What Should We Be (Re)Learning From The Olympics?
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NBC is enjoying record viewership for its Olympics coverage, and it's not really surprising.
The Olympics are held in attractive venues, encompass sports that demand speed, require strategy and reward successful risk taking, and feature attractive athletes who have trained for years to compete against the world’s best on its biggest stage. It’s very inspiring.
The Olympics also offer a glimpse of what’s going on in other nations. Hosting the Games is a very competitive process. Winning countries are eager to showcase their achievements to the world, and to stake their particular claim in the global community.
In other words, the Olympics are about far more than athletes swimming in a pool, balancing on a beam or racing around a track. They are merely the athletic symbols of a larger, more complex global competition that has become increasingly competitive with every passing year.
Even still, many, and perhaps most, people are satisfied to just watch the races and the games, and enjoy their imputed thrill of victory and agony of defeat. But doesn’t that miss the larger point being presented right before our eyes? What should we be (re)learning from the Olympics? More importantly, how can what we re-learn be immediately re-applied to reinvigorate the American culture? Here are a few observations:
- Have you noticed that the winning times keep accelerating? Yesterday’s medalists are often this year’s also-rans. Rare are the elite athletes who are able to win in consecutive games. The message is clear –world competition is speeding up and if you are not improving, you are falling behind faster than you realize. This pertains to countries as well as it applies to athletes.
- A good example of this was the defending all-around world champion women’s gymnast who failed to qualify for the Olympic all-around medal round. There were many tears and much disappointment, and even some claims that the process was unfair, but the truth was that she had been outperformed by fellow gymnasts who had improved more than she had. There were no do-overs, second chances, special exceptions, or pardons. Results have real consequences.
- By the way, neither that gymnast, nor any of the thousands of other athletes who did not win a medal in their events, got a trophy for trying hard. The winner gets the gold medal and everyone forgets everybody else. That’s just the way it is in “Realville.”
- And, there is no complaining when the measure of victory and defeat is as little as .01 second. Nobody requested a recount, or claimed that the clock malfunctioned, or demanded that both athletes be named co-winners. The athletes understand this, including our local gymnast who was just plain classy and gracious despite her tie-breaking disappointment. All of this points to the fact that in the real world the margin of victory often comes down to the littlest things – the nitty gritty details that separate the truly exceptional from everyone else. We need to remember that.
- Did you notice that earning a place on the teams was based on performance, not government mandated affirmative action? The best athletes filled the slots and nobody sued because, or protested that, there were not enough Romans or Cartheginians on the swimming, track or basketball teams. There were standards to meet, and they were higher, and faster, and harder than four years ago – not lower or fewer or graded on a special curve - and a competitive process to decide. We need to re-learn and re-apply this ASAP.
- And, when Americans won, didn’t we all look at the faces of these great athletes as they stood on the podium to get caught up in their smiles, and remotely share in their emotions as the National Anthem played? What a uniting moment, and as a nation we only felt proud of them for the success they had earned.
- And even prouder when the athletes spoke of their pride in representing their country, and offered their often emotional thanks to their parents and coaches for their love and commitment, for putting in the time, giving them the support, making the sacrifices, and creating the opportunities for them to succeed. Nobody yet has thanked a Governor or the President.
- Speaking of which, don’t politicians who attempt to profit from an athlete’s success just look silly, out of place and uncomfortably transparent? Experts say that it takes over 10,000 hours of training to become an elite athlete (or concert pianist etc.). How insulting would it to hear a politician gratuitously declare that the athlete did not win their gold medal by him/herself because someone else had paved the road that they drove on to get to practice?
- Unfortunately, even in anything as good as the Olympic Games there are the the users and takers who seem to be increasing. We have sadly come to expect the shifty and the opportunistic, who choose the competitive low road to deprive legitimate athletes of their hard work, and rob them of their dreams. It was not that long ago when we called cheaters what they are – cheaters. Now we call them gamers, as if gaming is not the same as defrauding, and is somehow a gray area of acceptable behavior. What do we make of that? And what of the thought that these behaviors are recurring abuses from the same countries? Would you entrust your debt to them?
I see the Olympics as a metaphor for re-learning. The world community is accelerating in terms of their competitiveness. They are increasingly playing to win. Is America meeting rising to this higher standard, or just our elite athletes? Are we encouraging individual greatness, or settling for government sponsored mediocrity?
It’s time for a gut check. Walt Kelly’s famous possum character, Pogo, was correct when he famously said, “We have met the enemy, and they are us.”
What did you see while watching the Olympics?
Karen Adamson
2:57 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
I'm so thrilled for Gabby Douglas winning the gold all around in gymnastics. I just wish the media didn't always put people in groups. They said she's the first African American, but they never say the first German American or Italian American. Gabby is an American and we have been cheering for her and watching her and she's fabulous. What a great role model for our young girls these days. Whether people are white, black, brown, or green with antennas, they are people ! She's an American, and we never look at Gabby any other way. We are so very happy for her, and could see the elation on her Mom's face in the seats.
Congratulations to American Gabby Douglas for her outstanding gold medal winning work in gymnastics !!
Jim Hatherley
3:07 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Karen, thank you for responding, and I could not agree with you more. This gymnast is an American, not a member of a group, unless you want to say that she is part of an amazing team of young women whose quest of excellence was realized on the World's biggest stage. You can only wonder how well our teams would have done had the Government determined who would participate and who would not. There's something to be (re)learned here within a broader context.
Kira Gagarin
4:06 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
I can see why that would be important. It is a sport traditionally dominated by white people.If a white person wins a runnin event, people will point out his skin color. Or why Cullen Jones is so important at promoting water safety within the African American population in the US. Of course, she is foremost an American and that was clear by her and all athletes emotions during the ceremonies. No need to be so PC all the time. Why note that Obama is the first Black President? Because its noteworthy, just like Gabby's achievement. She is a great role model, to young African American girls, young girls, and even not so young girls :)
Jim Rizoli
2:58 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
The Olympics is just a big waste of time and money.
