[Asadinator]

Originally Posted by kenneth79

Of course not. As others have said the Olympics should only include sports where the event is clearly the most prestigious in the sport.

This means that tennis and football should go. Perhaps also basketball and cycling.But the IOC is making it worse since golf will be included in 2016.

Track cycling is like one of the main sports in Olympics

Also watched Road cycling in Beijing, it was awesome the scenery


For me, any sport in which you can make World Records and Olympic Records should be on the Olympics.

Meaning no team/ball sports.

[duong]

Originally Posted by sexybeast

Some years ago hockey and basket olympic gold wasnt important, but now they are big shows in the olympic games that draw alot of attention.

Who doesnt remember the 92 dream team with Magic Johnson and Jordan? Before that basket wasnt big in the olympics.

I've read that opinion about the basket-ball olympic event in this thread several times. Where does that come from ? Which country do you come from to think that basket-ball was a minor olympic event before the dream-team in 1992 ?

you surely don't come from a country where basket-ball is popular, because I always remember the basket-ball olympic event (and I come from France, which is not a big basket-ball country)

I know that when the Soviets were the leaders in a sport, the sport was supposed to be boring whereas when it's the Americans it's but I think basket-ball has always been a major olympic event from an European point of view

The same for hockey in winter games by the way before pros came.

[Navratil]

No!!!!

It just doesn't fit in the tournament schedule and destroys the whole summer tournament calendar!

[coluta]

@bgtennisnation

I still think it is a joke that the winner of the Olympic gets 750 points should be same as London finals 1500 points, look at the field ?

[kenneth79]

Originally Posted by Asadinator

Track cycling is like one of the main sports in Olympics

Also watched Road cycling in Beijing, it was awesome the scenery


For me, any sport in which you can make World Records and Olympic Records should be on the Olympics.

Meaning no team/ball sports.

I`m willing to concede track cycling but in road cycling the spring classics [monuments] is more prestigious one day races than the Olympics.

[peRfect-Tennis]

I'm not a fan of tennis been part of the Olympic program. I don't think the format works and it's just not got that Olympic feel. Even if it has to be included then it should be only for players who are yet to turn professional, that way they can use the event to break through to the big time.

[August]

Thread already here:

http://www.menstennisforums.com/show...206898&page=13

[Time Violation]

Tennis was there in 1896, so it has some tradition for sure. It would be a joke to use it as developing event, every other sport sends best of the best.

[RForever]

Several players said they dont feel olympic atmosphere at all as they are far from village. They dont have even time to visit other sports. Seats are empty. Tennis is having very small TV coverage, points are small and it complicates schedule. This olympics will not help the cause.

[Johnny Groove]

Tennis has been around since the original modern Olympiad in 1896.

Laurie Doherty, the Federer of 1903-1906, won the Gold in 1900. Shame he and his bro Reggie Doherty didn't play, as they never did, just always gave a w/o to the other guy.

Max Decugis, 8 time French champ, was also in the 1900 draw, but didn't make it.

Beals Wright, 1905 US Champ, 1910 Wimbledon finalist, won the Gold in 1904. He also scored 3 doubles slams.

Josiah Ritchie won the Gold in the indoor 1908 event, he made the final of Wimbledon in 1909, and won Wimbledon doubes twice.

Arthur Gore won Wimbledon 3 times, as well as the gold in the outdoor 1908 event.

Andre Gobert won gold in 1912, as well as several slams in his time.

The war halted the momentum for 1920, but tennis rebounded in 1924 with a quality event.

Cochet def. Borotra in a tough all-French muskateer 4 setter in one SF, while Vinny Richards, who had taken out Lacoste in the QF in 5, beat the Italian Umberto de Morpurgo. Imagine the de Morpurgo-tards!!! Especially after he beat Borotra 7-5 in the 5th for the epic Bronze!

In the final, it was Cochet, a top 16 all time legend, vs. Vinny Richards. Richards won the match in 5 and won gold, then won gold also in the doubles. Richards won gold in 1924, and altogether won 7 doubles slams, 2 mixed doubles slams, and like 6 slam single SF.

Then the game lost momentum

44 years, 11 Olympiads without the event. Any sport would struggle. Even when it came back in 1968, the gold medal match was Santana def. Orantes, both slam champions. Then, there is no tennis again until 1984, another 3 missed Olympiads. And in 84, it was the great Edberg winning gold!

Miroslav Mecir, 2 time slam finalist, won gold in 1988, beating Edberg in 5 in the SF. Many people point to Marc Rosset winning gold in 1992 being muggy, but the guy beat Courier, Sanchez, and Ivanisevic en route. Agassi won gold in 96, his slam credentials are there, Kafelnikov won in 2000, he is a 2 time slam champ and former #1. Massu winning in 2004, ok, I'll give you, but then Nadal won in 08 to restore the prestige.

And this year, probably a former slam champ will win this.

So the sport has history of great champions winning gold.

[G4.]

muggish sport so no

[coluta]

Originally Posted by G4.

muggish sport so no

[Pirata.]

Originally Posted by RForever

Several players said they dont feel olympic atmosphere at all as they are far from village. They dont have even time to visit other sports. Seats are empty. Tennis is having very small TV coverage, points are small and it complicates schedule. This olympics will not help the cause.

Yep, regular fans can't afford tickets and the stands are embarrassingly empty, TV coverage is horrible (on Bravo, of all stations here in the states...) its just weird.

[abraxas21]

over the years olympic tennis has become more and more important. i think the winner should get 1500 points.

if they make it best of five tournament (not just the final), i'd support giving the winner 2000 points, same as a GS.

[nobama]

Originally Posted by Pirata.

Yep, regular fans can't afford tickets and the stands are embarrassingly empty, TV coverage is horrible (on Bravo, of all stations here in the states...) its just weird.

Hey at least we're getting it live and the finals will be live on NBC. If NBC was showing it it would be tape delayed and chopped to bits.