When did this become an Olympic sport?

Rembrandt

Mrs Rembrandt and I agree on many things....but this is one we will never see eye to eye on. When did figure skating become a "sport"? ....I mean really, put on a pretty outfit, prance around on your skates, flip your hands around and look cute, maybe throw in a "triple Klutz", then wait for a panel of judges with political bias's to give you a score....now "ice dancing" is considered a "sport" also, I can't take it anymore.....no goal posts, no finish lines, no times to beat....it must be a "gal" thing.....

218Beekeep

Rem.,it`s a northern thing..the northern colleges will be gradually phasing out football altogether,in favor of this type of thing,since they can no longer compete with the southern teams,particularly the ones from Flarda.As I recall,their last attempt ended in a misserable 37-10 failure You can probably expect to see a trend towards larger male Ice skaters,as they will be opting for these types of "sports",as their athletic directors wil be leaning this way,in an attempt to be successful at something.The alumnus groups will fight this vigorously,but will also fail .218

Rembrandt

Granted, ice skating probably originated in the Northern frozen tundra, back then it was a manly mode of transportation across the lakes....now they have turned it into a sissy event,....tried to pass it off as a sport.Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with speed skating being a sport...that's a race against the clock....but this artistic sissy stuff has the same difficulty as grabbing a stuffed teddy bear with a toy crane in a vending machine.I'm going to have to get out of the house for a while when this Olympic "sport" takes over our TV......

will270win

Yep, just what Beekeep said.

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If you can't fix it with a hammer, take it to a mechanic. will270win@aol.com ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~

218Beekeep

To be perfectly honest,it`s my favorite of the winter "games"..I don`t like the couples events though..218

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Did somebody say somethin` about bees?

Lowrider

When did professional basketball players become recognized as Olympic athletes? The Olympics are a politically manipulated joke. I don't even watch them anymore.

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Lord Lowrider the LoquaciousMember:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets She was only a fisherman's daughter,But when she saw my rod she reeled.

218Beekeep

Lowrider,That`s right,take the wealthiest NBA players,who have more than they deserve already,and GIVE them the gold metal.It was once fun to see some college kids scrap for it.Proud to say I have never seen any "Dream Team" play..and never will!!I`ll take figure skating over it any day .218

SXSMAN

Now the Ski jump,there's a manly winter sport!I've stood at the base and looked up,and also seen the view from the top.Are these people freakin nuts?B*lls the size of coconuts I tell ya! Plain crazy.......................................

Lowrider

I've never watched them either, Bro.

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Lord Lowrider the LoquaciousMember:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets She was only a fisherman's daughter,But when she saw my rod she reeled.

Lowrider

Oh yeah, the ski jumpers ARE crazy. My wife and I took a motorcycle trip to Colorado several summers back and stayed three days in Steamboat Springs. Right across from our motel was a huge ski jump up on the hillside. I think it was left over from some big winter games years back. Maybe even the winter Olympics.Anyway, I climbed up the hill and walked out on the top of the structure (no snow of course) and I wouldn't head down that thing on a pair of skis or anything else. Takes more nuts than I've got.

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Lord Lowrider the LoquaciousMember:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets She was only a fisherman's daughter,But when she saw my rod she reeled.

218Beekeep

That is one cool thing to whatch..the way they soar through the air..what..almost 100 meters.Wonder what that feels like..total freedom,for a few seconds..218

beachmaster73

Take those girly football men from Florida put them on ice skates and see if they are man enough to play Hockey! Those Florida girly men would be begging for their mommas as some kid half their size from Minnesota or Maine introduced them to that curious Northern greeting known as a body check. Most of the good Florida football players come from states other than Florida.....They go there to play football and nail your cheap daughters. The native girls of Florida are supposed to be really good looking and truly slutty....any truth in that? Beach

218Beekeep

There is truth to it,beach,but it`s the same all over...only we have far less native "sluts"..ya see,most of our "sluts"have northern accents..as do most of the residents who have infested this part of the country.Now please,this is your word"slut",not mine,I`m sure it is the way you feel about ladies in general,but try to show a little, class,despite yourself..218

songdog

IF any of you are subscribers to sports illustrated, thwn i think that you should read the article on the last page by Rick Rielly titled "dirty dancing." It is about figure skating and it is pretty funny. It is the jANUARY 21, 2002 issue with the black cat on the fron of the white cover.songdog

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Be bold in what you stand for, careful in what you fall for.

beachmaster73

I think I got under your skin Beekeep. Why would you be sure that is how I feel about ladies in general? Your comments seem very defensive in general. Up here most of our tarts(do you like that word better?) have Southern accents. Does that mean that the South attracts Northern sluts and the North attracts Southern sluts? I did notice that you didn't question the premise of the best football players coming from places other than Florida and that Florida football players wouldn't hack it on a hockey rink. Hey I'm just jerking your chain; don't get too upset about it. Beach

idsman75

Amen to the hockey bit. Bring them Flarda boys up to Minnesota. I dated a girl from Clearwater, FL once. Turned out to be a real....what did ya call em Beach?I also spent time in South Carolina and Alabama. Them girls in South Carolina are REAL...what's the word I'm looking for?I will admit that I subscribed to Playboy magazine when I was 18. Of all the "College Girls" issues that I read, the Girls of the SEC were the best. You see, this north/south thing is so much fun and I have no idea how we strayed so far from the subject. I like playing both sides just for the heck of it. My ancestors came from the Netherlands in the 1920's and were farmers. My generation is the first generation of my family NOT to grow up on a farm. My blood missed the War of Northern...ahem....The Civil War by several years. C'mon 13fister! Join in on the fun![This message has been edited by idsman75 (edited 01-21-2002).]

Rembrandt

X-ring Beach, that's what I call stirring the pot.....it even makes Dano look like an amature.....hee hee

Varmintmist

Dont most Flarda colledge football players come from Penn State??OOPS that was State Pen, sorry

songdog

I thought that they all came from the swamps of da deep sou. Where chitlins and hominy grits are plentiful and education is not.songdog

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Be bold in what you stand for, careful in what you fall for.

218Beekeep

Beach:As to your line 4,about "up here most of the tarts(blah,blah,blah)have southern accents".....I`m sure southern folks are just flocking to michigan in droves..get real!As for florida players coming from other states..you`d better do some research,this state rich in highschool talent that overflows out of state,looking for playing time.I don`t like hockey at all...but you are right,they will kick anybody`s *..but then,I wouldn`t want to mess with any Rugby players either Certain words are offensive..especially when you come to expect better from a person..218

Gordian Blade

Is figure skating a sport? This isn't even a question open to debate. A wiser man than I once said about figure skating that any activity where makeup and costumes count for something is by definition not a sport. Case closed.PS - Did anybody see the recent news article about Olympic officials in Utah trying to ban certain "gynecological" figure skating moves? Said it was drawing the "wrong kind of crowd"!

competentone

Rem,I'd much rather watch a woman with a FANTASTIC body slide around on iceskates, than watch a bunch of sweaty men chase eachother around...grabbing at balls!.218,I think both "beach" and "ids" have had experiences with women they have met at the places they frequent--how does that quote go? "If you lay down with dogs, you wake-up with fleas."I think, .218, you would agree, that to find women with "class", one has to frequent places where "class" is appreciated.

beachmaster73

218....I am real. SE Michigan is overrun with Sotherners who came up from the South in the good times of the auto industry. Now two generations later you would think they had become assimilated into society. But they cling to their Southernness almost like a security blanket. I had one of the mothers of my students describe herself as a "girl from the hills on Tennessee" Only problem was she was born here in Michigan and went to school from 1st though 12th grade right here. I'd say that's pushing it to actually being a Southerner. Problem is that is the way that many many many of those transplants think of themselves.Comp....Just because I can recognize a flea doesn't mean I have them. I 'll leave those fleas for all those Southern gentlemen trying to become members of the "idle rich". You don't know enough about me to make the comment you did and I really could drop some counterbattery fire on you now Comp, but since this has already taken just a little bit on an ugly turn I'm going to refrain. Beach

idsman75

Not to mention all the rich folk that come up from the south to hunt our corn-fed trophies. Did you know that Iowa DNR is talking about lowering out-of-state licensing fees in 2003 and raising them for residents? Why cant they just hunt the little dog-deer they have in their states?

Rembrandt

Competentone, that is not a "Women with a fantastic body sliding around on skates"....those are little 12-13 year old girls.....what has our society sunk to? How can you compare that with the NFL or other manly feats of athletics. I'm sure the Greek gods on mount Olympus would be crying blastfemy if they knew how far the games have sunk......stir...stir...stir...[This message has been edited by Rembrandt (edited 01-21-2002).]

Bullzeye

I wonder sometimes too. I mean, in most of the events that require grace or flexibility (which is just about every gymnastics event and most of the skating events), pre-pubescent 13-14 year old females are the only ones really competing.Didnt used to be that way.Dont have anything to ogle at now.....Beachmaster, SLB: A wise man once told me, "Step between men with shotguns, leave with buckshot in behind". You two settle this yourselves.Although I'll admit I'm a fool for a filly with a Southern drawl. More than once, in fact. But thats a story for another day....

idsman75

Rembrandt--This is nothing new. Clothing stores and major clothing chains have been marketing slutty apparel to 12 and 13-year-old girls ever since Britney Spears hit the spotlight. I walked past a store in the mall on Saturday evening on my way to the movie theater. This store's target market is young teens. About 3 feet into the store is a display of underclothing that you'd expect to see on a street-walker. The media is turning young kids into sex objects.

instrumentofwar

it's not just the winter games. i seem to recall the summer games having a trampoline event? what's up with the water balet? and i'm not sure about which this falls into (summer or winter) but these panzies who run around on the wresteling mats in tights and all they do is wave some sissie * baton with long ribbons coming out of the end. kind of makes me want to put on the ol' mat shoes and introduce 'em to a little "ground & pound" for defiling such a sacred place as a mat. panzies!