It's pretty much political warfare done on a court, water, wherever.
Haven't watched any of it and most likely will not for any great length of time.
Billions of dollars for what? To make the sponsors happy and to take the hard earned money from the spectators.
Rome had their "Bread and Circuses" the world has their sports venues. Of course this is the biggest sports venue there is.
Keep the spectators happy with this sport warfare and fed them well you keep their attention away from the real concerns of the day.
Is it working? You bet! How many people are concerned about our huge debt? How about the political corruption, or the fact that our Govt. is not telling us the truth about anything these days.
One big ball of corruption, yet most people have no clue what's going on.
Keep them stupid and you'll keep them in order.
Jim@ccfiile.com
Jim Hatherley
3:22 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Jim, thanks for responding. You are consistent in your nihilistic view of the world, I give you that. However, this blog is a metaphor of how what we are seeing in the Olympics cand, should and must be re-incorporated into our day-to-day existence in America. In short, were government to have hand picked the teams along mandated affirmative action quotas, the best athletes would have been left off the teams, and the teams would not have been successful. We are competing in a world that emphasizes talent and excellence - winning. We are successful when we play at that same level (as in the Ollympics). Not so much when government intervenes.
Arthur Hawkins
3:06 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Well Done Jim.....
Probably your best yet....really.....until your not so vague reference to Obama in the second to last bullet. (all of that "you didn't build your company....the government helped.' quote has been taken out of context and you know it.
However, the ideals you describe as represented in the feats of the athletes and how they got to where they are today and all the rest of your bullets are the ideals that I agree used to represent the nation,(and I share them) but have been pushed aside, not totally disregarded, but overshadowed by special interests and constituencies. Perhaps those are the gamers you refer to.
However, I do not believe that there is an individual or a political party or presidential candidate that can recapture and realign and re-energize those ideals that made the nation unique and awe inspiring. It will take all of us, rationally and with facts, not sound bites and ideology and spin, and the entire body politic and the citizenry, the average Joe and Joan, all of us to remember and recount those ideals and work together to bring them to bear again as we encounter the global challenges and the increasing wealth and talent of the world's nations. It is a different nation than it was in 1950 and 1960 when we were forming into the individuals we are today. That fact cannot be ignored as we try to remedy the troubling fiscal and sociological issues of the day. The fixes and procedures of 40 - 50 years ago won't work today. More to come...
Arthur Hawkins
3:07 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Persons need to drop their shields and swords and sit across from one another and decide what will be best for the country and stop the shilling to the interest groups and the voting blocs.
The above is one reason why your writing is so important. You have legitimate worries about the country as a whole as well as specifically your own children and grandchildren and you have legitimate ideals and ideas as to how to correct course, if you will. I think you are best read when you state those worries and ideals, present the facts as you see them, throw them out there for others to ruminate upon and keep the conversation going. You have helped me see some things I had not considered before. That is a good thing. However, you begin to lose me ( and you may disagree with what I am about to say) when you begin to sound like the bashing heads of Fox and MSNBC and the endless moaning and whining of the Party leaders and the pundits. Jim......Obama may not be the best guy, but he is NOT a communist; he was born in Hawaii; he has legitimate academic credentials; he is an honorable citizen and father and family man.......like you! To intimate otherwise is to perpetuate the nonsense and the trivia that obfuscates the real issues, many of which you have outlined in previous blogs and missives.
Keep writing........but keep it to "Just the facts ma'am...just the facts!'.....you must remember Jack Webb?
Kira Gagarin
3:22 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Great piece. Its refreshing to see how humble, well mannered, and encouraging of one another these remarkable people are - working together to represent their country and shaking hands win or lose. If only our elected leaders were held to the same standards. Jim, great food for thought.
Jim Hatherley
3:34 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Kira, thank you for responding, and thanks for the compliment. We can re-learn a lot from these remarkable athletes, and must, if we are to maintain the accelerating pace of the world community. We can do it in Olympics because success is based on individual training, determination and achievement. Let's reduce the reach of government - and control - and watch the rest of our society take off as well.
Jim Hatherley
3:29 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Arthur, thanks for commenting and thanks for the compliments. Of course, I need to remind you that I am still a Republican and this is the political season after all. And, I never did mention Obama, just how foolish a politician would look were they to co-opt an individual's achievement by claiming that the government had done all the heavy lifting. Besides, I could also have been referencing Elizabeth Warren ... but, let me get back to the main issue of the blog.
Here are the things I hope come out:
- If gov't picked the teams, many of the best trained athletes and highest performing athletes would have been euphemistically eliminated due to their race. How well would these politically correct teams have fared agains the world community focused only on winning?
- Affirmative action has diminished America, not enlarged it - at least at this point.
- And, cheating is cheating. We have got to get back to the basics of morality. Instead, we call it gaming as if it is the responsibility of society/government to figure out the scam at no small cost or pain to those who have been co-opted, and not on the cheaters to not cheat in the first place. To that end, we need more politicians, doctors, lawyers, food stamp scammers et als. seen on the local news in handcuffs when they are uncovered for fraud.
We have a long way to go.
Jim Rizoli
3:32 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Good point about Gabby Douglas. This is what bothers me about the media...they like to compartmentalize people. I read in the paper that she is "African American"
Like I don't have eyes to see that! I could car less what she is, but the media seems to like to make one group of people to stand higher than another.
The only surprise to me was she was a black gymnist....and it seems to me anyway, there aren't many black female gymnast, not that I been paying attention to notice.
It must be interesting that a black girl is competing in a majority white sport.
Just like in hockey....very few black hockey players.
Jim@ccfiile.com
Kim Poness
3:45 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Another thought-provoking blog!!! I hope you'll oblige while I share two small events in my life that, trust me, do speak to part of the topic.
My sister and I were in the same grade in school; in most of the same classes, except for “homeroom”. During our fifth grade field day, my teacher told us that the most important things we would learn that day were teamwork and a sense of honor whether in victory or defeat. We came in last place in every event. We won no ribbons, but the class had a great time. My sister made a trophy for us with the inscription “best attitude”. I was insulted, as that trophy represented to me nothing more than pity. I was fine with the fact that we had lost – there were other teams more agile, faster, and better at athletics than we were.
