American Olympic Atheletes Likely to be Booed

How do you think Americans will react?

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Will America watch while its athletes are booed?

August 8, 2004

By BILL MANN
FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT





A caller to KRON-TV anchor Gary Radnich's KNBR Radio show in San Francisco one morning recently raised a disturbing prospect -- one that's more than a bit worrisome to NBC-TV.


Television coverage of the Athens Olympics start at 8 p.m. Friday on NBC; the well-informed, seasoned traveler who called Radnich wanted to discuss something that hasn't been talked about much in the U.S. media. So far.


"I wonder how many Americans," said the caller, "have any idea how our athletes are going to be booed in Athens at the Olympics." Probably not many, given this country's dismaying lack of interest in anything outside U.S. borders.


In a recent letter to the editor in The Press Democrat, a Santa Rosa teacher who'd just returned from a year in Norway as a Fulbright Scholar wrote of the widespread anti-American sentiment she encountered because of the unpopular war in Iraq.


Last spring, on a visit to British Columbia, I found the Canadian press filled with a level of anti-American sentiment I'd never seen, even having lived up there.


It's not a pretty picture facing U.S. Olympic athletes.


The specter of widespread boos in Athens every time "The Star-Spangled Banner" is played is not far-fetched -- and is much on the minds of the people at NBC. The possibility of the American team's being lustily booed as it enters the Olympic Stadium on Friday night also makes NBC cringe.


I asked a publicist at NBC Sports about possible anti-U.S. protests in Athens. "Of course, we've discussed it," he said nervously, "but I'm really not at liberty to say anything more." Click.


So far, the media has concentrated on possible terrorist acts in Athens, avoiding what seems a much likelier scenario -- innocent American athletes being booed, taunted or spat upon by protesters.


Radnich told his KNBR caller, "You know, when a lot of NBA players said they weren't going to Athens, I thought they just wanted to sit on their butts and watch the Games on TV. Now I think they may have good reason to stay home."


If such protests, as seems likely, do arise, NBC will be in a tight spot: Show too much of them and they'll be called Bush-bashers on Fox News and elsewhere. Play down or try to hide them, and they'll be criticized for trying to sweep them under the rug...

This could be a shock for many Americans...

[edit on 12-8-2004 by loam]

[edit on 12-8-2004 by loam]

If we are booed that will show how immature the fans of the other nations are, and how much they are blinded by foolish hatred.

Many Americans will be shocked of course and that can cause xenophboia to rise.

If American athletes are booed because of the war on terror or in Iraq, then the Iraqi athletes should be booed because of the invasion of Kuwait, the German athletes because of the invasion of Europe etc, etc, etc.

The Olympics are supposed to be about putting aside differences and competing in a purely athletic event.

It does not surprise me after all we do not control the international community.

We have to remember that what our government does it reflects on us the people of this country and other does not discriminate and to them we are the same.

I feel bad for our athletes that work so hard to get to were they are now, and it is a shame that the policies of this administration are seen as something shameful.

Our athletes should ignore all this and do what they were prepared to do.

The best job and they know that we in US are very proud of them.

Its gonna be a shocker. And oh so many athletes will be cooked on the new GH testing I'd say this may well be the last Olympics for many years.

www.truthinmedia.org...

Boorish and arrogant American athletes �were booed at every venue, though admittedly some brought it upon themselves,� Bickley notes. Yet did you ever see that on the jingoistic NBC TV Olympic coverage? We didn�t. So much for the coverage vs. propaganda, a mere filler between the commercials. No wonder the NBC Olympic ratings were at record lows.

