Kansas Crimson

The USWNT never put together a performance that made me feel like they could win this tournament. Although after they got past Netherlands, I thought they'd at least make it to the final since they beat the best team left. But to get tripped up like Canada, dang. Major roster turnover and a youth movement coming for the women's soccer team.

There are definitely names on the USWNT roster that we've seen for a long time. In fact, I think there was some small controversy over a couple players selected.

out with the old, in with the new.

I think this is the end of the road at least for Naeher, Lloyd, Rapinoe, and Sauerbrunn. Women's national team fans have a weird attachment to their superstars and those stars stick on the roster probably longer than they should. By the 2024 Olympics, Press, Morgan, O'Hara, and Heath will all be 35+ as well. Holding onto players too long is a big reason why the men's team missed the 2018 World Cup. I hope they don't fire Vlatko. He'd be perfect to lead the roster turnover in my opinion.

There’s an intervening WC in 2023 and it would be good to get ready for that one. The WC is literally a bigger prize than Olympic Gold (not saying that it’s unimportant) for both men and women. Enough time for roster shuffle for both 2023 and 2024.

You can probably still take a couple of those older players to the 2023 World Cup, yes. And it's going to be controversial, I know, but the next couple years should be spent finding players who relegate players like Morgan, Press, Heath, etc. to the bench at least. This team has to get younger. It's a must.

Heath was the headscratcher I recall. 33 years old and coming off an injury?

Right, an ankle injury that cost her nearly her entire club season at Manchester United. The other odd roster decision was not bringing a backup defensive midfielder with Julie Ertz returning from a knee injury. I know Vlatko played Horan at that position vs. Mexico and it worked well, but that's because Mexico stinks. Horan got worked bad by Sweden. Hell the midfield was bad the whole tournament.

Anyone watching badminton? I can't. Dumbest Olympic sport ever.

I used to work with a lot of Chinese scientists.

Spent a few weekends trying to play badminton with them.

Holy shit were they good. The worst among them could hit that shuttlecock 100 mph and have it go any angle/direction they wanted to. I've never seen a single American play as well as the worst person from China.

classic

Top 5 worst summer olympic sports?

Rhythmic gymnastics
Ping pong
3on3 basketball
Synchronized swimming
Rock climbing ...seriously. whos approving these things.

Bonus synchronized diving

i’d add equestrian

the horse doesn’t get a medal, but the rider does? wtf?

Ping Pong is awesome

why isn’t Cricket an Olympic sport?

TraditionKU wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 3:32 pm why isn’t Cricket an Olympic sport?

Probably because one match can last as long as the entire olympics.

PhDhawk wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 3:31 pm Ping Pong is awesome

I like how when watching ping pong, even on tv, it is so blatantly obvious how much better the pros are than some dude off the streets, or even that annoying guy in the dorms who thinks he's good enough to be a pro.

I watched some ping pong when I was a kid, late 60s early 70s. At the time they were 10 feet or more away from the table and just wailing on the ball. It was pretty incredible that the ball ever hit the table at all. Different game now.

PhDhawk wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 3:33 pm

TraditionKU wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 3:32 pm why isn’t Cricket an Olympic sport?

Probably because one match can last as long as the entire olympics.

They play Rugby Sevens, a shortened version of rugby, they could play T20 cricket.

UnholyLivingDead wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 3:58 pm

PhDhawk wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 3:33 pm

TraditionKU wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 3:32 pm why isn’t Cricket an Olympic sport?

Probably because one match can last as long as the entire olympics.

They play Rugby Sevens, a shortened version of rugby, they could play T20 cricket.

i also read something about T10...

fwiw, it was played at the Olympics once, back at the turn of the last century