Fast forward. I asked my adult son if he’d like to take his old hockey trophies to his new home. He selected just a few out of the group. When I asked him why he didn’t want them all, he said that he only wanted the ones that he earned, not the ones they gave to everybody. Jim H. – you might get a kick out of this – my son is a registered Republican, my sister a staunch Democrat. You just can’t make this stuff up!
Your blogs are helping me view very small, everyday events in the context of the larger world. I still don’t agree with everything you say, but you seem to be very good at finding some common ground, though I remain militantly “unenrolled” LOL
Jim Hatherley
4:06 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Kim, once again, thank you for adding so much to the conversation. We really do need to stop tricking ourselves into thinking that our self esteem would be higher if we got a "trophy" for something we had not earned. The Olympics show us what excellence looks like. The winners have faces - the faces of America - and we love them all. And why? Because we know that these athletes have families who love and support them, and a willingness to train to become their best - and test their skills against others equally loved and skilled.
No government.
I am delighted that my blogs are helpful to you. My objective is pretty simple - you don't have to agree, but you do have to think.
We all need to do a lot more thinking. All the best.
Joe Rizoli
4:27 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
I haven't watched the Olympics at all sorry to say. I'm not really impressed with America as a country to be proud of, I am embarrassed with its stand on war and both America and Israel should have been banned for UN violations and sanctions. In Israels case, America aids a country that is a terrorist, apartheid state. The fact that America defends these actions should have banned both of them from the Olympics.
Any other country that has done the crimes to humanity that America and Israel have done to persons would have banned those country's immediately. It is really hypocrisy that America and Israel can even have a straight face being at the Olympics.
I would have been great setting an example to ban both these countries and others that have been involved in real human rights violations but this is the chaching chaching Olympics why have examples set like that?
Can't wait to see the biil to England after this is all over. It will probably bankrupt the country. Looking backwards to the Olympics going to Brazil. Can't wait to see the problems that country will cause for the everyday person going to it. I'll bet everyone will be told they can't go out at all unless they have armed guards.
Joe Rizoli
Right Side Bob
9:40 pm on Sunday, August 5, 2012
Jim, why do you believe Israel is an apartheid state? Surely you know there are now and always have been (since 1949) Arabs elected into the Knesset and some have even been Speaker. There is no discrimination and Israel is very careful to respect other religion's holy places. On the other hand, it's enemies continue to demand for Israel's annihilation and continue to shower civilians with rockets. Tell me about your visits to Israel and what you have witnessed, don't parrot the Liberal media.
B
Jim Hatherley
7:27 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Joe, thanks for responding, but yikes! The Olympics are great - enjoy the competition for a week. Perhaps you will see more/different things we need to be re-learning.
Dave Lenane
9:02 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Jim, I have watched at night when I am home from work. There are events I enjoy (Women's Beach Volleyball!) and some I don't (Handball?). I wish all the events were based on talent and skill rather that technological advances that make the athletes better. I guess what I mean to say, athletes in the past had to train harder and longer than today's athletes. Today it's about vitamin supplements, who's going to what doctor or what's the latest development in swimwear. I equate that as we as Americans (but not only just the Americans) are okay with cutting corners if it gets us to the desired result. It's still about winning, but its about winning easier. In the first couple of days, I was watching the Archery competition and I made a remark to my wife about how the bows don't look like ...well bows! She said "Well honey they have to put like 50 pounds of pressure on the string to release the arrow. That's a lot of work......Isn't that the point? Like Tom Hanks said in " A League of their Own" ...."Of course it's hard...the hard is what makes it great! If it was easy, anyone could do it!"
I'm proud of all our athletes. I guess I just wish it was simpler for them. I wonder if they wish they could just square off with one another on an equal playing field to see who is reall the best. Not just who has the best and newest equipment .I hope they will always appreciate what they have done.
I'll close with how about that Badminton?
Andy Koenigsberg
10:38 am on Sunday, August 5, 2012
I could not disagree more. The training regimens to become a great gymnast, swimmer, sprinter or whatever other sport is out there far outweighs any equipment advantage or vitamins or medical support. On top of that - natural athletic ability and mental toughness count for far more. I could have trained as hard as any of these atheletes and never approach their level and commitment. It has always been thus and I doubt an athelete of 1972 would tell you anything different in that regard as an athelete of 2012.
Joe Kane
10:49 am on Sunday, August 5, 2012
I disagree Dave. These athletes train just as hard, if not harder than athletes of the past, in order to attain the highest level of athleticism during these games. Today it is not always about equipment and technology. There is still some room for Heart and Soul!!
Dave Lenane
2:07 pm on Sunday, August 5, 2012
Andy and Joe....as I said I am proud of all our athletes. I just feel that they have advantages over other athletes outside of the physical spectrum. Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky! Go USA...except basketball! Go anybody but LeBron and Kobe!
Jim Hatherley
9:12 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Dave, thanks for adding this perspective. I agree the equipment continues to improve, I mean William Tell would never be able to shoot an arrow these days. Buit don't all the athletes have the same equipment? And the swimmers still have to do their lap time and the track athletes must do their sprints. So, I am wanting to fully understand what you are saying and what we should be relearning.
Dave Lenane
9:32 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Jim,that it should all come down to the best, most talented athlete! Not just the ones who have trained with help from Government subsidies (China and to some extent the Good Ol USA). The Olympics used to be about the sacrifices one had to make to be great! Not how a 15 year old girl quit high school to spend 12 hours a day to train, and never have to work) A lot of these athletes (By no means all) come from well to do families that can afford the luxury of hiring trainers or buy time at practice facilities. There was a great story about one of our female swimmers who had to practice at a community pool in New York. Thats what I like to hear...the stories of sacrifice and determination.
