Create a New Forum Admin Login Member Login Contribute to Voyager Search VoyForums Help Desk VoyForums Exchange VoyForums Directory/Categories VoyForums Homepage VoyForums News FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3], 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

Subject: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: SpuytenDuyvil76 [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 06:39:30 07/23/24 Tue This morning's Boston Globe carries an article by sports opinion writer, Tara Sullivan, on the criticality of the college and university sports system in the U.S. to the competitiveness of the U.S. Olympic team. Whether the NCAA is absolutely necessary to the success of that system may be open to question. Nonetheless, 75% of the Olympic squad are coming out of the collegiate sport system. The article cites the negative factors to that system effecting change: anti-trust decisions, NIL, transfer portal, unionization. The article is here. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/07/23/sports/olympics-ncaa-college-sports/ Because there is a paywall, here are a few quotes: "From archery to wrestling, and all the alphabetical points in between, Olympians are nurtured on college campuses." "[The most recent antitrust] settlement is saying that those that have generated the money should get it. So those of us in the industry, the revenue sharing we’ve done in the past, taking the money generated from football and basketball and share it, that’s no longer the equation. “Those who are generating the money get it, so fewer kids getting more money. We are wrestling with that landscape. For 40-50 years, we built college athletics on gender equity and competitive equity. The court said otherwise. “That’s going to come at a cost somewhere. I’m not sure where yet. But I think obviously the concern is that it will, over time, impact Olympic sports." I am not sure how much subsidization, if any, is done by the football and basketball in the Ivies. The model is clearly different. We have the luxury of a large donor class. If you do not care about the non-revenue sports, then fine. The amateur, well-rounded student may be an outmoded notion. The modern Olympics began as a gentlemen's vision of upper-crust amateur sports, much the same model as the early Ivy sports, but have since evolved beyond that, as have Ivy sports, and indeed, collegiate sports in general. Yet it could well be argued the modern Olympics are irrelevant. Canary in a coal mine? Let the bread and circuses continue. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: If they wanted to be more specific... Author: Go Green [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 10:14:18 07/24/24 Wed The Pac-12 was largely seen as the main feeder conference to many Olympic sports. Whether those sports continue to be supported in the new era of college sports remains to be seen.

[> [> Subject: Re: If they wanted to be more specific... Author: observer [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 11:29:46 07/24/24 Wed It's over, Johnny. The IOC will most likely start the acceleration of paring back sports, because of the white elephant syndrome - Google what happened to the softball venue of Athens, Greece... Paris is offering breakdancing as a sport this year. Even Harvard doesn't sponsor that at the varsity level. The irony here is that for years the NFL and NBA got its free player development from NCAA schools. Now the USOC (and many other committees) get free talent development from the Ivies. Why have a kick-ass USOC rowing development program, if you can farm out the talent identification and strength training to New Haven and Central Jersey? Same with fencing, among others.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: If they wanted to be more specific... Author: sparman [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 16:10:39 07/24/24 Wed "Paris is offering breakdancing as a sport this year. Even Harvard doesn't sponsor that at the varsity level." You might be surprised: https://www.online-bachelor-degrees.com/best-college-dance-teams-america/ And you can help fix the Harvard shortcoming: https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/breakdancing-as-a-club-sport-at-harvard

[> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: RedWin [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 16:03:55 07/24/24 Wed I think the Olympics should stick to the traditional sports, as while Break Dancing is pretty cool, it's a cross between athletics and theater. I was not a fan of golf in the Olympics, because we already have the four majors and I think golf detracts from the traditional sports like gymnastics, wrestling, track & field, etc. One of my buddies tried out for the decathlon as he was a very good Ivy long jumper and sprinter. I think he made it to the regional trials, but didn't make it to the national trials. Regardless he had a lot of fun training and trying out for a few months before getting a "real job".

