Is there any lasting prestige for winning any Olympic competition?

[Forehead]

Honest question. I'm not sure there really is. I'd still take being an Olympic champion over winning most major sports championships just because I'm representing my country, but so many of the sports are on no ones radar at any other time. When I think of the Olympics, these are the first things that spring to mind.

"I won a gold medal with a damn broken neck!!" - Kurt Angle, which I only know because of WWE.

"Jamaica we have a bobsled team!" - Which I only know about because of Cool Runnings.

1980 USA hockey, only because we get bludgeoned about it all the time. And seriously, besides Mike Eruzione, who makes sure to stay in the spotlight as much as possible, can you name five other members of that team without looking them up? I sure as hell can't.

"Why me, why now!?!?!?" - Nancy Kerrigan, no explanation needed.

Of course, if you think about it a little, you think of Carl Lewis, Mark Spitz, etc, but unless it's around the Olympics, do you ever really think about or remember these guys? Our current golden child is Michael Phelps, who beyond swimming has proven that he can't speak or act (SNL) or do any commercials which require speaking roles. He'll be forgotten as soon as he retires. Female Olympic athletes seem to be more celebrated for photo shoots (Beard, Vonn, etc.) than their actual accomplishments.

Everyone can name Manning and Brady, Shaq and Bryant, A-Rod and Jeter, etc. I guess I just wish Olympic champions weren't so easily forgotten. Here's a quick test for all of you to prove my point. Answers in Ninja.

Can you name the Olympic swimmer who won two gold medals for the USA in the 1996 and 2000 games, and is from Arlington, Va, which should be local to many of us? Answer: Tom Dolan

One of Michael Phelp's recent gold medals came in a 4 x100 meter freestlye relay which required the anchor leg to make up a huge amount of distance. Who swam that anchor leg? Answer: Jason Lezak

Who is the men's ice skater from Fairfax, Va who competed in the 2002 winter games? Answer: Michael Weiss

The USA won both the Men's and Women's 4x400 meter relays at the last summer games. Can you name even 4 of the 8 runners? Answer: (Men) LaShawn Merritt, Angelo Taylor, David Neville, Jeremy Wariner; (Women) Mary Wineberg, Monique Henderson, Natasha Hastings, Sanya Richards

Can you name the American that won the 2008 Men's Decathalon? Answer: Bryan Clay

Can you name the female gymnast that won the individual all around gold medal in 2008? Most of the younger guys should get this one. Answer: Nastia Liukin

Can you name any swimmer besides Michael Phelps who won an individual swimming gold medal? Answer: Any of the following; Aaron Piersol, Natalie Coughlin, Ryan Lochte or Rebecca Soni.

The USA won gold in both men's and women's beach volleyball. Can you name either member of the men's team, since the women's team would be a softball thanks to babe threads. Answer: Todd Rogers or Phil Dalhausser

****************

Anyway, this isn't supposed to be a guilt thread, I can only answer 5 of those 8 questions myself without looking them up. Point is, I wish we celebrated these folks a little more and didn't forget about them so quickly. Michael Phelps will be no different despite being our greatest champion so far. And that's sad to me, since these men and women are representing our country and not just a city.

Anyway, post how many you could answer without looking, and any other thoughts.

[MattFancy]

I think its has to do with them being every 4 years. I mean if its not an Olympic year, does anyone watch swimming, volleyball, or skiing? The X Games help with some of the people like Shaun White, Jacobellis, etc. But, you're right they do get forgotten too quickly.

[Botched]

I knew none of them. Their sports are only relevant for a few days every 4 years. I just don't care enough.

I wouldn't remember Manning, Brady, Shaq, Kobe, Jeter, etc if they appeared once every four years to play one game.

[China]

Do you know Bruce Jenner as the 1976 Olympic Decathalon gold medalist, or as that guy with the bad face lift from Keeping Up with the Kardashians?

[TheLongshot]

Can you name any swimmer besides Michael Phelps who won an individual swimming gold medal? Answer: Any of the following; Aaron Piersol, Natalie Coughlin, Ryan Lochte or Rebecca Soni.

How about Mark Spitz? For more recent medals, I remember Matt Biondi.

Certainly there are plenty that I can remember. Most have been because of consistent success on the big stage (guys like Greg Louganis, Carl Lewis, the Mahre brothers come to mind off the top of my head.)

There are some I remember because of unique names (Picabo Street comes to mind.)

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Bruce Jenner . . .Mike Eruzione . . . Mary Lou Retton . . . Carl Lewis. . . .Dick Buttons . . . Peggy Fleming . . . Mark Spitz . . . there is an endless list of American Olympic champions who have developed a career out of being Olympic champions.

