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Dump Olympic tennis, add tug of war

Posted: Monday, August 18, 2008 6:00 AM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
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Here’s one of the things I love about the Olympics: It’s like a giant buffet of sports. What I put on my viewing plate can be completely different from what you choose. Especially today, since we can TiVo events to watch later or tune in online if we missed something we care about. You can soak up only water polo and synchronized diving, if you want, or get your fill of team sports such as tennis, soccer and volleyball.


Reuters
Synchronized diving is oddly fascinating.

According to Wikipedia, there are 28 sports in the Summer Games. But what’s really fun about that entry is that it goes on to list discontinued sports as well as sports that never got past the demonstration stage. Reading through that list makes me really want to shake up the Olympic lineup a little bit.

Do we really need enough swimming events so that Michael Phelps alone can take gold in eight? How about bringing back croquet  (gone since 1900) or tug of war (a hot ticket from 1900-1920)?

I’m also somewhat fascinated with the demonstration sports. I’m not exactly sure how Olympic ballooning or Olympic gliding would work, but it sure would be pretty. And I’ve written before about how I love televised bowling – imagine the guy at your local lanes strutting around the Dance Dance Revolution machine to show off his gold medal. And roller hockey? How much fun would that be to watch?

I guess we'd have to make room for these new events by dumping some others. I know I might be in the minority, but I'd dump sports like basketball and tennis, sports where pros compete and, as my friend Mike points out, there are other championships that mean as much or more than an Olympic gold medal. One sport I'd keep for sure: Synchronized diving. I never thought I'd say this about a sport that sounds like an SNL skit, but this event has me fascinated. How do they DO that?

The topic of which sports should be added to the Olympics is a hot topic over at the BBC Olympic Weblog. The suggestions are so British: Rugby! Chess! Twenty20 cricket! One comment shows that we Americans aren't the only ones who can poke fun at ourselves. Asked what sports should be added, a BBC reader posted "What about binge drinking, or teenage mum? Gold medals guaranteed for the Great Britain?"

Which sports have caught your interest the most at the Games? And if you could rejigger the event lineup, which sports would get dumped -- or added?

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Comments

Chess? That's not even a sport. But if we're going down this line, how about race car driving of some sort?

Amanda, OKC (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:54 AM)

Hot dog eating! Seroiusly rugby and golf are world class sports that should have included a century ago.

Tom, Holden, Ma (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 10:11 AM)

If we add Chess, surely we would have to add Monopoly.  The game Operation requires a certain amount of skill, and no need for professional judges, as a red buzzer is a red buzzer - end of story.

I would love to see Lacrosse, Dodgeball, Tetherball, and Frisbee added to the list.  (ok, really only Lacrosse, but wouldn't it be fun to watch hours upon hours of the ball swooshing around the pole back and forth? The Chinese could legitimately recruit competitors from the school yard)  

Jen, Bawlmer MD (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 10:27 AM)

Get rid of basketball and tennis, like you said.  Boring to watch in the Olympics.  

Cricket might be good.  They play cricket in India, right?  And where I live (in Southern California), you can drive by parks where people are playing cricket, so it might be fun to see the world play.  

It would be nice to have some sort of competitions that people in other country like to do so it's world friendly

toni, Southern California (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 10:35 AM)

I'd vote for hurling, although since it's pretty specific to Ireland, I'll settle for rugby (and maybe dodgeball).  Forget archery and shooting, bring on the blood sports!
Definitely get rid of basketball - if I want to watch it, I'll go to a NBA game. And seriously, cut back on the swimming and gymnastics coverage! I've seen enough of that this year, give me something new to watch.  I'll even take field hockey over that right now.

