Princess 35 Posted August 16, 2004 Well, what do you think? Should we pull out all the high named megamillionaire stars and make it so only amateur athletes who don't get the big bucks but may be just as good can compete in the Olympics? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Princess 35 Posted August 16, 2004 I'm all for keeping it amateur. Let things like the miracle on ice happen that way and let the lil guys shine for once, instead of the stars getting more and more press Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GI_Admiral 2 Posted August 16, 2004 Depends... If you want your team to win theres a reason why you choose your stars for the job. I don't mind having the "Dream Team" kind of feel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CorSec 5 Posted August 16, 2004 Athletes are Athletes. Determine who's on the team through skill. Big name or amateur. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radioactive Isotope 29 Posted August 16, 2004 i'm with CorSec on this one. if the little guy's good enough, let 'em play. if they suck, don't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chickenman 9 Posted August 16, 2004 Athletes are Athletes. Determine who's on the team through skill. Big name or amateur. I wish I had read that before I voted. Damn you Corsec, and your persuasivness! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy 60 Posted August 16, 2004 Olympics is about being the best, always has been. You can't deny people's right to enter a competition because they are professionals. Even people who aren't earning millions can get into it if they try, and if they are good enough. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GI_Admiral 2 Posted August 16, 2004 The thing is...it usually turns out that the reason the professionals are big named are because they ARE the best. Kobe Bryant...Michael Jordan...Wayne Gretzky...Steve Yzerman...Joe Montana...Steve Young...Yao Ming...Roger Clemens...Barry Bonds....THey're all big names because they're the exceptionally good ones. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chozen 1 Posted August 16, 2004 most stupid question ever... It's a competition.. The best from one country vs the best in another. And ice hockey isn't the only sport in the olympics... runners in general don't get high publicity.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GI_Admiral 2 Posted August 16, 2004 Meh...you could say the same thing for the horse back riders...for the martial artists...for the divers...for the fencers... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chozen 1 Posted August 16, 2004 if you can get through the tryouts, then the qualifications... then you deserve to be in the olympics, reputation gets you nowhere if you can't run. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GI_Admiral 2 Posted August 16, 2004 The Question is asking if the Professionals should be allowed...not the amateurs...so I think we're all agreeing that yes...they should Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bushy 0 Posted August 17, 2004 Yeah, absolutely. I mean, smaller countries that don't have professional sports teams all over the place can send all their best athletes to the Olympics, while larger countries (the US, for example), has to keep most of their best athletes out of the Olympics because they're professionals... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tsl 7 Posted August 17, 2004 Why aren't professionals allowed in the first place? Is it because richer countries can afford them and poor countries can't? That would kind of make since, I guess. If it's just because the professionals are too awesome and they want to give the little guys a chance, then it's kinda stupid. Besides, maybe I'm wrong, because I don't follow any sports at all, but I don't think having pros play would affect many of the sports... Just stuff like basketball, baseball, etc. Swimming, diving, gymnastics, and all that sort of stuff doesn't really have "pro players" does it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bushy 0 Posted August 17, 2004 Yeah, that's true too I guess... Anyway, if the US could use pro baseball players, they would own. ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy 60 Posted August 18, 2004 I don't think sports like that should be in the Olympics anyway. Most of them have their own competitions to find out who is the best. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bushy 0 Posted August 18, 2004 Most of them being... Soccer/Football? That's really the only major sport that comes to mind, that's played between lots of different countries outside of the olympics... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites