There have been a ton of sexist comments/headlines during this Olympics but I can't fault a newspaper for going with that headline for Phelps, as he's the most decorated Olympian in history.

 

We see stuff like that in major sports all the time. The Yankees make a minor move and get top billing for it; the Twins (or another mid-market team) make a bigger move and get second billing.

 

Was sexism the root cause of that headline? Eh, hard to say but, again, we're talking about Michael Phelps. We've seen gallons of ink spilled over every little thing he does.

 

If this were an isolated incident, I'd probably shrug it off in the same manner. Phelps is, yeah, I get that. But this wasn't the lone example. The article wasn't just about that one headline ... it was about this as the culmination of the many.

 

Doesn't it feel like the Phelps / Ledecky headline should have been 2 separate columns? Ledecky getting the front page/ more coverage because she actually won. Then a separate blurb that Phelps couldn't win another gold. What other event would that make sense to combine 2 different people and results? 

Headline:

Andy Murray wins at Wimbledon! 

 

Serena Williams wins 7th Wimbledon and 22nd major title. 

 

It's all just a reminder that athletics still serves as a surrogate for inter-tribal warfare.

 

That's only partially tongue-in-cheek.

 

It's all just a reminder that athletics still serves as a surrogate for inter-tribal warfare.

 

That's only partially tongue-in-cheek.

 

That's only been true for over 2000 years now...

 

That's only been true for over 2000 years now...

This.. is.. Sparta!

 

It's all just a reminder that athletics still serves as a surrogate for inter-tribal warfare.

 

That's only partially tongue-in-cheek.

Hey, I can't see real good. Is that Michel Foucault over there? 

 

Hey, I can't see real good. Is that Michel Foucault over there?

 

Just the pendulum.

Not to belabor the point, and granted, it is not about one headline, and I understand the 'Phelps hype' angle, but what would have been wrong with doing it like this?

 

http://time.com/4451155/michael-phelps-katie-ledecky-gold-rio-2016-olympics-swimming-maya-dirado-hosszu-schooling/

 

In any kind of 'ism,' it's easy to 'see and condemn' the obvious, but it's the subtle that tends to keep things from truly changing. And yes, I think we need to ask ourselves and question ourselves every step of the way until attitudes truly change. I know I catch myself a lot just in things that are very unintentional, but years of 'social conditioning' don't get undone in a snap.

I like this headline, and that it came after De Grasse won bronze in the men's 100m.

 

http://olympics.cbc.ca/news/article/girl-power-why-canadian-women-may-continue-dominating-the-olympics.html

I like this headline, and that it came after De Grasse won bronze in the men's 100m.

http://olympics.cbc.ca/news/article/girl-power-why-canadian-women-may-continue-dominating-the-olympics.html

I like the whole story, not just the headline.

I like the whole story, not just the headline.

Ditto.

 

I was just keeping in context.

At least these guys are keeping it real, lol!

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3738980/Now-joking-urine-samples-podium-pants-Nutella-Hilarious-Irish-rowers-studio-fits-laughter-latest-interview.html

In other Olympic news ... okay, I didn't watch this, just read about it ... what say you all about this? Was this 'fair play?' It's legal and many athletes agree it's a strategy, but it denied a US athlete of gold. Oh no ... controversy! What think you all?

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympians-dive-for-the-gold-sparks-internet-debate-031822836.html

 

 

For me, if it's legal and other athletes say it's a strategy, whatever, good for her. I've just never seen this before. Have you?

I fail to see in any way how it's not fair play. She crossed the line first, isn't  that the goal?

 

Great race btw.

 

In other Olympic news ... okay, I didn't watch this, just read about it ... what say you all about this? Was this 'fair play?' It's legal and many athletes agree it's a strategy, but it denied a US athlete of gold. Oh no ... controversy! What think you all?

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympians-dive-for-the-gold-sparks-internet-debate-031822836.html

 

 

For me, if it's legal and other athletes say it's a strategy, whatever, good for her. I've just never seen this before. Have you?