Lisa, WA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 11:00 AM)

I really can't figure out why rugby isn't an olympic sport. It is played all over the world (by men and women) at both the professional and club level. College club rugby is extremely popular here in the states, so I can only imagine how popular professional rugby is elsewhere in the world. Rugby has olympics written all over it. The sport is a true test of strength and agility combined, with a little team work thrown in there. Not to mention, rugby althetes world-wide share a common bond, an automatic kinship with eachother, no matter where they are from. I met some fellow ruggers from about 5 different countries at Oktoberfest in Munich a few years back, and we all knew the same drinking songs. If that doesn't capture the olympic spirit, I don't know what does!

Heather BR, Cville,VA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 11:03 AM)

The greatest Olympic sport that I had never heard of before? Handball!! I love it. Based on the name, I initially thought handball was a raquetball-type sport. I was surprised to find it was more like a cross between soccer and basketball, only without the kicking and dribbling. Whatever it is, I love it.

Lori, Cleveland OH (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 11:13 AM)

I completely agree with the respondent who wanted to dump Tennis and Basketball.  These are professional sports and are no longer an amateur events.  Dump'em.
Bocce Ball.  Bowling.  Speed Walking.  YES!

Kendo, how about Kendo?  Aren't they already doing Judo and Karate?

Ok, we've got the javelin throw for distance, but what about spear-chucking at a target?  Or the sling?
(traditional, not sling-shot)

Climbing?  Speed Rock Climbing?

AMX Cycling?

Skate boarding?

Hang-gliding?

All sounds like fun to me.

Joe Six-Pack, Oklahoma City, OK (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 11:39 AM)

Drop all "sports" that are actually performances, diving, gymnastics, anything with a judge who determines the winner.  Anything based on perception for winning should be stricken from the games.  

John, Moscow IDAHO (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 11:44 AM)

The Game they should add to the olympics for 2012 or 2016 should be guitar hero since that is one of the most popular games in the world and is a game of skill like table tennis. I think it would be a huge hit at the olympics

Mike Philadelphia,PA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 11:54 AM)

I agree about rugby - it's popular in a lot of countries and is really suited to Olympic competition:  a sport that isn't televised to death already (I'm looking at YOU basketball and baseball).  I'm glad baseball is out (at least temporarily) after this year.

I'm surprised golf isn't already in the Olympics.  It's played worldwide, after all.  I find it pretty boring to watch as a rule but I think even I would tune in for the final round.  

I like seeing sports that aren't on my TV every weekend.  I like watching Olympic cycling (road and track), rowing, track and field and diving.  

I could do with less gymnastics (or else a wider focus instead of the same few sparkly faces over and over and over and over).  I really enjoy watching the swimming but this year has been a bit much - did we really need to see a clip package of Michael Phelps in Athens?  Especially when there's so much more out there that's not getting covered.

Oh, and I can do without table tennis, badminton and fencing - although I'm sure they have their rabid fans.

Christine, Frederick MD (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 12:10 PM)

I think there should be an Olympic definition of sport to insure than one needs to display all of the physical atributes that athletics defines...lungs, muscles, coordination...  Tug of war sounds fun.  I also think Golf should be added although athletic muscles aren't required...  I don't like the idea that professionals are allowed.  I think all olympic athletes should be amatuers.  

Michael, Sylacauga, AL (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 12:13 PM)

Take out rhythmic gymnastics! i like watching it, but it sure doesn't fit.

tiffanie, springfield, va (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 12:23 PM)

Rugby was at one time an Olympic sport. Actually the United States won Gold in the 1924 Olympics. There is some speculation with softball and baseball tentatively leaving the Olympics that Rugby may be given the chance to fill that void.

Jeremy Dunfee, Fort Wayne IN (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 12:33 PM)

How about if we dump approximately 50% of the swimming events, and actually televise some of the events that require significant training (equestrian sports, fencing)?  And what is up with including badminton and ping-pong?  Sorry, but in my mind those are *games,* not sports.  Sports require athleticism; games do not.

Fiona64, Silicon Valley, CA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 12:46 PM)

I agree with rugby...I used to love watching our college team play.  I never quite figured out all the rules but god what a fun sport to watch.