And I'm tired of "Dream Teams"...in both Olympics! I guess I wish it was 1980 again, and we were cheering on a bunch of no name kids! Kids who came from Minnesota and Massachusetts...Denver and Wisconsin. Kids who put a nation of their backs, and gave us all something to be damn proud about...in a time when being an American was not to great! Thats what we should be re-learning ...success take sarifice...determination...guts...savvy...skill...and even a little luck!
Dave Lenane
10:56 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Most of the countries that host the Olympics see an economic boost for a short period of time, and then a sharp decline. Examples...Greece...Australia...Beijing..they are all relatively recent hosts with facilities that were very expensive to build and now mostly sit in ruins. Most of the facilities in Athens and Australia sit boarded up as there countries cannot afford to maintain them. Beijing's famous "Bird's Nest" Stadium is a rusting hulk. Hopefully the organizers will learn that cities where a lot of the infrastucture is already in place are best suited to host the games.
Jim Hatherley
8:36 am on Sunday, August 5, 2012
Dave, thanks for adding this to the conversation. I agre completely about the so-called "dream teams." I was happier when the college kids played - we got to meet new players with big dreams. I feel the same about professional tennis players and golfers - it's just another tournament for them now.
The arena/facility issue is a bit more complex. Countries like Bejing erected their site as a means of showing China as a world economic power. In ther case, bigger was better - and besides, since the US is paying so much interest to them for our debt it was easier for them to afford it - compared with the Montreal Oympics as an example than really hurt that City, or Athens which was a monument to financial stupidity. That the Salt Lake City games actually made money after such a scandalous start is a credit to Romney.
Finally, the other piece of your first responsemade me think about the lack of integrity of the so-called Occupy Wall St crowd. I realize that some of their reaction is the result of ridiculous college debt - another travesty -but what's wrong at starting at the bottom, getting some training, learning your craft, and working your way up? These folks wanted to just jump into a $80-100K job. Does not exist for most, after all, the Olympics does show us that, with rare exception, "overnight success" requires 10,000 hours of training.
Concerned Citizen
8:36 am on Sunday, August 5, 2012
Jim,
This is a terrific blog comparing our Olympic athletes to the malaise effecting a rising segment of America. Growing up, my father always told me and my siblings that if you didn't earn something, it wasn't worth it. However, all of President Obama's speeches tell the nation to be mediocre and take as much as you can from the government. On the other hand, he (Obama) tells the Americans paying taxes that they aren't paying their "fair share," which makes some Americans think that most tax-payers are suspect. I think I already pay my fair share of taxes and more, which I don't mind, but I get very offended by the President's lack of gratitude for my contribution and demand for more. Since I quoted my father, I should quote my mother, who always says, "The willing horse carries the load."
Go, US Olympic athletes; you personify the virtues that America stands for!
Jim Hatherley
9:42 am on Sunday, August 5, 2012
Thanks, Concerned Citizen, you obviously have been the beneficiary of wise parenting - I hope you are passing it forward. But your point is so clear. 50 years ago JFK was saying "Ask not what your Country can do for you ..." and today BO is claiming that you are not patriotic if you are not paying more taxes to supply an increasing number of people who feel entitled to even more free stuff. that's why the Olympics are such a great metaphor - just athletes, not discriminated against by affirmative action, applying their training and earning a place on a team that competes with athletes who are increasingly competitive - and eager to defeat us (economically, athletically, and even militarily). Unless we get back to basics, we lose, because while we are becoming increasingly medicore the world is eating our lunch ... literally. The answer seems clear - again the Olympic metaphor - get government out of the way so that free enterprise can prosper - and outperform the world's so-called best.
Dave Lenane
9:52 am on Sunday, August 5, 2012
Jim, I asked in the other story concerning it but you probably didn't see it. How do you feel about the many Republicans that are proposing Olympic Athletes get a tax break on monies won in London? I mean last I looked they were citizens. You get taxed, and I get taxed...Joe the Plumber gets taxed! Why shouldn't the athletes get taxed? Does Kobe need the money?
Jim Hatherley
10:03 am on Sunday, August 5, 2012
Dave, thanks and I was a bit disappointed in this story because income is income - for all of us. And yet even Republicans got caught up in the idea that the Olympians were another special class of Americans who did not have to pay income taxes. Huh? I thought it was "patriotic" to pay your taxes, so why are Congressmen seeking to foist treasonous behavior on another group. Will Olympians be heretofore be known as yet another "victims' group"? Time for everyone to have a reality check on taxes. 10% of the taxpayers pay 70% of the total, and 49% pay 0%. If we really want "fairness" then everyone - including the Olympians - should be paying something - otherwise they will even less remotely understand the value of all the "free stuff" to which so many feel entitled. Thanks for expanding this conversation, I hadn't thought of this part when I wrote the piece. Good job.
Rich A
9:55 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
From CNN.com (http://money.cnn.com/2012/07/10/news/economy/olympic-athletes-financial/index.htm):
"Only 50% of American track and field athletes who are ranked in the top ten in the nation in their event earn more than $15,000 a year in income from the sport, according to a survey conducted by the USA Track and Field Foundation.
And most athletes not ranked in the top ten nationally fare much worse.
'There is an incredibly steep drop in earning power from the elite of the elite athletes to individuals who are just slightly lower ranked,' said Jack Wickens, who conducted the survey and oversees the foundation's grant program."
We're seriously going to worry about taxing the small amount of money the medal winners receive (only $25k for gold) when they are struggling financially? We need to stop bickering about whether or not we're taxing the many who fall into the no-tax bracket, who are already struggling to make it day to day, and worry more about closing the tax loopholes that corporations take advantage of. We need to stop selling our government and our freedom to corporate interests (cf. ALEC, TPP). We need a president who will end corporate welfare and a Congress that will stop the corporate plutocracy from rigging the game so it always wins. Unfortunately there's so much money going to our elected leaders that it will take exceptionally uncommon integrity for this to happen, and integrity is something that's lacking in Washington.