[> [> Subject: Money Money Money Author: Watkins [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 11:09:01 07/25/24 Thu The International Olympics Committee accurately recognizes that they are not in the athletics business, they are in the entertainment business. So expect to see fewer sports which draw poor ratings and more sports such as beach volleyball, breakdancing, 3x3 basketball and anything which attracts eyeballs, whether for athleticism or bikinis. Borderline sports such as golf, baseball and lacrosse will flip back and forth depending upon their ratings. The Olympics are the world's first and best monopoly entertainment product. How would you like to be in the entertainment business when your cost of providing your service is borne by national Olympic committees and host cities, while revenues from television and ticket sales flow directly into your pocket? That is a great business model.

[> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: RedWin [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 14:56:51 07/25/24 Thu One of the sports I enjoy watching in the Olympics is rowing (crew) as my roommate at Cornell was a rower. As part of my work out during my Cornell years he got me to do the rowing machine at Teagle Hall. I think the one we used was an older left over model from the real team. So all these years later when I workout at the gym I will often do the rowing machine for about ten minutes (2000 meters) as part of my workout before hitting the spin bike or treadmill. Again my usual rowing time for 2000 meters is about 10 minutes and see the records below for the Olympic athletes. Quite impressive! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Olympic_best_times_in_rowing

[> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: SpuytenDuyvil76 [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 16:10:08 07/25/24 Thu We have an expression in rowing: "Ergs don't float". Meaning, given all the variability at any given time on the water, the rowing machine (ergometer) is not the final word. The erg is a valuable tool for measuring power, but has very real limitations. A strong brute can get a much better score on the machine than a smaller individual, but that smaller individual, if they have better technique and conditioning, can move the boat faster on the water. But it is an incomparable training tool. And a great warm-up for any work-out. Kudos to you for incorporating it into your routine.

[> [> Subject: Question about rowing Author: sparman [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 08:26:33 07/27/24 Sat Can you explain why there are only 7 boats competing in the men's 8s? We have a friend whose son (from Brown) is on the US team and I was surprised when I saw the schedule. Seems almost silly to have two preliminary races just to eliminate ine boat from the final.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: Question about rowing Author: SpuytenDuyvil76 (verily) [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 05:52:28 07/28/24 Sun Bottom line is overall cap on athletes per sport. A qualification (elimination) system maintained by the international rowing federation is in place in the year prior, culminating in the final qualifying race, the so-called "Regatta of Death", held at Rotsee in Lucerne, Switzerland at the end of May. U.S.A. took silver in a close fought race behind Great Britain, the Olympic gold medal favorite. U.S.A. is expected to medal; should be a good race. But I agree: seems really odd format for the marquee events (men's and women's 8s).

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Question about rowing Author: SpuytenDuyvil76 (verily) [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 12:26:14 07/30/24 Tue Men's 8 and 4 looking very strong! Should be great racing in the final vs favored Brits. Go USA! Mens 4 (highlight 4+ min): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVB5ao8vOGY Mens 8 (highlight 2+min): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7qIX5xDYTs

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Question about rowing Author: RedWin [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 14:40:57 07/30/24 Tue When I was at Cornell we would cheer the crew teams from a bridge over the Cayuga Inlet they were racing. I remember they went really fast under that bridge. Anyone know the average speed of those boats?

[> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Question about rowing Author: SpuytenDuyvil76 [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 15:14:36 07/30/24 Tue I'm looking online and getting references betw 14-15 mph for top men's 8. World record, by the Germans, is 5 min 18.7 secs over 2000 m, standard race length. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-coxed-eights-rowing-(mens-class) or 14.04 mile/hour

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Question about rowing Author: HDallma [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 09:17:07 07/31/24 Wed Princeton Woman wins gold in rowing.

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Question about rowing Author: Drew2411 [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 12:16:38 07/31/24 Wed For what country?

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Question about rowing Author: joiseyfan [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 12:32:29 07/31/24 Wed Hannah Scott ‘21 of Britain wins gold in quad sculls boat in upset over the Netherlands.

[> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: sparman [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 05:55:05 08/03/24 Sat Sitting im Heathrow, watched crew race live. USA 3d, never really threatened GB for gold. Competitive with Netherlands for 2d but Dutch several seats better. Yesterday watched 3x3 bball (BBC covers everything). I was surprised how ragged the team looked losing to France to go 0-3 - IMO they would have beating a current IL team.

[> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: Drew2411 [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 14:01:35 07/31/24 Wed Hard to image the Gentleman of Harvard doing worse at the Olympics - seeded second and bounced in first round by Iran after airballing the individual comp where Eli was the favorite. Abysmal

[> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: SpuytenDuyvil76 [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 13:16:02 08/01/24 Thu They dominated, wire to wire. Quite a statement!

[> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: SpuytenDuyvil76 [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 13:35:33 08/01/24 Thu Comment out of order

[> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: IvySportsJunkie () [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 09:27:39 08/01/24 Thu The Ivy League was well represented when winning the Gold Medal today in the men's four rowing final. The winning team was comprised of: Michael Grady (Cornell), Nick Mead (Princeton), Liam Corrigan (Harvard) and Justin Best (Drexel). Bravo. Last edited by author: Thu August 01, 2024 09:28:44 GMT-6   Edited 1 time.

[> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: Bengal [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 10:40:12 08/01/24 Thu Very cool. Boys in the boat.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: HDallmar [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 09:55:17 08/02/24 Fri Princeton Woman wins gold in fencing.

[> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: joiseyfan [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 14:28:30 08/02/24 Fri While US women’s water polo team obliterated France 17-5 today, Princeton junior Jovana Sekulic scored her fourth goal of the games. Alum goalie Ashleigh Johnson (referred to in passing as “the best goalie in women’s water polo history”) has 62% saves so far, way ahead of anyone else in the games, in her quest for her third gold. The two Tigers are the only non-Californians on the team. Quarterfinals next.

[> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: RedWin [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 22:10:13 08/06/24 Tue Cole Hocker from Oregon won the 1500M which looked more like a sprint than a distance event. I just can't believe how fast these Olympic athletes can run that fast for nearly a mile. Got to admit............I love the track events.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: RedWin [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 22:21:50 08/06/24 Tue Yeah want to get humbled......... watch the women's Steeple Chase. I don't even know how you begin to train for that event it's just so tough. Amazing Olympic athletes!

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: Quaker 1978 [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 05:33:15 08/07/24 Wed Gabby Thomas pride of Northampton Ma and Harvard won the gold in the 200 meter race

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: joiseyfan [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 17:58:20 08/07/24 Wed Princeton’s Lizzie Bird of Great Britain was 7th in the steeplechase final, setting a British national record. Gabby’s race was superb, against a brutal field.

[> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: joiseyfan [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 18:06:50 08/07/24 Wed After a monuental 17 saves in the US 5-4 quarterfinal nailbiter over Hungary in the water polo quarterfinal, Johnson and the US have the Ozzies in the semis tomorrow. As a throw-in, the US/Poland men’s volleyball semi today was one of the most exciting non-finals in any Olympic team sport I’ve ever seen. If you have a chance, see it.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: RedWin [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 11:01:56 08/08/24 Thu I have so enjoyed watching the Olmpics this year. My one regret is I didn't see Gabby Thomas run when she was at Harvard. She is a real tribute to the Ivy League! Agree the US/Poland volleyball game I watched while on the treadmill during lunch at work. The USA played really well, but Poland was an amazing team. I haven't played much volleyball but those shots by Poland were brutal! I just can't imagine trying to block or return those shots.

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: The importance of the NCAA to Olympic sports Author: HDallmar [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 12:14:19 08/08/24 Thu Tiger rower and gold medalist Nick Mead will be US flag bearer with Katie Ladecky at Olympic closing ceremony.