And yes, I do think the Chinese swimmer was cheating. Granted, the Chinese don't have a reputation for cheating in sports if you discount recent history (the only time they were winning). Hell, they got blamed as the driving force in badminton teams trying to throw games to get an easier route in the second round. Man, I lost so much money on those games. Bastards. I could use an expert to justify my belief that the swimmer was a doper, but I don't have to. Common sense tells you someone does not have that much of a crazy jump in performance. And it's laughable to hear Olympic officials say "she passed her drug tests here." Every athlete you hear about failing a drug test passed several before finally failing. Only the stupid get caught. What they don't like to mention is that steroids don't stay in your system, and if you use them for years while training, you can get the results without them actually being in your body when you show up at the Olympics. Considering what the Chinese do with children who show any athletic aptitude, why the hell would I doubt that they would pump them full of drugs? And you thought US parents living through their children was bad. The fact that children are treated as state property and torn from their family doesn't seem to fit the "Olympic spirit". And my belief in Chinese cheating isn't racism. I thought that Irish chick at the Atlanta games was cheating when she was suddenly blowing people away. Granted, she was a ginger and had no soul.
But in spite of that, I still like the summer Olympics. I don't know if it's because I get to see those sports that I can't see at other times. Hmmm. Maybe it's the chicks. After all, many of the female gymnasts were legal adults this time. And more shockingly, they were built like adults instead of emaciated stick figures. Yeah, but to be honest, not many curves on the beach volleyball players. And their fashion sense was certainly destroyed by the bra-over-long-sleeve-shirt look. And while the female swimmers were an overall reasonably attractive lot, it became less so when they were in the body suits, goggles and caps that made them look like asexual drones in some dystopian movie. But on the other hand, I really did have an unhealthy fascination with that 6'4" South Korean outside hitter. She knocked the shit out of everything. I think I watched every South Korean women's volleyball game of the Olympics. And fell in love. Maybe not really. But maybe really. I'll let the readers decide.
The big question of the time was caused by Kobe Bryant saying the 2012 men's Olympic basketball team was better than the 1992 Dream Team. Was Bryant right? Not really. The 1992 team was better, but I do think people who think the 2012 team couldn't beat the 1992 team are crazy. Granted, the '92 team had Michael Jordan who was so much better than Lebron James. James took nine seasons in the league before winning a title while playing for a large market team like Cleveland. Jordan had to drag a small market club in the third largest city in America to a title, but he did it in only seven years. Using drunken math, that's like a decade sooner. It is really tough to compare the squads. You can't look at the 2012 team's struggles and compare it. International ball is much better now than in 1992. Who were the best international players in 1992? Arvydas Sabonis gets my vote but he was hobbled by leg problems at the time. That leaves Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc (young) and Dino Raja. Wow. Compare that to pros like Manu and the Gasols and other NBA players in the international game. But while the '92 team was filled with Hall of Famers, that doesn't mean they were Hall of Fame caliber at the time. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were shells of themselves. The 2012 team is a lot younger, but they have a lot of talent. The 1992 team is probably better if for no other reason than height. No offense to Tyson Chandler and Anthony Davis, but they can't hold a candle to David Robinson and Patrick Ewing right now (maybe later for Davis). And the 2012 team had one power forward - Kevin Love. Compare him to Karl Malone and Charles Barkley. Doesn't really compare. But at point guard...........I don't know. John Stockton is much better than Russell Westbrook or Deron "Overrated" Williams or Chris Paul. But since Johnson didn't have much left, Stockton was the only point guard. Plus, I would much rather run my offense through "point forward" James than "point forward" Scottie Pippen. Maybe I'm crazy or drunk or both (and we all know that is true), but I think the 2012 team would give the 1992 team a game every time just with the sheer athleticism. But the '92 team would finish with a better record.
As I'm writing this, I'm watching a preseason game between the Titans and Cardinals. A Titans kick returner had a very nasty break...in his leg. And a team spokesman felt the need to announce that he wouldn't return. Because you're never sure if a broken leg in a preseason game should get checked out.
A secondary question from men's basketball was whether NBA players should be allowed. My initial thought is "yes". As is every thought after that. Why not? This is supposed to the best of the best (not counting Saudi judo fighters who can't tie their belt). Why send lesser teams? Just like Olympic soccer will always fall behind the World Cup, Olympic basketball is not as big as the NBA finals. I love the college game, but that's guys who have been together for at least an entire season. Not just thrown together for an international competition. If you're going to throw a group of guys together to play, make them the best. I think it's pretty cool to see Lebron James and Kevin Durant play together.
The sport I think is stupid to include pros in the Olympics is tennis. What's the point? It's still primarily an individual sport. Hell, tennis tournaments already make a big deal about a player's nationality. Unlike seeing Lebron James and Kevin Durant playing together, I get Roger Federer playing Andy Murray in the final. Sure it was so much different from Wimbledon a few weeks ago when they played the final. I'm not sure how, but in theory, it was different. At the Olympics, they get a medal. At Wimbledon, they get a trophy or plate or something. I've never really paid attention.
In non-Olympics news, West Virginia University placed first in the top party schools. Guess Oxycontin abuse and banging your sister is a party in some places.
I was surprised to see Mississippi State was being investigated for recruiting in football. You cheat to go 21-17? Plus they didn't pay Cam Newton the money he wanted. But neither did Auburn if you believe the NCAA (I don't). I wasn't really surprised to see a basketball recruit to a certain school get investigated.
And in a semi-sports related story, Augusta National added two chicks. Supposedly this is important. And I guess long overdue. I guess. I saw several sportswriters make the same joke about August finally joining the 20th century (or 19th). Ha ha. See, the joke is that we're in the 21st century now. These guys are hilarious. The fact that they were using the same lame joke is no reason to think they were all unimaginative. It's so cute that sportswriters think they're actual writers. Know what century I live in? The I-Don't-Give-A-Shit century. I didn't give a shit when they didn't want to let women become members. I don't give a shit now. It has absolutely zero affect on anyone but a miniscule subset of the nation. Wow. A couple of rich and politically connected women are being allowed to join a golf club that would never let me in. I know because I apply all the time even though I don't play golf or have very much money. Or that may have been for Solid Platinum's VIP access (which I didn't get either). I can't remember.