FindBalance
12:31 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Rich A - You lay too much blame at the feet of corporations. All special interest money in politics is bad, because any special interest group is going to want the game rigged in their favor, including unions. The role of govt should *only* be to insure the game is not rigged in *anyone's* favor (and to prevent extremes, like monopolies), to allow the market place to determine what is appealing and what is not.
Joe Kane
10:41 am on Sunday, August 5, 2012
In all my years of watching the Olympic Games, I have never heard of medal winners having to pay a tax for their winnings. Is this something new?
Jim Hatherley
11:33 am on Sunday, August 5, 2012
Joe, thanks for jumping in here ... Medal winners were not paid for winning until a few Olympics ago. I believe I heard one past Olympian note that the tax situation only began in the prior Olympics - pretty new thing.
Joe Kane
10:49 am on Sunday, August 5, 2012
One nice thing about these Olympics is that NBC is using a lot of different channels to broadcast, as well as Comcast On Demand, to show more of the events that people want to watch. For those of us that work all day, this is great to have. Also, it is better than in Olympics past where you had to sit through hours and hours of sports that did not hold your interest (or the remote control!).
Jim Hatherley
12:31 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Rich, thanks for posting in. Here's the thing for me, For scores of years athletes participated in the Olympics for their love of their sport. Period. No money besides their picture on the Wheaties box, or a starring role in an ice show. Only recently has winning been financially rewarded - probably a mistake. Nonetheless, this is ordinary income, offset for the great majority of athletes by the normal deductions that probably reduce the additive tax burden to zero. In other words - this is being made into too big a deal.
Your other point is so much better in my view. When "supporters" are paying $40K per plate, and when Unions donate millions of union member dues to one party, or when corporations contribute millions to both parties, the only thing we get is corrupt government. As I mentioned in prior blogs, 99% of the people know if they want Obama to remain President or not. It's a simple referendum. Announce the date and let's cast the ballots and end this financial donation travesty that kills the Country in negativity - and corruption.
I'd prefer to get back on the track of the blog. WHat are you seeing when you watch the Olympics?
Dave Lenane
12:31 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Rich, after reading your article I fail to see your point. Most of these athletes go into their sports knowing they will not make a lot of money. They do it willingly. It sucks, oh well. I work hard and pay taxes, why shouldnt they? If they are struggling to make money at their sport, there is another alternative, get a job! Is that harsh? Yep, but so is life. If we grant them tax breaks then why not minor league baseball players. Many of whom make less than Olympic athletes. I'm done with this, they should pay their taxes like the rest of us!
Rich A
2:44 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Minor league ballplayers have a shot at making it to the big leagues and scoring a big contract (even the league minimum is a huge amount compared to what most people make). Unless they are gymnasts, swimmers, or multiple-olympic champions, most olympic athletes know they will never make a lot of money for what they do. I'm not arguing they shouldn't pay taxes at all, I'm simply saying that taxing them on the small honorarium they get for winning a medal. I don't think it sets them up as a privileged class, it just excuses one tax out of respect for each athlete's dedication and time spent training. And if we're going to talk about everyone paying their taxes, let's discuss the folks with 20-30 trillion sitting in the Caymans, shall we?
As far as what I'm seeing the Olympics, I'm seeing the same thing I always see: people entirely dedicated to their sport, who sacrifice what we would call a "normal life", and who represent the intersection of the highest talent and the strongest work ethic. I would love to see more stories about the time and effort these athletes have put into getting where they are; I don't think most people realize just how much it takes, and what a great lesson for our children that would be. We certainly wouldn't have people complaining about Gabby Douglas's HAIR, that's for sure.
Rich A
2:44 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Argh, typo: " I'm not arguing they shouldn't pay taxes at all, I'm simply saying that taxing them on the small honorarium they get for winning a medal." in my last comment should say, " I'm not arguing they shouldn't pay taxes at all, I'm simply saying that taxing them on the small honorarium they get for winning a medal is unnecessary."
Jim Hatherley
5:05 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Rich, thanks for continuing the conversation. I agree with you about learning so much more about all the time, effort and energy required to become skilled enough to earn a spot on the Olympic team. As I mentioned, experts (see Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell) claim it takes 10,000 hours of training to make it big.
At the same time we must be grateful that government is not interceding with quotas as to who makes the teams. Can you imagine after putting in all that time and training that the government would conclude that there are not enough Carthaginians on the gymnastics/basketball/track teams - or whatever? We need to end this nonsense in everyday life to help regain the competitive spirit in this Nation. As Ronald Reagan loved to say, As government expands, liberty contracts. Let's re-learn this from the Olympics.
Dave Lenane
6:38 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Rich, I respect your opinion 100%! I just hope this doesn't pass! I pay a 42% taxrate on the bonus I get every year. I work just as hard as they train and I'm sure you do too! Letting small groups get away with tax breaks is what got us to this point to begin with!
Jim just looking at myself and m comments....I see how easy it is to lump the Olympic Athletes in with today's professionals as being pampered and spoiled persona's. I am openly rooting against USA Basketball and was really pulling for Lithuania on Saturday. But many of our athletes are just normal people that an insane amount of pressure is being put on! Even he commercials during the Olympics (Some of them) seem to stress if you don't win a gold medal, you are eting your country down! Not so at all....Go USA! (Except Basketball)
Kim Poness
6:33 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
@Jim - would you agree that there was a time and a place for affirmative action? And that at some point, the government did have to step in to ensure that women and minorities were afforded the same opportunities in the workplace as white men? Would you agree that there was a time when, in fact, the norm was discrimination against these groups? That's not to say that all is fair on the workplace front, but I'm not sure you can argue that affirmative action had nothing to do with levelling the playing field for qualified people. For the record, just three years ago, I interviewed for a position at a major corporation. One of the statements/questions went like this, "You're married. I can see that from your wedding rings. Do you have any children?".
Jim Hatherley
8:12 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Thanks for the note, Kim, and I agree that 50 years ago affirmative action may have been a good idea to level the playing field? But what is the statute of limitations for government sponsored discrimination? Is it a concept that must remain in perpetuum, or is there a responsibility on the part of the beneficiaries to make the most of their opportunities and let the process rephase into a normal competitive environment?