Right now though I agree with you on the synchronized diving.  Kind of has an "oooh" factor because I know if I tried it (if I could swim) I'd probably wind up in a mangled tangle of limbs with my teammate resulting in serious or possibly hilarious injury.

Leslie, Albuquerque (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 12:48 PM)

So bummed that we couldn't extend the commercial competition into Olympic territory.  I've seen some GREAT ones!  (maybe next year, Hank.)

KendallJaye (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 1:28 PM)

Baseball and softball will be out of the next summer olympics. For me, that is terrible. They are both great summer sports and should be kept in. The men don't use MLB professionals, either. Sort of. The sport (if I'm being generous) that should be dropped is synchronized swimming. Any sport that requires (requires being the key word) sparkles is not a sport. The other sports that have sparkles are optional adornments. Sync swimming should do just that - sink.

KG, Twin Cities, MN (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 2:09 PM)

I agree - the basketball and tennis are OUT.

I enjoy the equestrian (horse back riding) events; there is a discipline called Vaulting, which is gymnastics on horseback. It is simply beautiful - you think the US gymnasts are awesome now? Just WAIT until you see what they do on the backs of horses.

Carly D, Baltimore MD (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 2:33 PM)

Have to disagree with the inuendo that swimming doesn't require significant training - have you ever known someone who did competitive swimming?  That said I do have to agree with badminton and table tennis (ping pong) being games not sports.  Have enjoyed the option of switching between main coverage and basic cable coverage - did any of you know that women's wrestling was an olympic event?  I sure  didn't until 2 nights ago.  Would love to see Rugby and Cricket AND I sure would like to see more than U.S. athletes during the various events.  NBC should understand that not everyone in the U.S. is from the U.S. or that we have such a short attention span that we cannot watch without an emotional tie to the competition.

Offmom, Silicon Valley, CA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 2:58 PM)

I have to agree with removing anything that's Judged, if it's got a judge it's gonna be a problem.  Who's strongest, who's fastest, who remains standing.  No wishy washy judge from where ever who mars the scoring.

Dwight, Harrisburg, PA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 3:00 PM)

Swimming gets so much coverage because a lot of people want to see it, and because they have other avenues for sports that don't bring in the viewers to that degree.

I was a little surprised that table tennis is an Olympic sport.  Why not billiards or darts, then?  Or beer pong?

Lori Lamb, Federal Way, WA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 3:00 PM)

Run a mile and fish .... run another mile and fish again ... ad infinitum

John, Tennessee (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 3:26 PM)

Keep tennis and basketball, but make it amateur only again. I'm a huge tennis fan, but think the players should not be pros.

Shannon, Georgia (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 3:41 PM)

Dwight Schrute has it all summed up very nicely in 'The Office' teaser for Fall 2008.  Watch it. Hilarious.

Rori Albion, NE (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 3:43 PM)

What i have to keep reminding myself is that just because Americans don't consider something a sport doesn't mean that it isn't considered a sport somewhere else.  Ping Pong, Badmitton, etc, are major sports in the Asian countries.  We don't consider soccer a major sport, but the rest of the world does.

I can tell you which one makes me groan every time it is shown on primetime tv, every night, is beach volleyball.  What I do like is how NBC has been able to show so many more sports almost 24 hours a day, by putting blocks of hours on their sister channels (USA and MSNBC mostly).  I have been able to wach so many more sports than I would have ever been able to watch before.

Sheila Tyne (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 3:45 PM)

I would love to have Sumo Wrestling as a constant in the Olympics.  They had it when it was in Nagano but it has not been back.  That is such a fascinating sport to me!  LOVE IT.

I would also like to see Kick Boxing (Muy Thai - sp?) where it is full contact.  Talk about a sport!!!