And we have no idea the lives champions on other countries lead. My guess is that Alberto Tomba doesn't have to worry about whether or not he can afford his villa in the Alps this winter.

I remember a lot of Olympic athletes from when I was a kid. I don't think about them daily, but if there name comes up, I say "Hey...I remember that dude."

Just to prove a point that all fame is fleeting, who was the lead singer/rapper for C+C Music Factory?

[Popeman38]

Neal Broten, Mike Ramsey, Dave Christian, Jim Craig, Ken Morrow

Tom Dolan

Jason Lezak

Weiss (can't recall first name)

Men: Merritt and Warner (dude choked in other events) Women: Sanja Richards and I have no clue who else

No clue

Nastia Luken (I know I butchered her name, I call her fivehead)

Natalie Coughlin

I didn't even know mens volleyball was an Olympic sport!

I try to pay attention to the Olympics because I am extremely nationalistic. I much prefer the winter variety, but the running and swimming in the summer are cool (obviously, womens volleyball is cool :pfft:).

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I didn't even know mens volleyball was an Olympic sport!

I remember a few mens volleyball players. Though, there names all escape me.

Something Karie? He was captain of the team in the 80s and then switched to beach volleyball.

I also remember the big bald guy. I think his last name was Samuelson.

If you said the names of a lot of the players, I would instantly recognize them, but they aren't in the front of my memory.

[Forehead]

I knew none of them. Their sports are only relevant for a few days every 4 years. I just don't care enough.

Understandable, I'm pretty much the same way. I guess my concern is that it shouldn't be this way, these folks are world champions representing us, but we forget about them so fast. Most of us are guilty, myself included.

Do you know Bruce Jenner as the 1976 Olympic Decathalon gold medalist, or as that guy with the bad face lift from Keeping Up with the Kardashians?

As the 1976 Olympic Decathalon winner, though I wouldn't have been able to name the year. I've never seen the show.

How about Mark Spitz? For more recent medals, I remember Matt Biondi.

Okay, I actually meant in 2008, when Phelps was swimming, otherwise yes, I can name people like Spitz and Biondi, as well as a few others.

Bruce Jenner . . .Mike Eruzione . . . Mary Lou Retton . . . Carl Lewis. . . .Dick Buttons . . . Peggy Fleming . . . Mark Spitz . . . there is an endless list of American Olympic champions who have developed a career out of being Olympic champions.

I remember a lot of Olympic athletes from when I was a kid. I don't think about them daily' date=' but if there name comes up, I say "Hey...I remember that dude."

Just to prove a point that all fame is fleeting, who was the lead singer/rapper for C+C Music Factory?[/quote']

Many of the people you mention fall into other categories however. Jenner is on a TV show, Button is commentating currently, Carl Lewis had that ridiculous national anthem and music video, Spitz went on a complain-fest during the last summer games that he had been forgotten while everyone else was celebrating Phelps. I'm just saying, I wish that they were remembered as much as regular athletes.

I don't think music has much to do with it, C+C Music Factory didn't represent the USA in a world competition to bring our country any glory. That argument makes no sense.

[Burgold]

Well, Bruce Jenner certainly made a career of it. Dorothy Hamill. Mary Lou Rhetin. Carl Lewis. These are all household names and without the Olympics they would likely be nobodies who were very good in fringe sports.

[Koolblue13]

Personally, I have zero interest in the Olympics and I won't as long as they have "judged" scoring in any competition or any "sport" like extreme sledding.

I did happen to see one of ours had his accomplishments listed and one of the things was "winning on dancing with the stars". That kind of put Olympic success in perspective.

[Forehead]

Well, Bruce Jenner certainly made a career of it. Dorothy Hamill. Mary Lou Rhetin. Carl Lewis. These are all household names and without the Olympics they would likely be nobodies who were very good in fringe sports.

Yes, a very few, over a long period of time. We can't even name 25% of our most recent champions. But I'll bet more than half the people here could name every starting QB in the NFL.

We could go back and forth on "just how many names are remembered." My point is simply that more of them should be remembered, that's all.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Bruce Jenner was the #1 sports advertiser during my entire childhood. I would say that from 1977 through 1983, I saw Bruce Jenner on tv, in grocery stores or on billboards three times a week. John Belushi did a parody of Jenner over a year after the Olympics.

Seriously, when I was just becoming aware of sports around age 6 or 7, the most famous athletes were Ali, Jenner, and probably Terry Bradshaw. Evel Knieval might have been more famous than Jenner and Bradshaw, but I don't know if he counts.

Mark Spitz is a tad before my time, but my aunt had his poster in her bedroom at my grandmother's house. He was ridiculously famous. He just wasn't a particularly good spokesperson.