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Rule #1: there is no easy wayRule #2: if,in fact, there is an easy way, it's mined (especially in Afghanistan or Kosovo!)

Iconoclast

Figure skating is a sport!! The *athletes* spend countless hours practicing, as much - and possibly more - than in the contact sports and starting at a younger age. Yes, there is an artistic element to the performances - but there is in gymnastics, high dive and other sports as well. And they don't get college scholarships and multi-million dollar contracts, either. How many skaters have beer bellies? Now, how many professional baseball / football players? And my $0.02 on the merits of females from the South . . . . I'm 110% Yankee, went to college in NC and if anyone doesn't think the Southern gals are not better looking - as a group - than their sisters north of the Mason-Dixon, they had better check their glasses, hormone levels and tobacco pouches, 'cause they have a serious problem. The difference is not intrinsic, but generally the Southern women take much greater pains to be attractive. Morals . . . from my experience, these depend on the person, not the region and I refuse to discuss that further.

robsguns

Figure Skating History Skating traces its origins practically back to the origins of human beings. To cross frozen lakes and streams, early humans tied animal bones to their feet and glided through the winter months. Eventually, iron and steel blades replaced the bones and a rough means of travel was transformed into recreation. Skating remained popular among all social classes, but as a competitive sport, only the extremely well-to-done could afford to participate. Figure skating as we know it today traces its origins directly back to an American, Jackson Haines. Haines was born in New York in 1840 and died in 1875 in Finland after catching pneumonia while traveling by sled from St. Petersburg to Stockholm.Just before the United States' Civil War, a skating craze swept over America. It was during this time that Jackson Haines leapt into the limelight with his mastery of skating and dance. He was a true revolutionary in a country where figure skating had laboriously developed a stiff and rigid style. The free and expressive movements of his performances were condemned by many Americans. In 1863 and 1864, he won the Championships of America but he continued to receive cool receptions from his fellow country men. His lack of popularity in America finally prompted him to go to Europe, where he was an immediate success. He was especially popular in Vienna where he gave birth to the so-called "International Style of Figure Skating." While Jackson gave America its first taste of the international style of figure skating, it was not until the turn of the century that this influence finally began to secure its place in the American Figure Skating community. This event cam about thanks to the efforts of Haines and three other figure skating pioneers: Louis Rubenstein, George H. Browne and Irving Brokaw.Louis Rubenstein, of Montreal, Canada was one of the first individuals who recognized the merits of the international style and the need for organization in a sport which had largely existed as an informal collection of skating clubs. It was through his efforts that the first attempts to form a national governing body began.While Rubenstein laid the groundwork for uniform competitions and tests and a future governing body, it was George H. Brown end Irving Brokaw of Cambridge Massachusetts, who put that work into action by means of the first International Figure Skating Champions of American.Browne who had studied with the leading European skaters of the day while in Davos, Switzerland, was a staunch supporter of the international style of figure skating, authoring several gooks and even developing a new type of skate in order to promote this new method of skating. Much of the success accomplished by Browne was augmented by Irving Brokaw. Brokaw, who had been influenced by the skating of Jackson Haines, collaborated with Browne throughout much of the early 1900s, demonstrating the international style through the country.Brokaw was part of the first formal demonstration of the international style in 1908, and was the first American to participate in international style in 1908 and was the first American to participate in international competitions, placing sixth at the 1908 Olympic Games in London.In 1914, Browne organized the first "International Figure Skating Championships of America" under the auspices of the International Skating Union of America, the governing body for both speed and figure skating during the early 1900s. As a result of the direction brought by the ISU of America and Browne's efforts to creative uniform standards for skating, the USFSA was formed in 1921 to govern the sport and promote its growth on a nationwide basis.Kinda kills the idea of it being a sissy sport, now doesnt it?

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SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC

competentone

Rem,I don't know where you were watching 12 and 13 year old girls skating, but the ones competing for the positions in the 2002 Olympics range in age from 14 to 29, with an average age of nearly 19. I did no see any that appear to be "pre-pubescent"; but then I only caught a few minutes of the competition, and only glanced at the web page--it is not a sport I'm following closely. (I was just mentioning my preference to watching women athletes over men--but if you like looking at big, burly football players instead of petite women, why that's just fine with me--do whatever pleases you...) http://www.usfsa.org Beach,You really need to work on your reading comprehension skills; my profile says that I'm "working to join the idle rich"--which is a whole lot different than "trying to become" part of the idle rich--it has to do with "self-made" wealth, if you understand that concept?ids,I have to agree with you about the Southern deer (I grew up in Northern Michigan)--SC whitetails are a joke! But then I'm not much into hunting, so it really doesn't concern me.

