Most Medals or Most Golds?

[WormGod]

What's it matter? It's everyone vs the US anyways. Nobody cares who wins or loses unless they beat out the US. *shrug*

People and their silly reindeer games. Stop skiing and skating and get a job.

[circmand]

who cares. Millions of tax payer dollars so teenagers can do the game they love and only to get rich if they are successful. Stop funding these silly things and give me my money back.

[Triathlete]

Gold medals...everyone else is just the best of the rest!

[pbkid]

i think its funny how many people are 'opposed' to the games. considering i would BET that most of those people b*tching watch football/baseball/basketball which take much less skill and training and get paid x10 more than olympians.

[WormGod]

i think its funny how many people are 'opposed' to the games. considering i would BET that most of those people b*tching watch football/baseball/basketball which take much less skill and training and get paid x10 more than olympians.

IMHO, soccer and hockey are true "passion" sports (in the US anyways). Marketing and salaries/bonus' are very weak considering the sports you mentioned and these guys play it regardless for the love. But, give me RallyX any day.

I have nothing against the Olympics, I just think they are overrated. Especially for a US athlete. Unless your name is already big (like Shaun White with his gazillions of Wii endorsements, that Carrot Top looking mofo), you are essentially nobody, even to your own country. Playing favorites is all it is.

Just my opinion....

[So-CalVX]

i'm with circmand... why is this money funding stupid kids getting rich
i didn't watch the olympics and i don't follow any sport for the same reason... that money could be put to better use...
i wish we gave that much money to our troops... they do something important and deserve it MUCH more than any athlete

[vt_maverick]

...i wish we gave that much money to our troops... they do something important and deserve it MUCH more than any athlete

T/J, but we do give a lot of money to our troops. Free healthcare, housing, GI bill, hazardous duty pay, life-long disability benefits, great retirement plan for those that stay in, and the gift of nearly guaranteed employment following separation (at least for those continuing to live/work in military heavy areas). No doubt great sacrifices are made for these benefits, but it's not like they're going away empty handed. Maybe E-1/2/3 are underpaid, but it makes up for itself over time IMO.

FWIW, my wife was active duty and is still in the Guard, so I do speak from some experience.

[circmand]

T/J, but we do give a lot of money to our troops. Free healthcare, housing, GI bill, hazardous duty pay, life-long disability benefits, great retirement plan for those that stay in, and the gift of nearly guaranteed employment following separation (at least for those continuing to live/work in military heavy areas). No doubt great sacrifices are made for these benefits, but it's not like they're going away empty handed. Maybe E-1/2/3 are underpaid, but it makes up for itself over time IMO.

FWIW, my wife was active duty and is still in the Guard, so I do speak from some experience.

Apperently you have not read the condition of military hospitals thanks to Bush or the push to bill a GIs personal insurance for battle injuries being pushed by Obama. The military is the only brangh of the government still being paid less than the private sector in return for more security. Now government flunkies are making out like bandits thanks to a $700 Billion tax payer funded stimulous that was used to keep government employees employed while millions in the private sector got taxed and laid off.

[Triathlete]

... why is this money funding stupid kids getting rich

Trust me, unless the athlete has outside indorsements they are no where near getting "rich" on the stipidends that the Olympic gives them. Most have to work real jobs just to make ends meet. I know several that if it wasn't for the generosity of a friends couch to crash on wouldn't be able to make ends meet.
The government spends WAY more money on WAY stupider things!

[circmand]

Trust me, unless the athlete has outside indorsements they are no where near getting "rich" on the stipidends that the Olympic gives them. Most have to work real jobs just to make ends meet. I know several that if it wasn't for the generosity of a friends couch to crash on wouldn't be able to make ends meet.
The government spends WAY more money on WAY stupider things!

The government does spend money on stupider things but is that a valid arguement for wasting what they do spend. Sure these kids do not get rich while training but I would like to see what the US tax payer pays to train them. Then if they do get successful and win a gold medal they start getting rich on endorsements. At least with overpaid professional athletes you have an owner and fans voluntarily paying for it not another steal from the tax payer for it. As for tax payer funded stadium deals I am against those too.