Nationalistic frenzy aside, I really don't know what you expect from us in regards to Olympic athletes. The US wins 50 or 60 gold medals in every Summer games. You surely don't expect me to remember the names of every dude who ran the second leg of the 4X400. Anyway, that guy probably got a $100K bonus and is now a track coach somewhere.

Seriously, name the starting nine of the 1973 Oakland As.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Yes, a very few, over a long period of time. We can't even name 25% of our most recent champions. But I'll bet more than half the people here could name every starting QB in the NFL.

Why the **** would I want to remember the name of someone who won a Gold in moguls in 2006? I don't give a **** about moguls.

[Burgold]

Yes, a very few, over a long period of time. We can't even name 25% of our most recent champions. But I'll bet more than half the people here could name every starting QB in the NFL.

We could go back and forth on "just how many names are remembered." My point is simply that more of them should be remembered, that's all.

Heck, I'm not sure most of us can name the teams of all the NBA or NHL teams that won World Championships since 2005. Naming players on those teams other than the biggest stars would probably be even harder.

We remember superstars or tragedies.

[Elessar78]

...and I won't as long as they have "judged" scoring in any competition

do you like college football?

[Forehead]

Why the **** would I want to remember the name of someone who won a Gold in moguls in 2006? I don't give a **** about moguls.

Why do you think this is about you? What I'm asking is why doesn't our country, in general, remember these folks better? That's what I think the problem is, regardless of whether the sport occurs every four years or not.

By the way, we only won bronze in 2006 in moguls.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Heck, I'm not sure most of us can name the teams of all the NBA or NHL teams that won World Championships since 2005. Naming players on those teams other than the biggest stars would probably be even harder.

I'll do you one better.

I like hockey, but gun to my head, I could not name every team in the NHL right now.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Why do you think this is about you? What I'm asking is why doesn't our country, in general, remember these folks better?

Because nobody really cares about most of these sports outside of the Olympics. You are asking people to care about something that they do not care about. It's rather presumptuous.

[Forehead]

Because nobody really cares about most of these sports outside of the Olympics. You are asking people to care about something that they do not care about. It's rather presumptuous.

I'm not asking them to do anything. I'm asking why we don't because I think we should. It's an opinion. I mean, I've obviously gotten the answer...it's only every 4 years, the sports aren't as exciting, etc. That's fine...doesn't mean I think it's right, but it's all opinion.

[Burgold]

Personally, I have zero interest in the Olympics and I won't as long as they have "judged" scoring in any competition or any "sport" like extreme sledding.

I did happen to see one of ours had his accomplishments listed and one of the things was "winning on dancing with the stars". That kind of put Olympic success in perspective.

I was actually thinking about starting a thread on this about whether judged competitions were actually sports. I mean no one should argue that most of these guys are highly skilled or athletic, but is it a true competition when it comes down to nebulous judging or artistic merits or style points.

I think the best argument I though of that scored events might be sports is boxing. It's kind of difficult to see that that sport is not a sport, yet it is often decided by a panel of judges.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I'm not asking them to do anything. I'm asking why we don't because I think we should.

Why should we?

This is the sibling of one of those "What don't Americans watch soccer" discussions.

The answer is, Because we don't care about soccer.

Likewise, we don't care about Nordic Combined.

We remember the athletes in the Olympic sports we care about:

1. Figure Skating

2. Track and Field

3. Gymnastics

4. Swimming

5. Hockey

6. Basketball

7. X-game type sports

If you succeed in one of those, we will most likely remember you. If you do it with some style, we will certainly remember you.

If Mary Lou Retton walked into your office today, it would be the highlight of the month.

[Forehead]

I was actually thinking about starting a thread on this about whether judged competitions were actually sports. I mean no one should argue that most of these guys are highly skilled or athletic, but is it a true competition when it comes down to nebulous judging or artistic merits or style points.

I think the best argument I though of that scored events might be sports is boxing. It's kind of difficult to see that that sport is not a sport, yet it is often decided by a panel of judges.

Boy, it's a good thing this wasn't brought up in the Babe Draft last year, when we had the sport/athlete category. The argument would have lasted for months.

[Koolblue13]

do you like college football?

Fair point and even the President doesn't care for that system.

I think the best argument I though of that scored events might be sports is boxing. It's kind of difficult to see that that sport is not a sport, yet it is often decided by a panel of judges.

Boxing is another good point, but again a little different.

Neither are judged, purely on "style" over production or competition.

There was a thread on that a while back and most said no they aren't, with a few exceptions.

[PCS]

I really don't know if there's a right or wrong answer to this one. Like many things,it's about perspective and individual preferences. I do know that to this day I'd like shake Franze Klammer's hand and say "Dude that was ****ing awesome."