That's fair game to me. It looks like Miller ran out of gas at the end and fell in the right direction to get the gold. I've never seen it done before, and I'm not sure if that's a sound strategy that works all the time. Oh well, good for her! There shouldn't be any controversy to this. 

Little Nicky Punto needs to try out for the Olympics in 2020!

 

Little Nicky Punto needs to try out for the Olympics in 2020!

 

Damn, you beat me to it.

 

I fail to see in any way how it's not fair play. She crossed the line first, isn't  that the goal?

 

Great race btw.

Yeah, I wasn't suggesting it wasn't ... the article was. I've just never seen this before. 

 

And kudos, Ash ... I didn't even think of that one!

My first thought....didn't that slow her down?

 

I am going to search the net to see if anyone discussed the physics or not...brb...

From Vox:

 

But as ESPN’s Sport Science feature explained, what matters is when you start the dive. The start of the dive is actually faster — for that split second — than running, but the moment your feet leave the ground on a dive, deceleration occurs. If a track and field runner dives at the wrong moment, it could easily mean losing.

 

From Vox:

 

But as ESPN’s Sport Science feature explained, what matters is when you start the dive. The start of the dive is actually faster — for that split second — than running, but the moment your feet leave the ground on a dive, deceleration occurs. If a track and field runner dives at the wrong moment, it could easily mean losing.

That makes sense. The timing is everything. Otherwise you may end up looking like this on the track. 

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/3928475/hurdles-fail-o.gif

 

From Vox:

 

But as ESPN’s Sport Science feature explained, what matters is when you start the dive. The start of the dive is actually faster — for that split second — than running, but the moment your feet leave the ground on a dive, deceleration occurs. If a track and field runner dives at the wrong moment, it could easily mean losing.

Yeah ... I think the original article inferred that, or other runners had said that ... timing is everything!

 

Edit: Ooops ... van just very aptly demonstrated that!

Those cowardly Swedish women just advanced to the Gold in Soccer by beating Brazil.

 

Hope Solo currently unavailable for comment.

There may still be some hope for humanity.

 

http://www.kare11.com/sports/olympics/a-fall-in-the-5000-delivers-an-uplifting-moment/299535610

 

There may still be some hope for humanity.

 

http://www.kare11.com/sports/olympics/a-fall-in-the-5000-delivers-an-uplifting-moment/299535610

That's a great story, it's good to know these things still continue to happen.

 

I think this is one of the greatest shows of sportsmanship ever.

 

 

 

Those cowardly Swedish women just advanced to the Gold in Soccer by beating Brazil.

 

Hope Solo currently unavailable for comment.

What did the Swedish women do? I haven't been following.

 

What did the Swedish women do? I haven't been following.

As far as I can tell, all they did was win. Ms. Solo felt differently.

 

“I thought that we played a courageous game. I thought we had many opportunities on goal. I think we showed a lot of heart,” Hope said in a post-game interview (via SI.com). “We came back from a goal down. I’m very proud of this team.”

 

“And I also think we played a bunch of cowards. The better team did not win today. I strongly believe that. I think you saw American heart. You saw us give everything we had today,” Hope added.

 

When asked why she thought the Swedish team played cowardly, she said:

 

“Sweden dropped off. They didn’t want to open play. They didn’t want to pass the ball. They didn’t want to play great soccer. It was a combative game, a physical game. Exactly what they wanted and exactly what their gameplan was. They dropped into a 50. They didn’t try and press. They didn’t want to open the game. And they tried to counter with longballs. We had that style of play when Pia [sundhage] was our coach.”

 

 

I just read they did the same to Brasil. So they played a completely defensive game and didn't even go on offense? And won with PK's? And that's cowardly vs strategic?

 

I just read they did the same to Brasil. So they played a completely defensive game and didn't even go on offense? And won with PK's? And that's cowardly vs strategic?

They went on offense, they just played a deep back line. Either way, they played a strategic defensive game against more superior offensive opponents. In other words, they played soccer.

They went on offense, they just played a deep back line. Either way, they played a strategic defensive game against more superior offensive opponents. In other words, they played soccer.

Leading to the inevitable conclusion that all soccer players are cowards.

 

They should play rugby or lacrosse instead.