Stanford in the Winter Olympics

Stanford in the Winter Olympics - Printable Version

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RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - BobK - 02-07-2022

Most don’t know about Kerr’s dad
I would never listen to Bunning lol

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - dabigv13 - 02-07-2022

Quote:Are you contending that taking American dollars represents taking clean money? Holy shit. Tell your narrative to the Afghan families whose blood members got annihilated and pulverized into particles beyond oblivion by "mistaken" 'Murica UAVs.

Let's take a whole step further, how many Muslim or Muslim-majority countries in this whole wide world actually side with Anglo Saxon axis' position that what China has been doing constitutes what they call genocide? The answer is goose egg. But wait, that must be because China and CCP bought each and every one of them off, right?

Lmao, Stanford.

Drawing equivalence between China under the CCP and the USA means you're either a moron or a troll, so not going to engage.

I criticize the USA plenty because our government has done some terrible shit in our names. Try that in China and you'll end up in jail. Or worse. GTFO tankie.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - terry - 02-07-2022

(02-07-2022, 07:22 PM)Skiddy Wrote: Has anyone ever taken you to get your IQ checked?

Please refrain from juvenile insults. That's not what we do on this board.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - dabigv13 - 02-07-2022

(02-07-2022, 07:35 PM)Skiddy Wrote:
(02-07-2022, 07:31 PM)terry Wrote:
(02-07-2022, 07:22 PM)Skiddy Wrote: Has anyone ever taken you to get your IQ checked?

Please refrain from juvenile insults. That's not what we do on this board.

I'm sooo sorry. I should've used more elegant words like moron and troll.

Ok I was considering blocking but I knew this guy would keep posting some hilarious stuff.

This isn't Xinhua so you probably won't trust it, but at least maybe some other folks might appreciate some reading on what China is doing to the Uyghurs.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/16/world/asia/china-xinjiang-documents.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/27/world/asia/xinjiang-china-crackdown.html

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - akiddoc - 02-07-2022

(02-04-2022, 04:06 PM)teejers1 Wrote:
(02-04-2022, 01:36 PM)dabigv13 Wrote: True, I don't know her inner motivations. But she's been a professional model and world class athlete for several years so I'm certain she is more worldly than most 18 year olds and knows the value of her image and brand.

I follow soccer and from time to time players will play for countries not of their birth if they have some parent or grandparent that can get them citizenship. Usually this is to get a spot on a team that's either perceived as stronger, or sometimes if they can't get a spot on their own team. There are some money aspects to it, and I don't really have an issue with it.

But Gu could and did represent the US, where she has lived her whole life, and would have had a very profitable marketing haul from that if she chose. She instead chose the path to being megarich rather than just rich, and that path includes representing an authoritarian repressive state that uses athletics as an important part of their international soft power.

Maybe most 18 year olds don't think about it so much but I'd hope ones matriculating to Stanford would. So if she's maximizing her earning potential, she's taking very dirty money to do it and it's fair game to call her on it.

I hope some of her former teammates beat her at her "home" Olympics but I'm not going to be watching.

Wow, dabig . . . just wow!
I was nodding my head in 100% agreement from top to bottom.
Well-said.

Eff-Gu!

The decision to represent China occurred when she was 15 years old. Who do you think made the decision? It wasn't the 15 year old.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - BostonCard - 02-07-2022

(02-07-2022, 08:44 PM)akiddoc Wrote: The decision to represent China occurred when she was 15 years old. Who do you think made the decision? It wasn't the 15 year old.

That is a good point, and comports to the description of Gu in the interview, where she looked at mom when she was being asked tough questions.

Gu wouldn’t be the first person whose career was “shaped” by an overly controlling parent. I hope for her sake she doesn’t wind up like Todd Marinovich or many others.

But that, too, is speculation on my part.

And how about that tankie tea? A wee but too strong, no?

Defending Gu’s choice (as one long time poster has) is fine. We don’t all have to believe that Gu’s intentions were not pure. But doing so while referring to those who disagree as “morons”… yeah, that won’t fly here.

BC

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - dabigv13 - 02-08-2022

Sorry, mea culpa, I called the tankie a moron. But wow, a real life tankie on TheCardboard! Not something you see every day. Anglo Saxon axis! Some good material.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - Papa John - 02-08-2022

My parents escaped in the late 1940s--my mom with her immediate family and my dad by himself--as young people from a country that, at that time, was part of the old Soviet bloc. They both had stays in several different countries before they ended up in the US where they met in college. They left family behind--my mom left aunts, uncles and cousins, while my dad left his brother, parents and grandparents--and they were able to visit--once--in the 1960s before access was shut down again. I was able to finally visit my ancestral homeland a few times in the 1990s, after the fall of the Communist government, of course.