Rembrandt

Compententone, my mistake....I'm thinking of gymnastics....how can you imply watching NFL games are the same as having an eye for the guys....well, you know what I mean. Can see that I'm digging a deeper hole with every reply.....hee hee..

Gordian Blade

robsguns,Despite the athleticism required, which I don't deny, I still say it isn't a sport. The criteria for winning are partly objective but to a great degree subjective based on aesthetics. I would class figure skating with ballet as requiring a great deal of athleticism, but being an entertainment or art rather than a sport. Just my opinion.BTW, sometimes when I'm starting to feel just a tiny bit "well-to-do" on April 14, by April 16 I'm feeling "well-to-done".

robsguns

I too, for the record, feel that the Olympics have changed a lot over the years. I'm not sure if professional sports figures should be allowed to participate, but I bet there wernt any professional sports figures back in the days of the Greeks, who started this great event. At any rate, I guess to each his own, I wont be caught sitting around watching TV long enough to see the olympics, and I sure am not going to see it. I suppose if it keeps kids out of trouble it is great. I agree with others though, the officials are probably all corrupt, and half of it is who you are, not what you do. I still get ticked off thinking about how much professional sports stars get paid, thats a diff. subject all together. The main thing is, what does the ability to be able to do those events do anybody in the real world, if it doesnt serve a purpose, I dont see the point in doing it. I for one think games have gotten way out of hand, its just a game, that is all, I hate the competitive nature of some humans. There are so many things that people are out to prove that doesnt make a bit of diff. to anyone with a bit of intelligence. They should have an olympic event of who can clean a house faster, or change a tire faster, or something I could care about, geez, some people.

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SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC

Bullzeye

Who'd of thought a thread about figure skating would stir ya'll up so much?Imagine the chaos if someone had a real issue!

218Beekeep

Is this thing on?..Testing..1..2..3

218Beekeep

Yes,Bullzeye:Figure Skating is the true "slut" here,and College Football...the root of all evil..218

Rembrandt

Beekeep, are you still up?....I haven't laughed so much over a post for a long time...someday we will have to all get together and meet in real life....

beachmaster73

I'd like to apologise to everyone for creating my "Sluts of the South" series on this thread. I will work hard in the future to keep my observations of Comp's women and their behaviors to myself.Comp...I do have certain reading comprehension skills. I noticed that you took exception to my use of the word "trying" and corrected it to your use of the word "working to". That you readily identified yourself in my general description of certain "Southern gentlemen" remains a fact. That you took exception to the word "trying" instead of the basic premise of the statement infers that you had no disagreement with the basic premise. You therefore let the basic premise stand on its own merits in your case. I hope you and your girl friend soon take care of your flea problem. And finally Comp...I don't have to worry about my financial concerns...I am "comfortable"; if YOU understand that concept. Incidently if your self-employment involves being an Amway salesman I do need some washing detergent, please quote me a price. Everything you have communicated to this board about yourself seems very shallow and tawdry. I wrote before that I thought you lacked character and that you were truly an idiot. Nothing you have written recently has caused me to revise the picture you have painted of yourself except I now view you as an shallow idiot who likes to watch female figure skating because of the "FANTASTIC" (your emphasis not mine) bodies of the participants rather than because of the skills they display. Your comment, Comp, concerning your insecurity watching men playing football and your relative security watching FANTASTIC women speaks to a new problem. Do you keep your room dark while you watch your FANTASTIC women? Somehow you have painted a self-portrait of a dirty little poor boy with fleas whose principal goal is getting rich while watching female figure skating. Comp you are not a pretty sight. Just keep laughing Comp; my opinion of you may not be entirely accurate. Work hard today selling more laundry detergent. Beach

Rembrandt

Beach, this is what I call a pot stirring topic!.....Get your spoon Dano and jump right in....

Mom Mom

I'm looking forward to having Rembrandt and Gordian demonstrate just how easy it is to figure skate at the next GB get together. As I'm lucky to stand upright while wobbling around going only forward, it would be a real thrill to finally master backward skating; not to mention jumping and twirling and all that other stuff. Don't worry about the looking cute part; being a true Yankee, that comes quite naturally and requires no extra effort on my part. However, lest your demonstration attract the wrong sort of people, perhaps you could incorporate a little paper sheet into your costume. [This message has been edited by Mom Mom (edited 01-23-2002).]