- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
The mouth does not really equal grit.
This whole "athletes should be seen and not heard" attitude really grinds my gears.
The mouth does not really equal grit.
This whole "athletes should be seen and not heard" attitude really grinds my gears.
Why? When I want to hear preaching I go to a church. When I want to hear a story I read books of very selected authors. When I want to watch competitive sports then I watch athletes. When I want to watch figure skating I watch Ashley and others.
I tell you this: in speaking opinions the athletes are as good as any engineer, janitor, cook or any person on a street. Do you bug every person on the street for their opinions? Or do you ask your doctor to fix your plumbing? Or your plumber to sing?
Why? When I want to hear preaching I go to a church. When I want to hear a story I read books of very selected authors. When I want to watch competitive sports then I watch athletes. When I want to watch figure skating I watch Ashley and others.
I tell you this: in speaking opinions the athletes are as good as any engineer, janitor, cook or any person on a street. Do you bug every person on the street for their opinions?
Or do you ask your doctor to fix your plumbing? Or your plumber to sing?
Why? When I want to hear preaching I go to a church. When I want to hear a story I read books of very selected authors. When I want to watch competitive sports then I watch athletes. When I want to watch figure skating I watch Ashley and others.
I tell you this: in speaking opinions the athletes are as good as any engineer, janitor, cook or any person on a street. Do you bug every person on the street for their opinions?
Or do you ask your doctor to fix your plumbing? Or your plumber to sing?
At Sochi 2014, the issue of Russia's harsh treatment of those who are LGBTQ was a huge issue during the Olympics. Ashley was one of the few athletes who spoke on the record about it. That said far more to me about her character than a split-second expression of shock at a low score.
And yet, Ashley actually was bashed by some who felt she should have just shut up and skated.
Maybe I shouldn't say this. But for many folks, enjoyment of sport is an avenue to get away from the everyday politics and drama of the world. When said politics is injected through anyway - through some comment of the athlete or other means - that's when you get the backlash. This is the crux of the whole "stick to sports" deal.
I couldn't agree more with this.
Politics is the main source of negative emotions and sport is supposed to be an escape from this poison. And if I follow an admired athlete and they open their mouths about things I don't want to hear about, then it's an automatic disqualification. They abuse their celebrity position, so to me the person is a goner. It applies to all kind of celebrities: actors, artists, athletes, all of them.
Speak only what you are paid for.
As with all else in this world, the Olympics is not immune from "the everyday politics and drama of the world"; in fact, its high international profile makes it a lightning rod for it. Heck, even which country's flag is carried or anthem is played is often a subject of high dispute. At Sochi, Russia's threats against LGBTQ people were so severe that some athletes/coaches/officials worried that their lives could be in danger if they went there. Thankfully, enough people forcibly spoke out (including brave athletes such as Ashley Wagner) and enough press "mercilessly" reported on it that Russia backed off. Today, the high tensions over North Korea are causing some countries to consider not sending their teams.
And yet, "many folks" think that the very people most affected -- the athletes -- should just shut up so that the rest of us can have "enjoyment of sport" without upsetting our living-room TV fantasies of an Olympics without real-world intrusions.
Are you saying that people should lose their right to express their opinions as soon as they achieve any level of celebrity? Seriously?
Well next week Ashley has her opportunity to put up or shut up. The door is wide open for h er to win Skate America - it is the weakest competition of all GP events and it is in her home country. She can win the title and go to the gpf!!! Its her chance to make herself known for the oly podium.
Trying to get back on point...she knows as well as anyone what she needs to do, having been at this for 10 years. I’m not so concerned about “demons” for her here (Nats will be a different story), but more so her physical readiness. She’s been doing some off-ice stuff lately as well, sponsor stuff I think.
Sort of a funny title for a thread. It would be even funnier vice versa: "Demons" prepared to conquer Wagner"
The mouth does not really equal grit.
Sort of a funny title for a thread. It would be even funnier vice versa: "Demons" prepared to conquer Wagner"
Of course they can. It's a free speech world, isn't it? Even for celebrities.
But I also have my own right to disqualify the person for taking advantage of it.
Maybe should you use your brain and think for example about the situation of LGBTQI-Community in Saudi Arabia, and why your questionable sources (so called Fake-News) criticize Russia and are silent in the case of Saudi Arabia, where the law punishes acts of homosexuality or cross-dressing even with execution. (Wikipedia).
I would have enjoyed this.....
“Demons” Wagner Prepares to Conquer :ddevil: :ddevil: :ddevil: