OT: Naive observation and question

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere else...
I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of
the cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough
enough with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event to boo?

Maybe I didn't see enough, but the few events I watched with USA
competitors I didn't hear any booing. If I did hear it, I'd write it off
to the spectators being from places the US was competing against more
than any comment on world affairs.

I think you been listening to too much anti-Bush propaganda and
assigning stuff improperly or even imagining some of it.

-paul

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere

else...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of
the cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough
enough with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event to

boo?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Maybe I didn't see enough, but the few events I watched with USA
competitors I didn't hear any booing. If I did hear it, I'd write it off
to the spectators being from places the US was competing against more
than any comment on world affairs.

I think you been listening to too much anti-Bush propaganda and
assigning stuff improperly or even imagining some of it.

-paul

Ditto what Paul said.

Bob C.

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere
else... I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American
foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of the
cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough
enough with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event
to boo?

I never heard any booing of Americans on the coverage I had.

psycholist said:

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere

else...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of
the cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough
enough with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event to

boo?

Quoted message said:

Maybe I didn't see enough, but the few events I watched with USA
competitors I didn't hear any booing. If I did hear it, I'd write it off
to the spectators being from places the US was competing against more
than any comment on world affairs.

I think you been listening to too much anti-Bush propaganda and
assigning stuff improperly or even imagining some of it.

-paul

Ditto what Paul said.

Bob C.

So you both didn't see the start of the mens 4x400m I guess.

Paul Cassel said:

Quoted message said:

Maybe I didn't see enough, but the few events I watched with USA
competitors I didn't hear any booing. If I did hear it, I'd write it off
to the spectators being from places the US was competing against more
than any comment on world affairs.

I think you been listening to too much anti-Bush propaganda and
assigning stuff improperly or even imagining some of it.

-paul

Sorry, but I really didn't intend this as an anti-Bush troll. Neither
would I assume that all anti-American behavior is Bush's fault.
I can assure you my wife thinks my hearing sucks, so if I heard booing
there was probably more. I'm thinking particularly of the bronze medal
men's basketball match against Lithuania, and the bronze medal woman's
volleyball match against Russia. Could be the stands were 90%
Lithuanian and Russian respectively, but I rather doubt it.
In any case, thanks for the analysis, Dr. Freud!

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

gym gravity said:

psycholist said:

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS wrote:

> I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
> But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
> athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
> (basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
> track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
> either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
> aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere

else...

Quoted message said:

> I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American foreign
> policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
> I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of
> the cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough
> enough with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event to

boo?

Quoted message said:

Maybe I didn't see enough, but the few events I watched with USA
competitors I didn't hear any booing. If I did hear it, I'd write it off
to the spectators being from places the US was competing against more
than any comment on world affairs.

I think you been listening to too much anti-Bush propaganda and
assigning stuff improperly or even imagining some of it.

-paul

Ditto what Paul said.

Bob C.

So you both didn't see the start of the mens 4x400m I guess.

I'd forgotten about that one, too. There was also plenty in the
women's 4X100, but I assumed that was because of the Greek team, so I
discount that. I think it was pretty noisy for the men's 4X100, but I
don't think we should blame the result on the fans. ;-)

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

Kyle Legate said:

Quoted message said:

I never heard any booing of Americans on the coverage I had.

Interesting. I missed most of the Olympics but from what little I did see
I didn't get the feeling that there was an inordinate amount of booing.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Kyle Legate said:

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere
else... I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American
foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of the
cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough
enough with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event
to boo?

I never heard any booing of Americans on the coverage I had.

The night of some men's final... we swept it. I think it was
the 200m? Not sure... the crowd went bonkers becuase the greek
sprinter was not there. The one that didnt take his drug test
and was removed from the games....

One of the comentators mentioned that "whistling was the European
version of booing".

I had never heard this... but there was a lot of whistling!

Scott

--
-*- Scott Patton
-*- Colorado Springs, CO
-*- http://www.FixedGearFever.com
-*- Track Racing Web Services

Robert Chung said:

Kyle Legate said:

I never heard any booing of Americans on the coverage I had.

Interesting. I missed most of the Olympics but from what little I did see
I didn't get the feeling that there was an inordinate amount of booing.

I may have just been watching the wrong events. I'm not usually
sensitive to this type of stuff--I think it's just normal sports stuff,
but even my wife commented on it.
Of course, you understand that this was EUROPEAN-type booing--what we
call whistling! ;-)

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

Robert Chung said:

Kyle Legate said:

I never heard any booing of Americans on the coverage I had.

Interesting. I missed most of the Olympics but from what little I did see
I didn't get the feeling that there was an inordinate amount of booing.

Only saw (heard) it before the start of the men's 200 m. I don't think
it was anti-American there (although Williams played the crowd quite a
bit, no surprise after the Sydney 4x100), but pro-Kenteris. Really awful
display by the Greek crowd, fortunately for them overshadowed by the
marathon incident.

"Kyle Legate" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere
else... I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American
foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of the
cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough
enough with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event
to boo?

I never heard any booing of Americans on the coverage I had.

I heard plenty of whistling, which is the Euro way of booing. Supposedly the
basketball fans were much more polite than the normal fans at Euro
basketball games where there is a shield to protect the players and coaches
on the benches. Also heard it when Paul Hamm was getting ready to do his
high bar routine. Part of that discontent was for the poor scores preceding
his routine but the whistling got louder when he got up to get ready.

I was disappointed that the closing ceremonies were turned into a Greek
festival that wasn't enough about the athletes and the Games as it was about
Greece and being Greek.

-WG

"Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere else...
I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of the
cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough enough
with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event to boo?

