining style of fighting (dance, dance, land a punch, and then hold; pitty-pat punching; and no body shots), and are clearly still subject to being abused by shady and incompetent judging. They made it infinitely worse.


[This message has been edited by Bob the Enzyte Guy (edited 8/20/2008 5:14p).]