Same with women. Today there are more females in college, med and law schools than men. At some point that playing field will have to be evened out as well. Right?
This is what we can learn from the Olympics is that the very best athletes earned their places on the teams without government interjecting that there was an insufficient number of Carthaginians on the basketball, track or swimming teams. Had that occurred how many qualified athletes would have been eliminated by lesser qualified athletes all in the name of "fairness"? (Tell that to the athletes who put in the 10,000 hours and had the skills and talents to qualify).
This is where we must retun in the US to regain our competitiveness in the world community. The Olympics have made it clear once again - when we get government out of the process our people can excel.
Kim Poness
10:03 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Jim - yes, I do agree that affirmative action has run its course. That said, I don't think it was government-sponsored discrimination when it began. I think it was necessary at the time.
David Nolta
11:49 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
But as I always say, in a democracy, EVERY PERSON is the government!!! We have a government of 300 million people, and that is the thing we should be proudest of!
Joe Rizoli
7:50 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Maybe you David could be proud of that considering that we really don't have a Democracy but a Constitutional representative Republic. The Founding Fathers abhorred a Democracy.
"As regards Democracy, the founding fathers abhorred it and were frightened by it. Words and meaing change over time but the founding fathers in their classical education understood Democracy as a homegeneous population passing on all laws, mob rule in other words. The founding fathers before Alexander Hamilton's intercession had intended the federal government to be a representative republic - not a democracy."
Just do a search for "the founding Father abhorred a Democracy" and see what you get.
As of now we are turning into a Democracy which will later turn in Totalism. We are almost there now with Obama. I call Massachusetts the Pirate Ship State, since a Pirate ships Democracy was a pirates form of Government.
The Democrats have always been one for plunder, welcome to the Pirate State of MA. At every port of call Mob action can change the laws at any time she sails.That's why most "immigrants" love Democracy's. They KNOW that if they get enough of their "mob" to vote rule of law can be thrown out the window.
Joe Rizoli
Amy Buttiglieri
8:18 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Jim, fun blog and great responses! A few short points:
1. We underestimate our children when we think they all need or want reward when they don't win. We adults tend to overlay adult emotions on our kids and the result is "everyone gets a trophy". Ask a kid - most couldn't care less about reward when they don't win.
2. "Everyone gets a trophy" is not only meaningless for the kids, it doesn't teach them "hard work pays off". I love they Olympics for this lesson. When you're the best in the world and you land on your butt, you don't win the gold. No lawyers involved. Teaching moment!
3. Heavy thought: throughout history, the best at warfare ruled the world (against lions, invaders...). Today, we sit at a table and talk (mostly). Humans still have a need for warriors and competition. Our Olympians are our warriors fighting to "protect" the rest of us. Parallel to our athletes in football, baseball, etc. Parallel to our actual warriors in the military. The Olympics allow the world to fight for domination without blood.
Jim Hatherley
9:54 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Amy, thanks for posting in. Your comments reflect the experience of Kim (above) and it's worth making a vague comparative point that the protective "good intentions" of parents that miss the mark in the real world are not dissimilar to the often "good intentions" of government. Why have we not learned this lesson? Probably because once "victim's groups" become accustomed to political largesse (e.g., free stuff), they become an entitlement focused voting block that holds the rest of society - and politicians/parties - hostage.
Your metaphor of Olympians and warriors is very interesting. Frankly I had not thought of it in this way before - at least since the USA-USSR meets back in the cold war days of the early 60's. However, I can see the parallel where COuntries like the USA, China, Russia etc. field large teams (armies?) and expect to gather the most medals. Surely we are seeing this with China, and formerly in the USSR, when children of athletic promise are/were removed from their families at early ages and trained heavily to perform in the Olympics as a potential symbol of international dominance.
Frankly, I'd be more impressed by the restoration of NASA and a reindoctination to science for a generation of youngsters who wanted to be astronauts and physicists.
Jim Hatherley
8:18 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Joe, thanks for this note. Your comments about demccracy are accurate, at least according to Marc Levin, and his books. But here's my question for you - and David - how do your comments relate to the theme of this blog ... what are you relearning from the Olympics?
David Nolta
9:05 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
My comment was a very brief and specific and I hope not unwelcome reply to the last comment you made, Jim. You said we should get government out of the process so that people can excel. I expressed my belief that we are the government--the rights and responsibilities belong to all of us. Coincidentally I am currently reading Edward Larson's Magnificent Catastrophe. Alexander Hamilton didn't intercede, he was involved in the formulation of this government from the beginning (and he was, contrary to what many believe, very much for a centralized Federal, government with major--as in large--Federal institutions. Nor did he succeed in preventing this country from evolving into a democracy. Not simply a democracy of gentlemen farmers, such as his great enemy Jefferson envisioned. We are a democracy in the quintessential sense--each one of us has rights and responsibilities to participate in the government of ourselves.
Jim Hatherley
9:54 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
David, thanks for your comment. Actually, I saw what I believed was an error (3M) which you have now changed to 300M and was awaiting further clarification of what you meant. From your post we have the risk of going off topic, but let me note that while we do have a democracy in the sense that the people have the opportunity to vote, own property, run for office etc., we are not a "pure" democracy in the sense that the majority always rules (as in "mob rule" which is the essence of pure democracy). This is the part that goes off topic, and not germaine to the blog. but this is why we have representative democracy, and even the electoral college vs. popular vote. Perhaps we'll focus on this at a later date.
Yes - I did say that we need less government intervention, and a return to greater individual accountability. I believe that and the Olympic process affirms that, in my view, and is something that we must re-learn within the context of the broader societal/governmental processes to remain competitive. Great countries succeed by raising the bar, not lowering it. We've been lowering that bar for far too long. Don't you agree? All the best.
