Did anybody watch?
2024 Summer Olympics
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
How in the world did I forget about Leon Marchand??!!
Yes, he was phenomenal. But for me, the energy in the swimming venue (normally a rugby stadium) might have been even more of a memory than his performances. I'm not sure any Paris Olympics venue was as amped up (sorry, the word "electric" has become cliche now that Travis Kelce has overtaken that word) more than the La Defense Arena when Marchand was competing.
I'm sure plenty of people watched the gold medal game today since it had an 8:30 AM CT start time.
The 200m breastroke and the two IMs were the ones where you could just hear it...
incredible...
Too bad those 2 swimming announcers had to shout over every second of the cheers...
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I don't recall a single poster saying they would struggle. The singular point EVERYONE was making was that it was a missed opportunity to further Publicize/grow the sport here in the U.S. I'll give you my very own personal example...... I did not watch one single minute of the U.S. Womens (nor any other countries) Olympic basketball games, NOT 1. Had Caitlyn Clark played, I'd have watched several of the U.S. games. And I watched a LOT of the Olympics!
A point that everyone was making? You sure about that? I know there were multiple posters on here, including myself, who brought up the point that it's about putting the best team on the court, not the one that can get you the most social media clicks.
I also didn't watch any of the Olympic women's basketball tournament either up until the gold medal game but it's not for lack of wanting to. Most of the games were taking place while I was at work or I had other stuff going on. And I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that Caitlin Clark being in it would have made no change in how much I watched any of it.
Maybe not for you, but sure seems it would have for a good number of fans.
“So far this season, 16 WNBA games have topped 1 million viewers. Clark's Indiana Fever were featured in 14 of those games.”
https://www.si.com/wnba/caitlin-cla...ar this season, 16,watched WNBA of the season.
“When Clark plays, WNBA games average 15,591 fans in attendance (+105%) compared to 7,645 fans when she is not in action. Indiana Fever average 36% more fans on the road (15,142) than any other WNBA team.”
https://www.wishtv.com/sports/india...rk plays, WNBA games,than any other WNBA team.
Even the facts won't discourage some folks. There are even people who were involved in selecting the team that say they were wrong. Those numbers ^^^^ you posted. I think if someone were to do the work, you could take picks 2-10 and add up the attendance improvements in their games (excluding the CC games of course) and they wouldn't come near what C Clark brought to the league.
They struggled because they allowed a group of jealous players, on their last legs as professionals, push the health of their league to the back burner. They had the opportunity to put the most popular player in this country, and the face of the league, on a world stage and blew it. For what? So Taurasi's feelings wouldn't be hurt? Clark and Reese should have been on that team, plain and simple. They kept the league's best playmaker at the PG position and the league's best rebounder off of the team for no reason. The WNBA All Stars beat the brakes off of the Olympic team. It was just a fumble by the selection group.
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I was thinking same: why no Caitlin? U.S. was very lucky to win. Needed a sharpshooter. As for men. bunch of very very wealthy men going through the motions like it was a pick-up game. And their response during our national anthem was repugnant to me. Nonchalant to say the least.
And I was thinking Michael Jordan, at his advanced age, would have made all these dopes look silly.
And I was thinking Michael Jordan, at his advanced age, would have made all these dopes look silly.
Don't get me wrong I don't doubt that Clark is a good player and she's helped bring a lot more eye balls to the WNBA than they've had in years. But again, this is a young woman that hadn't had an extended time off from basketball related stuff since October 2023. Is it really that bad for her to get a break, even if it's just for a few weeks, to recharge? And again, when the U.S. was selecting the team, she wasn't playing that well. As it got closer to the games, there was more of an argument for her to play but at that point, it was too late.
The U.S. wins more gold medals in swimming than their fiercest rival, Australia, and it's somehow a disappointment???
Pretty sure I posted that video in here already. And Dawn Staley is not wrong. Had Clark been performing at the level she was closer to the Olympic break, there might be more of an argument for inclusion. But alas she was not. Team still ended up winning a gold medal without her and won most of their games in this tournament by an average of nearly 20 points per game. But sure, Caitlin was the missing piece.