�It would be convenient to say it all started with Phoenix swimmer Gary Hall Jr., who said the U.S. swim team would smash the Australians �like guitars�,� Bickle reports. �He unknowingly became the symbol of American arrogance, an athlete who actually influenced Australian culture.�

Convenient, but inaccurate. Not only because the outraged Aussie swimmers humiliated the Americans, especially in relays. But also because it wasn�t just the American athletes who suffered the wrath of the local Aussies. U.S. journalists took some hits, too. �One night in Sydney, a local walked up to an American and looked at his media credential,� Bickley says. �And with a mocking face, he began playing an air guitar.�

just something to consider...because of the unpopular war in Iraq, athlete's from Iraq will be representing their country at the Olympics for the first time in over 10 years. AND, they don't have to worry about being tortured for not winning (if they don't), by saddam's people, which WAS a common practice when Iraqi's use to compete.

*sigh* so pride is wrong? being proud is not arrogance, judging is..

Hoooccck-Ptooi

Hmmm. Just a couple of months ago, Hall claimed Lezak spit in his lane before the 50 free at spring nationals in Orlando, Fla. Hall finished second, Lezak fifth.

On his Web site, Hall wrote: "I have one bit of advice for Jason: if you're going to spit in my lane, beat me. It looks bad if you don't."

DutchGirl Beats SpitGirl

But Fate has reserved the sweetest comeuppance so far for U.S. swimmer Amy Van Dyken, who's evidently had some harsh words with the Netherlands swimming whiz, Inge de Bruijn. At the start of the 50-meter freestyle semifinal, Van Dyken, while wetting herself down at the start of the race, spat demonstratively into the lane of de Bruijn, who was starting next to her--an incident that the NBC commentators made much of, as an indication of their reportedly "intense" rivalry.

Well, DutchGirl Inge de Bruijn crushed SpitGirl Van Dyken "like a guitar" (as Gary Hall would say), beating her by half a body length in fifty meters (one pool length). Van Dyken, acting as if she had been hit by the Kursk going down, glowered and shook her head and swam across the lanes ignoring the winner, instead of graciously congratulating her, as has been the custom. Well, all that spitting and posturing didn't help her one bit. In the final, DutchGirl got the gold and SpitGirl again finished fourth, out of the medals.

What sportsmanship!

Spit on this.

Van Dyken, who finished second in 24.99, downplayed the incident.

"I always spit in Dara's lane," she said. "It's nothing against her. I think she got upset the first time because she hadn't swum against me before. I told her, 'I've got nothing but love for you if I spit in your lane."'

Oh of course! Spitting in a pool, let alone someone's swimming lane, must be a sign of love in America! How ignorant are we in the outside world!

Originally posted by astroblade
just something to consider...because of the unpopular war in Iraq, athlete's from Iraq will be representing their country at the Olympics for the first time in over 10 years. AND, they don't have to worry about being tortured for not winning (if they don't), by saddam's people, which WAS a common practice when Iraqi's use to compete.

But then again laddie, (if you�re an American) your country probably did kill 1000�s of future sports stars with not very smart bombs, being guided in by not very smart people.

Ooh here I have just killed your little sister, Brother and your mother has no arms, but! You can now go and compete in the Olympics and make money for big American companies who are sponsoring the whole event! Run along and train now, that�s a good boy/girl.

I do not envy the US competitors this year! First they are severly limited in the way they can celebrate (ie....not allowed to waive the US flag) and now they have to worry about being booed by the people in the stands. Let alone the already ominous threats that endanger their lives and those around them.

That American athletes should realize that if there is booing going on, it is not directed at them as individuals, or as a team...the booing will be for the US policy makers and bush in particular...still tough to hear boos coming at you, but it should be water off a ducks back.

Watch the IRAQ team get the loudest chear save for the host Greek team.

Originally posted by SiCkBoY

Originally posted by astroblade
just something to consider...because of the unpopular war in Iraq, athlete's from Iraq will be representing their country at the Olympics for the first time in over 10 years. AND, they don't have to worry about being tortured for not winning (if they don't), by saddam's people, which WAS a common practice when Iraqi's use to compete.

