Official London Olympics Doping thread

[sittingbison]

Don't forget Headingley in 1981 when bookmakers offered 500-1 on England in their hopeless situation. Two Australian players were seen buying the odds...

OTT
Yup that would be Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh. Which actually makes for an almost on topic comparison, because for the uninitiated they were two of the toughest competitors every to play cricket for Australia, and they despised the poms with a passion.

Those ridiculous odds for a two horse race were placed because England were in to all intents and purposes an impossible situation. The match however became known as Bothams Game, because at the moment the bet was made Ian Botham (who hated Aussies just as much) came out and hit 149 to give a lead of 130, then Bob Willis picked up 8/43 for England to win by 18 runs . Incredible turn around

The inference was the Aussies threw the game for the winnings , but when you take into account the larger than life personalities involved it is far more likely to be one of those strange events that do sometimes happen just by chance.

Back to topic

 

[CharacterFirst]

OTT
Yup that would be Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh. Which actually makes for an almost on topic comparison, because for the uninitiated they were two of the toughest competitors every to play cricket for Australia, and they despised the poms with a passion.

Those ridiculous odds for a two horse race were placed because England were in to all intents and purposes an impossible situation. The match however became known as Bothams Game, because at the moment the bet was made Ian Botham (who hated Aussies just as much) came out and hit 149 to give a lead of 130, then Bob Willis picked up 8/43 for England to win by 18 runs . Incredible turn around

The inference was the Aussies threw the game for the winnings , but when you take into account the larger than life personalities involved it is far more likely to be one of those strange events that do sometimes happen just by chance.

Back to topic

Not to mention they only had a tenner on, i think it was.

However, it shows what a corrupting influence gambling is/can be, even if it is only a perception of wrong doing. Love of money......

 

[Avoriaz]

To cycling in particular: I do not follow track cycling regulary, but i guess their dominance started after 2005, at the same time not only did they not improve an inch in technical/team sports, but they are last/next to last in every team sport outside of soccer & (apparently) akistan influenced hockey. That makes it doubtful.

Foxxy, one point you are missing about these team sports - handball, volleyball, water polo etc is that they are minority in the UK. We have rarely if ever entered the Olympics in these sports - either through not qualifying or not having a team. The reason GB are in in 2012 is due to being hist nations, where often (not always, I think) it is the host nation's option to enter a team without qualifying. The GB football team's had never played together before the Olympics for example.

Secondly, with regard to your "akistan" influenced hockey teams: have you actually watched the games? The GB men and women teams are hardly full of imports bought in to win a medal. Hockey is actually very popular in GB. As witnessed by the gold medal in Seoul '88

 

[sittingbison]

Secondly, with regard to your "akistan" influenced hockey teams...

Just to clarify, the auto political correct routine scans any combination of letters P.A.K.I. within a word and makes them *, thus "****stan".

Intriguing

 

[Catwhoorg]

I'm just amazed at rowing being considered a non technical sport.

It needs power and endurance for sure, but applying those correctly is highly technical.

 

[lemoogle]

Just wait until the UK get 10 medals in boxing, the most controllable olympic sport in the world full of judges that have no clue and are completely biased by public support.

 

[Catwhoorg]

I think they are guaranteed 5 (semi-losers get a bronze automatically), not sure if that number can increase.

 

[Sørensen]

But i give you that one: In soccer they are ok

Wrong! Did you watch the euroes this year? by far the most boring team in the tournement! and when was the last time they won anything? 1966 pff They suck so hard.

Brits makes everything boring... Footy, Cycling, Tennis etc. Please just go away and stick to traditional english sports like Cricket and Rugby... Not like they have any succes there as well

 

[noddy69]

Wrong! Did you watch the euroes this year? by far the most boring team in the tournement! and when was the last time they won anything? 1966 pff They suck so hard.

Brits makes everything boring... Footy, Cycling, Tennis etc. Please just go away and stick to traditional english sports like Cricket and Rugby... Not like they have any succes there as well

While I like the sentiment at least get some facts in. They have a rugby WC and are ranked the number 1 test cricket team in the world , seriously dont go into journalism, or apply to the daily mail if you do !