Do you have any evidence to support that they were jealous players or you making inferences without any factual basis? And yes, Taurasi was the oldest player on the team and I wouldn't be against arguing whether she should be in there or not. But the next oldest player after her is Griner at 33. And the youngest players on the roster were Jackie Young and Sabrina Ionescu who are both 26. The last person younger than Clark is now when they played in the Olympics was Breanna Stewart back in 2016, who wouldn't turn 22 until after the tournament. Though I'm sure Stewart's inclusion was just about drawing more eyeballs to the WNBA, amirite?
the legend says yes...The U.S. wins more gold medals in swimming than their fiercest rival, Australia, and it's somehow a disappointment???
Why do you keep tossing about comments like this? Nobody said that.
I, and probably most every other fan brought to womens basketball during C. Clarks rise, (what the past 3 years maybe?), likely have no idea who Stewart is. Again, another comment pulled out of thin air that has nothing to do with the conversation. Leaving CC off the Olympic team was a missed opportunity, pretty simple.
For some reason you seem hellbent on changing the narrative into something other than that.
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Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
The people in charge at TEAM USA simply did not want Clark on the team for reasons having nothing to do with performance . Many are jealous of the attention & money she is getting . This is no secret and well documented . Numerous youtube’s discussing this . The old guard in the WNBA don’t like her.
It reminds me of Isaiah Thomas’ conspiring with others to “freeze out” Jordan in his first NBA all star game in 1984-85.
It reminds me of Isaiah Thomas’ conspiring with others to “freeze out” Jordan in his first NBA all star game in 1984-85.
Staley didn't say CC would be on the team, she said the equivalent of "Given new/different information, we would consider different conclusions", which is exactly as it should be. But the argument against CC was that when the team was supposed to be training and doing exhibitions together, it hadn't "clicked" yet for CC, so she wasn't ready. It might have only been a week off, but when it's close, go with the proven commodity.
But as others have pointed out, Ogunbowale would have been a much more deserved pick.
As to the fans who didn't watch the women's team play because there was no CC, you're a CC fan, not a WBB fan. That's allowed. And there were enough amazing athletic performances this Olympics for everyone to enjoy, and not just from American athletes. I have never seen speed climbing or bouldering before, but I will have me watching in the future. But the Hassan story is what jumps out to me. Impressive.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Phelps carried the US men's swim team for the previous 4 Olympics. Time for someone new to step up. Not sure who it will be.
I didn’t watch a tremendous amount of the Olympics — but still a fair amount — and what I did see was on NBC or USA (no Gold Zone for me). What amazed me was that I didn’t even hear a mention — let alone see a highlight or an actual bout — during coverage on those two channels of men’s boxing. Saw a couple highlights of women’s boxing and some controversy. Not sure if lack of men’s coverage had to do with the US team not being very good (I think only one made it to semifinals) or just the lack of interest in sport in general. Far cry from when I was younger and Olympic boxing was must see.
Another sport I saw none of and heard no reports on was rowing. Not exactly a huge rowing fan, but always liked seeing it in Olympics.
Another sport I saw none of and heard no reports on was rowing. Not exactly a huge rowing fan, but always liked seeing it in Olympics.
band camp
- STL City
Clark, like Taytum, would not have played. Their time is coming.
It's amazing that some are major fan boys of CC.
As basketball has become a global sport, the level of play of non US teams has risen to new heights. Gone are the days the US pounds everybody. For that, I am happy. Great competition is what I seek from sports. Paris delivered.
Opening ceremonies in the rain, to me were amazing. Pulling all that off live in poor weather blew me away.
I also loved the closing ceremonies. The tech that was used to fly the rings and performers were unreal. I've never been a Tom Cruise guy, but his rappel from the roof of the venue was amazing. He had control of the whole rap in. That first step was so clean, and to go in that position, is even harder. Dude is bad !!! doing all his own stunts.
band camp
- STL City
He's talking about the men's performance.
Humorous (or maybe sad) side note I saw brought about by Katie’s great performances. After winning her first gold, the ACC tweeted out congratulations to her and claiming her for its own despite her having left Stanford well before it joined the ACC. Not sure what the response to that was from Stanford fans or fans of teams that left conference, but members of the Pac (1)2 were not very pleased. Too funny.
Phelps is a freak of nature GOAT. The Michael Jordan of his sport. This will have to be done by committee going forward. The stars of the men's team are aging. They need some young blood to replace them.
He wants to die on that hill, refuting an argument no one is making. Say misleading things enough and maybe they become the 'truth'.