The Olympics have me thinking....

ugotactionTX

ugotactionTX

I'm in dead rack!
Silver Member
Why the hell did I just see "SPEED WALKING" as an Olympic sport, 50 laps where the only requirement is that one foot has to be on the ground all the time. THAT IS NOT A SPORT! THAT IS FREAKING STUPID! <== is that better?
(sorry in advance to all you speed walking practitioner's)

Why do we still not have pocket billiards as an Olympic sport. It's certainly not a lack of skill at the highest level. Is it the lack of a "Almighty" authority guiding and regulating the sport. I just can't believe they have speed walking but no billiards of any kind.

BTW did you know that Tug-O-War was an Olympic sport

http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/past/index_uk.asp

that's awesome!
 
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As much as I love pool, it doesn't belong in the olympics. Lack of worldwide interest. Name 10 poolplayers TOTOAL from Africa, Australia, and South America. Other than North and Central America, Asia, and Europe, no one really cares that much. Plus, the discipline and rules have always been a big issue.
 
ugotactionTX said:
Why the hell did I just see "SPEED WALKING" as an Olympic sport, 50 laps where the only requirement is that one foot has to be on the ground all the time. THAT IS NOT A SPORT! THAT IS FREAKING RETARDED!
(sorry in advance to all you speed walking practitioner's)

Why do we still not have pocket billiards as an Olympic sport. It's certainly not a lack of skill at the highest level. Is it the lack of a "Almighty" authority guiding and regulating the sport. I just can't believe they have speed walking but no billiards of any kind.

BTW did you know that Tug-O-War was an Olympic sport

http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/past/index_uk.asp

that's awesome!
Click to expand...

I hear they're thinking about "speed crawling". One knee and one elbow on the ground at all times.
:groucho:

That ought to be exciting.


How about a cart wheel race....last one to puke...wins.

...knuckle dragging race.....it's so easy a cave man can do it....

:rotflmao1:
 
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muttley76 said:
As much as I love pool, it doesn't belong in the olympics. Lack of worldwide interest. Name 10 poolplayers TOTOAL from Africa, Australia, and South America. Other than North and Central America, Asia, and Europe, no one really cares that much. Plus, the discipline and rules have always been a big issue.
Click to expand...


I tend to agree. As much as we love pool, the Olympic committee doesn't seem to care a whole lot about it.

How did speed walking get into the Olympics, anyway?

Is it really a sport?
Were there speed racing competitions around the world to determine which athletes would respresent their country?
I don't remember hearing on the news or ESPN about Olympic qualifiers for speed walking.
 
I don't think pool's negative image keeps it out as much as there not being one body to regulate the damn game. It just about turns my stomach to quote a rule from the BCA rule book only to have someone shoot it down with "The WPA now says it's like this...." In another few years there will be another and another and another. Pool is so unorganized it's not even funny. Who would want the headache?
MULLY
 
ugotactionTX said:
ok I edited my post so I wouldn't be offensive. I certainly meant nothing by it.
Click to expand...

I just thought I'd mention it before someone went ballistic on you.

You bring up a good point. How is speed walking a legitimate sport?
I did a search on the web, and jokes just come up. One search result was a diary, and I was cracking up while reading it....and at the end I saw that is was a joke.
I did a search on ESPN, and got nothing.
 
Maybe they put it in as an event just to edge out pool. I dunno.

If i am not wrong i think there are plenty of cueist in Australia. Isn't Quientan Hann from Australia?

Not sure about Africa or South American but i am pretty sure Pool would not come across to be any more weirder then speed walking at least.
 
okinawa77 said:
How did speed walking get into the Olympics, anyway?

Is it really a sport?
Click to expand...

The same question arose when I saw guys jumping on a friekin trampoline:rolleyes:

John
 
Softball won't be in the next summer Olympics, and they are not likely to replace it with those hard balls on a slate table.:mad: :(
 
ugotactionTX said:
Why the hell did I just see "SPEED WALKING" as an Olympic sport, 50 laps where the only requirement is that one foot has to be on the ground all the time. THAT IS NOT A SPORT! THAT IS FREAKING STUPID! <== is that better?
(sorry in advance to all you speed walking practitioner's)

Why do we still not have pocket billiards as an Olympic sport. It's certainly not a lack of skill at the highest level. Is it the lack of a "Almighty" authority guiding and regulating the sport. I just can't believe they have speed walking but no billiards of any kind.