I have seen far from everything (for instance, I missed synchronic swimming
completely), but I certainly didn't get the impression that the public
showed a systematic anti-American attitude. On the contrary, taking in
account that the disapproval of the war on Iraq was nowhere in Europe as
strong as in Greece (only 8 % supported Bush), the public was IMO remarkably
friendly. On the other hand, it's true that as soon as the spectators didn't
agree with some decision, the main target of their displeasure were usually
the Americans.

Benjo Maso

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere else...
I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of the
cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough enough
with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event to boo?

End rant,
Steve

10 years ago when I traveled about the continent I met a lot of people
who, if asked, had a negative view of US foreign policy, but generally
didn't dislike americans, unless they where the ugly (as in
insensitive tourist) type.

As was noted a week or so back on the BBC, this booing of american
athletes is a step up. Many greeks, when polled by the Beeb were very
unhappy about Iraq and what was happening in Najaf at the time.
Effectively a very clumsily handled disagreement with Sadr turned into
a major pissing contest which ruined the city and effectively punished
non-participants. The sooner we the the heck out, and let Iraq go
through it's own sorting out, the better. Too bad, back in 2001 when
those proposals to increase fuel efficiency in cars and trucks went
nowhere, thus ensuring we remain dependent upon non-stable regimes for
our energy needs.

Interesting that the greeks seemed to harbor no particular ill-will
against their traditional nemesis, Turkey.

"Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm thinking particularly of the bronze medal
men's basketball match against Lithuania,

I assure you that were I there I'd be booing that bunch of overpaid hoodlums
masquerading as an American Basketball team.

Quoted message said:

and the bronze medal woman's volleyball match against Russia.

Didn't see it.

"Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I was disappointed that the closing ceremonies were turned into a Greek
festival that wasn't enough about the athletes and the Games as it was

about

Quoted message said:

Greece and being Greek.

Well, you have to thank God that something that the American network had to
cover didn't have a completely jingoistic theme.

If I hear one more sob story about how little Jessica became a better
gymnast to commemorate the untimely death of her kitten I'll scream.

"Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere

else...

Quoted message said:

I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of the
cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough

enough

Quoted message said:

with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event to boo?

End rant,
Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

They whistled and booed Gatlin, Crawford, in the 200 because they were
angry at the Greek sprinter being thrown out (defending champion), and
believed the rumors in the newspapers that it was all an American
conspiracy.

In the women's volleyball final where Russia vs. China, there was plenty
of whistling when China was serving, so doesn't apply to US only.

Warren said:

"Kyle Legate" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere
else... I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American
foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of the
cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough
enough with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event
to boo?

I never heard any booing of Americans on the coverage I had.

I heard plenty of whistling, which is the Euro way of booing. Supposedly the
basketball fans were much more polite than the normal fans at Euro
basketball games where there is a shield to protect the players and coaches
on the benches. Also heard it when Paul Hamm was getting ready to do his
high bar routine. Part of that discontent was for the poor scores preceding
his routine but the whistling got louder when he got up to get ready.

I was disappointed that the closing ceremonies were turned into a Greek
festival that wasn't enough about the athletes and the Games as it was about
Greece and being Greek.

-WG

Well, thanks for this. Nice to know not only American sports fans can
be boors.
As far as the Greek thing, I figure they can have it. They'll probably
be spending a long time paying for it.

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

benjo maso said:

"Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere else...
I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of the
cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough enough
with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event to boo?

I have seen far from everything (for instance, I missed synchronic swimming
completely), but I certainly didn't get the impression that the public
showed a systematic anti-American attitude. On the contrary, taking in
account that the disapproval of the war on Iraq was nowhere in Europe as
strong as in Greece (only 8 % supported Bush), the public was IMO remarkably
friendly. On the other hand, it's true that as soon as the spectators didn't
agree with some decision, the main target of their displeasure were usually
the Americans.

Benjo Maso

Are you saying that the fans only disagreed with judges' decisions when
an American was involved?

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

Richard Adams said:

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I know they "all hate" the Americans--that's a given.
But I must say I was shocked by the consistent booing of American
athletes at the olympics. It was perhaps most audible in arena sports
(basketball, volleyball), but was also embarassingly evident during
track and field events. It didn't seem to matter who the opponent was
either. I didn't hear it during the men's marathon, and I wasn't too
aware of it during the swimming events, but just about everywhere else...
I know, I know, they don't hate Americans, just American foreign
policy. Maybe they resent American dominance in some of the sports.
I don't think I remember anything like this in the darkest days of the
cold war. What is it? We have too many troops there? Not tough enough
with Turkey? Just don't get it. You go to a sporting event to boo?

End rant,
Steve

10 years ago when I traveled about the continent I met a lot of people
who, if asked, had a negative view of US foreign policy, but generally
didn't dislike americans, unless they where the ugly (as in
insensitive tourist) type.

As was noted a week or so back on the BBC, this booing of american
athletes is a step up. Many greeks, when polled by the Beeb were very
unhappy about Iraq and what was happening in Najaf at the time.
Effectively a very clumsily handled disagreement with Sadr turned into
a major pissing contest which ruined the city and effectively punished
non-participants. The sooner we the the heck out, and let Iraq go
through it's own sorting out, the better. Too bad, back in 2001 when
those proposals to increase fuel efficiency in cars and trucks went
nowhere, thus ensuring we remain dependent upon non-stable regimes for
our energy needs.

Interesting that the greeks seemed to harbor no particular ill-will
against their traditional nemesis, Turkey.

I was wondering about that. I actually don't remember seeing any of
the Turkish athletes. It was pretty quiet when they made their entrance
at the opening ceremonies.

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001