Growing up as an American, I experienced some of the language and culture of my parents' homeland. And I felt an attachment to a place that was run by a horrible government that did horrible things. And so, as much as I truly love the USA, I found myself cheering for that country when it came time to the Olympics. I'm not sure why, but I felt like those athletes represented, to some extent, family that I still had behind the Iron Curtain and, to some extent, me.

Now if I were a world-class athlete, would I have competed on behalf of my ancestral homeland instead of the USA? No. But what if I had been able to visit that country frequently with my parents and connect with family over there? I have to say that I would have felt a "tug" to compete with and for the old world family, in spite of their oppressive government that they did not choose. But I would have competed for the USA.

Maybe there are others on this board who are part of the first generation of their families that are born in the USA who understand the connection that I am describing. Maybe not. In any case, because I can imagine a non-political, non-financial reason why Eileen Gu chose to compete for China, I can compartmentalize cheering for her as a separate process from despising the atrocities of the Chinese regime. And, without meaning to, I found myself cheering for her a bit when I watched her win gold earlier today.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - fullmetal - 02-08-2022

I guess I'm a little hawkish about the situation but also cynical -- Gu has a major financial stake in China as her modeling career is probably primarily based on her popularity in China. As mentioned earlier, her decision to represent China occurred in 2019, potentially before she was even aware of the CCP Uyghur cultural erasure campaign. In 2019, she probably dreamed of balancing anti-Chinese sentiment from the then-White House occupants as a role model and example of cultural exchange. Since then, the behavior of the CCP in Hong Kong and Xinjiang has doubled down on past sins, not to mention further posturing against Taiwan. Gu has yoked herself to the nation of her choosing, and she's certainly chose the more lucrative path. The things we do when we're fifteen years old and controlled by our parents...

Note: The former American figure skater Zhu Yi committed to skating for China in 2018 (at about age 16, renouncing her citizenship). Prevailing anti-Chinese sentiment in the political discourse may well have played a part in that. Was her father's return to China part of her selection to the Chinese national team?

Quote:Some brought up Zhu's father, Zhu Songchun, a leading artificial intelligence expert who returned to China to head a key research institute in 2020.

"Congratulations to the Chinese figure skating team for making such a brobdingnagian contribution to the field of computing!" wrote one, drily.

https://amp.france24.com/en/live-news/20220206-us-born-chinese-skater-savaged-online-after-olympics-blunder

I allow my cynicism to drown out any outrage I feel. These decisions were made during a prior US administration in a different political atmosphere, potentially under indirect duress upon family residing in China as well as potential financial incentive. I'll settle for distaste at their complicit support of the CCP and knowing that nothing I feel will ever affect either of these athletes.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - cardcrimson - 02-08-2022

(02-08-2022, 12:41 AM)Papa John Wrote: My parents escaped in the late 1940s--my mom with her immediate family and my dad by himself--as young people from a country that, at that time, was part of the old Soviet bloc. They both had stays in several different countries before they ended up in the US where they met in college. They left family behind--my mom left aunts, uncles and cousins, while my dad left his brother, parents and grandparents--and they were able to visit--once--in the 1960s before access was shut down again. I was able to finally visit my ancestral homeland a few times in the 1990s, after the fall of the Communist government, of course.

Growing up as an American, I experienced some of the language and culture of my parents' homeland. And I felt an attachment to a place that was run by a horrible government that did horrible things. And so, as much as I truly love the USA, I found myself cheering for that country when it came time to the Olympics. I'm not sure why, but I felt like those athletes represented, to some extent, family that I still had behind the Iron Curtain and, to some extent, me.

Now if I were a world-class athlete, would I have competed on behalf of my ancestral homeland instead of the USA? No. But what if I had been able to visit that country frequently with my parents and connect with family over there? I have to say that I would have felt a "tug" to compete with and for the old world family, in spite of their oppressive government that they did not choose. But I would have competed for the USA.

Maybe there are others on this board who are part of the first generation of their families that are born in the USA who understand the connection that I am describing. Maybe not. In any case, because I can imagine a non-political, non-financial reason why Eileen Gu chose to compete for China, I can compartmentalize cheering for her as a separate process from despising the atrocities of the Chinese regime. And, without meaning to, I found myself cheering for her a bit when I watched her win gold earlier today.