BTW did you know that Tug-O-War was an Olympic sport

http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/past/index_uk.asp

that's awesome!
Click to expand...
Both tug-o-war and speed walking require athleticism and physical fitness to some degree. Pool does not. I'll probably get flamed for that but I don't care. It's my op.

This also touches on whether pool is a sport or not, and I am sure there are tons of threads debating this topic. I think sports have to be categorized (contact, racing, skill, strength, etc.) to properly distinguish between them. The word "sports" is by itself too general to describe all of it. While I don't see pool as an activity that requires physical fitness for excellence, it can be considered a "skill" sport, much like archery and air pistol shooting. Probably get flamed for that too, whatever.

Anyway, not enough global interest in pocket billiards to make it to the Olympics. And if it did, would you want Team USA or individual representation? We already have the Mosconi Cup, and that is geared toward the "pool world" already...you see the turnout. How many people are going to pack an indoor arena to watch pocket billards at the Olympics? And who would sponsor them? Pros have trouble keeping sponsors now, much less for the Olympics.

Having it as an Olympic event is unnecessary IMO. Let's work to make it better than what it is, instead of complaining about what it isn't, or could be.

I once *****ed and moaned about there not being enough money in pro pool, but reply after reply basically educated me as to why it isn't so...I suppose the same can apply to why billiards is not in the Olympics or Commonwealth games, for that matter.

C'est la vie.
 
mullyman said:
... It just about turns my stomach to quote a rule from the BCA rule book only to have someone shoot it down with "The WPA now says it's like this...." ..
Click to expand...
The BCA is a member of the WPA which is the world governing body of pool. The BCA accepts the WPA rules and participates in their revision and distribution, although the BCA was a little slow to update its web site with the January 2008 revisions.

You may want to look into the organization format of the WPA and the WCBS. With understanding, I think your stomach will feel better.
 
Pool needs to be in the olympics

Taken from my blog:

So I'm watching the Olympics right now, yes yes very exciting and cool but I'm really pissed off because cue sports are not represented in the Olympics and I have no idea why.

Pool should definitely be in the Olympics for several really good reasons:

Popularity:
In the US alone, 40 million people play pool, which makes it the 4th largest participatory sport. Pool, snooker, and 3 cushion billiards are incredibly popular in most of Asia and Europe. In comparison, how many people do you think do curling, or pommel horse?

History:
Pool has a rich tradition extending to the 15th century. It has both been a game of royalty and of the working class. Pool has a decorated history of literature, knowledge, and heroes, from the originals such as Mosconi to the Jordan-esque Efren Reyes. Of course, the tradition of pool, the original sport of kings, cannot possibly compete with the rich traditions of Trampoline or synchronized diving.

Recognition:
Pool is recognized as an official international sport by the IOC. This recognition was granted in the mid 90s with the WCBS as the governing body of all cue sports. Standardized ways of competition can/has been worked out to represent all playing styles fairly.

For those that say pool is not a sport:
Pool requires incredible amounts of both mental and physical endurance, muscle control, discipline, creativity, consistency, and precision. It takes years to hone the skills and hours of practice necessary to become a great pool player. This makes pool as much of a "sport", if not more, than such Olympic events as Archery, Air Shooting, Dressage (that stupid Equestrian crap), Curling, etc.

Fair and Open:
Pool is dominated by almost no single country, which is an encouraging sign for pool as an Olympic event. Softball was taken out as a medal event because the US was so dominant in it.

Finally, pool also represents the best chance for me to get a future Olympic medal. Those things are shiny!

No offense to any of these sports, but I think billiards are definitely more deserving of being Olympic events than sports such as Dressage, Archery, Shooting, Curling, and so on.
 
Bob Jewett said:
The BCA is a member of the WPA which is the world governing body of pool. The BCA accepts the WPA rules and participates in their revision and distribution, although the BCA was a little slow to update its web site with the January 2008 revisions.

You may want to look into the organization format of the WPA and the WCBS. With understanding, I think your stomach will feel better.
Click to expand...


Thanks, Bob. My ignorance of the situation was shining through.
MULLY
 
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