Dave Lenane
9:54 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Jim, one thing we have learned is we put way to much pressure on these kids to perform. There is so much build up to each event, and God forbid if a gold medal isn't won. Also the media has way too much input as to who is successful and who isn't as much so. The announcing for some sports has been horrific!
Jim Hatherley
12:22 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
David, thanks again for continuing the conversation. I am going to disagree with you a bit on the expectations piece. These athletes have trained and competed for many years and thousands of hours for the very moment. This is the essence of competition - and another point we need to re-learn. There are no do-overs, there is only that moment when you do it or don't. Frankly, I think that while there is obvious disappointment, the athletes understand and accept this more than the viewers.
As to the announcers, I would re-direct your thoughts to the power of the media to influence the way you think. For instance, after Gabriel Douglas performed so brilliantly, NBC had to raise the point that she was the first African-American to win this competition. So what? This was just an inappropriate commentary used to subliminally divide Americans into groups, vs. uniting us all as Americans. All you have to do is watch the political coverage and there is a never ending barrage of race/group editorializing as a way of dividing us. Frankly, it is demeaning to all of us - makes me wonder why/how it all began, and what it is going to take to stop. Bottom line - we can see from the Olympics, despite their amazing value, that we need an upgrade in reporting - focusing on the positives that unite us, not the differences that do not.
FindBalance
10:03 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
David - In a democracy, every person is not the govt; it is more accurate that every person in the majority of voters in a particular election is the govt. And even that is not completely accurate, because even if you are in the majority, the elected official(s) can enact legislation that you may not support.
And further, in MA, the rules for governing have been changed so that nearly all the power funnels through only 4 people - the governor, speaker of the house, senate president, and chair of the weighs and means committee. If you do not fall in line with their wishes, they can set you so you have little say in anything during the legislative process.
I know Jim - I am not relatig this to lessons learned from Olympics... :-)
David Nolta
9:33 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
From Merriam's online dictionary:
"democracy: a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives"
We are a democracy, in the nation and in the Commonwealth. The way the majority and minority are determined in any situation is ultimately an expression of the entire voting population. As for your statement that the power "funnels through only 4 people"--I do not accept that as true at all, and even if it were, the demos or people would be able to change that through their voting. There are indeed checks and balances, and appointed judges and other officials, but they do not undermine the democracy, they curb and keep it in line, ideally, and in any case they themselves are appointed by the representatives elected by the demos.
NOW, what has this to do with the Olympics? They are not a system of government and have nothing to do with a democracy, though they can be considered analogous to a meritocracy. The best performers win on their proven, objective merit (speed, length of jump, etc.)--or, where they are judged, those voting have similarly proven their excellence in the field, not their POPULarity among any group of people. In no way do the competing athletes depend upon the will of the people for their right to participate, much less to win.
Obviously, like all things human, both systems are subject to corruption, and both, justifiably or not, are regularly accused of such.
FindBalance
10:53 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
You can define all you want, David, but when it comes to what actually happens in a democracy, only the majority get their way (and have to accept other legislation that they may not want), despite all people who qualify having the opportunity to cast their vote; the minoirty have little or no say.
As for "the power funnels through only 4 people", that is how it works in MA, you obviously don't understand that, and you are naive to believe that it can be changed simply by people voting; the game has been rigged there, too.
I don't see how you believe we have checks and ba;ances in MA, either - everything is bought and partisan, including judgeships. Democracy all sounds good, but the Dems in MA have found a way around govt representing *all* people in its actions.
David Nolta
12:16 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
But I didn't define democracy--Merriam's online dictionary did! I just quoted it.
As for my naivete, or your conspiracy theories, let's save those for another blog, shall we?
But good luck in your ongoing effort--Olympic in its way, no doubt--to "find balance".
FindBalance
9:10 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I am just so impressed at how clever you are, David.
David Nolta
9:32 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I return the compliment, if it is a compliment, but whether it is or not, I return it.
Jim Hatherley
12:22 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
KIm, thanks again, and I agree. But isn't this the fate of most/all social justice programs. They start off with the best of intentions then quickly morph into significantly more, and more expensive or more intrusive than originally intended? This is what has happened with affirmative action in my view.
Kim Poness
2:10 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
@Jim - I can't tell if you're saying that since social justice programs generally end up costing more than they're worth, we shouldn't do them at all. I would disagree with that. I believe that if it weren't for affirmative action programs, white men would continue to dominate the board rooms, courtrooms, and operating rooms (well, okay, they still do, but . . . ), and that women and minorities would continue to be in a subservient role. I do believe that programs should be looked at with a critical eye and reformed or disbanded if and when necessary. But that's why we have a mini-revolution every four years now, isn't it?
Joe Rizoli
12:22 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Back to the question. What do we learn from the Olympics?
You need to be politically correct. You could be the best there and if you make a comment that the
"Trumam Show " people dislike God help you.
As to derserving to be at the Olympics. Countries such the USA, Israel and others, with horrendous war rights violations should come under more rigid rules or at leat condemnation, which sad to say is getting towards being politically correct, but who decides that?
Also, the Olympics like the Internet, is developing into one big advertising scheme. It's like putting to much sugar in your coffee. It's got to the point where it's tainted with so much sugar you say how much coffee did you put in your sugar? We are'nt there to see the Olympics, we are there for the advertisements and commercials.
Joe Rizoli
Dave Lenane
2:10 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
As much as I enjoy the Olympics, I think waxing poetic about some hidden meaning or life lesson is pointless. If we learn anything its that the Olympics mirror society. They have been rocked by scandals and corruption charges. There has been bigotry and discrimination. There have been great performances and spectacularly poor ones. Yet they continue and countries throw away millions to have them. Let's not put more into them than is actually there Jim. You seem to be seeking some perfect answer. There isn't one. Everyone sees things different.
Jim Hatherley
2:32 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Dave, thanks for this post and I understand that in the end the "games" are the games, no more, and no less. And yet, I do not see that they mirror society and that is the precise point of my blog. If they did, government would have picked the teams making certain that regardless of training and qualifications, each team would have so many Romans, Carthaginians, Aquitanians, Galls and Visigoths. The fact that the US teams are doing so well is because government is NOT part of that process, allowing the best trained and highest skilled, competition-hardened athletes to earn their places on the teams.