Fabulous post. Thanks for sharing.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - rogpodge - 02-08-2022

(02-08-2022, 03:42 AM)fullmetal Wrote: As mentioned earlier, her decision to represent China occurred in 2019, potentially before she was even aware of the CCP Uyghur cultural erasure campaign. In 2019, she probably dreamed of balancing anti-Chinese sentiment from the then-White House occupants as a role model and example of cultural exchange.

Prevailing anti-Chinese sentiment in the political discourse may well have played a part in that. Was her father's return to China part of her selection to the Chinese national team?

This take is ridiculous. Both athletes were identified early, and given significant financial (and other) incentives to compete for China. The previous administration has nothing to do with it. Zhu Yi was basically guaranteed a slot, and she couldn't compete with Chinese-American talents such as Karen Chen and Alysa Liu.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_U.S._Figure_Skating_Championships

You've noted Eileen Gu's fluency in Mandarin and significant commercial ties already. The failure to keep her in the fold wasn't a political decision, it was a financial one. (The facilities here are much better, hence she trains here, and will of course, go to Stanford). At least with Gu, we know that the talent in front of her wasn't part of the incentive.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/hockey/china-primed-enter-men-s-olympic-hockey-fray-for-first-time-1.6336996

Chris Chelios' kid is on the Chinese Olympic hockey roster. No citizenship renunciation needed. Same thing with a bunch of Canadians. Not a political choice, but a talent / roster choice and an opportunity choice (also a financial one). Same thing with Becky Hammon back in the day as pointed out by others. Does it make me not like Becky Hammon? No. Not really, she was a great talent and is a great coach. Do I forget she did that? No. Does it make the Olympics more interesting? Heck yes. Is it going to make me watch this year and support NBC? No.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - gailtate - 02-08-2022

Anybody know if Gu did, indeed, quietly renounce her US citizenship? I guess we'll know soon enough.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - cardcrimson - 02-08-2022

(02-08-2022, 09:40 AM)gailtate Wrote: Anybody know if Gu did, indeed, quietly renounce her US citizenship? I guess we'll know soon enough.

Only the immigration agents know for sure. . . .

Here's a link to her post gold presser. Extremely well spoken for an 18 year old. She will be a great asset to Stanford. . . .

https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2022/02/08/eileen-gu-citizenship-china-us-winter-olympics-sot-intl-hnk-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/winter-olympics-2018/

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - dabigv13 - 02-08-2022

Akiddoc's point above is a good one, but she's an adult now. So when she says stuff like this, that's on her. I don't envy her position, but she could choose her words differently here if she wanted to.

[Tweet]
https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1490922195534573568?s=20&t=bkSourYjdkli1WaH3Z_pdQ[/tweet]

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - gailtate - 02-08-2022

(02-08-2022, 11:34 AM)dabigv13 Wrote: Akiddoc's point above is a good one, but she's an adult now. So when she says stuff like this, that's on her. I don't envy her position, but she could choose her words differently here if she wanted to.

[Tweet]
https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1490922195534573568?s=20&t=bkSourYjdkli1WaH3Z_pdQ[/tweet]

Anybody else see/hear her surgically, meticulously produced and sanitized interview last night with Mike Tirico? An infomercial if there ever was one. A Stepford celebrity athlete processed by Xi's Manchurian-Candidate goons. Creepy. Scariest thing? She is brilliant. And now economically weaponized. What a world we live in. Below, my first and final observations on the travesty that the Olympics have become...

Jules Boykoff, the author of five books on the Olympic Games, wrote in Politico yesterday:

The authoritarian challenge to democracy and human rights is arguably the defining geopolitical story of our time. Rather than oppose this trend, the IOC seems to be participating in it. IOC president Thomas Bach says his group’s primary “responsibility is to run the Games in accordance with the Olympic Charter.” But that charter speaks of “promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity” — goals that feel impossible to square with the IOC’s unwillingness to engage with critics and call out human rights violations. Faced with an opportunity to align their sentiments and actions, the overlords of the Olympics have instead accelerated the Games’ years-long shift into an economic juggernaut and ideological black hole with sport appended to its flank.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - 2006alum - 02-08-2022

Quote:‘I’m really grateful that she's happy and healthy and out there doing her thing again,’ Gu said

Is this a joke? I mean, it's downright parodic.