Eliminate some of the swimming coverage.  Don't get me wrong.  I love Michael Phelps as much as the next person but it is almost sad for the other swimmers competing because their accomplishments are all lost in the hoopla over him.  When the relay was won, they didn't talk to any swimmer but him.  It was a 4 man race...he was only one part of it!  Give some more credit where credit is due.

Have better coverage of the gymnastics so I can see other countries and not just 3 competing.  There were so many other routines I would have liked to have seen.  Just saying!

They don't have football or baseball in the Olympics so why Basketball?  You already get coverage for the Major League sports so that should be enough.  I would however keep Hockey because I love it that much! ;c)

Cricket, Mesa AZ (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 3:56 PM)

How about Olympic Dodgeball!  That would be extremely entertaining.

Kate (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 4:36 PM)

Equestrian is NOT a sport.  It is an event - considering that the animal is doing all the work.   I don't mind watching it but don't call it a sport - because it isn't one.  Plus, the fact that schools can choose that joke of an option to meet compliance with Title IX annoys the hell out of me.

Brenda (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:02 PM)

Let me get this straight. There going to dump Baseball and Softball and keep Trampoline. Just for fun, let's add Olympic Marbles, that's about as exciting to watch as the Trampoline. Way to go Olympic Committee, way to go.

Bill, Flower Mound TX (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 6:24 PM)

They spend too much time on things like swimming and gymnastics. They should show a little appreciation for the other sports.

Now what they really need to add to the lineup is a rodeo. It's got horses, speed, action, and people falling off crazy cows.

Nicole Yankton, SD (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 6:32 PM)

Water fight!

sara (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 6:33 PM)

Oh wow, I can't believe that someone said swimming doesn't require "significant" training. Anyway, the Olympics are not just broadcast on NBC. MSNBC carries coverage from 8am-4pm everyday. I think there is another channel, but I can't remember which one.

I was surprised to find that Rugby is not an Olympic sport. I definitely think that bowling or pool could work too. Why not? I suppose there could be some definition imposed of what exactly constitutes a sport, but that might turn out ridiculous.  

Sarah Banks, Madison, MS (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 7:10 PM)

Amateurs vanished decades ago.  The Soviet block nations just 'hired' their athletes as military instructors, or some such cover.  The US had 4/5 (red shirt year) "student athletes".   These worked fine until the Russians concentrated on special schools and other covers.   The Olympics were set up for amateurs by the very rich who could afford to train, and buy and keep horses for example, as a way to exclude the commoners.  Remember Jim Thorpe who was stripped of metals for a very convoluted and flimsy but racist sham.   Then re-awarded when the shame got too great to ignore.   As for what's a sport and what's a game and judges deciding, whew, why not try to decide or define something simple, like which religion is really God's or who is really on God's side.   I personally love it when athletes thank God, as if God really gives a rip about who wins or catches a pass or makes a free throw, unless of course She's got a side bet.   And who bets against God ?  Who takes God's bets ?

As for future additions / drops, well, I would personally drop all shooting, archery, wt lifting, rhythmic gymnastics [and penalize the cutsy moves], badminton, ping-pong, walking races [why not hopping or crawling, or Monty Python walking], boxing, equestrian, fencing [which has become a jump and slash instead of fencing and skill], and sailing.  As for what to add, rugby is as valid as soccer and basketball.  The skills biking off half pipes is amazing, certainly as much as diving.  If snow boarding, freestyle ski jumping and mogel jumping are in, why not skateboarding.   Then again if they were all in what would people sit and around and have to argue about ?

Couch Potato, Seattle, WA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 7:32 PM)

I'd scrap trampoline. Or, I'd combine it with other events into a sort overall acrobatics (vs. gymnastics) competition. This could include circus-type aerial acrobatics, which I think deserve representation. But nothing looks sillier than a standalone trampoline event.

Dave Ayars, Seattle, WA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 7:33 PM)

I think it would be great to add some extreme sports to bring in the younger crowd, but I agree the Olympics needs less subjective scoring so that rule out most of them.  Street luge anyone?

