Olympics Megathread

[Prutfis]

I suppose you’re laughing at yourself. When an expert on Handball says James would dominate in 6 months it’s pretty easy to believe we would win gold if we fielded our best athletes.

No that's still retarded. You don't become the best in the world at at a very tactical team sport that others have played for generations in 6 months. What an asinine idea.

 

[Rob Battisti]

No that's still retarded. You don't become the best in the world at at a very tactical team sport that others have played for generations in 6 months. What an asinine idea.

sure I’ll take your opinion over the opinion of an expert. How many Olympic teams have you coached before?

 

[Prutfis]

sure I’ll take your opinion over the opinion of an expert. How many Olympic teams have you coached before?

Lol. I'll take reality and actual knowledge of the game being discussed over some random dudes hyperbole. Clearly you don't know much about the game. But hey some dudes who are tall and jump good could clearly be world champs.

 

[Rob Battisti]

Lol. I'll take reality and actual knowledge of the game being discussed over some random dudes hyperbole. Clearly you don't know much about the game. But hey some dudes who are tall and jump good could clearly be world champs.

“Some random dude” = USA Olympic Handball Coach

hey, willing to disagree and end the discussion so long as you can admit that you’re claiming to know better than an actual expert.

 

[Prutfis]

I think it’s insane that you believe that there is such a high degree of skill in handball that you don’t think that superior athletic ability couldn’t close the gap incredibly fast.

Who says they are superior athletes? The arrogance and stupidity in that alone. Jeez.

 

[Rob Battisti]

Who says they are superior athletes? The arrogance and stupidity in that alone. Jeez.

Yes, the population of handball athletes is definitely of par with the population of NBA athletes in terms of athleticism.

 

[Prutfis]

“Some random dude” = USA Olympic Handball Coach

hey, willing to disagree and end the discussion so long as you can admit that you’re claiming to know better than an actual expert.

That you think 1 hyperbolic statement by a crap tier coach means anything is pretty funny. But it does clearly show that you have 0 understanding of the game.

 

[Prutfis]

Yes, the population of handball athletes is definitely of par with the population of NBA athletes in terms of athleticism.

Another fine display of total ignorance. Lol. You sound like a 12 year old.

 

[Rob Battisti]

Another fine display of total ignorance. Lol. You sound like a 12 year old.

By all means, definitely continue to hold the position that there is parity in the athleticism of NBA athletes and Handball athletes.

A sport which can draw the best athletes in the world to make millions of dollars versus..... Handball.

I never said there wasn’t strategy to the sport.

I said:

A. We could field a team of superior athletes and within 4 years likely dominate the podium

B. I trust the actual experts on the sport they earn their living off of versus you — Likely someone who never played or watched 5 entire handball matches.

 

[Yagadot]

Give the Norwegian men’s handball team 6 months basketball training and they might beat the current US men’s team.

 

[Yagadot]

Too many crappy sports being allowed into the Olympics. Watched skateboarding and it was one of the most boring event I’ve ever witnessed.

 

[Rob Battisti]

Too many crappy sports being allowed into the Olympics. Watched skateboarding and it was one of the most boring event I’ve ever witnessed.

Kind of feeling that way about almost every event so far. Idk if it’s the production, but this is a chore to watch.

 

[Yagadot]

Kind of feeling that way about almost every event so far. Idk if it’s the production, but this is a chore to watch.

Yeah, it’s been a hard watch. Hopefully it picks up in a few days.

 

[Yagadot]

A. We could field a team of superior athletes and within 4 years likely dominate the podium

B. I trust the actual experts on the sport they earn their living off of versus you — Likely someone who never played or watched 5 entire handball matches.

America have sort of done this in the rugby 7s for the Olympics. A lot of players have crossed over from NFL and sprinting. I think they are now a medal contender.

It’s all about talent ID and transferable skills.
Handball must be a more unique sport though. Rugby 7s is a pretty simple game with more space available. That makes it less tactical.