(02-08-2022, 12:08 PM)gailtate Wrote: Faced with an opportunity to align their sentiments and actions, the overlords of the Olympics have instead accelerated the Games’ years-long shift into an economic juggernaut and ideological black hole with sport appended to its flank.

What a money quote. And exactly how I feel these days. Thanks for sharing that story.

Is it just me, or has anyone else found yourself in agreement about stuff with people you once-upon-a-time vehemently disagreed with, while wondering how everyone else seems to be ok with this? More and more I find myself out in the wilderness wondering if everyone else is crazy, or I am. Glad to see at least a few others are having the same reaction to all this I am.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - ca245 - 02-08-2022

Regrettably many have watched their language very carefully when speaking about China. People can pillory Gu if they want, but, in fairness, they shouldn't give a free pass to other, more prominent people like the IOC honchos or the GS Warriors management (including Steve Kerr) after minority owner Chamath Palihapitiya's comments about the Uyghur situation in China. Otherwise, it comes across as "piling on."

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - dabigv13 - 02-08-2022

(02-08-2022, 12:59 PM)ca245 Wrote: Regrettably many have watched their language very carefully when speaking about China. People can pillory Gu if they want, but, in fairness, they shouldn't give a free pass other, more prominent people like the IOC honchos or the GS Warriors management (including Steve Kerr) after minority owner Chamath Palihapitiya's comments about the Uyghur situation in China. Otherwise, it comes across as "piling on."

Yes the NBA and IOC certainly deserve criticism as well.

I echo 2006's sentiments. We graduated same year, so maybe we are just experiencing an early midlife crisis of sorts. Sports fandom has been a big thing in my life since I was a kid, but more and more I find that it's hard to ignore the machinations behind the curtain. FIFA, the IOC, all the major sports leagues- the fans have very little to no control over how these organizations govern themselves, and they will always make decisions based on maximizing value, not what's best for fans. I'm not sure there is a good answer to change that.

Don't FIFA, IOC, NBA, F1 etc make enough money that they can afford to take even the tiniest moral or ethical stands? Apparently not....so there is some sense of loss that I no longer care so much about things that used to seem important.

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - BostonCard - 02-08-2022

Don’t forget the NCAA, who probably somewhere has a “China strategy” (https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/04/01/ncaa-basketball-is-trying-to-break-into-the-chinese-market/) designed to wring out a few extra dollars, even though it would probably mean some poor team basketball team is going to be ponied out to play a match out in China.

You can’t begrudge people their individual decisions to make more money, but the cumulative effect is why everything has turned into a cynical cash grab, and why my interest in athletics at every level, but especially amateur levels like the NCAA and Olympics has gone down.

BC

RE: Stanford in the Winter Olympics - teejers1 - 02-08-2022

(02-08-2022, 12:08 PM)gailtate Wrote:
(02-08-2022, 11:34 AM)dabigv13 Wrote: Akiddoc's point above is a good one, but she's an adult now. So when she says stuff like this, that's on her. I don't envy her position, but she could choose her words differently here if she wanted to.

[Tweet]
https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1490922195534573568?s=20&t=bkSourYjdkli1WaH3Z_pdQ[/tweet]

Anybody else see/hear her surgically, meticulously produced and sanitized interview last night with Mike Tirico? An infomercial if there ever was one. A Stepford celebrity athlete processed by Xi's Manchurian-Candidate goons. Creepy. Scariest thing? She is brilliant. And now economically weaponized. What a world we live in. Below, my first and final observations on the travesty that the Olympics have become...

Jules Boykoff, the author of five books on the Olympic Games, wrote in Politico yesterday:

The authoritarian challenge to democracy and human rights is arguably the defining geopolitical story of our time. Rather than oppose this trend, the IOC seems to be participating in it. IOC president Thomas Bach says his group’s primary “responsibility is to run the Games in accordance with the Olympic Charter.” But that charter speaks of “promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity” — goals that feel impossible to square with the IOC’s unwillingness to engage with critics and call out human rights violations. Faced with an opportunity to align their sentiments and actions, the overlords of the Olympics have instead accelerated the Games’ years-long shift into an economic juggernaut and ideological black hole with sport appended to its flank.

This may be the best post ever on this site (and that's saying something!).

Could not care less about these Olympics, for a variety of reasons, including the hypocrisy of it all.
And could not care less about the young freestyle skier or her choices; however, if people are going to try and ram "her story" down my throat, then I'll exercise my right to react: Eff Gu! (Oh yeah . . . and congrats on the gold . . . whatever).