Olympics BMX debut

[ODBAL]

I wasn't saying that it is not a physically demanding sport.  What I am saying is I don't believe it should be in the Olympics.  I think it is the "extreme" sports category and should be in the X-Games or in the Jr. Olympics.

If the IOC is trying to move towards the X-Games crowd so be it.  I am more for the classics of the Olympics.

X2, it was really cool to watch, I really enjoyed it, but it does have that X-Games feel, the same way Skateboarding will have when it is eventually deemed an Olympic Sport.

[Speed55]

They were cool to watch i only wish the races were twice or three times as long.

[indy007]

Last time I was on a course that 'gave' me a cart it was $210 a round.

Last time I was on a course, I was an event sponsor, driving around handing out free beer. There were strippers everywhere, in carts loaded down with kegs and hard liquor. They actually looked good in broad daylight (the beer does help...). I've never played a round of golf in my life... but I love the charity tournaments.  

[Holden McGroin]

Also pure BMX racing I wouldn't consider an extreme sport. Half-pipe, vert, big air stuff, yeah that's extreme and that's what the X games are for but pure racing, not extreme at all.

What makes an extreme sport extreme anyhow?

I always thought a 2:08 marathon was pretty extreme.  Only a handful of men in the world can approach it.

100 M in under 10 seconds? Pretty extreme.

getting with 8 of your buddies and rowing 2000 M in 5:30? extreme.

Lifting 500# over your head? extreme.

200 km stage in the Tour de France and then 195 KM tomorrow? Pretty extreme.

[Chalenge]

Actually, golf is just swinging a stick at a ball.

You obviously have never tried golf. I bet after one round you would be napping like a baby. Tiger does what he does for 34 weeks straight and for four out of every seven days and he plays at a pro level. Most of the amateurs that go into Q school can out play anyone you know or have ever met but in the two weeks of play at Q school most of them will come to the realization that they are wasting their time. Some of them will break down in tears and weep openly. Its stressful and physically wearing and the guys at Tigers level go through that every moment of a tournament especially playing along side Tiger. Tiger thrives in it and until recently when his knee was injured everyone thought he was bulletproof. How long has he been playing and he has earned five hundred million dollars in winnings and endorsements?

Phelps will probably attain a maximum of about twenty million in endorsements but time will tell.

By the way the funniest thing I have ever seen is Charles Barkeley trying to drive a golf ball. He once confronted Tiger with something like 'I hear you said I am the worst golfer in the World' to which Tiger replied 'you know me and I basically always try to tell things the way I see them and... well... thats the truth.' 

My favorite athlete is Milka Dunno. 

[Speed55]

You obviously have never tried golf. I bet after one round you would be napping like a baby.

Like i said, i'm not taking anything away from the ability to play golf. I know it takes skill to hit the ball far, with precise aim towards the target.

But to call a golfer a top athlete, to me anyway, is still over the top funny. 

Same goes for race car drivers. I love racing, but i wouldn't call them top athletes either.

It's actually "iffy" to even consider them sports.  I'd personally label them "Competitive Racing", and "Competitive Golf".

No i never played golf, and never had a desire to either, but when i was in high school i was on the track and field team. I ran between 6-10 miles a day, and we weight trained monday, wednesday, and friday after practice. I ran the 4 x 100, 4 x 200, 4 x 400, 4 x 800 relays, 400 intermediate hurdles, 3.5 mile cross country races, and was practicing pole vault and long jump before i quit at the beginning of junior year, because i liked playing guitar more.  <---- again, this was a 15/16 year old in high school.  I used to be soaked and would puke after winning races sometimes, but i've never really seen a golfer break a sweat.   HUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHHH, <whispered>"and here is tiger with the put."
                         
Also, endorsements don't make, or have anything to do with being an athlete.


I guess it's like the scientists with different opinions over pluto being a planet.

[Kaw1000]

ath·lete (thlt)
n.
A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts.


So, from seeing the definition of athlete, does this change your mind about golfers and race car drivers?

[Chalenge]

I used to be soaked and would puke after winning races sometimes, but i've never really seen a golfer break a sweat.

Phil Mickelson would probably disagree with you. He is the number two golfer in the world right know by poll and points. He has been number two just about as long as Tiger has been playing IMO. Phil is also worth millions from winnings and endorsements (I mean how hard can golf be if the pros that play golf make more then any other athletes - or is there someone making more?). Phil would be getting a lot more attention (outside of San Diego) if Tiger were not playing and he has to be wondering at times - why me? why now in my time? - but Phil is a champion. Phil sweats profusely. Even with the new attire that wicks sweat he is usually drenched in the stuff. Phil is a big guy and you gotta cut him some slack I mean he is playing against Tiger - mostly. Phil has started wearing darker attire during tournaments which made me think his sponsors had resorted to the adage: 'Never let them see you sweat.'

I think the only person that has more victories grabbed out from under him would be Greg Norman.

You meet a nice crowd of people playing golf too.

[Airscrew]

Same goes for race car drivers. I love racing, but i wouldn't call them top athletes either.

Speed, ever drive a race car?

[-tronski-]

You'll find the work a top F1 driver needs to do to be competitive is quite excessive...

On topic, if synchro diving/swimming is an olympic sport - hell why not BMX too

 Tronsky

[Sandman]

I am more for the classics of the Olympics.

You mean running and nothing else? That's what it used to be... at least for the first Olympiads held in Greece.

[Speed55]

Speed, ever drive a race car?

Nope, i do enjoy watching the races sometimes, and i think it takes alot of skill to make a pass at 180mph on a turn. Is it exciting, hell yeah,  but to call them top athletes, just sounds wierd to me.  I've been in my friends 86' Lt1 camaro at 140mph, and his viper, but that one i'm not sure how fast we were going because the torque took me by suprise and burried me in the seat. 

It's a difference of opinion, no big deal.

In my mind, i just picture athletes as gymnists, runners, swimmers, divers, wrestlers, javelin throwers, shot putters, bike racers, football players, soccer players, etc. 

Oh and chalenge .... http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/specials/fortunate50/2008/

I think they are all overpaid just on the base salary, but take away the endorsements and see where mickelson stands, not that salary denotes ability anymore anyway.