 

[Avoriaz]

Brits makes everything boring... Footy, Cycling, Tennis etc. Please just go away and stick to traditional english sports like Cricket and Rugby... Not like they have any succes there as well

Finn class sailing was good fun

 

[Sørensen]

While I like the sentiment at least get some facts in. They have a rugby WC and are ranked the number 1 test cricket team in the world , seriously dont go into journalism, or apply to the daily mail if you do !

You are also ramked 3rd on the latest Fifa ranking...

 

[Sørensen]

Finn class sailing was good fun

True and well earned

 

[Koba80]

Couple of days ago, but didn't see it mentioned here, and given some content on last pages, it is relevant. The women's football unsurprisingly follows the men, with unashamedly biased reffing assuring the money team (the U.S.) goes through to the final at expense of Canada.

Canadian players made mistake of recognizing this after the match and are now facing FIFA (why them not IOC) sanction.

Ho hum...

 

[No_Balls]

1.500 m

Kenian runners beaten badly as never before, yet they have the Top-3 in this years world top list. They must have been really disturped since Seppelts uncovering story of yesterday. The ESP commentator can´t believe it at all...

Which story?

 

[killswitch]

Re long jump/triple jump the level is really lower nowadays but the main reason for the bad results is the type of track which slows the jumpers but dries incredibly quick. The track runners use is different.

 

[D-Queued]

I'm just amazed at rowing being considered a non technical sport.

It needs power and endurance for sure, but applying those correctly is highly technical.

One simple motion, repeated as perfectly as possible 220 times. You don't even need to concentrate on where you are going (other than follow a vanishing point if you are in sculling or a straight boat).

Running on a natural surface is arguably more technical.

And, for the record, my involvement well exceeds 220 strokes.

Dave.

 

[noddy69]

You are also ramked 3rd on the latest Fifa ranking...

Ireland is not ranked 3rd in Fifa....Like I said you will never make a decent journalist I did say I agreed with the sentiment !!!!

 

[FitSsikS]

........................

...............And, for the record, my involvement well exceeds 220 strokes.

Dave.

Dave, I think you meant to post that in the 'Babes On Bikes' thread.

Fits

 

[Markyboyzx6r]

One simple motion, repeated as perfectly as possible 220 times. You don't even need to concentrate on where you are going (other than follow a vanishing point if you are in sculling or a straight boat).

Running on a natural surface is arguably more technical.

And, for the record, my involvement well exceeds 220 strokes.

Dave.

Actually the best way to describe rowing is like x2, x4 or x8 people performing golf swings 220 times, in perfect unison and at the limit of human performance, on an constantly shifting surface. It looks easy, but it's actually one of the most unnatural things you can do and is extremely difficult to perfect.

Either that or I'm just rubbish at it! But is definitely is more technical than running.

 

[King Boonen]

Actually the best way to describe rowing is like x2, x4 or x8 people performing golf swings 220 times, in perfect unison and at the limit of human performance, on an constantly shifting surface. It looks easy, but it's actually one of the most unnatural things you can do and is extremely difficult to perfect.

Either that or I'm just rubbish at it! But is definitely is more technical than running.

I agree rowing is technical but I'd be careful with statements like that. Running well is extremely technical, just like rowing well is. Doing either badly however is fairly easy.

 

[iZnoGouD]

running well is overrated

everyone can run

 

[King Boonen]

running well is overrated

everyone can run

Just like everyone can write...

 

[King Boonen]

By the way,

Has Meares been accused of being a drug-fueled cheat yet? After all she beat Pendleton easily...

 

[Markyboyzx6r]

I agree rowing is technical but I'd be careful with statements like that. Running well is extremely technical, just like rowing well is. Doing either badly however is fairly easy.

You're right. I was being flippant.

 

[buckle]

Wrong! Did you watch the euroes this year? by far the most boring team in the tournement! and when was the last time they won anything? 1966 pff They suck so hard.

Brits makes everything boring... Footy, Cycling, Tennis etc. Please just go away and stick to traditional english sports like Cricket and Rugby... Not like they have any succes there as well

In 1966 they won the tournament in Brazil. What a team!