I don’t know enough about handball to comment much but there must be a reason. They must have tried talent ID for better athletes if they are already doing it in rugby. Feels like the competition League formats in Europe have a big effect and have evolved the game. Must make it tougher to break into.

Interestingly Jay Cutler said he thought he could get a group of Americans to win at handball. Luka Doncic disagreed.

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020/02/05/luka-doncic-warns-jay-cutler-team-handball

 

[Rob Battisti]

America have sort of done this in the rugby 7s for the Olympics. A lot of players have crossed over from NFL and sprinting. I think they are now a medal contender.

It’s all about talent ID and transferable skills.
Handball must be a more unique sport though. Rugby 7s is a pretty simple game with more space available. That makes it less tactical.

I don’t know enough about handball to comment much but there must be a reason. They must have tried talent ID for better athletes if they are already doing it in rugby. Feels like the competition League formats in Europe have a big effect and have evolved the game. Must make it tougher to break into.

Interestingly Jay Cutler said he thought he could get a group of Americans to win at handball. Luka Doncic disagreed.

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020/02/05/luka-doncic-warns-jay-cutler-team-handball

thanks for the post!

 

[Corona]

Idk why there’s so much hate on 3v3 basketball in this thread. I was on the edge of my seat watching the women’s 3v3 yesterday.

 

[Madmick]

That upset by the Austrian cyclist was spectacular. I caught the last half hour of it.

Racing by herself against powerhouse nations each with four riders working as teams, and she trounced the whole field. Brings Austria its first gold medal in any Summer sport since 2004, and its first cycling medal since 1896. This is what the Olympics is about:
The Math Ph.D. Who Just Shocked Olympic Cycling

 

[codfather]

#1 why the hell are we not putting out NBA players in the 3x3?

#2 I’m convinced we would dominate Hand Ball if we filled our roster with former NBA and NFL players

The top handball players are athletically comparable with NBA All Stars and NFL Pro Bowlers.
You can't just pull a few 40-something ex pros from other sports and have them instantly outcompete guys like Jacobsen, Duvnjak and Hansen.

In Germany, handball is more popular than American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey, yet Germany has produced:
12 NFL Pro Bowlers: Felton, Jenkins, Sellers, Richardson, Steed etc.
4 NBA All Stars: Boozer, Dirk, Detlef and Kiki.
2 MLB All Stars: Jackson and Hubbard.
2 NHL All Stars: Draisaitl and Heatley.

Same deal with France, and they've produced guys like:
1 MLB All Star: Charlie Lea.
2 NBA All Stars: Rudy Gobert and Dominique Wilkins.

 

[560ti]

That upset by the Austrian cyclist was spectacular. I caught the last half hour of it.

Racing by herself against powerhouse nations each with four riders working as teams, and she trounced the whole field. Brings Austria its first gold medal in any Summer sport since 2004, and its first cycling medal since 1896. This is what the Olympics is about:
The Math Ph.D. Who Just Shocked Olympic Cycling

Was hilarious to watch. My favorite was the 2nd place lady thinking she won and when she hugs her coach he tells her congrats on Silver and she looks ahead and sees the 1st place lady laying on the floor like a football field ahead of her

 

[codfather]

America have sort of done this in the rugby 7s for the Olympics. A lot of players have crossed over from NFL and sprinting. I think they are now a medal contender.

It’s all about talent ID and transferable skills.
Handball must be a more unique sport though. Rugby 7s is a pretty simple game with more space available. That makes it less tactical.

I don’t know enough about handball to comment much but there must be a reason. They must have tried talent ID for better athletes if they are already doing it in rugby. Feels like the competition League formats in Europe have a big effect and have evolved the game. Must make it tougher to break into.

Interestingly Jay Cutler said he thought he could get a group of Americans to win at handball. Luka Doncic disagreed.

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020/02/05/luka-doncic-warns-jay-cutler-team-handball

Rugby sevens players are akin to 3x3 basketballers or futsal players, they're mostly guys who aren't good enough for the "real" version of their sport.
Olympic handballers are the very best handballers in the world.