Should I stay or should I go?

[RICHARD]

I have to apologize here,

MP was here in L.A. teaching a swimming class and trying to get support for Chi Town to bring the 2016 games here!

Open mouth, insert floaties?

[lizbud]

I have to apologize here,

MP was here in L.A. teaching a swimming class and trying to get support for Chi Town to bring the 2016 games here!

Open mouth, insert floaties?

When I first read the title to this thread, I was about to say.........

Yes, have you packed yet? .......j/k

I really don't put much thought into athletes personal decisions on this or
that. I do enjoy their performances though.

[RICHARD]

When I first read the title to this thread, I was about to say.........

Yes, have you packed yet? .......j/k

I just need your address.

LOLOLOLOLOL.

Athletes and sport are things that take us away from our mundane lives.

Stop for a second and think about the last time you were totally transfixed watching a sport on T.V.

All the things, that really don't have any weight in 'real' life, are dreams to us, reality to others and a way to make people stop for a second and enjoy each other. One of the best moments that I saw on the tube was the Iraqi soccer/futbol team playing-I think it was the World Cup.

I saw a news clip of people in a bar/restaurant watching the games and getting into it. There was no religion, hate, color or status.

It was just a bunch of people cheering on their country.

The Greeks had it right. Stop everything for a minute and and let's see who is the strongest, fastest, best with a few rules tossed in.

A few people that are extraordinary compete in games that really do not have any bearing on what we are. The represent what we could be.

Professional athletes take their stature for granted.

There was a woman who competed in the shot put in China who said that her inspriation came from an American gymnast.

This gal was probably a foot taller and twice the size of her hero.

What? Tossing a steel ball has nothing to do with doing a back flip off of a four inch wide piece of wood.

Gosh, there are TONS of people I have watched doing things that I can only dream about doing.

Ride a bike across France for three weeks?
Play volleyball on the sand or indoors with the best on the planet?
Run 26 miles and change?
Jump higher than I am tall?
Ice skate for 10,000 meters?
Race a car or motorcycle at speed?

Did you see the table tennis competiton at the Olympics?
Badmiton, fencing, wrestling?

These people do not realize the impact they have on the people who watch them compete. Yes, they do it for themselves and the chance to represent a country, their hard work and the reward for what they do-but do they ever really know how they impact the people who get a chance to see them do what they do best?

I have my favorite list of athletes who I admire. They aren't the football players, baseball stars or basketball players who I watch to keep me content until I see a real sportsman.

Kathy Turner, speed skater-Jeff Blatnick, wrestler-Gabriela Schiess, runner, Eddie the Eagle, ski jumper- Lance Armstrong, racer-Ivan Stewart, off road racer- Kenny Roberts, motorcycle racer. Those are the people who competed in their sports with little or no exposure. You only saw them for a brief second, when we were allowed to.

You held your breath when you did, and thought to yourself, "Dang, could I do that?" I know that I couldn't - But, I have dreamt and thought about the things I could to, if I put my mind to it.

I love the stories about people who think, dream and with a little hard work make me feel that there is something that I can do. It won't get me a medal, money, a cereal box or a chance to do something I can do well and not worry about anything else in life.

It's all about the people who are blessed with a talent, skill or ability that sets them apart from the rest of the ordinary people people on the planet like me and you.

I stop and think about what they feel and how they would act if they were Uncle Mac's shoes.

I hear about athletes who dream about gold medals, getting the winning score in a game, being the best in the world. Then you have Uncle Mac.

Mechanic and all around good guy.

I'll never see him doing commercial, selling phones or at the MTV awards. He did enough to make an impression on the people that he was around.

Athletes today are some of the last heroes that can take us away from being a clerk, sales person, dishwasher, housewife or office drone.

They don't see their ability to make everyone watching stop for a second and think about what can be done when we put our minds to a task.

There is a saying that goes, "You go until you break".

Many athletes get to the top and stop. They retire and make a huge deal about winning their prize. Good on them.

I love the people who win, keep going and then stop one day. They tell us that they cannot go on.

It's a reality that we don't like to hear, but we admire their honesty and the reality behind their decision.

It makes us realize that they are human, we take a second and see ourselves. It makes them human and we love that. We hurt when we see a 'star' beaten down.

We like winners. They are that much more special when we see them fail.

[lizbud]

I agree that sports performances can excite us or deflate us & I do watch
some events. I don't think they necessarily bring people together though.

Have you ever seen the riots after some soccer matches in Europe?

[RICHARD]

Have you ever seen the riots after some soccer matches in Europe?

Another reason I don't go to more sporting events. My nephew has gone to matches held here locally and tells me about the behavior of the 'fans'.

NO thanks!

I'll stick with the genteel stuff.

Checkers anyone?