Doug, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 8:11 PM)

how about we do away with beach volleyball? they could actually show other things in prime time

Gil Snowden Clemson, SC (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 8:13 PM)

I have no idea why we have to watch so much beach volleyball during primetime. The regular volleyball is much more interesting... I'd love to see other sports, too, like table tennis, on during prime time.

I can see ill-fitting bikini-clad women on other channels... they expect us to take them seriously??!

sportsfan (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:02 PM)

Let's face it - the Olympics are NOT held for the benefit of Sportswriters, Sportscasters, or people starved for entertainment. It is supposed to be an ATHLETIC competition, not an International picnic, and most definitely not a political circus.

Tom Sloan, Hollywood, FL (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:10 PM)

John...I love your idea...the ultimate biathalon...run/fish/run/fish/ad infinitum.  That said, could we make this a triathalon? Run/fish/nap/run/fish/nap/ad infinitum

Joe, Fort Wayne, IN (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:24 PM)

OK, if you're going to have anything where the results are largely dependent upon judges, I say we we have have Olympic Dog Shows.  Isn't the Westminster always referred to as the second oldest continuos "sporting" event in the U.S.?  "Best In Show", baby!

TONY C, LOS ANGELES, CA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:32 PM)

I agree with the majority,scrap baseball....basket ball should be "no pros"..Dodgeball is on the comeback and could be entertaining,and for the brutal people.....Submission Grappling is rapidly growing world wide.

Dan Z,St.Johns Mi (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:40 PM)

I am so sad that the men's hammer throw was relegated to 2 AM, and then cut off. Is there anywhere we can see this? It is an amazing sport, too dangerous for high school athletes, and more exciting than the discus.

Judy, Irvine, CA (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 10:38 PM)

The reason why you think that swimming and gymnastics are over covered is that they have always been the first weeks primary events with the track and field events in the second and final week.  I am sure by the end of the week you will be sick of track.

Lori, Sioux Falls, SD (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 10:40 PM)

Ditch badminton. Make pro baseball players play Olympic baseball (much better than what we get and would deflate the Dream Team nonsense). Add rugby and maybe some kind of water skiing. Absolutely NO chess. Talk about a ratings tank...

wemedge, wooster, ohio (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 10:55 PM)

Add:
Tug of War
Ultimate Frisby
Dodgeball
Kickball, but limit the age to 7-12 year olds
Hide-and-Go-Seek-- how awesome would this game be at the Olympic level!

Bring back Softball and Baseball. Whose hair-brained idea was it to eliminate these?

TAC, Baltimore, MD (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 11:15 PM)

Olympic Food Fighting!  Now there's an idea!

On the serious side, I really don't care which sports stay and which go, but the professionals have got to go.  Thay're just a travesty of the whole idea of the Olympics.  And the coverage should be given roughly equally to all sports, not centered on the ones with quick events that fit neatly between commercials and into sound bites.  That is unfair and just sucks.

Bruce B, NH (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 11:33 PM)

Leave the tennis alone! That is the only sport that I will play. lol
People are saying that one of the reasons basketball and tennis should be eliminated is because it has pro athletes. They want the best right? They have beach volleyball players and soccer players. They don't get paid?
Seriously, I would vote for archery, all that darn rifle\skeet shooting. I hate the trampoline. I remember seeing it and thinking this is a joke. I understand why they have the marathon but it is so darn boring to watch on tv.
Do we really need a marathon, triathalon, hepatholon, penthalon, decatholon and whatever other lon?
What about sailing?
I love gymnastics but the rhythmic gymnastics with them waving bows and ribbons and playing with balls. Nope. Let the little contortionists join circue du soleil.

stingstungme (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 11:46 PM)

Tug-of-war used to be an event. If you add that then go ahead and add pole dancing.

stingstungme (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 11:50 PM)

Chain saw juggling would get HUGE viewership IMHO

Cosmo, TN (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 11:55 PM)



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