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Olympics
Jul 28, 2021 6:15:47 GMT -6
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Post by 00hmh on Jul 28, 2021 6:15:47 GMT -6
If she somehow overcomes her anxiety to medal, possible even if not at her spectacular peak, it's like Tiger Woods winning on a broken leg. A new twist to the story, but a good one. Completely wrong. Tiger did not bail on teammates for mysterious reasons days prior to winning that Open . Certainly NBC and establishment media will spin a sudden Biles recovery and return as super heroic. If freaked out, she arguably did a good for her team. If she is together I'd like to see her compete. If not focused... We'll eventually hear more about this decision, and her mental state. But her choice will mean she is no longer super hero. |
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Olympics
Jul 28, 2021 6:23:29 GMT -6
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Post by 00hmh on Jul 28, 2021 6:23:29 GMT -6
it's like Tiger Woods winning on a broken leg. A new twist to the story, but a good one. I don't see how the two situations are anything alike. This is far more akin to the Andrew Luck fiasco, not a Tiger Wood's leg injury. Overall I agree. But Luck played when not full strength and took risks, WITH full focus. Tiger won WITH full focus. She's maybe physically capable but having her problem mentally. Inability to practice and peak at the right time may have caused less than peak physical performance and prevent that short term. |
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Post by Lurkin McGurkin on Jul 28, 2021 6:55:31 GMT -6
Not sure how to feel about Biles.
On one hand, it is extremely difficult to announce to the world that you are not mentally prepared to compete. To be able to admit that is incredibly humbling.
On the other hand, there are time when you have to just plow ahead, no matter what. Prove to yourself that you CAN, even when you don't want to.
Like Tom Hanks says in A League Of Their Own: "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great."
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Post by 00hmh on Jul 28, 2021 7:37:28 GMT -6
Not sure how to feel about Biles. On one hand, it is extremely difficult to announce to the world that you are not mentally prepared to compete. To be able to admit that is incredibly humbling. On the other hand, there are time when you have to just plow ahead, no matter what. Prove to yourself that you CAN, even when you don't want to. Like Tom Hanks says in A League Of Their Own: "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great." Well said. Agree you have to plow on. We may be overlooking how hard she did try, and how far she pulled that plow, hit the wall apparently.
I think this is beyond the Tom Hanks situation. This is beyond just hard. It is hard for every Olympian probably, for mortal merely great star athletes who are the best in their country and now there hoping to get one medal or just to have a personal best.
I can't imagine her situation. The Olympics, managing her NIL and other personal appearances, peaking for a 2020 games, and then having to do it again, and being the greatest ever to compete constantly under demand for interviews really put her in a pressure cooker. She's been there but was better protected when she was just a teen. Just having that many news hounds harassing her would make anyone crazy...
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Post by williamtsherman on Jul 28, 2021 7:50:38 GMT -6
On the other hand, it would be difficult to point to any person in the history of the world that has received more universally fawning and favorable media coverage...and very few who have made more money off of it. She didn't create the establishment media's favorite narratives and obsessions, but she has profited hugely from them. The establishment media has already, and will continue to spin this in the most favorable ways imaginable. If Biles had wheeled out a wheelbarrow full of dog vomit and dumped it on the mat, the media would be lauding her for bringing attention to dog digestive issues. Again, she did not arrange for this treatment...she just benefits from it.
If some sort of mental issue has suddenly come upon her, that's sad and I can be sympathetic. However, she was able to compete just fine last month in the US trials, and if she is able to compete just fine again in the individual events starting tomorrow...then that just looks flakey and her brand will suffer accordingly in spite of the heroic efforts we will see from the media. Any additional medals will not outweigh this. |
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Post by 00hmh on Jul 28, 2021 8:20:11 GMT -6
On the other hand, it would be difficult to point to any person in the history of the world that has received more universally fawning and favorable media coverage...and very few who have made more money off of it. She didn't create the establishment media's favorite narratives and obsessions, but she has profited hugely from them....if she is able to compete just fine again in the individual events starting tomorrow...then that just looks flakey and her brand will suffer accordingly in spite of the heroic efforts we will see from the media. Any additional medals will not outweigh this. As you say, she isn't responsible for a lot of the attention, and there is no doubt that the media say outrageous things about star athletes that they may not want but from which they may profit.
At least she isn't out there purposely creating controversy to enhance her brand like so many of the athletes who thrive on controversy.
As you say, what has happened already will no doubt overall be a big negative to her brand. If a medal won't outweigh that she pays a price.
But brand isn't everything. If she is capable, manages to make a try, and then succeeds, even if it "looks flaky," she is being true to herself. She could indeed be "better off" but her whole life has been about giving her all and sacrificing her best interests in many ways to overcome so many things for a sport she loves. Making the choice to be true to that, risking sacrificing "her brand," is a choice I'd think a real sports hero can make.