But then again laddie, (if you�re an American) your country probably did kill 1000�s of future sports stars with not very smart bombs, being guided in by not very smart people.

Ooh here I have just killed your little sister, Brother and your mother has no arms, but! You can now go and compete in the Olympics and make money for big American companies who are sponsoring the whole event! Run along and train now, that�s a good boy/girl.

But than laddie prove it, which bombs, there are many laddie.

[edit on 13-8-2004 by qwzxas]

I for one plan to chill out with a scotch and coke and enjoy the 2004 Coca cola Olympic games brought to you by Samsung when it begins in 2 hours time, while i like the whole Olympic Games idea, a part of me feels shamed that it has turned into a tool for profit and power, and like many things...has been tainted by advertising.

If the US does get booed, it will send a powerfull message i can tell you that, dont take it too personaly Its your busy body government they are angry about, taking over the world...one McDonalds at a time.

Originally posted by electric squid carpet
I for one plan to chill out with a scotch and coke and enjoy the 2004 Coca cola Olympic games brought to you by Samsung when it begins in 2 hours time, while i like the whole Olympic Games idea, a part of me feels shamed that it has turned into a tool for profit and power, and like many things...has been tainted by advertising.

If the US does get booed, it will send a powerfull message i can tell you that, dont take it too personaly

Its your busy body government they are angry about, taking over the world...one McDonalds at a time.

HA! I couldn't agree more. Sad thing is, it's the athletes that have trained since they were like seven, that are getting used. Look for the medals to start having Ford, or Chevy Logos on them too!

If some small group tried booing America, the crowd would sit like deer in headlights for a minute waiting for a bomb to go off, then when it didn't they'd cheer down the boo'ers (maybe start a fight), and pro-American sentiment would rise.

I think it'd be a great spectacle and turn in America's favor. Keep in mind who can afford to attend the Olympics. It's mostly rich Westerners (including Europe) and the Japanese.

Right, like they hate America. They own it.

Somehow I doubt Iraqi or Pakistan villagers that get their anti-American rhetoric from religious and tribal leaders will be in attendance. Nor will protest minded college students from America and the UK (the most likely to feel comfortable enough to boo).

Keep in mind, most foreigners LOVE America, they just hate BUSH (so I keep hearing). As long as he doesn't cowboy around at the Olympics dressed like a gymnast (or whatever) everything should be fine.

Originally posted by mpeake

HA!

I couldn't agree more. Sad thing is, it's the athletes that have trained since they were like seven, that are getting used. Look for the medals to start having Ford, or Chevy Logos on them too!

If they don't put limits on the commercialism they'll soon have athletes wearing those goldenpalace.com paint on tattoos like I've seen in boxing matches.

I've been talking to friends about this for a few weeks. I've even been told other athletes might turn their backs on our flag during the medal ceremonies !!!

It will be an eye opener for a lot of americans if it happens, and may cause a little surge for kerry's campaign......

If any athelete from any country was booed, it would just show the ignorance of the heckler. Is a country run by the athelete? Does he/she have much say in domestic or foreign affairs? No.

Blame the government, not the people.

Originally posted by AceOfBase

Originally posted by mpeake

HA!

I couldn't agree more. Sad thing is, it's the athletes that have trained since they were like seven, that are getting used. Look for the medals to start having Ford, or Chevy Logos on them too!

If they don't put limits on the commercialism they'll soon have athletes wearing those goldenpalace.com paint on tattoos like I've seen in boxing matches.

You'll see events start changing their name:

100 meter "Road Runner Highspeed Internet" Dash
400 meter "Evian" Freestyle Swim
"Sprint Long Distance" Long Jump

I shouldn't say much more cause I wouldn't be suprised if these came true.

Athletes that have NOTHING to look forward to AFTER the Olympics but the hope of turning pro in America or getting some American based multinational corporation endorsement are going to make a political statement??? By turning their back on a paycheck?

I'd actually like to see that.