We need to look at this not in benign isolation in my view. Perhaps others will agree with you, but that is what I am seeing as I watch the Olympics.
However, to the extent that corruption enters the picture - I could not agree more. To the extent that people are getting hung up over an athlete's hair, or the media constantly trying to put athletes into racial/ethnic groupings, I agree with you.
Jim Hatherley
3:23 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Kim, thanks again. What I am saying is that these social justice programs are typically begun for good reasons, then rapidly devolve into a process of unintended consequences. Look at affirmative action - a good idea in 1964 m, but how long did it take before lawyers entered the picture suing everyone who was not especially politically correct, and tossing the racism word around as though any disagreement was de facto racism. I do not think that was the intent, but this is what the program devolved into - without any requirement of the beneficiaries to make the most of their opportunity so the process could resume being one based on merit. Heck, all we have to look at is the case of Elizabeth Warren to see the abuse of the process. I do agree with you that these programs should have sunset laws. As to the mini-revolution? It seems to me that all I hear about is that this victim's group, and that victim's group back one candidate but other groups favor the other. We need to begin referencing ourselves as non hyphenated Americans and stop being an "egg shell" society if we are to compete as well in the global economy as we do in the Olympics, don't you think?
Kim Poness
3:40 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Yes yes and absolutely yes!
Dave Lenane
3:23 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Jim the fact that the US teams are doing so well, as are most of the teams from the larger more developed countries, is money! Pure and simple! The USOC along with the IOC are raking in cash from corporate donors and television rights. Why shouldn't our athletes do well? With the amount of money that has been dumped into training centers around the country they should! The Olympics are purely a money making spectacle. I mean most if not all of these sports conduct World Championships every year. The Olympics are just another tournament, there is no deep societal meaning behind them. But if people see it that way, then I guess that is good for them. Go Team HAS....except basketball....
Dave Lenane
3:40 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Lol Team HAS.....spellcheck....Team USA
Dave Lenane
3:46 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
And Jim, the Olympics had a chance to take a stand against injustices 4 years ago in Beijing. Did it happen? Nope! They took the money and turned a blind eye. Revenue streams that is what its all about. That's why the sports are on like 6 different channels. Not for the fans,but so television can charge more ad time.
Jim Hatherley
4:08 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Dave ... so here's the deal and why this blog is so interesting to me. I asked what people were seeing as they watched the Olympics. This is exactly what you have done - you are seeing the hyper commercialism/hypocrisy associated with the Games. Good job. I have been pushing a more political perspective (as the Republican blogger), but I get it. Thanks.
Dave Lenane
4:36 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
To me Jim you are seeing these games as some type of Utopia for world politics. Am I right? I mean do you think affirmative action isn't on display at these games? Ever heard of Title IX?
Jim Hatherley
5:30 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Dave, thanks again, and I get the Title iX thing, and I believe that pendulum has swung far too far (check out the M/F ratios in college/law/med schools), but at least there we have seen a protected group actually take advantage of their opportunity and now - hopefully - we are ready to reset the standards to give a better opportunity to the boys who have fallen behind the girls. I don't see the games that way ... many prior blogs are pretty clear about that.
As to Utopia, you may have the wrong term. Utopia is a form of glorified socialism/communism (see Levin - "Ameritopia").
Rich A
9:42 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
One related note: not ALL of the athletes are accepting outcomes gratefully. The reaction of the Canadian women's soccer coach and players has been rather outspoken. I can certainly understand their frustration and heartbreak after losing a very close match, but to claim that the refs handed the match to the US is a bit much. A player of Melissa Tancredi's skill (and she is an amazing soccer player) ought to be above all of this:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/canada-melissa-tancredi-got-away-stomping-carli-lloyd-173222381--oly.html
Even "our own" Aly Raisman was successful in protesting a score, the end of result of which was a bronze medal. I don't blame her for her protest, and it seems she had a leg to stand on, but the reality is that events with subjective results are always going to be open to criticism.
Dave Lenane
6:50 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
How about the Japanese coach handing over a fistful of American dollars to a Judge during the Gymnastics competition?
Kira Gagarin
1:12 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
There is a fee for an appeal of a score in gymnastics :) That was amusing though. But it was according to regulation, as the commentators explained while chuckling.
Dave Lenane
2:06 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Kira...I heard about the fee. But they should change that rule! It NEVER looks good to see a coach handing over a fistfull of hundreds to a Judge!
Kira Gagarin
2:24 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Haha. Was it hundreds? Yes, they should have some sort of centralized payment location that does not involve throwing cash at the judges :)
Jim Hatherley
7:27 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Dave, thanks for this. I did not see the circumstance that you relate. What is your thought regarding what we should be re-learning from the Olympics from this?
Dave Lenane
7:36 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Jim its on YouTube.
Jim Hatherley
7:57 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Thanks, Dave, but what do you think we re-learn from this?
Jim Hatherley
5:02 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
David, Find Balance, Dave and Kira ... yikes! I am hoping that there are others out there who are ready to tell us what they are seeing while watching the Olympics.
David Nolta
6:57 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Hope is the thing with wings, as Emily Dickinson said...
Dave Lenane
8:33 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/why-did-japan-coach-100-bills-hand-file-141557317--oly.html
Dave Lenane
6:13 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Jim, This is the REAL legacy of the Olympics! Host countries that are broke, and can't keep uo venues after t
hey are built. It has now happened to 3 out of the last 4 countries to host the summer games. (I gave London the benefit of the doubt...for now) There is nothing else to see, except the fact that these games are a colossal waste of money!
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/abandoned-venues-from-the-2004-athens-olympics.html?page=9
Dave Lenane
6:13 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Beijing...
http://www.bloomberg.com/video/then-and-now-the-ghost-of-beijing-s-olympic-glory-S4vfbFLATPijNEZCnaJBPA.html