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Post by villagepub on Jul 28, 2021 8:33:07 GMT -6
Frankly, the Olympic Games have become about as relevant and stimulating as a Liberace reunion/memorial concert.  |
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Post by villagepub on Jul 28, 2021 8:37:48 GMT -6
If she somehow overcomes her anxiety to medal, possible even if not at her spectacular peak, it's like Tiger Woods winning on a broken leg. A new twist to the story, but a good one. Completely wrong. Tiger did not bail on teammates for mysterious reasons days prior to winning that Open . Certainly NBC and establishment media will spin a sudden Biles recovery and return as super heroic. I think NBC should take the blame. They have made the Olympics all about Biles. She is under a microscope and she has to be perfect. I get it. When you're the GOAT, the media is gonna be all over you, and you have to anticipate it. How about the media leave the team alone from qualifying until the final podium trip? |
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Post by villagepub on Jul 28, 2021 8:41:27 GMT -6
If Biles had wheeled out a wheelbarrow full of dog vomit and dumped it on the mat, the media would be lauding her for bringing attention to dog digestive issues. Again, she did not arrange for this treatment...she just benefits from it.
Canine Ulcerative Colitis is nothing to be made fun of. If she were to do this, I would laud her as being "brave." |
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Post by sweep on Jul 28, 2021 8:41:50 GMT -6
On the other hand, it would be difficult to point to any person in the history of the world that has received more universally fawning and favorable media coverage...and very few who have made more money off of it. She didn't create the establishment media's favorite narratives and obsessions, but she has profited hugely from them....if she is able to compete just fine again in the individual events starting tomorrow...then that just looks flakey and her brand will suffer accordingly in spite of the heroic efforts we will see from the media. Any additional medals will not outweigh this.
sacrificing her best interests in many ways
What ? |
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Post by 00hmh on Jul 28, 2021 9:10:42 GMT -6
sacrificing her best interests in many ways
What ? Gymnastics is a tough sport, in terms of time, constant minor injury and pain. The competitive schedule she has been on for years is a heavy price to pay. Almost all competitive athletes, especially at the top, make a hell of a sacrifice. Those things an athlete is unable to do count as sacrifices.
Part of the messaging here that seems out of place on a sports page is the attention to looking after yourself and being human. Her career is short, almost over. Probably she has done well in terms of purely economic welfare, but there are other aspects of her life she has to have neglected. What a crash she faces when it is over, and the money will not continue forever.
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Post by Lurkin McGurkin on Jul 28, 2021 9:28:21 GMT -6
Gymnastics is a tough sport, in terms of time, constant minor injury and pain. The competitive schedule she has been on for years is a heavy price to pay. Almost all competitive athletes, especially at the top, make a hell of a sacrifice. Those things an athlete is unable to do count as sacrifices.
Part of the messaging here that seems out of place on a sports page is the attention to looking after yourself and being human. Her career is short, almost over. Probably she has done well in terms of purely economic welfare, but there are other aspects of her life she has to have neglected. What a crash she faces when it is over, and the money will not continue forever.
I think you're confusing "sacrifices" with "priorities"... |
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Post by sweep on Jul 28, 2021 9:28:33 GMT -6
Gymnastics is a tough sport, in terms of time, constant minor injury and pain. The competitive schedule she has been on for years is a heavy price to pay. Almost all competitive athletes, especially at the top, make a hell of a sacrifice. Those things an athlete is unable to do count as sacrifices.
Oh I see, and those "sacrifices" aren't in their best interests. You are out of your mind. |
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Post by williamtsherman on Jul 28, 2021 10:53:22 GMT -6
Gymnastics is a tough sport, in terms of time, constant minor injury and pain. The competitive schedule she has been on for years is a heavy price to pay. Almost all competitive athletes, especially at the top, make a hell of a sacrifice. Those things an athlete is unable to do count as sacrifices.
Part of the messaging here that seems out of place on a sports page is the attention to looking after yourself and being human. Her career is short, almost over. Probably she has done well in terms of purely economic welfare, but there are other aspects of her life she has to have neglected. What a crash she faces when it is over, and the money will not continue forever.
Like nearly all pro athletes, she hit the genetic lottery in being supremely well-suited for her sport, and she took advantage and put in the work. Good for her, but spare me the pity party. A lot of girls put in a lot of work and suffer a lot of pain in gymnastics and get paid zero, and nobody cries over their plight. On a $ per hour basis, including all life-time practicing, I would venture to guess that Biles is the most well-paid gymnast on the planet, maybe of all time. I would further guess that her per hour compensation is vastly greater than other hard, injury-ridden jobs, like say roofing.
By the way, how would you like to be one of these companies that built their Olympics marketing effort around a Biles commercial. AWKWARD!
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Post by williamtsherman on Jul 28, 2021 11:07:27 GMT -6
By the way, one of my daughters was in gymnastics for a few years, but got out of it by maybe around the 4th or 5th grade. I was very glad. Partly because of the injury potential. Also because it was excruciatingly boring. She would perform at meets for a grand total of about maybe 3 minutes. But you would sit around in bleachers for hours and hours between events. If you have young kids, avoid gymnastics if at all possible.
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